NOTICE OF SUSPENSION WITH CONDITION (BY CONSENT) and NOTICE OF AUTOMATIC REINSTATEMENT
Case No. 00-141-GA NOTICE ISSUED: February 1, 2001 Guy P. Dobbs, P-49773, Livonia, Michigan, by Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #21.
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Suspension - 45 Days; Effective November 28, 2000.
Automatic Reinstatement; Effective January 23, 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 Formal Complaint 00-141-GA, to wit: That in a personal injury matter, respondent entered into an illegal fee agreement which allowed for respondent to collect fees in excess of 33 1/3% of the net proceeds; collected an illegal and excessive fee; and made false statements about the amount of the settlement. In a civil litigation, respondent failed to forward to his clients a counterclaim filed against them or otherwise inform them that a counterclaim had been filed; and failed to timely file an answer to the counterclaim which resulted in the entry of a default against his clients. Respondent=s conduct was in violation of MCR 8.121(B); 9.104(1)-(4); and Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1(c); 1.2(a); 1.3; 1.4; 1.5(a); 1.16(d); 3.2; 4.1; and 8.4(a)-(c). The hearing panel ordered that respondent's license to practice law be suspended for 45 days and that the suspension be subject to a condition relevant to the established misconduct. Costs were assessed in the amount of $234.28.
In accordance with MCR 9.123(A), respondent=s suspension was terminated with his filing of an affidavit of compliance with the clerk of the Michigan Supreme Court of January 23, 2001.