On Friday, March 31, 2023, the Disciplinary Counsel filed a complaint against attorney Jason George before the Board of Professional Conduct of the Supreme Court of Ohio for his engagement in a series of deception and theft from his law firm and from third persons for whom he was entrusted to hold funds in escrow.
The case is entitled “Disciplinary Counsel v. Jason George, Esq” with case no. 2023-006.
The charges cited Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15(d), 4.1(a), 8.4(c), 8.4(h), 1.15(a), and 8.1(a)(c) which states:
A lawyer shall promptly deliver to the client or third person any funds or other property that the client or third person is entitled to receive.
A lawyer shall not knowingly make a false statement of a material fact or law to a third person.
It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.
It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to engage in any other conduct that adversely reflects on the lawyer’s fitness to practice law
A lawyer should hold the property of clients or third persons that is in a lawyer’s possession in connection with a representation separate from the lawyer’s own property.
A lawyer shall not knowingly make a false statement of material fact.
It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.
The Rules of Professional Conduct can be found here.
In 2015, the respondent allegedly misappropriated $100,000 of fees that should have been paid to a person named Frost Brown Todd under the terms of his employment contract. These funds stemmed from the respondent’s work on a financing deal involving a financial advisor and were the start of a series of deceptive transactions involving two more individuals. Together, the three worked to procure the deposit of escrowed funds from third parties which the respondent agreed to hold.
The filing continues:
“Instead, the respondent released the funds almost immediately to Stephens who then made payments into the respondent’s personal account. Respondent failed to bill for his time spent on numerous dealings with Davis and Stephens in contravention of Frost Brown Todd’s billing policy. Finally, as the third parties began requesting refunds of their depleted funds, the respondent left Frost Brown.”
The filing further states:
“Upon learning of the missing funds, after the respondent left the firm, FBT sent written questions to the respondent regarding his involvement with Terra Master and Bill Stephens. Respondent falsely asserted to FBT that he “worked on one transaction for Terra Master.” In fact, as outlined above, the respondent deposited money relating to multiple transactions on behalf of Terra Master. Additionally, the respondent’s statement to FBT directly contradicts his response to the relator’s letter of inquiry regarding his conduct.”
Considering the four counts of misconduct filed against the respondent, the Disciplinary Counsel requested the former to be found in violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
The Conclusion states:
“Relator requests that respondent be found in violation of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct and be sanctioned accordingly.”
Mr. George practices in Columbus, Ohio. He is licensed in Ohio. Mr. George’s info can be found on lawyersjustia.com.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
