NOTICE OF REPRIMAND WITH CONDITIONS Case No. 92-175-GA George R. Ashford, P-28317, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board affirming a hearing panel order of reprimand with conditions.
1) Reprimand; 2) Effective March 10, 1995. Respondent represented the defendant corporation in a wrongful discharge action. Tri-County Hearing Panel #27 found that he engaged in a personal relationship with one of the plaintiffs in that litigation and engaged in communications with that plaintiff concerning the litigation without the permission of her counsel. Respondent's conduct was found to be in violation of MCR 9.104(1)- (4) and Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 4.2 and 8.4(a)and(c).
The panel concluded that respondent should be reprimanded with conditions in the nature of oversight of certain aspects of respondent's professional and personal conduct for a period of two years.
The Grievance Administrator filed a petition for review seeking an increase in discipline. The respondent filed a petition for review seeking reversal of the panel's findings of misconduct. In an order and opinion issued February 16, 1995, the Attorney Discipline Board affirmed the hearing panel's order of reprimand with conditions in all respects.
Costs were assessed in the amount of $4,043.95.