NOTICE OF SUSPENSION Case Nos. 99-078-GA; 99-094-FA
Joseph P. Kierpiec, P-23914, Detroit, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #20.
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Suspension - 30 days.
Effective November 20, 1999.
The respondent failed to answer the formal complaint, a default was entered and Formal Complaint 99-094-FA was filed and consolidated for hearing. The hearing panel found that the allegations in Formal Complaint 99-078-GA were established by default, to wit: failure to attend a settlement conference; failure to obtain consent of the complainant before agreeing to voluntarily dismiss a defendant with prejudice; failure to keep complainant advised of the dismissal of the defendants and of the case; failure to respond to complainant=s numerous inquiries regarding the matter; and failure to conduct sufficient discovery on behalf of the complainant to support the allegations he made in the complaint filed on the complainant=s behalf.
Respondent=s conduct was found to be in violation of MCR 9.104(1)-(4) and Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1(a)-(c); 1.2(a); 1.3; 1.4; and 8.4(a) and (c). The hearing panel ordered that respondent=s license be suspended for 30 days. Costs were assessed in the amount of $349.17.