NOTICE OF SUSPENSION AND RESTITUTION (With Conditions)
Case No. 00-155-GA Notice Issued: July 19, 2001 Lisa Watkins, P-41053, Pontiac, Michigan, by Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #51.
1. Suspension - 1 Year; 2. Effective July 10, 2001. 1 During the hearing, respondent pled no contest to the allegations of professional misconduct contained in Formal Complaint 00-155-GA, specifically: That in a real estate transaction where respondent agreed to represent both sides, she failed to advise the parties of the conflict of interest; failed to obtain an informed waiver of the conflict of interest from the parties; and failed to protect the interests of one of the parties who, after he purchased the property, discovered an outstanding $8,000.00 federal lien against the subject property. With regard to a civil action, respondent failed to take necessary action on her clients' behalf; and failed to keep her clients advised as to the status of their matter. In a personal injury matter, respondent failed to advise her client, for over three years, whether she was going to handle his matter. Also, respondent failed to properly supervise a disbarred attorney who was an employee, agent and/or independent contractor working at respondent's law offices. Further, respondent, while suspended from the practice of law, failed to file timely affidavits of compliance and made false representations, known by her to be false, in these affidavits. Additionally, respondent continued to practice law after the effective date of her suspension. Finally, respondent failed to answer three requests for investigation served by the Grievance Administrator.
Respondent's conduct was in violation of MCR 9.103(C); MCR 9.104(1)-(4), (7), and (9); MCR 9.113(A); MCR 9.113(B)(2); MCR 9.118(C); MCR 9.119(A), (B), and (E); MCLA 600.916; MSA 27A.916; and Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1(a)-(c); 1.2(a); 1.3; 1.4; 1.7; 3.2; 3.4(c); 5.3(a)-(c); 5.5(a); 8.1(a) and (b); and 8.4(a)-(c).
The hearing panel ordered that respondent=s license be suspended for one year. The panel further ordered that respondent pay restitution in the amount of $800.00, and imposed conditions relevant to the established misconduct. Costs were assessed in the amount of $285.13.
1 Respondent's license to practice law in Michigan has been suspended since February 16, 1999. See Notice of Suspension dated October 29, 1999.