Dayton Attorney Disbarred
2008-2403. Dayton Bar Assn. v. Schram, Slip Opinion No. 2009-Ohio-1931.
On Certified Report by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline, No. 08-016. Deborah C. Schram, Attorney Registration No. 0025554, is permanently disbarred from the practice of law in Ohio.
Moyer, C.J., and Pfeifer, Lundberg Stratton, O'Connor, O'Donnell, Lanzinger, and Cupp, JJ., concur.
Opinion: http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf/0/2009/2009-Ohio-1931.pdf
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(April 30, 2009) The Supreme Court of Ohio today permanently disbarred Dayton attorney Deborah C. Schram for multiple violations of state attorney discipline rules arising from her failure to file returns or pay federal, state or municipal income taxes from 1979 through 2001, and failure to withhold taxes or make Social Security contributions for employees of her law firm for approximately the same period.
The Court adopted findings by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances & Discipline that Schram, whose law license has been under an interim suspension since the Court was notified of her 2007 conviction on a felony tax evasion charge, engaged in conduct involving fraud, deceit, dishonesty or misrepresentation and in conduct that reflects adversely on an attorney’s fitness to practice law.
The Court held that Schram’s willful failure to pay her own taxes and failure to withhold taxes and make FICA contributions on behalf of her employees for more than 20 years “breached duties owed to the public and the legal profession,” and said the extended time period involved and gravity of her misconduct outweighed mitigation evidence presented by Schram and called for permanent revocation of her law license.
Contacts
Andrew C. Storar, 937.223.1130, for the Dayton Bar Association.
David Williamson, 937.223.3277, for Deborah Schram.
