On Monday, December 30, 2024, the Ohio Disciplinary Counsel filed a complaint against attorney Michael Thomas Callahan, alleging serious violations of rules of professional conduct. The case pertains to Mr. Callahan’s involvement in a troubling situation with a client, identified only as C.C., amid her ongoing eviction proceedings.
The case is entitled “Disciplinary Counsel v. Michael Thomas Callahan,” with case no. 2024-044.
Mr. Callahan is accused of engaging in inappropriate conduct with C.C., who is 57 years old and suffers from multiple health issues, including bipolar disorder and rheumatoid arthritis. The allegations stem from events that occurred during a period when C.C. was facing eviction from a property owned by a trust established by her father.
In November 2023, C.C. learned that her father had initiated eviction proceedings against her in the Berea Municipal Court. Faced with the legal challenge and unable to afford representation, she reached out to a friend, S.F., for assistance. S.F. recommended Mr. Callahan, with whom she had a prior relationship.
On December 9, 2023, S.F. communicated with C.C. via text, indicating that Mr. Callahan would meet with her. C.C. arrived at S.F.’s home on December 10, 2023, where she met Mr. Callahan for the first time. However, during their meeting, Mr. Callahan chose to receive a massage from S.F. while discussing C.C.’s case, stating he would not review her eviction documents until after the massage.
As the massage proceeded, Mr. Callahan allegedly made inappropriate sexual advances toward C.C., suggesting she engage in sexual acts with him. C.C. initially refused, but feeling pressured, she ultimately complied with his demands.
After this encounter, Mr. Callahan continued to communicate with C.C. regarding her eviction case. He negotiated a settlement with the attorney representing her father, which C.C. accepted on December 18, 2023. Despite this progress, Mr. Callahan’s behavior during their initial meeting raised serious ethical concerns.
On December 20, 2023, Mr. Callahan visited C.C.’s home again to discuss the case further. During this visit, he allegedly demanded sexual favors, threatening to withdraw his legal assistance if she refused. C.C., fearing the loss of her attorney and potential homelessness, acquiesced to his demands, leading to further sexual encounters.
The situation escalated when C.C. contacted the opposing attorney directly on January 13, 2024, indicating that she no longer wished to be represented by Mr. Callahan. This decision followed the troubling incidents that had occurred during her consultations with him.
On January 17, 2024, C.C. appeared in court without Mr. Callahan for a hearing related to her eviction and successfully requested a continuance. Subsequently, Mr. Callahan reported the sexual incidents to local law enforcement, but it was determined that criminal charges would not be filed due to the nature of the allegations. The police advised C.C. to report the matter to the Disciplinary Counsel.
In light of these events, the Ohio Disciplinary Counsel now alleges that Mr. Callahan violated the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct, specifically Rule 1.8(j), which prohibits soliciting sexual activity from a client unless a sexual relationship existed prior to the attorney-client relationship. Additionally, he is accused of violating Rule 8.4(h), which prohibits conduct that reflects adversely on a lawyer’s fitness to practice law.
The complaint states:
“Relator requests that respondent be found in violation of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct and be sanctioned accordingly.”
According to avvo.com, Mr. Callahan is a personal injury attorney in Akron, Ohio. He attended the University of Akron, C. Blake McDowell Law Center. He acquired his law license in Ohio in 1982.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
