NOTICE OF REPRIMAND Case No. 01-33-GA Notice Issued: January 23, 2004 John Conlon, P 12128, Portage, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board modifying Kalamazoo County Hearing Panel #4's findings of misconduct and affirming order of reprimand.
1. Reprimand; 2. Effective December 30, 2003. The hearing panel found that, in a divorce matter, respondent engaged in inappropriate conduct with his client and was negligent in determining whether his representation of his client would be materially affected by his own interest concerning his lien for attorney fees.
Respondent=s conduct was in violation of MCR 9.104(1)-(3) and Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.7(b); 6.5(a); and 8.4(b) and (c). The panel ordered that respondent be reprimanded. The Grievance Administrator filed a petition for review and the respondent filed a cross-petition for review.
Upon review, the Attorney Discipline Board issued an order modifying the hearing panel=s findings of misconduct, specifically dismissing the allegations in Count One, and affirming the panel=s order of reprimand. Respondent filed a motion for reconsideration which was denied by the Board. The Grievance Administrator filed an application for leave to appeal with the Supreme Court which was denied on December 30, 2003. Costs were assessed in the total amount of $3,760.66.