Bloomberg Law
Nov. 30, 2017, 6:13 PM UTC

Lawyer Suspended for One-Sided Farmland-for-Fee Deal

Samson Habte
Samson Habte
Legal Editor

A lawyer who convinced a client facing drug charges to transfer ownership of land worth $135,000 as payment for representing her in a case that ultimately required just 40 hours of work was indefinitely suspended by the Ohio Supreme Court Nov. 29.

The decision highlights the risks of accepting property in lieu of money when negotiating fee arrangements with prospective clients who are land-rich, cash-poor, and in dire straits (Disciplinary Counsel v. Bucio, 2017 BL 425430, Ohio, No. 2017-0800, 11/29/17).

The respondent, Christopher R. Bucio, was charged with violating Ohio’s version of Model Rule 1.8(a), which requires lawyers ...

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