NOTICE OF SUSPENSION Case Nos. 95-27-GA; 95-44-FA James J. Lait, P-37802, Kalamazoo, Michigan, by Attorney Discipline Board Kalamazoo County Hearing Panel #2.
1) Suspension - 180 days; 2) Effective July 18, 1995. Respondent was appointed to represent a father in the appeal of an order terminating his parental rights. The panel found, by default, that respondent failed to file an appellate brief or to take any other appellate action on his client's behalf; failed to keep his client adequately advised concerning the status of the appeal; failed to personally interview his client, who was incarcerated, or to provide him with copies of his transcripts and records, although he had promised to do so; failed to seek to withdraw from the representation or to take other reasonable steps to protect his client's interests; after filing his answer to the Request for Investigation, failed to return numerous telephone calls from the staff of the Attorney Grievance Commission seeking additional information; failed to comply with a written request from the AGC that he provide additional information; and failed to comply with a subpoena personally served on him that commanded his appearance at the offices of the AGC with his client's file. Respondent also failed to answer the Formal Complaint and failed to appear at the disciplinary hearing.
Respondent conduct was found to be in violation of MCR 9.103(C); MCR 9.104(1)-(4); and Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1(c); 1.3; 1.4; 1.16(d); 3.2; 8.1(b) and 8.4(a)and(c).
Costs were assessed in the amount of $356.35.