Program sponsored by the Probate Practice Group
Overview: The presentation will cover a variety of topics from which ethics and malpractice claims can arise. Including client communications, client file retention, safekeeping funds and property, types of trust accounts, responsibility for misconduct of non-attorney staff, how to obtain informed consent (not conflict waivers), how to address client misconduct, ethics resources, and heads up on your malpractice insurance.
Speaker Bio:
George D. Jonson, Esq., Montgomery Jonson LLP
George represents individuals and businesses in a wide range of civil litigation. He defends lawyers in professional liability claims; represents attorneys and judges in disciplinary proceedings; and advocates for candidates seeking admission to the Ohio bar in character and fitness proceedings. George also defends Ohio state court judges in a variety of civil matters and provides ethics advice to lawyers and judges.
George has extensive experience in commercial litigation and resolution of business disputes. He represents public and private companies and their principals in a variety of matters, including breach of contract, business torts, non-compete litigation, disputes between owners of closely held corporations, and law firm/partner separations.
George frequently represents plaintiffs in personal injury actions in Ohio and Kentucky, primarily in the areas of vehicle accidents, product liability, and medical malpractice. He also mediates professional liability cases and has served as an expert witness on legal ethics and standard-of-care issues.
As an experienced trial lawyer and appellate counsel, George regularly practices before the Supreme Court of Ohio, the Ohio Supreme Court’s Board of Professional Conduct and Board of Commissioners on Character and Fitness, and the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and numerous state and federal trial courts.
In 2014, the Ohio State Bar Association honored George with the Eugene R. Weir Award for Ethics and Professionalism. George was also a co-recipient of the 2025 John P. Kiely Professionalism Award, along with R. Scott Croswell III. The award recognizes a trial lawyer for possessing outstanding trial skills and demonstrating the highest degree of professionalism, civility and ethical standards in his or her daily practice. This annual award is presented to a member of the Cincinnati Bar Association by the Professionalism Committee of the CBA in honor of John P. Kiely.
For more than 20 years, George has served as a member of the Cincinnati Bar Association’s Ethics & Professional Responsibility Committee and Fee Arbitration Committee. He speaks regularly on ethics, professional responsibility, and legal malpractice prevention.
1.0 PC Hours