Cuyahoga County Bar Ass'n v. Vala

On January 25, 2000, relator, Cuyahoga County Bar Association, filed a ten-count amended complaint charging respondent, Joseph S. Vala of Cleveland, Ohio, Attorney Registration No. 0038112, with violating numerous rules of the Code of Professional Responsibility. When respondent failed to answer, relator moved for default, and the matter was referred by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline of the Supreme Court (“board”) to Master Commissioner Harry W. White.

Based upon the motion for default and attached affidavits, the master commissioner found that in October 1996, Ruth…