NOTICE OF REPRIMAND AND PROBATION (By Consent)
Case No. 93-110-GA Bruce J. Thorburn, P-28912, Pontiac, Michigan, by Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #74.
1) Reprimand and Probation - one (1) year; 2) Effective June 10, 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's law firm was retained as counsel for the defendant in a paternity action, and respondent represented the defendant. The defendant admitted paternity. Respondent pled nolo contendere to allegations that he failed to propose a settlement on the issue of retroactive child support; failed to comply with requests from the Friend of the Court for the defendant's financial information; failed to produce witnesses relative to the defendant's financial information; failed to notify the defendant of the issuance of the Friend of the Court recommendation or to provide the him with a copy of the recommendation; failed to discuss the Friend of the Court recommendation with the defendant; failed to file objections to the Friend of the Court recommenda- tion; although respondent was present at the hearing at which the court ordered a Judgment of Arrearage against the defendant, he failed to inform the him of the judgment; and, after the defendant learned of the judgment, respondent failed to return his numerous telephone calls or to otherwise communicate with him.
Respondent's conduct was alleged to be in violation of MCR 9.104(1)-(4); and Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1(c); 1.3; 1.4; 3.2; and 8.4(a)-(c). Costs were assessed in the amount of $62.75.