NOTICE OF PROBATION WITH CONDITION Case No. 02-147-GA Notice Issued: March 5, 2004 Catherine Appel, P 59598, Grand Rapids, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Kent County Hearing Panel #2.
1. Probation - 8 Months 2. Effective March 11, 2004 The panel found that respondent, as a passenger in a motor vehicle involved in a traffic accident, advised the driver to leave the scene because he was drunk; made false statements to the police who were called to the scene; and, after identifying herself as an attorney to the police officers, was disrespectful and uncooperative, which exposed the legal profession to obloquy, contempt, censure or reproach. Respondent=s conduct was in violation of MCR 9.104(A)(1) and (2); and Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 8.4(c).
The hearing panel ordered that respondent be placed on probation for eight months, to run consecutively to the one year probation ordered in Grievance Administrator v Catherine Appel, Case No. 03-53-GA. The panel further ordered the respondent shall continue to be subject to the contractual agreement she entered into with the Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program (ALJAP@) and ordered the LJAP to report any violations by respondent to the Grievance Administrator. Costs were assessed in the amount of $2,788.88.