NOTICE OF SUSPENSION (By Consent)
Case No. 97-310-GA Erik J. Stone, P-29088, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, by Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #69.
1) Suspension - 180 Days; 2) Effective March 26, 1998. Respondent was assigned by his law firm to be outside counsel for a corporation's real estate division. He worked with the attorney who was director of shopping center development for that corporation. Respondent entered a plea of no contest to allegations that he had knowledge and failed to report to the proper authorities, the Attorney Grievance Commission, and his client, that the other attorney had personally received approxi- mately $500,000 of unauthorized illegal payments from a real estate broker in connection with transactions for the purchase of property on the corporation's behalf; and, when questioned on the corporation's behalf about his knowledge of the other attorney's actions, he falsely stated that he was unaware of any corporation employee receiving benefits from brokers or other parties. Respondent pled no contest to charges that his conduct violated MCR 9.104(1)-(5); 18 USC 371, 656 and 2, a misdemeanor violation; and Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.7(b); 8.3(a); and 8.4(a)-(c).
The parties stipulated that respondent be suspended from the practice of law for 180 days. Costs were assessed in the amount of $125.22.