On Wednesday, October 30, 2024, the Supreme Court of Ohio suspended attorney Teresa Ann Villarreal from practicing law for 18 months, with the suspension stayed contingent upon certain conditions.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Teresa Ann Villarreal,” with case no. 2024-0492.
Villarreal had been accused of misconduct in representing clients in four separate matters between 2020 and 2021. According to disciplinary counsel representing the Columbus Bar Association, Villarreal mishandled the mechanic’s lien filings and violated ethical duties of competence, diligence, and honesty.
The court agreed that Villarreal committed misconduct in the first case, known as the Almasoodi Matter. In this case, Villarreal filed an untimely mechanic’s lien on behalf of her client, J. Harris Construction, against a property owner who had already paid for the work. When provided proof of payment, Villarreal failed to ensure her client released the lien as promised. She then filed frivolous motions and pleadings containing false statements, resulting in sanctions against her and her client by the trial court.
Villarreal was also found to have violated her ethical duties in a similar case, known as the K. Hovnanian Homes Matter. In this case, the respondent engaged in frivolous conduct in filing a complaint on behalf of the client.
The court further agreed Villarreal mishandled two other matters. In the Northern Place, L.L.C. Matter, she made untimely filings on behalf of her client without leave of court and then failed to appear at a hearing. In the Contreras Matter, a domestic relations case, Villarreal failed to ensure her client notified the court of an address change as required, which led to a contempt motion against the client.
The Supreme Court concluded her conduct involved dishonesty as well as deficiencies of competence, diligence, and compliance with court orders. However, the Court noted several mitigating factors in her favor, including paying $48,000 in total sanctions, having no prior discipline in 35 years of practice, showing remorse, and fully cooperating with the disciplinary investigation.
The parties had jointly recommended an 18-month fully-stayed suspension, and the Court agreed this was the appropriate sanction given the mitigating factors. Accordingly, Villarreal will be suspended from practicing law for 18 months, but the suspension will be stayed provided she meets the conditions imposed by the Court. These conditions include committing no further misconduct, completing six hours of continuing legal education focused on law office management, and serving one year of probation with monitoring of her law office practices and client communications.
According to avvo.com, Ms. Villarreal is a contracts & agreement attorney in Columbus, Ohio. She acquired her law license in Ohio in 1989.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
