Cleveland, West Chester Attorneys Suspended
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In separate disciplinary actions announced today, the Supreme Court of Ohio indefinitely suspended the licenses of attorneys Blaine L. Gottehrer of Cleveland and John R. Andrews of West Chester.
2009-1918. Cleveland Metro. Bar Assn. v. Gottehrer, Slip Opinion No. 2010-Ohio-929.
On Certified Report by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline, No. 08-086. Blaine L. Gottehrer, Attorney Registration No. 0027147, 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-929.pdf 
(March 17, 2010) The Supreme Court of Ohio has indefinitely suspended attorney Blaine L. Gottehrer of Cleveland for accepting fee advances of $1,500 and $2,000 from two different clients but subsequently failing to perform the promised legal services, failing to respond to repeated inquiries from those clients regarding the status of their cases and failing to promptly refund unearned legal fees despite the clients’ repeated requests for reimbursement.
In a 7-0 per curiam opinion, the Court agreed with findings by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances & Discipline that Gottehrer violated the state disciplinary rules that require an attorney to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing clients; to respond as soon as practicable to reasonable requests for information from a client; to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a legal matter; to avoid charging a clearly excessive fee and to promptly deliver funds or other property to which a client is entitled. The Court also found that Gottehrer violated the state bar governance rules that require an attorney to cooperate with all disciplinary investigations and to respond to requests for information from disciplinary authorities.
Contacts
Daniel M. Singerman, 216.696.1422, for the Cleveland Metro Bar Association.
Blaine L. Gottehrer, pro se, 216.696.7525.
2009-1993. Disciplinary Counsel v. Andrews, Slip Opinion No. 2010-Ohio-931.
On Certified Report by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline, No. 05-032. John Robert Andrews, Attorney Registration No. 0006931, is indefinitely suspended from the practice of law in Ohio, with no credit for time served under the interim suspension imposed on August 3, 2006.
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-931.pdf
(March 17, 2010) The law license of West Chester attorney John R. Andrews has been indefinitely suspended by the Supreme Court of Ohio for violations of state attorney discipline rules arising from his criminal convictions for a felony count of attempted tampering with evidence and a misdemeanor count of attempted importuning of sexual activity with a minor.
The Court also unanimously adopted separate findings by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances & Discipline that Andrews neglected and later improperly withdrew from representation of a church board in a civil action. As a result of Andrews’ neglect and failure to comply with discovery requests or to notify his clients of the status of their case, the court dismissed the clients’ complaint without their knowledge and entered summary judgment against them, awarding the opposing party damages of more than $9,000.
In light of his multiple offenses, the Court ordered that Andrews’ indefinite suspension arising from today’s decision not be shortened to reflect the time he has been under an interim license suspension as a result of his criminal convictions.
Contacts
Jonathan Coughlan, 614.461.02567, for the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.
John R. Andrews, pro se, no current contact information available.