NOTICE OF REPRIMAND (By Consent)
Case No. 99-032-GA David D. Black, P-43367, Port Huron, Michigan, by Attorney Discipline Board St. Clair County Hearing Panel.
1) Reprimand; 2) Effective July 16, 1999. Respondent represented a client in a divorce and child custody matter. That client was the driver of a vehicle which struck two pedestrians, a woman and her minor son, approximately two years later. Respondent was retained to represent the woman and her son regarding injuries resulting from the accident.
Based on his plea of no contest, the panel found that respondent approached the first client as both his friend and his former lawyer and recommended that he admit fault to expedite the matter and avoid prolonged litigation, implying that he was disinterested. The panel further found that respondent failed to make it sufficiently clear that he was not disinterested in the matter. The panel concluded that respondent's conduct violated MCR 9.104(1), (2) and (4); and Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 4.3 and 8.4(a) and (c).
The parties stipulated that respondent be reprimanded. Costs were assessed in the amount of $73.19.