Pickerington’s lawyer will not be able to practice the law of 18 months after the Ohio Supreme Court suspended him for taking money from his clients and did not carry out legal work, lied to Franklin County Judge and provided his clients false information.
The court on July 9 Announced that he had stopped Jeffrey D. Hunter for two years, remained for six months. Hunter has been a lawyer since 1993.
The allegations of misconduct began in 2020, when the woman contacted Hunter for assistance by submitting an early release from a brother. Hunter took $ 2,500 from a woman, but did not tell her that there was no possibility of a man’s sentence. The court’s records show that Hunter has not provided documents that he represented the man for almost two years.
The court’s records also show that Hunter sent a woman’s text messages that she intended to appear as if they were from his assistant. According to the court, he actually sent them to avoid communication with his client. After the woman asked for a refund, Hunter postponed her for several months, and only after the Ohio Professional Behavior Board sent money only after the intervention.
Court: Ohio’s lawyer with no suspected murder
In the second case, the family hired Hunter to represent the criminal suspect in the court of the Franklin County of Franklin County. According to court, Hunter paid $ 12,500 for his representation, but in 2023. Failed to comply with two scheduled meetings in 2023. Hunter told the judge to supervise the case that he had missed the second date of the court because he traveled to attend the funeral.
The judge of the case demanded that Hunter come to the hearing in person and submit proof of his journey. Hunter replaced the person whose funeral he said he was visiting and provided a photo of his wife’s suitcases, according to court records.
A week later, Hunter did not appear at a mandatory or psychiatric meeting to his client, the court said. When 2023 September Hunter appeared at a further hearing, and he said to the judge that he had visited his client in the Franklin County Prison, despite the prison records directly contrary to his statements.
“When the court faced the hunter with evidence that he had not visited the prison since July 10, he said the sheriff’s records were inaccurate,” the Supreme Court decision said.
The judge removed Hunter from the case and in 2023. November Filed a complaint to the Discipline Board. The court’s records say that Hunter did not return the husband’s family $ 12,500.
The lawyer took cash from a prisoner’s family, according to court
In the third case, Hunter took $ 2,500 from a prison’s former husband, saying that he would appeal to their son’s case, despite the period that the appeal is already in effect.
Hunter ignored the text messages of her husband’s parents at least 12 times from 2022. In July By 2024 In March, he replied at other times, claiming he was his own assistant.
The man himself called the Hunter more than 1,280 times over the years, but Hunter received only eight calls, which took a total of 38 minutes, according to the court. Hunter did not return $ 2,500 for her parents from 2024. September Discipline court hearing.
The court’s records also say that Hunter lied to members of the disciplinary commission at his hearing, which was another issue of misconduct.
“His often delayed or completely non -existent communication with clients and its open is, both for them and the court, damages the trust that is of any relationship with clients and the public perception of the lawyers’ profession,” the judgment said.
Judges Patrick Dewine, Dan Hawkins, Joseph Deters and Megan Shanahan signed the majority.
Supreme Judge Sharon Kennedy wrote a consensus, saying that she had agreed to the actual findings, but would have permanently dismissed the hunter as a lawyer for misconduct.
Judge Patrick Fischer also wrote a consensus, saying that he would have introduced an unlimited suspension in the case. Justice Jennifer Brunner did not participate in the case.
You can contact the Bethany Bruner journalist by email. By email [email protected] or Bluesky @Bethanybruner.dispatch.com.
This article initially appeared in Columbus Dispatch: Ohio Supreme Court suspends Pickerington lawyer who stole from clients