MEMBERS MICHAEL B. RIZIK, JR. CHAIRPERSON LINDA S. HOTCHKISS, MD VICE-CHAIRPERSON REV. DR. LOUIS J. PRUES SECRETARY KAREN D. O’DONOGHUE MICHAEL S. HOHAUSER
PETER A. SMIT ALAN GERSHEL LINDA M. ORLANS JASON M. TURKISH
STATE OF MICHIGAN ATTORNEY DISCIPLINE BOARD
333 WEST FORT STREET, SUITE 1700
MARK A. ARMITAGE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR — WENDY A. NEELEY DEPUTY DIRECTOR — KAREN M. DALEY ASSOCIATE COUNSEL — SHERRY MIFSUD OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR —
ALLYSON M. PLOURDE CASE MANAGER OWEN R. MONTGOMERY CASE MANAGER — JULIE M. LOISELLE RECEPTIONIST/SECRETARY —
DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48226-3147
PHONE: 313-963-5553
www.adbmich.org
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION Case No. 21-54-GA Notice Issued: March 7, 2022 Steven Edward Phillips, P 76651, Grand Rapids, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Kent County Hearing Panel #3
Suspension - 180 Days, Effective March 5, 2022 1 After proceedings conducted pursuant to MCR 9.115, the panel found, by default, that respondent committed professional misconduct when he signed his former partner’s name without her permission or knowledge, to a Petition to Reopen and Modify Trust which he then filed in Kent County Probate Court on behalf of his wife, with whom respondent’s former partner had no established attorney-client relationship. Count Two of the complaint alleged that respondent failed to answer a request for investigation filed by his former partner within the required time frame referenced in MCR 9.113(A).
Based on respondent’s default, and the evidence presented at the hearing, the panel found that respondent, with regard to Count One, that respondent made a false statement of material fact or law to a tribunal or failed to correct a false statement of material fact or law previously made to the tribunal, in violation of MRPC 3.3; and engaged in conduct that involved dishonesty, fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, or violation of the criminal law, in violation of MRPC 8.4(b).
As to Count Two, the panel found that respondent knowingly failed to respond to a lawful demand for information from a disciplinary authority, in violation of MRPC 8.1(a)(2); and failed to answer a request for investigation, in violation of MCR 9.104(7) and MCR 9.113(A) and (B)(2).
Additionally, as charged in both Counts of the complaint, the panel found that respondent engaged in conduct that violated the Rules of Professional Conduct, in violation of MRPC 8.4(a) and MCR 9.104(4); engaged in conduct that was prejudicial to the administration of justice, in violation of MRPC 8.4(c) and MCR 9.104(1); engaged in conduct that exposed the legal profession or the courts to obloquy, contempt, censure, or reproach, in violation of MCR 9.104(2); and engaged in conduct that was contrary to justice, ethics, honesty, or good morals, in violation of MCR 9.104(3).
The panel ordered that respondent’s license to practice law be suspended for a period of 180 days. Costs were assessed in the amount of $1,824.28.
1 Respondent has been continuously suspended from the practice of law in Michigan since October 19, 2021. Please see Notice of Suspension Pursuant to MCR 9.115(H)(1) issued October 21, 2021.