NOTICE OF REPRIMAND WITH CONDITION (By Consent)
Case No. 01-74-GA Notice Issued: December 20, 2001 Patrick M. Edwards, P-49665, Detroit, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #1.
1. Reprimand; 2. Effective December 20, 2001. The respondent and the Grievance Administrator filed a stipulation for a consent order of discipline in accordance with MCR 9.115(F)(5) in which the respondent offered his plea of no contest to the allegations that he failed to perform the services for which he had been retained; failed to communicate with his clients regarding the status of the matter; and failed to respond to numerous requests for information. Respondent also failed to maintain the funds paid to him in a separate, interest-bearing account until they were earned; commingled his personal funds with the funds paid to him by his clients; and did not return the unearned fee to his clients until they filed a grievance against him. Respondent's conduct was in violation of MCR 9.104(1)-(4); and Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1(c); 1.2(a); 1.3; 1.4(a); 1.15(a); 1.16(a); 3.2; and 8.4(a) and (c). The parties agreed that respondent should be reprimanded with a condition relevant to the established misconduct. Costs were assessed in the amount of $15.68.