WARREN State board is dropping complaint against attorney

The attorney still has a contempt of court case pending against her out of Columbiana County.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- An arm of the Ohio Supreme Court has dismissed a four-count complaint that had been filed against Atty. Toni Marcheskie of Warren last year.
The court's Board of Commissioners on Grievance and Discipline dismissed the complaint earlier this month.
The board handles complaints filed against lawyers in Ohio.
"I am thrilled this is over," Marcheskie said.
The board had filed one of the complaint counts after it was not able to contact Marcheskie about the other three complaints it had received.
The board sent Marcheskie a certified letter and it was signed by someone in Marcheskie's former office.
"Someone signed my name but I never got the letter," Marcheskie said. "It's pretty easy to tell that it is not my signature."
Marcheskie said the letter was sent to her former law firm.
According to the dismissal, officials from the disciplinary counsel contacted Atty. Daniel Keating and members of his office staff who confirmed that the signature did not appear to be Marcheskie's.
Marcheskie said she did not know who signed her name or what happened with the letter.
"I just know that I never got it," Marcheskie said.
The dismissal also stated that Marcheskie did not violate any rules in regard to the other three counts of the complaint.
Two counts were dismissed because the cases involved were not handled by Marcheskie, but by an associate of hers. The third complaint involved her talking to a woman whom the board did not identify.
Appealing ruling
Meanwhile, Marcheskie is appealing a contempt finding by a Columbiana County Common Pleas judge.
Marcheskie is asking the 7th District Court of Appeals to overturn Judge C. Ashley Pike's ruling. Judge Pike has ordered Marcheskie to serve a two-day jail sentence.
Judge Pike had found Marcheskie in contempt Dec. 14 for failing to appear Oct. 26 at a sentence review hearing for a client.
Marcheskie had argued that she had not been retained in connection with the hearing.
The judge has agreed to stay the execution of the sentence pending Marcheskie's appeal.
sinkovich@vindy.com