NOTICE OF REVOCATION Case Nos. 98-170-GA; 98-199-FA Paul G. Viele, P-28119, Bay City, Michigan, by Attorney Discipline Board Bay County Hearing Panel.
1) Revocation; 2) Effective December 30, 1998.1 Respondent was retained to represent a client in a post- divorce child support proceeding. The panel found, by default, that respondent failed to timely file a petition for reduction of child support on his client's behalf; directed his client not to appear at a scheduled show cause hearing, causing a bench warrant to be issued for the client's non-appearance; made knowing misrepresentations to his client; fabricated a court order, containing the case caption and number and the purported signature of a circuit court judge, reducing his client's support payments; presented the fabricated order to his client; and, although he agreed to pay $6,000 of his client's child support arrearage to the Friend of the Court and $2,000 toward fees his client incurred with another attorney, respondent failed to do so by the agreed upon date. Respondent also failed to answer the Request for Investigation; failed to answer the Formal Complaints; and failed to appear at the disciplinary hearing.
The panel concluded that respondent's conduct violated MCR 9.103(C); MCR 9.104(1)-(5) and (7); MCR 9.113(A) and (B)(2); and Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1(b) and (c); 1.2(a); 1.3; 1.4; 3.2; 3.4(b); 8.1(b); and 8.4(a)-(c).
The panel ordered that respondent's license to practice law in Michigan be revoked for the third time. Costs were assessed in the amount of $237.21.
________________________ 1Respondent has been continuously suspended from the practice of law in Michigan since January 28, 1997. His license was also revoked in two unrelated matters, effective December 23, 1997 and April 7, 1998, respectively.