OBLIC news, events and updates.

Dear OBLIC policyholders, friends and family, In this time of incredible uncertainty, we would like you to know that everyone here at OBLIC shares your concerns regarding the COVID-19, aka coronavirus, outbreak. We have taken steps to ensure that we continue to deliver the level of personal service you have come to expect from OBLIC, while […]

As lawyers we know the importance of preparation. The most reliable source for information on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. This website provides information on the virus, prevention and treatment and importantly, the latest updates on the disease. It also provides the Stop The Spread of Germs poster to provide helpful tips […]

OBLIC paid approximately $450,783 to resolve 13 claims that were closed last month. Payments included loss payments, such as judgments awarded or settlement payments, and the attorneys’ fees and costs OBLIC paid to defend its insureds. This is part of a continuing monthly series providing information on recently closed claims. We will provide claim statistics on the areas of […]

With 69% of adults in the U.S. using Facebook and another 37% using Instagram, it is a good idea for estate planning attorneys to discuss the afterlife of digital content and social media with their clients. Ohio’s Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, Chapter 2137 Ohio Revised Code, provides for continued access or control over […]

Ohio law firms of all sizes can and do suffer all sorts of cyber breaches. OBLIC began providing complimentary cyber breach protection in 2014 and almost immediately began assisting Ohio law firms with responding to and recovering from cyber breaches. Since OBLIC began providing cyber breach insurance protection, it has helped respond to 23 cyber […]

On January 28, 2020, the Ohio Supreme Court adopted the amendment to Judicial Conduct Rule 4.4, Campaign Solicitations and Contributions, that took effect immediately. The amendment corrected an error in the contribution limits table as applied to judicial candidates for county courts that serve a territorial jurisdiction with a population of 750,000 or less. The […]

Ransomware attacks continue to strike law firms. The best defense to ransomware threats continues to be regular backup of all your devices, but especially for your core systems. OBLIC has learned of malware that can encrypt the system and also delete or encrypt the backup. This can happen when the backup is managed through a domain account that […]

OBLIC recently addressed the topic of retaining client wills in our HOTLINE QUESTIONS Series. An Ethics Opinion 1182 from the New York State Bar Association Committee on Professional Ethics emphasizes the importance of the recommendations described in that OBLICAlert. The referenced ethics opinion was sought by a New York attorney who had over 500 original client wills (some […]

OBLIC paid approximately $283,257 to resolve 11 claims that were closed in December. During 2019, we closed a total of 91 claims and 35 disciplinary matters with a total paid on those files of approximately $3,212,304, just a glimpse of some of OBLIC’s efforts in protecting Ohio attorneys. Payments included loss payments, such as judgments awarded or settlement payments, and […]

The Ohio Board of Professional Conduct recently issued Opinion 2019-6 Ethical Obligation to Deliver a Former Client’s File.. The Opinion states: A lawyer does not have a duty to preserve client files permanently. A lawyer is not required by the Rules of Professional Conduct to maintain a former client’s file for a minimum period of time after termination […]