CINCINNATI – The Ohio Supreme Court told an attorney that he can’t practice law for six months after he admitted to forging signatures, court records show.
Anderson Township attorney Edward Vardiman Jr. practiced law for 17 years with a child support specialty, but the Warren County Bar Associated accused him of forging a mother’s name – who he didn’t represent -- on a shared-parenting plan and other documents in a custody case. He told a judge he did it “purely [for] time,” court records state.
In another case, the Cincinnati Bar Association accused Vardiman his name and another name on a will and power of attorney document.
Records indicate that Vardiman admitted to actions that violated the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct, court records state.
“I gave full disclosure to the board and will do what the board wants me to do,” Vardiman said. “I will serve the six-month suspension and look forward to getting back to the practice of law.”
Court records indicate that officials considered mitigating factors, including Vardiman’s cooperation, when they ruled on the case.
Attorney Mike Foley, who handled the disciplinary case for the Cincinnati Bar Association, called the outcome good for Vardiman and good for his clients.
