NOTICE OF REVOCATION AND RESTITUTION Case No. 04-70-GA Notice Issued: October 12, 2004 Keith Godfrey, P 35353, Detroit, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #13.
1. Revocation 2. Effective September 29, 2004 1 Based on respondent=s default for failure to file an answer to the formal complaint and failure to appear at the public hearing, the hearing panel found that respondent, in four client matters, abandoned the representation and failed to refund unearned fees. In two of those matters, respondent knowingly lied to his client regarding the status of their matters; and in one matter, respondent failed to withdraw after being suspended from the practice of law. Additionally, after being suspended from the practice of law in Michigan, respondent failed to refrain from holding himself out as authorized to practice law; failed to provide written notice of his suspension to all of his active clients, presiding tribunals, and opposing parties; failed to provide written notice to all of his active clients of the location of their files and records and to make the files available to them or to substitute counsel; and failed to file an affidavit with the Attorney Grievance Commission and the Attorney Discipline Board showing full compliance with MCR 9.119. Finally, respondent failed to file answers to seven requests for investigation served upon him by the Grievance Administrator.
Respondent=s conduct was in violation of MCR 9.104(A)(1)-(4), (7) and (9); MCR 9.113(A) and (B)(2); MCR 9.119(A)-(C); and Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1(a)-(c); 1.2(a); 1.3; 1.4(a) and (b); 1.5(a); 1.16(d); 8.1(a)(2); 8.4(a)-(c). The panel ordered that respondent=s license to practice law in Michigan be revoked and that he pay restitution in the aggregate amount of $15,300.00. Costs were assessed in the amount of $1,760.90.
1 Respondent has been continuously suspended from the practice of law in Michigan since March 1, 2003. See Notice of Suspension and Restitution (By Consent), dated May 5, 2003.