Grievance filed against Youngstown lawyer

COLUMBUS — A disciplinary board panel has found probable cause exists in support of a grievance filed by the Mahoning County Bar Association against Atty. David J. Gerchak of Youngstown.

The grievance stemmed from Gerchak’s alleged failure to properly account for $1,400 paid to him by a client or to refund unused portions of that money.

The client hired Gerchak in 2011 to pursue a pardon from the governor of a prior criminal conviction and retained Gerchak to defend him against a drunken-driving charge in 2012 before terminating Gerchak’s services in December 2012, according to the association’s complaint.

Gerchak has been asked to file an answer to the complaint before it is heard by a three-member panel of the Ohio Supreme Court’s Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline.

Gerchak could not be reached for comment on the complaint.