NOTICE OF REPRIMAND AND RESTITUTION (With Conditions)
Case No. 00-103-GA Notice Issued: November 19, 2001 Keith Godfrey, P-35353, Detroit, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #9.
1. Reprimand; 2. Effective November 17, 2001. The hearing panel found that respondent had committed professional misconduct, specifically: That respondent failed to maintain a bank account as an IOLTA account; failed to identify the account as a client trust account; and failed to remit interest to the Michigan State Bar Foundation. In a discrimination matter, respondent charged an excessive fee and failed to give a written accounting, setting forth fees, costs and distributions that were made. In two matters, respondent failed to execute a written contingent fee agreement with his clients. Respondent's conduct was found to be in violation of MCR 9.104(1)-(4); and Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.4(a) and (b); 1.5(c); 1.15(a)-(c); 8.4(a)-(c)
The panel filed its report and order reprimanding respondent and imposing conditions relevant to the established misconduct. Restitution was ordered in the amount of $363.67 and costs were assessed in the amount of $1,223.22.