Columbus Attorney’s License Suspended Indefinitely
2009-1540. Columbus Bar Assn. v. Thomas, Slip Opinion No. 2010-Ohio-604.
On Certified Report by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline, No. 09-034. James D. Thomas, Attorney Registration No. 0040464, is indefinitely suspended 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/0/2010/2010-Ohio-604.pdf 
(Feb. 25, 2010) The Supreme Court of Ohio today imposed an indefinite suspension against the law license of Columbus attorney James D. Thomas for misappropriating at least $32,600 from funds that he held in trust for a client.
The Court adopted findings by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances & Discipline that, in order to cover personal cash-flow problems caused by late payments from one of his clients, Thomas made 38 illegal disbursements to himself from funds belonging to another client that were on deposit in his law office trust account.
In a 7-0 per curiam decision, the Court agreed with the disciplinary board’s conclusions that Thomas’ actions violated the state discipline rules that require attorneys to maintain accurate records of funds held for clients and to make prompt payment of funds to which a client is entitled; and the rules that prohibit intentionally causing prejudice or damage to a client; engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation; and engaging in conduct that adversely reflects on an attorney’s fitness to practice law.
Contacts
Michael L. Close, 614.221.5216, for the Columbus Bar Association.
James D. Thomas, pro se, 614.227.0366.
Please note: Opinion summaries are prepared by the Office of Public Information for the general public and news media. Opinion summaries are not prepared for every opinion released by the Court, but only for those cases considered noteworthy or of great public interest. Opinion summaries are not to be considered as official headnotes or syllabi of Court opinions. The full text of this and other Court opinions from 1992 to the present are available online from the Reporter of Decisions. In the Full Text search box, enter the eight-digit case number at the top of this summary and click "Submit."