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 AND RESTITUTION (By Consent)
Case No. 20-29-GA Notice Issued: October 16, 2020 Jason P. Ronning, P 64779, Hudsonville, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Muskegon County Hearing Panel #1.
Suspension - One Year, Effective October 9, 2020. 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. Based on respondent’s admissions and the stipulation of the parties, the panel found that respondent committed professional misconduct in his representation of a client in a criminal matter when he failed to advise his client and the court that his license to practice law was suspended; failed to notify his client that he would not be appearing on his behalf at a court hearing; failed to refund unearned fees to the client; and failed to answer a request for investigation filed against him by the client.
Specifically, the panel found that respondent neglected a legal matter entrusted to him, in violation of MRPC 1.1(c); failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client, in violation of MRPC 1.3; failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of the matter and comply promptly with reasonable requests for information, in violation of MRPC 1.4(a); failed to timely refund an unearned fee to which the client is entitled, in violation of MRPC 1.16(d); failed to notify his client of his suspension within 7 days of the effective date of his suspension, in violation of MCR 9.119(A); failed to file with the tribunal a notice of his disqualification from the practice of law by the effective date of his order of suspension, in violation of MCR 9.119(B); knowingly failed to timely respond to a lawful demand for information from a disciplinary authority, in violation of MRPC 8.1(a)(2); and failed to timely answer a request for investigation, in violation of MCR 9.104(7) and MCR 9.113(A) and (B)(2). Respondent was also found to have violated MRPC 8.4(a) and (c); and MCR 9.104(1)-(4).
In accordance with the stipulation of the parties, the panel ordered that respondent’s license to practice law in Michigan be suspended for a period of one year and that he pay restitution in the total amount of $1,500.00. Costs were assessed in the amount of $772.67.
/s/ Mark A. Armitage Executive Director