NOTICE OF SUSPENSION AND RESTITUTION (By Consent)
Case No. 01-5-GA Notice Issued: September 5, 2001 Michael P. Bolton, P-10975, Troy, Michigan, by Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #84.
1. Suspension - 30 Days; 2. Effective October 15, 2001. The respondent and the Grievance Administrator filed a stipulation for a consent order of discipline in accordance with MCR 9.115(F)(5). The stipulation was approved by the Attorney Grievance Commission and accepted by the hearing panel. The respondent offered a plea of no contest to the charges of misconduct in Count One of Formal Complaint 01-5-GA to wit: In a divorce matter, respondent failed to file a proposed judgment of divorce on behalf of his client; failed to advise his client that he would not file a proposed judgment; failed to take any action with regard to his client's matter for more than five years; and failed to take reasonable steps to determine the status of his client's case with the Oakland County Circuit Court. Respondent's conduct was in violation of MCR 9.104(1)-(4); and Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1(c); 1.3; 1.4(b); 3.2; and 8.4(a) and (c). The parties further agreed that Count Two of Formal Complaint 01-5-GA may be dismissed and that respondent should be suspended for 30 days. The parties also agreed that respondent shall pay restitution.
The hearing panel ordered that respondent's license to practice law be suspended for 30 days and that he pay restitution pursuant to the agreement of the parties. Costs were assessed in the amount of $157.44.