NOTICE OF REPRIMAND Case No. 93-206-GA Gad L. Holland, P-26655, Detroit, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board affirming Tri-County Hearing Panel #3's Order of Reprimand.
1) Reprimand; 2) Effective January 30, 1996. Respondent was retained to represent a woman in a bankruptcy proceeding and confirmed with her, in writing, that he was charging her "an attorney fee of $500.00 along with a filing fee of $120.00 to represent your interest in this matter." The hearing panel found, by a preponderance of the evidence, that respondent billed his client $1,533 notwithstanding the agreement that he would charge her a fee of $500 plus $120 in filing fees; and failed to clearly advise his client of the basis or rate of his fee. In its report, the panel specifically noted that "This is not a case were it is claimed that the fee is excessive with regard to the custom of and standards of the community or the amount or quality of the work done." Respondent's conduct was found to be in violation of MCR 9.104(4); and Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.5(a) and 8.4(a). On October 19, 1994, the panel entered an Order of Reprimand.
Respondent filed a petition for review. On April 21, 1995, the Attorney Discipline Board entered an order affirming the panel's Order of Reprimand. Respondent filed an application for leave to appeal, which was denied by the Michigan Supreme Court in an order entered January 30, 1996.
Costs were assessed in the amount of $603.70.