MEMBERS WILLIAM P. HAMPTON
CH.AIRPERSON LORI McALLISTER VICE-CHAIRPERSON WILLIAM L. MATIHEWS, CPA
SECRETAAY REV. IRA COMBS, JR. GEORGE H. LENNON BILLY BEN BAUMANN, M.D. HON. RICHARD F. SUHRHEINRICH WILLIAM J. DANHOF ANDREA L. SOLAK
STATE OF MICHIGAN ATTORNEY DISCIPLINE BOARD
JOHN F. VAN BOLT EXECUTIVE DIREGOR MARK A. ARMITAGE DEPUTY DIREGOR
JENNIFER M. PEnY LEGAL ASSISTANT
211 WEST FORT ST. SUITE 1410 DETROIT....MICHIGAN 48226-3236 PHuNE: 313-963-5553 FAX: 313-963-5571 WWW.ADBMICH.ORG
NOTICE OF REPRIMAND (By Consent)
Case No. 07-16-GA Notice Issued: September 7,2007
Travis W. Ballard, P 32805, Adrian, Michigan, by Attorney Discipline Board Washtenaw County Hearing Panel #1. 1. Reprimand 2. Effective September 7, 2007 1 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, while he was suspended from the practice of law for non-payment of his annual dues to the State Bar, he filed pleadings on behalf of a client in a divorce matter, held himself out as an attorney, and failed to provide notice to his client, the court or opposing counsel of his disqualification from the practice of law. (In the stipulation, the Grievance Administrator stated that he would not contest that respondent's suspension for non-payment was inadvertent and his subsequent representation was at a time he was unaware of his temporary suspension). Additionally, respondent pled no contest to the allegation that he failed to file an answer to a request for investigation served upon him by the Grievance Administrator.
Respondent's conduct was in violation of MCR 9.1 04(A)(1 )-(4) and (7); MCR 9.113(A) and (B)(2); MCR 9.119(A), (B), and(E)(1 )-(3); and Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.4(b); 5.5(a); 8.1 (a)(2); and 8.4(a)-(c). The parties agreed that respondent should be reprimanded and costs were assessed in the amount of $770.96.
Dated:
7 2007 _
1 Respondent has been continuously suspended from the practice of law in Michigan since May 23, 2007. Please see Notice of Automatic Interim Suspension issued July 25,2007.