MEMBERS REV. MICHAEL MURRAY CHAIRPERSON JONATHAN E. LAUDERBACH
VICE-CHAIRPERSON BARBARA WILLIAMS FORNEY SECRETARY JAMES A. FINK JOHN W. INHULSEN
KAREN D. O'DONOGHUE MICHAEL B. RIZIK, JR. LINDA S. HOTCHKISS, MD ANNA FRUSHOUR
STAT E OF MICHIGAN ATTORNEY DISCIPLINE BOARD
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DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48226-3147 PHONE: 313-963-5553 I FAX: 313-963-5571
MARK A. ARMITAGE EXECVT/VE DIRECTOR
WENDY A. NEELEY DEPUTY DIRECTOR
KAREN M. DALEY ASSOCIATE COUNSEL
SHERRY L. MIFSUD OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
ALLYSON M. PLOURDE CASE MANAGER
OWEN R. MONTGOMERY CASE MANAGER JULIE M. LOISELLE RECEPTIONIST/SECRETARY
www.adbmich.org
NOTICE OF DISBARMENT AND RESTITUTION (By Consent)
Case No. 19-32-GA Notice Issued: August 13, 2019 Julian M. Levant, P 16592, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #64.
Disbarment, Effective August 8, 20191 The respondent and the Grievance Administrator filed a Stipulation for Consent Order of Revocation/Disbarment With Restitution, in accordance with MCR 9.115(F)(5), which was approved by the Attorney Grievance Commission and accepted by the hearing panel. The stipulation contained respondent's admissions to the factual allegations and to the allegations of professional misconduct contained in the formal complaint, that respondent committed professional misconduct when he failed to timely disburse proceeds from a judgment to his client, failed to disburse the full amount his client was entitled to receive; failed to keep his client reasonably informed about the status of his matter and comply with reasonable requests for information; and upon termination of the representation, failed to surrender papers and property the client was entitled to receive. The client had to go to the extraordinary lengths of hiring new counsel and filing a police report to obtain the portion of the judgment due to him.
Based upon respondent's admissions and the stipulation of the parties, the panel found that respondent failed to keep his client reasonably informed about the status of his matter and comply promptly with reasonable requests for information, in violation of MRPC 1.4(a); failed to explain a matter to his client to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding respondent's representation, in violation of MRPC 1.4(b); failed to promptly notify his client when the judgment proceeds were received, in violation of MRPC 1.15(b)(1 ); failed to promptly deliver funds that his client was entitled to receive, in violation of MRPC 1.15(b)(3); failed to properly render a full accounting to his client of the funds in his possession, in violation of MRPC 1.15(b)(3); converted and misappropriated clientfunds, in violation ofMRPC 1.15(b)(3); 1.15(c). and 1.15(d); failed to appropriately safeguard client funds by failing to maintain them in an IOLTA and/or client trust account, in violation of MRPC 1.1 S(d); and, upon the termination of the representation of a client, failed to take reasonable steps to protect his client's interests, including surrendering papers and property to which the client was entitled, in violation of MRPC 1.16(d). Respondent was also found to have violated MCR 9.104(1)-(4); and MRPC 8.4(a)-(c).
In accordance with the stipulation of the parties, the hearing panel ordered that respondent be disbarred from the practice of law in Michigan and pay restitution in the amount of $4,305.00. Costs were assessed in the amount of $1,109.90. }l,1~-«. a ~
Mark A. Armitage Executive Director
1 Respondent was disbarred in a separate, unrelated matter effective July 20, 2019. Please see Notice of Disbarment and Restitution, issued July 24, 2019, Grievance Administrator v Julian M. Levant, Case No. 17-156-GA.