MEMBERS REV. MICHAEL MURRAY CHAIRPERSON JONATHAN E. LAUDERBACH VICE-CHAIRPERSON BARBARA WILLIAMS FORNEY
SECRETARY JAMES A. FINK JOHN W. INHULSEN
KAREN D. O'DONOGHUE MICHAEL B. RIZIK, JR.
LINDA S. HOTCHKISS, MD ANNA FRUSHOUR
STATE OF MICHIGAN ATTORNEY DISCIPLINE BOARD
2 1 1 WEST FORT STREET, SUITE 1410
DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48226-3236 PHONE: 313-963-5553 I FAX: 3 13·963-5571
MARK A. ARMITAGE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
WENDY A. NEELEY DEPUTY DIRECTOR
KAREN M. DALEY ASSOCIATE COUNSEL
SHERRY L. MIFSUD OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
ALLYSON M. PLOURDE CASE MANAGER
OWEN R. MONTGOMERY CASE MANAGER
JULIE M. LOISELLE RECEPTlONISTISECRETA RY
AMENDED1 NOTICE OF DISBARMENT WITH CONDITION
Case No. 18-111-GA
Notice Issued: March 6, 2019
Todd R Branch, P 61823, Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan,b y the Attorney Discipline Board Tri County Hearing Panel #3.
Disbarment. Effective February 28,2019.2
Based on respondent's default, and the evidence presented at the hearing. the hearing panel found that respondent committed professional misconduct when he committed numerous violations of Ontario's Law Society Act and the Law Society of Ontario's Rules of Professional Conduct and failed to answer a Grievance Administrator Request for Investigation which alleged that respondent's license to practice law in Canada had been revoked by the Law Society of Ontario. A Law Society Tribunal found that respondent committed professional misconduct in Canada, which included (a) ungovernability. (b) practicing law while suspended on two occasions, (c) failing to cooperate with five Law Society investigations. and (e) failing to provide contact and other information to the Law Society.
The panel found that respondent engaged in conduct that involved dishonesty, fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, or violation of the criminal law, where such conduct reflected adversely on the lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer, in violation of MRPC 8.4(b); failed to timely answer a request for investigation,i n violation of MCR 9.104(7), MCR 9.113(A), and MCR 9.113(B)(2); and engaged in conduct that was prejudicial to the administration of justice, in violation of MRPC 8.4(c) and MCR 9.104(1).
The panel ordered that respondent be disbarred from the practice of law in Michigan. The panel also order respondent to return any and all client files that remain in his possession to the former client to whom the documents/files belong. Costs were assessed in the amount of $1,671. 67.
Mark A. Armitage Executive Director
1 Amended to include condition.
2 Respondent has been continuously suspended from the practice of law in Michigan since August 9.2017. Please see Notice of Interim Suspension Pursuant to MeR 9.115(H)(1), issued August 31,2017.