NOTICE OF REPRIMAND (By Consent) Case No. 94-137-GA
Rudolph C. Vulpe, P-21872, Birmingham, Michigan, by Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #79.
1) Reprimand; 2) Effective December 1, 1994. 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 represent a client in claims arising from a slip and fall accident. He pled nolo contendere to allegations that he allowed the matter to languish for approximately two years; referred the matter to another attorney outside his offices without his client's knowledge or consent; failed to advise his client that the other attorney had commenced litigation on her behalf; failed to advise his client that the matter was dismissed by the court; failed to advise his client that the matter had been refiled by the other attorney; failed to advise his client that the matter had been dismissed on a second occasion; failed to keep in reasonable communication with his client or to respond to numerous inquiries from her regarding the matter; failed to properly supervise the handling of his client's file by the other attorney; failed to take reasonable remedial action after the matter was dismissed on the first occasion; and failed to ensure that his client's rights were otherwise protected.
Respondent's conduct was alleged to be in violation of MCR 9.104(1)-(4); and Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1(a)- (c); 1.2(a); 1.3; 1.4; 3.2; 5.1(b); and 8.4(a)and(c).
Costs were assessed in the amount of $60.00.