MEMBERS WILLIAM P. HAMPTON CHAIRPERSON LORI McALLISTER VICE-CHAIRPERSON WILLIAM L. MATTHEWS, CPA SECRETARY 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 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 SUSPENSION Case No. 03-40-GA Notice Issued: April 24, 2007 Gerard Trudel, P 39342, Allen Park, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #33.
1. Suspension - 3 Years 2. Effective February 22, 2007 The hearing panel found that respondent, while serving as a judge of the 24 th District Court in Allen Park, Michigan, intentionally made false statements on a disability application that he had developed a work related disability in the course of his employment as a judicial officer when, in fact, he was on disciplinary suspension. The panel also found that respondent sent letters to certain individuals, including court employees, police officers and/or members of the Allen Park City Council which evidenced a pattern of bullying, threatening, and retaliatory conduct and that he harassed witnesses during proceedings before the Judicial Tenure Commission by bringing litigation against them to prevent their cooperation in those proceedings. The panel further found that respondent’s threatening, harassing, demeaning and retaliatory conduct toward attorneys and members of the City Counsel of Allen Park, as well as his inappropriate sexual comments and physical advances toward a probation officer, and his racially insensitive or demeaning comments about a court employee, constituted professional misconduct
Respondent’s conduct was in violation of MCR 9.104(A)(1)-(4); MCR 9.205; Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 3.1; 3.4(a) and (f); 6.5; and 8.4(a)-(c); Michigan Constitution 1963 Article VI Section 30, as amended; and Cannons 1; 2(a); 2(b) and 3(c) of the Michigan Code of Judicial Conduct.
The panel ordered that respondent’s license to practice law in Michigan be suspended for three years and costs were assessed in the amount of $2,672.69.
Respondent filed a petition for review which was dismissed by the Attorney Discipline Board when respondent failed to file the required brief in support of his petition for review.
/s/ John F. Van Bolt
Dated: 04/24/07