NOTICE OF REPRIMAND WITH CONDITIONS Case No. 96-88-GA Jesse R. Odom, P-18415, Detroit, Michigan, by Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #8.
1) Reprimand; 2) Effective April 10, 1997. Respondent was retained to represent the complainant in an appeal from a criminal conviction. In connection with that representation, the Court of Appeals ordered that respondent personally pay a $200 fine. The panel found that although the fine was assessed against him personally, respondent paid the fine with funds belonging to the complainant's brother; in order to obtain the funds to pay the fine, he falsely represented to the complainant's brother that the $200 was to cover "filing costs"; and, he failed to inform the complainant or his brother that the funds were used to pay a fine levied personally against respondent. Respondent's conduct was found to be in violation of MCR 9.104(3) and (4) and Michigan Rule of Professional Conduct 1.4(b).
The panel ordered that respondent be reprimanded subject to certain conditions, including monitoring of his law practice; compliance with the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct; and restitution to the complainant's brother of $200 plus interest. The panel further ordered that should respondent fail to comply with the conditions imposed, he should be ordered to show cause why he should not be suspended from the practice of law for 180 days.
Costs were assessed in the amount of $428.87.