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 ASSOCIA TE COUNSEL SHERRY L. MIFSUD OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR ALLYSON M. PLOURDE CASE MANAGER OWEN R. MONTGOMERY CASE MANAGER JULIE M. LOISELLE RECEPTIONISTISECRETARY
NOTICE OF DISBARMENT Case No. 16-91-MZ (Ref. 15-51-GA) Notice Issued: March 23, 2017 Stephen J. Kale, P 53134, Sterling Heights, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri County Hearing Panel #55.
Disbarment, Effective March 5, 2021 1 The Grievance Administrator filed a petition for an order to show cause on September 1, 2016, seeking additional discipline for respondent's failure to comply with the hearing panel's Order of Disbarment and Restitution, issued February 12, 2016. Respondent was requested to provide an answer to the Grievance Administrator's motion by September 28,2016. When no answer was received, an order to show cause was issued by the Board and a hearing was scheduled. Respondent failed to appear at the show cause hearing held on December 15, 2016.
Based on the evidence presented, the hearing panel found that respondent committed professional misconduct by failing to comply with the hearing panel's February 12, 2016 Order of Disbarment and Restitution. Respondent engaged in conduct that constituted the practice of law in a jurisdiction in violation of the regulation of the legal profession in that jurisdiction, contrary to MRPC 5.5(a); engaged in conduct that constituted holding himself out to the public or otherwise representing that he was admitted to practice law in this jurisdiction, when he was not admitted to practice law in this jurisdiction, in violation of MRPC 5.5(b)(2); engaged in conduct that was in violation or an attempt to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct, contrary to MRPC 8.4(a); and engaged in conduct in violation of an order of discipline, contrary to MeR 9.104(9). Respondent was found to have also violated MCR 9.104(1 )-(4) and MRPC 8.4(b) and (c).
The panel ordered that respondent be disbarred from the practice law in Michigan. The immediate disbarment is to be served consecutively. Costs were assessed in the amount of $1,922.07.
~a~ Mark A. Armitage Executive Director
1 Respondent has been continuously suspended from the practice of law in Michigan since March 5,2016. Please see Notice of Disbarment and Restitution, issued March 7, 2016.