AG: Former State Funeral Board Director Practiced Law Without A License

The Ohio Attorney General's Office says the state Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors authorized its former director to practice law without a license by allowing her to negotiate violation settlements. Vanessa Niekamp resigned last week, saying a board member's baseless accusations and personal antagonism left her with no choice. The board voted last year to delegate negotiations of state law violations with funeral directors to Niekamp. The Attorney General's Office says it is the only agency allowed to negotiate agreements on behalf of the board. Niekamp filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against a board member earlier this year,.