NOTICE OF SUSPENSION Case No. 94-20-GA Thomas L.E. Stanley, P-26060, Detroit, Michigan, by Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #24.
1) Suspension - thirty (30) days; 2) Effective December 1, 1995. Respondent was suspended from the practice of law in Michigan for thirty days effective March 20, 1990. He pled no contest to allegations that on March 21, 1990, he filed his appearance in a legal malpractice action and assisted his partner in the representation. The client subsequently discharged respondent. The client's new attorney requested four times, in writing, that respondent release the client's file to him. The court subsequently entered an order directing respondent to turn the file over to the new attorney. Respondent pled no contest to allegations that he refused to honor his client's request that her file be turned over to her new attorney; refused to timely obey and comply with the court order to transfer the file to the new attorney; and failed to turn over the file to the new attorney until over two months after his final letter.
Respondent's conduct was found to be in violation of MCR 9.104(1)-(5)and(9); MCR 9.119; MCL 600.901; and Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15(a)and(c); 1.16(d); 3.2; 3.4(c); 5.5(a); and 8.4(a)-(c).
Based on the agreement of the parties, the panel ordered that respondent be suspended from the practice of law in Michigan for a period of thirty days commencing December 1, 1995. Costs were assessed in the amount of $1,660.06.