NOTICE OF REPRIMAND AND RESTITUTION (By Consent)
Case No. 96-9-GA Lee Thomas Hoffmann, Jr., P-24565, Rochester Hills, Michigan, by Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #76.
1) Reprimand; 2) Effective June 4, 1996. Respondent retained an accounting and tax service to prepare tax filings on his behalf, for which respondent was billed $710. Respondent thereafter issued a check to the service in the amount of $710, and requested that the service refrain from negotiating the check for four days. Respondent pled nolo contendere to allegations that on the fourth day, he withdrew the entire balance of the account, although he knew that the $710 check had not yet been presented for payment against the account, resulting in the check being returned for non-sufficient funds; and failed to pay the $710 indebtedness or to otherwise make good on the check. Respondent's conduct was alleged to be in violation of MCR 9.104(2)-(4); and the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct, 8.4(a)and(b).
The parties stipulated that respondent be reprimanded and make restitution in the amount of $710. Costs were assessed in the amount of $48.48.