NOTICE OF REPRIMAND WITH CONDITION (By Consent)
Case No. 03-4-GA Notice Issued: May 27, 2003 Thomas Lazar, P 22878, Bingham Farms, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #76.
1. Reprimand; 2. Effective May 24, 2003 The respondent and the Grievance Administrator filed a stipulation for a consent order of discipline, in accordance with MCR 9.115(F)(5), containing respondent=s plea of no contest to releasing escrowed funds without prior permission of the court, failing to safekeep the funds; falsely stating his reasons for refusing to release the funds; failing to timely admit that he had released the funds to his client; and knowingly disobeying the court=s directive to hold the funds until receiving further direction from the court. Respondent was charged with violations of MCR 9.104(A)(1)-(4); and Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15(a) and (b); 3.4(c); 4.1; and 8.4(a)-(c).
The parties agreed that respondent should be reprimanded and that respondent shall participate in an Ethics School presented by the State Bar of Michigan. Costs were assessed in the amount of $766.22.