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 DISBARMENT AND RESTITUTION WITH CONDITION Case No. 19-105-GA Notice Issued: May 26, 2020 Paul F. Beggs, P 42914, Bay City, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-Valley Hearing Panel #2.
Disbarment, Effective May 12, 2020 1 Based on respondent’s default, and the evidence presented at the hearing, the hearing panel found that respondent committed professional misconduct as set forth in a fourteen count formal complaint, in its entirety. Specifically, and as referenced in the separate counts of the complaint, the panel found that respondent committed misconduct in relation to two financial transactions entered into with two separate clients or their families; in his handling of a wrongful death lawsuit, and a lawsuit involving the theft of a burial marker from a prepaid burial lot; his handling of two separate applications to set aside criminal convictions; his handling of three separate divorce matters; his drafting of a will and accompanying documents; his handling of a post-judgment matter relating to a qualified domestic relations order; his handling of a careless driving charge; his failure to appear for a custody matter; and, his failure to respond to numerous Requests for Investigation.
The panel found that respondent neglected legal matters entrusted to him, in violation of MRPC 1.1(c) (Counts Three-Six and Eight-Thirteen); failed to seek the lawful objectives of a client, in violation of MRPC 1.2(a) (Counts Three-Six and Eight-Thirteen); failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing his clients, in violation of MRPC 1.3 (Counts Three-Six and Eight-Thirteen); failed to keep his clients reasonably informed about the status of their cases and also failed to promptly comply with reasonable requests for information, in violation of MRPC 1.4(a) (Counts One, Three-Six, and Eight-Thirteen); failed to explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation, in violation of MRPC 1.4(b) (Counts Three-Six and Twelve); represented a client when the representation of that client was materially limited by the lawyer’s responsibilities to another client, or to a third person, in violation of MRPC 1.7(b) (Counts One and Two); entered into business transactions with clients which were adverse to the interest of the clients, in violation of MRPC
1 Respondent has been continuously suspended from the practice of law in Michigan since February 5, 2020. Please see Notice of Interim Suspension Pursuant to MCR 9.115(H)(1), issued February 7, 2020.
May 26, 2020
STATE OF MICHIGAN ATTORNEY DISCIPLINE BOARD
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1.8(a) (Count One); accepted compensation for representing a client from one other than the client, in violation of MRPC 1.8(f) (Count Two); failed to promptly notify the client or third person when funds or property in which a client or third person has an interest is received, in violation of MRPC 1.15(b)(1) (Count Six); failed to promptly pay or deliver any funds or other property that the client or third person is entitled to receive, in violation of MRPC 1.15(b)(3) (Count Six); failed to deposit client funds into an IOLTA and appropriately safeguard funds, in violation of MRPC 1.15(d) (Count Six); failed to refund an unearned fee, in violation of MRPC 1.16(d) (Counts Four-Six and Eight-Thirteen); failed to make reasonable efforts to expedite litigation, in violation of MRPC 3.2 (Count Three); made a false statement of material fact to a tribunal and/or failed to correct a false statement of material fact previously made to the tribunal by the lawyer, in violation of MRPC 3.3(a)(1) (Count Seven); offered materially false evidence and when he learned of its falsity, failed to take reasonable remedial measures, including, if necessary, disclosure to the tribunal, in violation of MRPC 3.3(a)(3) (Count Seven); knowingly disobeyed an obligation under the rules of a tribunal, in violation of MRPC 3.4(c) (Count Thirteen); knowingly failed to respond to a lawful demand for information from a disciplinary authority, in violation of MRPC 8.1(a)(2) (Count Fourteen); engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit and misrepresentation, in violation of MRPC 8.4(b) (Counts Three-Six and Twelve); and failed to answer a Request for Investigation, in violation of MCR 9.104(7) and MCR 9.113(A) and MCR 9.113(B)(2) (Count Fourteen). Respondent was also found to have violated MCR 9.104(1)-(4) (Counts One-Fourteen); and MRPC 8.4(a) and MRPC 8.4(c) (Counts One-Fourteen).
The panel ordered that respondent be disbarred from the practice of law in Michigan and that he pay restitution totaling $222,448.74. Costs were assessed in the amount of $2,340.08.
/s/ Mark A. Armitage Executive Director