Lawyer faces suspension for road rage incident

The license of a Columbus lawyer could be suspended following a road rage incident with a bicyclist — and the stomping of a witness’ cellphone after he began recording video.

The Board of Professional Conduct has recommended that the Ohio Supreme Court suspend the law license of John Okuley for two years, with one year stayed, for misconduct.

On April 9, 2015, Okuley apparently became upset when a bicyclist, Eric Hansen, passed the lawyer’s stopped vehicle on the right on a Columbus street, the board’s complaint said.

Okuley passed Hansen and slammed on his brakes, with the man’s bicycle striking the rear of the lawyer’s vehicle, the report said. Hansen was not injured.

A passing physician, John Bahling, stopped and began recording video of Okuley’s confrontation with Hansen. During a scuffle, Bahling’s phone fell to the street and Okuley smashed it with his foot, the report said.

Okuley later appeared in court for trial on a misdemeanor charge, but departed when the trial did not begin on time. He later was arrested on a warrant. Okuley ultimately pleaded no contest of criminal damaging, received a suspended 90-day jail sentence and was ordered to pay $950 to Bahling for destroying his phone.

Bahling also received $5,000 in a lawsuit settlement.

The board found that Okuley’s “several versions of the event ... differed materially from those of all of the other witnesses” and concluded he was untruthful.

He is charged with conduct that adversely reflects on his fitness to practice law, obstructing access to evidence, dishonesty and disobeying court rules.

The full board recommended a harsher penalty than the three members of the panel that heard Okuley’s case. They recommended a one-year suspension, with six months stayed.