Pa. Lawyer Suspended Four Years After Relapse
Timothy Tomasic, 50, consented to a suspension running through March 17, 2027, after substance abuse led to failed client representation.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Substance Abuse
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court Disciplinary Board suspended Timothy Tomasic for four years, retroactive to March 2023. Tomasic, who was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 2007, consented to the suspension and has not practiced law since 2023.
Why it matters
The disciplinary board found that Tomasic's substance abuse relapse led directly to failures in representing clients, highlighting how probation conditions tied to sobriety can be consequential for practicing attorneys. The case also underscores the board's enforcement of professional standards when lawyers struggle with addiction.
The suspension, which Tomasic consented to, dates from March 2023 and runs through March 17, 2027, while a separate DUI case remains pending with a guilty plea scheduled for Dec. 1.
The players
Timothy Tomasic
A 50-year-old Pennsylvania attorney admitted to the state bar in 2007, who consented to a four-year suspension after substance abuse led to failures representing Allegheny County clients.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Disciplinary Board
The state body responsible for investigating and disciplining attorneys licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania, which imposed the suspension and earlier probation.
The details
Tomasic relapsed in January 2023, months after being placed on probation in August 2022 with conditions requiring abstinence from alcohol and drugs and work with a sobriety monitor. On April 12, 2023, he admitted to a client that he had injected methamphetamine earlier that day, and he failed to appear for a court appearance after Judge Sasinoski ordered him to do so.
Timeline
August 2022: Disciplinary board places Tomasic on probation.
January 2023: Tomasic relapses.
March 2023: Suspension start date, retroactive.
April 12, 2023: Tomasic admits methamphetamine use to a client.
March 17, 2027: Suspension end date.
Legal Context
Pennsylvania's disciplinary process for lawyers with substance abuse problems typically moves from probation to suspension when sobriety conditions are violated, as this case illustrates. The board's enforcement here reflects the broader framework used to regulate attorneys whose addiction affects their client work.
For people navigating addiction while holding professional licenses, this case shows that probation conditions requiring sobriety are enforced strictly, and a relapse can lead to suspension. Anyone in recovery facing similar obligations should understand that disciplinary boards may act on violations even when a practitioner has consented to the outcome.
The takeaway
Probation terms tied to sobriety carry real consequences, and a single relapse can end a legal career for years. Pennsylvania residents seeking help with substance abuse can contact their state's recovery resources early before a violation occurs.
What happens next
The pending DUI case against Tomasic is scheduled for a guilty plea on Dec. 1.
Further reading
For more on addiction's impact on professional life, see Substance Abuse coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TribLIVE.
