MEMBERS JONATHAN E. LAUDERBACH CHAIRPERSON MICHAEL B. RIZIK, JR. VICE-CHAIRPERSON BARBARA WILLIAMS FORNEY SECRETARY JAMES A. FINK JOHN W. INHULSEN
KAREN D. O’DONOGHUE LINDA S. HOTCHKISS, MD MICHAEL S. HOHAUSER PETER A. SMIT
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 FAX: 313-963-5571
www.adbmich.org
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION Case No. 19-101-GA Notice Issued: March 30, 2020 Charles Gottlieb, P 14221, Waterford, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #74.
Suspension - 180 Days, Effective March 27, 2020 1 Formal Complaint 19-101-GA alleged that respondent committed professional misconduct in relation to his involvement in obtaining long term disability benefits for a client, abandonment of another client’s case, and failure to answer a request for investigation. Respondent failed to appear at the hearing held on December 5, 2019, and the panel found that the default was properly entered and that all of the allegations contained in the formal complaint were deemed admitted.
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 a matter and comply promptly with reasonable requests for information, in violation of MRPC 1.4(a); failed to explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make an informed decision regarding the representation, in violation of MRPC 1.4(b); charged an excessive fee, in violation of MRPC 1.5(a); failed to maintain a normal client-lawyer relationship with a client under a disability, in violation of MRPC 1.14(a); failed to take reasonable steps to protect the client’s interests after termination of representation, in violation of MRPC 1.16(d); failed to respond to a lawful demand for information, in violation of MRPC 8.1(a)(2); and failed to answer a request for investigation in conformity with MCR 9.113(A), in violation of MCR 9.104(7). Respondent was also found to have violated MCR 9.104(2) and (3); and MRPC 8.4(a)
The panel ordered that respondent’s license to practice law be suspended for a period of 180 days. Total costs were assessed in the amount of $1,770.26.
/s/ Mark A. Armitage Executive Director
1 Respondent has been continuously suspended from the practice of law since December 17, 2019. See Notice of Interim Suspension Pursuant to MCR 9.115(H)(1), Grievance Administrator v Charles Gottlieb, Case No. 19-101-GA, issued December 18, 2019.