NOTICE OF SUSPENSION AND RESTITUTION WITH CONDITIONS Case Nos. 05-16-AI; 05-101-JC; 05-102-GA Notice Issued: May 26, 2006
Connie M. Cameron, P 40482, Sanford, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Saginaw County Hearing Panel #1.
1. Suspension - 3 Years 2. Effective January 21, 2005 1 Respondent was convicted by a jury in the Saginaw County Circuit Court of Aggravated Stalking, in violation of MCL 750.4111, and Felonious Assault, in violation of MCL 750.82. On August 17, 2005, the Grievance Administrator filed a Judgment of Conviction and Formal Complaint 05-102-GA, which were consolidated for hearing.
Respondent appeared at the hearing but was found to be in default for failing to file an answer to Formal Complaint 05-102-GA. Based on that default, the hearing panel found that respondent, in two adoption matters, removed, or caused to be removed, seals affixed by the Office of the Great Seal on four documents and placed them on Anon-sealed documents.@ Respondent also had documents, which were signed by her clients, notarized outside of the presence of her clients; and directed a person under her supervision to sign her name and then notarize a document reflecting her false signature onto a document bearing the seal of the Office of the Great Seal. In one of the adoption matters, respondent also charged an excessive fee and instructed non-lawyer employees to transfer apostilles from a document bearing such a seal to others not authorized to be so sealed.
In three international adoption matters, respondent engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice. In two of the three matters, respondent charged clearly excessive fees; engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud or misrepresentation; and failed to communicate the basis of a fee. Additionally, respondent failed to complete services for which she had been retained. Finally, respondent failed to timely answer four requests for investigation served upon her by the Grievance Administrator.
Respondent=s conduct was in violation of MCR 9.104(A)(1)-(5); MCR 9.113(A) and (B)(2); and MRPC 1.2(a); 1.3; 1.5(a) and (b); 8.1(a)(2); and 8.4(a)-(c); MCL 750.248
The panel ordered that respondent=s license to practice law in Michigan be suspended for three years, effective January 21, 2005, the date of her felony conviction, and imposed conditions relevant to the established misconduct. Respondent was also ordered to pay restitution in the aggregate amount of $4,574.50, and costs in the amount of $2,696.42.
1 Respondent has been continuously suspended from the practice of law in Michigan since January 21, 2005. See Notice of Automatic Interim Suspension issued January 31, 2005.