NOTICE OF SUSPENSION AND RESTITUTION (By Consent)
Case Nos. 01-76-GA; 01-107-GA; 01-119-GA; 01-141-GA Notice Issued: March 26, 2002 Frenonia Walls, P-45757, Southfield, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #63
1. Suspension - 3 Years; 2. Effective October 5, 2000. 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. Respondent pled no contest to allegations that she failed to maintain reasonable communications with her clients in six matters; failed to take necessary action on behalf of her clients in five matters; failed to return unearned fees in five matters; failed to file an answer to three requests for investigation; filed late answers to three additional requests for investigation; failed to file an answer to three formal complaints; failed to release a client's file; charged, or attempted to charge, a clearly excessive fee; and failed to promptly institute proceedings on behalf of a client. With regard to respondent's suspension from the practice of law, respondent also pled no contest to the allegations that she failed to timely file the necessary affidavits; failed to notify her clients of her suspension; failed to notify all parties of her suspension; transferred the files of two clients to another attorney without the clients' knowledge or consent; and filed a substitution of counsel without the client's or attorney's knowledge or consent.
Respondent was charged with violations of MCR 9.103(C); 9.104(A)(1)-(5), (7) and (9); 9.113(A); 9.113(B)(2); 9.119(A)-(C) and (E); and Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1(a)-(c); 1.2(a); 1.3; 1.4; 1.5(a); 1.16(d); 3.2; 3.4(a) and (c); 8.1(b); and 8.4(a)-(c). The parties stipulated to the entry of an order suspending respondent=s license to practice law for three years, to run concurrently with a 180 day suspension entered in GA v Frenonia Walls, Case No. 99-198-MZ. The parties also stipulated that respondent shall pay restitution in the aggregate amount of $7,375.00 and costs in the amount of $347.28.