MEMBERS LOUANN VAN DER WIELE CHAIRPERSON REV. MICHAEL MURRAY VICE-CHAIRPERSON DULCE M. FULLER SECRETARY JAMES A. FINK JOHN W. INHULSEN JONATHAN E. LAUDERBACH BARBARA WILLIAMS FORNEY KAREN D. O'DONOGHUE MICHAEL B. RIZIK, JR.
STATE OF MICHIGAN ATTORNEY DISCIPLINE BOARD
211 WEST FORT STREET, SUITE 1410 DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48226·3236 PHONE: 313·963-5553 I FAX: 313·963·5571
MARK A. ARMITAGE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WENDY A. NEELEY DEPUTY DIRECTOR KAREN M. DALEY ASSOCIATE COUNSEL SHERRY L. MIFSUD OFFICE ADMIN/STRATOR ALLYSON M. PLOURDE CASE MANAGER OWEN R. MONTGOMERY CASE MANAGER JULIE M. LOISELLE RECEPT/ON/STISECRETARY
AMENDED NOTICE OF DISBARMENT AND RESTITUTION (By Consent)
Case No. 16-37 -GA Notice Issued: December 21,2016 Gary D. Siegel, P 28599, Waterford, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #69.
Disbarment, Effective July 16, 2016 The respondent and the Grievance Administrator filed a stipulation for a consent order of discipline, in accordance with MCR 9.115(F)(5). which was approved by the Attorney Grievance Commission and accepted by the hearing panel. The stipulation contains respondent's admissions and plea of no contest that he committed professional misconduct in his representation of five clients in their bankruptcy matters by accepting attorney and court filing fees; not filing the bankruptcy petitions on his clients' behalf; failing to refund the full amount of money to his clients; failing to promptly payor deliver funds to the bankruptcy court; and knowingly making a false statement of material fact to a tribunal.
Based upon respondent's admissions, plea of no contest and the stipulation of the parties, the panel found that respondent failed to promptly payor deliver funds to the bankruptcy court, in violation of MRPC 1.15(b)(3); failed to hold property of clients in connection with a representation separate from his own property, in violation of MRPC 1.15(d); failed to deposit legal fees and expenses paid in advance into a client trust account, in violation of MRPC 1.15(g); failed to fully refund the payment of a fee and cost that had not been earned, in violation of MRPC 1.16(d); and knowingly made a false statement of material fact to a tribunal, in violation of MRPC 3.3(a)(1). Respondent was also found to have violated MRPC 8.4(a) and MRPC 8.4(b).
In accordance with the stipulation of the parties, the hearing panel ordered that respondent be disbarred from the practice of law in Michigan, effective July 16, 2016, and that he pay restitution in the total amount of $5,595.00. Costs were assessed in the amount of $809.93. ~a~-,
Mark A. Armitage