NOTICE OF SUSPENSION (By Consent)
Case Nos. 99-104-GA; 00-137-GA Notice Issued: January 11, 2001 Frenonia Walls, P-45757, Southfield, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #13
1. Suspension - 1 Year; 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. The respondent offered a plea of no contest to the charges of misconduct in Formal Complaints 99-104-GA and 00-137-GA, to wit: In a divorce action, respondent failed to file a timely return of service which resulted in the divorce action being dismissed; and failed to seek a QDRO for her client after the divorce action was reinstated. In another divorce action, respondent failed to undertake discovery concerning 401(k) pension issues; and failed to explain the divorce proceedings to the extent necessary for her client to make informed decisions. In a third divorce action, after obtaining an order to show cause against her client=s ex-husband, respondent failed to pursue further collection efforts. In a clear title action, respondent failed to promptly initiate an action to clear title. In two other divorce actions, respondent failed to ensure that non-lawyers associated with her office did not engage in the practice of law and/or hold themselves out as an attorney. Further, Respondent failed to take necessary action on her clients= behalf; failed to maintain reasonable communications with her clients; and charged illegal or clearly excessive fees in three matters. Finally, respondent failed to answer three requests for investigation served by the Grievance Administrator.
Respondent=s conduct was found to be in violation of MCR 9.103(C); MCR 9.104(1)-(4) and (7); MCR 9.113(A); MCR 9.113(B)(2); and Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1(a)-(c); 1.2(a); 1.3; 1.4; 1.5(a); 3.2; 5.3(a)-(c); 8.1(b); and 8.4(a)-(c). The hearing panel ordered that respondent=s license to practice law be suspended for one year to run concurrently with a 180 day suspension entered in GA v Frenonia Walls, Case No. 99-198-MZ. Costs were assessed in the amount of $104.65.