NOTICE OF REPRIMAND (By Consent) Case No. 94-70-GA
William F. Carson, P-30900, Detroit, Michigan, by Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #68.
1) Reprimand; 2) Effective February 18, 1995. The respondent and the Grievance Administrator filed a stipulation for consent order of discipline pursuant to MCR 9.115(F)(5), which was approved by the hearing panel and the Attorney Grievance Commission.
Respondent was retained to seek a modification of a judgment of divorce to obtain an increase in child support. He assigned the file to a subordinate attorney in his firm. He pled nolo contendere to the allegation that while a ruling which recommended an increase in support was obtained from a referee, neither respondent nor his associate took the appropriate action to ensure that an order was entered. No such order was entered, and the matter simply languished without action.
The complainant wrote several letters to respondent, requesting information about her legal claim. Respondent pled nolo contendere to the allegation that he failed to keep his client adequately apprised of the case and its status.
Respondent's conduct was alleged to be in violation of MCR 9.104(1)-(4); Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1(c); 1.3; 1.4; and 8.4(a)and(c); and Canons 1, 6 and 7 of the Code of Professional Responsibility, DR 1-102(A)(1),(5)and(6); DR 6- 101(A)(3); and DR 7-101(A)(1)-(3).
Costs were assessed in the amount of $88.20.