COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The lawyer whose email tips about Ohio State football players trading memorabilia for tattoos triggered a scandal leading to NCAA sanctions against OSU's football program is trying to avoid suspension of his law license.
The Columbus Dispatch (http://bit.ly/QEgZWj ) reports lawyer Christopher Cicero's attorney told the Ohio Supreme Court on Tuesday that the sales were generally known in Columbus.
The court's disciplinary board previously found that Cicero violated confidences of would-be client and tattoo-parlor owner Edward Rife when he wrote former Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel to warn him about the sales. Cicero says he learned of the sales before meeting Rife.
The board has recommended a six-month license suspension for violating professional rules of conduct.
The Ohio Supreme Court will rule later on what punishment, if any, Cicero would receive.
