DISMISSAL Case No. 00-51-GA Raymond R. Burkett, P-30155, Detroit, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #7.
1. Dismissal. 2. Effective May 2, 2001. The Grievance Administrator filed a five count formal complaint alleging that respondent had, in a personal injury matter, failed to take appropriate action on his client's behalf to protect her interests, including his failure to ensure that legal action was taken on his client's behalf by an attorney licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania; failed to conduct his client's deposition, which had been requested by the insurance company; failed to respond to his client's numerous inquiries; failed to advise his client that the statute of limitations had run on her slip and fall claim; failed to enter into a retainer agreement; held himself out to his client as being able to practice law in Pennsylvania; failed to advise his client that he was not licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania; failed to advise his client that she needed to retain a lawyer licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania to handle her matter; and failed to review letters that his non-lawyer employee sent to the insurance company on his client's behalf. Further, respondent was alleged to have made false statements in his answer the request for investigation and in his sworn statement to the Attorney Grievance Commission.
Respondent=s conduct was alleged to have been in violation of MCR 9.103(C); MCR 9.104(1)-(4) and (6); MCR 9.113(A); and Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1(a)-(c); 1.2(a); 1.3; 1.4; 1.5(b); 3.4(c); 5.3(b); 5.5(a); 8.1(a); and 8.4(a) -(c).
On April 10, 2001, the hearing panel entered an order dismissing Formal Complaint 00-51-GA. No costs were assessed against respondent. The Grievance Administrator filed a motion for clarification and the hearing panel issued a supplemental report on December 17, 2001.