COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Supreme Court has suspended attorney and former Mahoning County Bar Association president Gregg Rossi for six months, ruling that he drafted a nondisclosure agreement intended to interfere with the prosecution of his friend and client, who was accused of assaulting a woman at a party.
Rossi’s client faced a misdemeanor assault charge and was under a court order prohibiting any contact with the woman. Despite the order, the two continued to communicate. Court documents say the client attempted to influence the case, and the woman later sought to have the no-contact order lifted.
According to the disciplinary findings, the client urged Rossi to draft an agreement meant to keep the case from moving forward. The document requested that prosecutors dismiss the charge and included a confidentiality clause to prevent texts, photos, and emails from being revealed in court. Rossi prepared the agreement without the woman’s input and did not advise her to obtain her own attorney before signing.
The woman later reported that she felt pressured to sign, telling investigators she believed Rossi’s client had threatened to release photos of her to her employer. Both parties signed the agreement in Rossi’s office, and the criminal case stalled as the woman assumed she was bound by the document. When the presiding judge reviewed the agreement, she recused herself and filed a grievance with the state’s disciplinary authorities.
Rossi’s client was eventually convicted of the assault charge and sentenced to 180 days in jail with credit for time served.
Rossi argued before the Board of Professional Conduct that his actions did not obstruct justice and requested either a public reprimand or a fully stayed suspension, citing past service to the legal community and 22 character letters submitted on his behalf. The Supreme Court rejected those arguments and issued the six-month suspension on Friday.
Rossi must meet all reinstatement requirements before he can return to practicing law in Ohio.
