State ex rel. Shimko v. McMonagle

In late 1991 and early 1992, attorney Thomas G. Lobe assisted appellant, attorney Timothy A. Shimko, in litigation against the WD-40 Company in California, according to Shimko’s complaint. During that time, Lobe was an affiliate “of counsel” with Shimko’s law firm. After the California litigation concluded with a favorable result for their clients, a dispute arose between Shimko and Lobe about the amount of attorney fees Shimko owed to Lobe.

In September 1995, Lobe requested that the Cleveland Bar Association set his fee dispute with Shimko for mandatory and binding arbitration. Shimko…