Jan. 1 — Feb. 25, 2003
Philadelphia

The Supreme Court on Jan. 28 ordered Ronald B. Abrams suspended for 18 months, as recommended by the Disciplinary Board, and also placed on supervised probation for two years following the suspension. According to the disciplinary report, Abrams commingled and used client funds for his own benefit, failed to make prompt distribution of funds to clients and failed to maintain adequate balances in his trust accounts.

The court on Jan. 31 ordered Steven Clark Forman suspended for one year and one day. Justice Russell M. Nigro dissented in favor of a two-year suspension. A majority of the Disciplinary Board recommended a three-month suspension, while five members dissented in favor of recommending a suspension of one year and one day. The disciplinary report said that Forman failed to notify the Disciplinary Board or the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts that he had moved his office to New Jersey, that he failed to send in an annual statement or pay his annual fee and that after he was placed on inactive status he continued to practice for 12 years and also failed to comply with continuing legal education requirements.

The court on Jan. 31 ordered Ramon R. Obod suspended for one year, retroactive to March 19, 2001, as recommended by the Disciplinary Board. Justice Russell M. Nigro dissented in favor of a two-year suspension. According to the disciplinary report, Obod pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of making a false statement to a Securities and Exchange Commission investigator and was placed on temporary suspension on March 19, 2001.

Disbarments on Consent
The following attorneys have been disbarred on consent under a rule of disciplinary enforcement pertaining to resignations by attorneys under disciplinary investigation: Morton J. Gordon, Luzerne County, on Jan. 24, retroactive to Feb. 20, 2001; Clyde Crady Swisher III, Allegheny County, on Jan. 24, retroactive to June 8, 2001; Kevin Joseph Coffey, out of state, on Jan. 28; George David Sheehan Jr., Montgomery County, on Jan. 31; Philip C. Ursu, Indiana County, on Feb. 11; and Kenneth Charles Jones, Montgomery County, on Feb. 11.

Reciprocal Discipline
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has imposed reciprocal discipline on the following attorneys: Leon Lewis Vinokur, placed on temporary suspension, on Jan. 24, for like discipline imposed by the State of Delaware pending conclusion of disciplinary proceedings; Daniel Eban Berger, suspended for three months, on Jan. 28, for like discipline ordered by the Supreme Court of New Jersey; Michael G. Paul, suspended for three months, on Jan. 28, for like discipline imposed by the Supreme Court of New Jersey; and Patrick H. McCarthy III, disbarred, on Feb. 11, for like discipline imposed by the Supreme Judicial Court for Suffolk County, Mass.