NOTICE OF REVOCATION AND RESTITUTION Case No. 02-86-GA
Craig W. Bender, P-26406, Southfield, Michigan by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #81.
1. Revocation; 2. Effective February 22, 2003. 1 The hearing panel found, by default, that respondent, as an attorney for the conservator of two estates, received two checks drawn on the estate accounts without obtaining the prior authorization of the court; deposited the checks in his business account rather than an IOLTA account; misrepresented and/or failed to disclose to the court the actual amount of money he was paid; failed to provide notice of requested attorney fees to all interested parties; failed to attach a summary of services to his petition for attorney fees; and misappropriated $10,842.00.
Respondent=s conduct was in violation of MCR 9.104(A)(1)-(5); and Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.5(a); 1.15(a)-(c); 1.15(d)(2); 3.3(a)(1) and (2); 3.4(c); 4.1: and 8.4(a)-(c). The panel issued an order revoking respondent=s license to practice law in Michigan and ordered restitution in the aggregate amount of $10,842.00. Costs were assessed in the amount of $1,746.76.
1 Respondent=s license to practice law in Michigan has been revoked since April 28, 2000. Please see Final Notice of Revocation and Restitution dated December 27, 2000.