NOTICE OF SUSPENSION WITH CONDITION (By Consent)
Case No. 99-062-GA Issued: March 31,2000 James K. Jesse, P-15498, Buchanan, Michigan, by Kalamazoo County Hearing Panel #2.
1. 2.
Suspension - 45 days. Effective March 20, 2000.
The respondent and the Grievance Administrator submitted a stipulation for consent order of discipline in accordance with MCR 9.115(F)(5). The stipulation was approved by the Attorney Grievance Commission and was accepted by a hearing panel. Respondent
entered a plea of no contest to the allegations of professional misconduct contained in Formal Complaint 99-062-GA, to wit: when appointed to represent a client in an criminal appeal, respondent failed to notice trial court motions for hearing; failed to file an appeal or take any court action on his client's behalf; never filed a motion to withdraw from his client's representation; failed to maintain reasonable communications with his client; and failed to cooperate with the Attorney Grievance Commission in its investigation. The complaint alleged that respondent's conduct was in violation of MCR 9.103(C); MCR
9.104(1 )-(4), Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1 (a)-(c); 1.2(a); 1.3; 1.4; 1.16(a)(1); 3.2; 8.1(b); 8.4(a) and (c); and the Minimum Standards for Indigent Criminal Appellate Defense Services, to wit: Michigan Supreme Court Administrative Order 1981-7(1), (3), (5), (15), and (17). The parties agreed that an order of suspension should be entered.
The panel ordered that respondent's license be suspended for 45 days along with a condition relevant to the established misconduct. Costs were assessed in the amount of $54.88.