Lawyer Caught On Courthouse Camera Engaging In Sex Act With Client

Yeah, he's been suspended.

There’s a reason why professional ethics rules exist. And high on that list of professional no-nos is having a sexual relationship with a client — the risk of an unequal power balance is just too great. Clients may feel coerced into the relationship, particularly when the stakes of the representation are high.

So it was bad news for his professional responsibilities when Ohio lawyer Brian W. Benbow was caught on a courthouse camera getting a handjob from his client who was there for a child visitation matter. Or as the Columbus Dispatch delicately puts it:

While in a conference room equipped with a video camera, Benbow placed his court files and coat over his lap and placed his client’s hand under his coat, according to court filings.

The camera’s feed was monitored by courthouse deputies and naturally an investigation ensued. But while Benbow self-reported some of his misconduct to the Columbus Bar Association, he lied about the true nature of his relationship with his client. The investigation found Benbow had exchanged explicit messages and photographs with the client prior to engaging in sexual activity, but during a deposition with the Office of the Disciplinary Counsel, he omitted several key facts.

All of which adds up to a lot of facts weighing against Benbow when his disciplinary case came up before the Ohio Supreme Court. The Board of Professional Conduct, which conducted the investigation, submitted its findings to the court and recommended suspension from the practice of law for his “repeated and improper sexual conduct with his client and the subsequent course of dishonest conduct.” They found Benbow had violated several ethical rules including: soliciting or engaging in sexual activity with a client, knowingly making a false statement in connection with a disciplinary matter, and engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.

The Ohio Supreme Court agreed that Benbow’s behavior was unacceptable and gave him a two-year suspension from practice, with one year stayed on the conditions recommended by the board.


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headshotKathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).

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