Columbus Attorney Suspended
2008-2438. Disciplinary Counsel v. Brenner, Slip Opinion No. 2009-Ohio-3602.
On Certified Report by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline, No. 07-086. Todd A. Brenner, Attorney Registration No. 0051839, is suspended from the practice of law in Ohio for two years, with one year stayed.
Lundberg Stratton, O'Connor, O'Donnell, Lanzinger, and Cupp, JJ., concur.
Moyer, C.J., and Pfeifer, J., dissent and would suspend respondent from the practice of law in Ohio for 18 months, with 12 months stayed.
Opinion: http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf/0/2009/2009-Ohio-3602.pdf 
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(July 29, 2009) The Supreme Court of Ohio today suspended the law license of Columbus attorney Todd A. Brenner for two years, with the second year of that term stayed, for concealing fees he received from two clients from his law firm and subsequently obtaining access to those funds by submitting false expense claims to the firm.
The Court adopted findings by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances & Discipline that in two separate cases Brenner failed to disclose to his firm that a client had authorized him to keep for his own use a portion of settlement proceeds that were retained in the firm’s accounts. Brenner subsequently obtained the use of those funds by inducing the firm to write checks to his own personal creditors under the false pretense that the payments were being made on behalf of clients.
The Court agreed with the board’s findings that Brenner’s actions violated the state attorney discipline rules that prohibit conduct involving fraud, deceit, dishonesty or misrepresentation; conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice; and conduct that adversely reflects on an attorney’s fitness to practice law.
Contacts
Jonathan E. Coughlan: 614.461.0256, for the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.
Dianna Anelli, 614.228.7710, for Todd Brenner.