NOTICE OF REPRIMAND Case No. 97-297-GA Kenneth B. Johnson, P-32436, Lansing, Michigan, by Attorney Discipline Board Ingham County Hearing Panel #2.
1) Reprimand; 2) Effective March 24, 1998. In 1995, respondent was retained to represent the defendant in a civil action in Ionia County Circuit Court. At that time, respondent had supervisory authority over attorney Mary E. Bennett. Effective August 19, 1995, and continuing to the present, Ms. Bennett has been suspended from the practice of law in Michigan. The panel found that respondent allowed Ms. Bennett to conduct three depositions in the matter while she was suspended:
[t]he panel finds that Mr. Johnson did allow Mary Bennett to conduct several depositions which are considered the practice of law, period.
Secondly, it is found that Mr. Johnson knew that Mary Bennett at some point in time had been suspended from the practice of law and that, as a result, he was obligated as her supervising attorney to inquire as to her current status as a practicing attorney. By failing to make such an inquiry, he either inadvertently or through neglect has violated Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 5.1(b), 5.1(c), and 8.4(c).
Report of Ingham County Hearing Panel #2, p. 3. The panel ordered that respondent be reprimanded. Costs were assessed in the amount of $463.45.