Cincinnati Attorney Suspended
2009-1267. Cincinnati Bar Assn. v. Larson, Slip Opinion No. 2009-Ohio-6766.
On Certified Report by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline, No. 07-088. Robert K. Larson Jr., Attorney Registration No. 0042368, is suspended from the practice of law in Ohio for two years, with one year stayed on conditions.
Pfeifer, Lundberg Stratton, O'Connor, O'Donnell, Lanzinger, and Cupp, JJ., concur.
Moyer, C.J., dissents.
Opinion: http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf/0/2009/2009-Ohio-6766.pdf 
View oral argument video of this case.
(Dec. 30, 2009) The Supreme Court of Ohio today suspended the license of Cincinnati attorney Robert K. Larson Jr. for two years, with the second year of that term stayed on conditions, for neglecting the cases of three different clients, failing to respond to repeated inquiries from those clients about the status of their cases or to refund their unearned fees upon request, and failing to cooperate with disciplinary authorities during the investigation of his misconduct.
The Court voted 6-1 to adopt findings by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances & Discipline findings that Larson accepted fee advances from three clients but subsequently failed to perform promised legal services, file documents or appear at scheduled court proceedings, causing harm or prejudice to those clients including the issuance of warrants for the arrest of two clients.
The Court agreed with the disciplinary board’s findings that Larson’s conduct violated, among others, the state attorney discipline rules that prohibit failure to carry out a contract for professional employment; causing harm or damage to a client in the course of a professional relationship; failure to promptly pay or return funds that a client is entitled to receive; and engaging in conduct involving fraud, deceit, dishonesty or misrepresentation. The Court also found that Larson violated the state bar governance rule that requires attorneys to cooperate with all disciplinary investigations.
The Court’s per curiam opinion was joined by Justices Paul E. Pfeifer, Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, Maureen O’Connor, Terrence O’Donnell, Judith Ann Lanzinger and Robert R. Cupp. Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer dissented, stating that because Larson engaged in a pattern of serious misconduct that exposed his clients to possible arrest, loss of driving privileges and fines, he would impose a two-year license suspension with no time stayed.
Contacts
Diane Schneiderman, 513.621.2120, for the Cincinnati Bar Association.
John Burlew, 513.241.2025, for Robert K. Larson Jr.
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