MEMBERS LOUANN VAN DER WIELE CHAIRPERSON LAWRENCE G. CAMPBELL
VICE-CHAIRPERSON DULCE M. FULLER
SECRETARY ROSALIND E. GRIFFIN, M.D. MICHAEL MURRAY JAMES A. FINK JOHN W. INHULSEN JONATHAN E. LAUDERBACH BARBARA WILLIAMS FORNEY
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
SHERRY L. MIFSUD OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
JENNIFER M. PETTY PARALEGAL
ALLY SON M. PLOURDE CASE MANAGER
JULIE M. LOISELLE CASE MANAGER
www.adbmich.org
NOTICE OF DISBARMENT AND RESTITUTION Case No. 15-51-GA Notice Issued: March 7, 2016
Stephen J. Kale, P 29203, Sterling Heights, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #55. 1. Disbarment 2. Effective March 5, 2016 Respondent was found to be in default for his failure to file an answer to the formal complaint. Respondent appeared at the misconduct hearing but his request to set aside the default was denied. Respondent did not appear at the subsequent sanction hearing.
Based on respondent's default, the panel found that respondent committed professional misconduct by engaging in legal representation without adequate preparation, in violation of MRPC 1.1 (a); neglecting a legal matter, in violation of MRPC 1.1 (c); failing to seek the lawful objectives of a client through reasonably available means permitted by law and the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct, in violation of MRPC 1.2(a); failing to act with reasonable diligence when representing a client, in violation of MRPC 1.3; failing to keep a client reasonably informed regarding the status of a legal matter, in violation of MRPC 1.4(a); failing to respond to his client's reasonable requests for information, in violation of MRPC 1.4(b); entering into an agreement for, charging, and/or receiving a clearly excessive attorney fee, in violation of MRPC 1.5(a); upon the termination of the representation, failing to refund to the client an unearned attorney fee and advanced costs that were not incurred, in violation ofMRPC 1.16(d); assisting another to engage in the unauthorized
practice of law in Michigan, in violation of MRPC 5.5(a); knowingly failing to respond to a lawful demand for information from a disciplinary authority, in violation of MRPC 8.1 (a)(2); engaging in
conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, and/or misrepresentation where such conduct reflects adversely on a lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer, in violation of MRPC 8.4(b); and, failing to answer a Request for Investigation, in violation of MCR 9.104(7) and MCR 9.113(A) and 9.113(8)(2). The panel also found that respondent violated MRPC 8.4(a) and (c) and MCR 9.104(1 )-(4).
The panel ordered that respondent be disbarred from the practice of law in Michigan and that he pay restitution in accordance with a judgment in an underlying matter. Costs were assessed in the amount of $2,485.11.
MAl-lUI Dated: ____' _ ___