NOTICE OF REPRIMAND (By Consent)
Case No. 98-45-GA Issued: July 10, 2000 William E. Bufalino, II, P-11360, Clinton Township, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board affirming an order of the Tri-County Hearing Panel #20.
1.Reprimand; 2.Effective June 3, 1999. The respondent and the Grievance Administrator filed a stipulation for a consent order of discipline in accordance with MCR 9.115(f)(5) which was approved by the Attorney Grievance Commission and accepted by the hearing panel. Respondent offered a plea of no contest to the charge in paragraph 13(b) of the Formal Complaint, to wit: that respondent failed to promptly refund the unearned portion of a $5,000 fee in violation of MCR 9.104(4) and Michigan Rules of professional Conduct 1.15(b) and 8.4(a). The parties further stipulated that the respondent be reprimanded. Costs were assessed in the amount of $687.22.
One of the complainants filed a petition for review and on September 20, 1999, the Attorney Discipline Board issued an order affirming the hearing panel=s order of reprimand. On November 22, 1999, the same complainant filed an application for leave to appeal with the Supreme Court, which was denied on May 31, 2000.