COLUMBUS State supreme court's ruling will sideline attorney for 6 months

COLUMBUS -- Canfield attorney Je'Anne Longenhagen cannot practice law for six months after neglecting a client's legal matter, the Supreme Court of Ohio said Wednesday.
Longenhagen was suspended for a year, with six months of the suspension stayed, for reportedly accepting $3,600 in fees in 1996 from a client for probate work on the client's husband's estate. According to court documents, the work was not completed for more than five years.
Court documents also said she was guilty of not cooperating with the Mahoning County Bar Association's proceedings on the matter.
The high court also found the attorney's 23-year spotless record as an attorney and severe stress from rising marital issues and family illnesses to be mitigating factors when the violations occurred.
"Although an indefinite suspension is generally warranted when a pattern of neglecting legal matters is coupled with a failure to cooperate in the ensuing disciplinary investigation, there is no such pattern of neglect related to multiple clients here," the decision read.
"In addition, the board properly credited respondent's mitigating evidence relating to extreme marital and personal stress as well as the absence of a prior disciplinary record."