Attorney Suspended for Lending Money to Clients

(CN) - An attorney who loaned $19,800 to clients to help with their living expenses faces a one-year suspension from the Ohio Supreme Court. The court agreed to stay the suspension if attorney Kenneth Charles Podor completes extra hours of legal ethics training and steers clear of any disciplinary violations.

The court acknowledged that Podor "had not acted out of a dishonest or selfish motive," but doled out the one-year sanction based on two aggravating factors: Podor had a prior disciplinary violation and he had given "guarded" testimony about his motivation for loaning the money, claiming it was payment for appearing in a commercial.

Chief Justice Moyer dissented, saying the violation and aggravating factors "warrant an actual suspension from the practice of law."

Moyer said a six-month suspension was more appropriate.

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