CHARLESTON – Prior to his disbarment, Arthur Bloom was admonished by the state Bar for representing an Ohio couple in their medical malpractice suit in Wood County while his license was suspended.
According to his disciplinary file, the only complaint filed against Bloom in West Virginia during his 39 years of practicing law came on March 2, 2006. In it, Melvin and Kathy Miller of Belpre, Ohio alleged after hiring Bloom in June 2005 to represent them in a lawsuit they filed in 2003 against Dr. Adam Toppercer in Wood Circuit court he abandoned them prior to a February 2006 hearing.
It was during that hearing, the Miller's found out Bloom's West Virginia license was administratively suspended in November 2005. According to ODC, Bloom was suspended for failing to disclose if he had professional liability insurance.
In three separate responses to the Miller's complaint, Bloom denied neglecting their case. Also, he said he was not aware of the suspension until prior to the February 2006 hearing.
It was due to the suspension, Bloom said, that he failed to show for the hearing. Because of it, the filed a motion to withdraw as counsel which was later granted.
However, in the course of investigating the Miller's complaint, ODC found Bloom knew as early as Dec. 12, 2005, of the suspension. It was on that date his office in Pittsburgh signed for the certified letter dated Nov. 21 notifying him of it.
In addition to the admonishment it issued on March 8, 2008, ODC referred Bloom to the Bar's Unlawful Practice of Law Committee.
Pa. attorney admonished in '08 for unlawful practice
