MEMBERS JONATHAN E. LAUDERBACH CHAIRPERSON MICHAEL B. RIZIK, JR. VICE-CHAIRPERSON BARBARA WILLIAMS FORNEY SECRETARY KAREN D. O’DONOGHUE LINDA S. HOTCHKISS, MD
MICHAEL S. HOHAUSER PETER A. SMIT ALAN GERSHEL LINDA M. ORLANS
STATE OF MICHIGAN ATTORNEY DISCIPLINE BOARD
333 WEST FORT STREET, SUITE 1700
MARK A. ARMITAGE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR — WENDY A. NEELEY DEPUTY DIRECTOR — KAREN M. DALEY ASSOCIATE COUNSEL — SHERRY MIFSUD OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR —
ALLYSON M. PLOURDE CASE MANAGER OWEN R. MONTGOMERY CASE MANAGER — JULIE M. LOISELLE RECEPTIONIST/SECRETARY —
DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48226-3147
PHONE: 313-963-5553
www.adbmich.org
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION (By Consent)
Case No. 21-17-GA Notice Issued: September 14, 2021 Lawrence B. Shulman, P 45075, Royal Oak, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #66.
Suspension - 60 Days, Effective September 11, 2021 1 The respondent and the Grievance Administrator filed a Stipulation for 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 contained respondent’s admissions to the allegations that he committed professional misconduct during his representation of a client seeking expungement on a case respondent handled for her ten years earlier and when he failed to answer a request for investigation filed by the client. The complaint specifically alleged that respondent failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in pursuing his client’s legal matter, failed to keep his client informed as to the status of her matter, failed to return his client’s property upon her termination of the representation, and failed to answer the request for investigation filed by his client and served upon him by the Grievance Administrator.
Based upon respondent’s admissions as set forth in the stipulation of the parties, the panel found that respondent failed to seek the lawful objectives of a client through reasonably available means permitted by law, in violation of MRPC 1.2(a); failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness, in violation of MRPC 1.3; failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and comply with reasonable requests for information, in violation of MRPC 1.4(a); upon termination of representation, failed to take reasonable steps to protect the client’s interests, including surrendering papers and property to which the client is entitled and refunding any advance payment of fee that has not been earned, in violation of MRPC 1.16(d); and failed to answer a request for investigation in conformity with MCR 9.113, in violation of MCR 9.104(7). Respondent was also found to have violated MCR 9.104(1)-(3) and MRPC 8.4(a) and (c).
In accordance with the stipulation of the parties, the hearing panel ordered that respondent’s license to practice law in Michigan be suspended for 60 days. Costs were assessed in the amount of $765.95.
1 Respondent has been continuously suspended from the practice of law in Michigan since April 10, 2021. Please see Notice of Suspension With Conditions, issued June 11, 2021, Grievance Administrator v Lawrence B. Shulman, Case No. 20-43-GA.