NOTICE OF SUSPENSION Case Nos. 93-281-GA; 94-8-FA Frederick S. Bluford, P-24316, Livonia, Michigan, by Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #20.
1) Suspension - thirty (30) days; 2) Effective July 22, 1994. Respondent failed to answer the Formal Complaints but appeared at the hearing held in Detroit on February 4, 1994. Respondent's defaults were entered, and the panel determined that the defaults established the allegations of the Formal Complaints.
Respondent was retained to institute collection proceedings on a judgment owed to his client and was paid a $350 retainer fee, but failed to pursue collection for approximately one year after he was retained; failed to respondent to his client's requests for information; and failed to answer the Request for Investigation.
Respondent was retained to institute collection proceedings on behalf of three clients and was paid a $75 retainer fee, but failed to file legal action on his clients' behalf for a period of approximately eleven months; failed to inform his clients of the receipt of a payment from the obligor; returned the payment to the obligor without the knowledge or consent of his clients; failed to respond to inquiries regarding the matter; after he was discharged, failed to comply with successor counsel's repeated requests for the clients' file; and failed to respond to correspondence from the Attorney Grievance Commission, which requested supplemental information relative to the Request for Investigation.
Respondent's conduct was found to be in violation of MCR 9.103(C); MCR 9.104(1)-(4),(6)and(7); MCR 9.113(A)and(B)(2); and Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1(c); 1.3; 1.4(a); 1.15(b); 1.16(d); 3.2; 8.1(b); and 8.4(a)and(c).
Respondent filed a petition for review, which was dismissed on July 1, 1994 for his failure to file the required brief in support of petition for review.
Costs were assessed in the amount of $394.14.