Supreme Court Disbars, Suspends Attorneys
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In separate disciplinary actions announced today, the Supreme Court of Ohio permanently disbarred Warren attorney George N. Kafantaris and indefinitely suspended the license of attorney John S. Wolanin, formerly of Cleveland, who currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona.
2008-2097. Trumbull Cty. Bar Assn. v. Kafantaris, Slip Opinion No. 2009-Ohio-1389.
On Certified Report by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline, No. 07-038. George Nicholas Kafantaris, Attorney Registration No. 0009748, is permanently disbarred 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/0/2009/2009-Ohio-1389.pdf 
(April 1, 2009) The Supreme Court of Ohio today permanently revoked the license of attorney George N. Kafantaris of Warren based on findings that he misappropriated funds entrusted to him by two different clients, failed to disclose to a probate court that he had received a $25,000 insurance settlement on behalf of a deceased client, and filed an affidavit with the Supreme Court falsely affirming that he had complied with a prior suspension order requiring him to return all client funds and files in his possession to those clients.
In a 7-0 per curiam opinion, the Court agreed with findings by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances & Discipline that Kafantaris committed 14 violations of state attorney discipline rules, including the rules that prohibit conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice; conduct involving fraud, deceit, dishonesty or misrepresentation; failure to maintain complete records of all funds held on behalf of clients; and failure to promptly pay or deliver to a client funds to which the client is entitled.
In imposing its ultimate sanction of disbarment, the Court noted the aggravating factors that Kafantaris had previously been suspended for disciplinary infractions in 2003, and that he engaged in a pattern of misconduct, acted with a selfish or dishonest motive and made false statements in official documents filed in the Trumbull County Probate Court and in the Supreme Court itself.
Contacts
Randil J. Rudloff, 330.393.1584, for the Trumbull County Bar Association.
Mark Kafantaris, 614.223.1444, for George N. Kafantaris.
2008-2098. Disciplinary Counsel v. Wolanin, Slip Opinion No. 2009-Ohio-1393.
On Certified Report by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline, No. 07-031. John Stanley Wolanin, Attorney Registration No. 0051970, 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/0/2009/2009-Ohio-1393.pdf
(April 1, 2009) The law license of former Cleveland attorney John S. Wolanin has been indefinitely suspended by the Supreme Court of Ohio. Wolanin currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona.
The Court adopted findings by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances & Discipline that Wolanin misappropriated funds by accepting checks on behalf of two clients but failing to deposit them into his client trust account or promptly distribute the proceeds to his clients. In one case, the board found that Wolanin retained possession of some of his client’s funds for more than a year, during which time the undistributed amount was not present in his trust account.
The Court found that Wolanin’s actions violated the state attorney discipline rules that require attorneys to notify clients when they receive funds payable to a client; to maintain complete records of client funds in the attorney’s possession; and to promptly deliver funds that a client is entitled to receive. It also found that Wolanin engaged in conduct involving fraud, deceit, dishonesty or misrepresentation; conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice; and conduct that adversely reflects on his fitness to practice law.
Contacts
Jonathan Coughlan, 614.461.0256, for the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.
No current telephone contact information available for John S. Wolanin.