Toledo, Ohio attorney Kristin Stahlbush has been suspended from the practice of law for two years for repeatedly over-billing the Lucas County juvenile and common pleas courts for her services as a court-appointed counsel representing low-income clients. On multiple occasions, Stahlbush billed more than 24 hours a day.
From the Legal Profession Blog:
“The Court agreed with the board’s conclusions that by knowingly billing for more hours than she had actually worked, [the attorney] violated the state disciplinary rules that prohibit charging an excessive fee; engaging in conduct involving fraud, deceit, dishonesty or misrepresentation; engaging in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice; and engaging in conduct that adversely reflects on the attorney’s fitness to practice law.”
In the opinion, the Court said it did not impose more stringent penalties because she had no prior record of disciplinary issues,and was known as a competent and hard-working.
More than 24 hours a day? I’d say she’s hard-working, all right.
Ethics Alarms 
Reminds me of the old joke about the lawyer who showed up at the Pearly Gates, complaining that he was too young to die, only 37 years old. St. Peter looked at his data sheet and said, “Oh, yes. According to the hours you’ve billed, it shows you’re 95 years old.”
Well, there is ONE day out of the year where you can legally bill 25 hours per day….
And that doesn’t even take into account what’s possible by doing business in-flight on board a west-bound jet!
😉
–Dwayne
I can see the bar association is going to have trouble with you!