MEMBERS WILLIAM J. DANHOF
CHAIRPERSON THOMAS G. KIENBAUM VICE-CHAIRPERSON WILLIAM L MATTHEWS, CPA
SECRETARY BILLY BEN BAUMANN, M.D. ANDREA L SOLAK ROSALIND E. GRIFFIN, M.D. CARL E. VER SEEK CRAIG H. LUBBEN JAMES M. CAMERON, JR.
STATE OF MICHIGAN ATTORNEY DISCIPLINE BOARD
JOHN F. VAN BOLT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
MARK A. ARMITAGE DEPUTY DIRECTOR
JENNIFER M. PETTY LEGAL ASSISTANT
211 WEST FORT ST. SUITE 1410 DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48226-3236 PHONE: 313-963-5553 FAX: 313-963-5571
WWW.ADBMICH.ORG
NOTICE OF REPRIMAND (By Consent)
Case No. 08-173-GA Notice Issued: July 9,2009 Stephen M. Lazzio, P 30468, Flint, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Genesee County Hearing Panel #4.
1. Reprimand 2. Effective July 9,2009 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. Respondent pled no contest to the allegations that he handled a legal matter which he knew or should have known that h~ was not competent to handle; neglected a legal matter; failed to seek the lawful objectives of a client; failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness; failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter; failed to refund any advance payment of a fee that had not been earned upon termination of representation; and failed to surrender papers to which the client was entitled upon termination of representation, in violation of MCR 9.1 04(A)(1 )-(4); and Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1(a) and (c); 1.2(a); 1.3; 1.4(a); 1.16(d); and 8.4(a) and (c).
Based upon the stipulation of the parties, the hearing panel ordered that respondent be reprimanded. Costs were assessed in the amount of $913.29.
John F. Van Bolt
Dated:_J_U_L_-_9_2009_.--