NOTICE OF REVOCATION AND RESTITUTION Case Nos. 93-100-GA; 93-145-FA; 93-115-GA; 93-166-FA; 93-130-GA; 93-164-FA
Jeffrey F. Robbins, P-33596, St. Joseph, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board increasing a hearing panel order of suspension for one year.
1) Revocation; 2) Effective April 7, 1994. Respondent failed to answer the Formal Complaints, but appeared at the hearings held in Kalamazoo on October 22, 1993 and February 7, 1994. Respondent's defaults were entered, and the panel determined that the defaults, as well as the stipulation of the parties, established the allegations of the Formal Complaints.
Respondent was retained to represent the plaintiff in an insurance claim, but failed to file answers to interrogatories; failed to respond to requests for production of documents; failed to prosecute the lawsuit diligently and represent his client zealously; and failed to keep his client reasonably informed.
Respondent was retained to file a bankruptcy petition, but failed to file the petition; failed to keep his client reasonably informed; knowingly made false representations to his client; and failed to answer the Request for Investigation.
Respondent was retained by the defendant/wife in a divorce action, but failed to contest the issue of custody; failed to review the judgment of divorce with his client prior to its submission to the court; failed to provide his client with a copy of the judgment; failed to keep his client reasonably informed; and failed to answer the Request for Investigation.
Respondent was retained to handle a custody matter and requested and received a $750 fee, but failed to keep his client reasonably informed; failed to respond to his client's inquiries or to advise his client of his efforts on his behalf; failed, upon demand, to render an accounting of the retainer fee paid to him by his client; and failed to answer the Request for Investigation.
Respondent was retained to represent the plaintiff/husband in a divorce action, but failed to keep his client reasonably informed and failed to respond to his client's requests for information. Respondent received $4,000 from his client's ex-wife to be paid to his client pursuant to the property settlement provisions of the divorce, but failed to promptly deliver to his client the funds to
which he was entitled; misappropriated the funds; and failed to answer the Request for Investigation.
Respondent's conduct was found to be in violation of MCR 9.103(C); MCR 9.104(1)-(4)and(7); MCR 9.113(A)and(B)(2); and Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1(c); 1.3; 1.4; 1.15; 3.2; 8.1(b); and 8.4(a)-(c).
Kalamazoo County Hearing Panel #1 ordered that respondent's license to practice law in Michigan be suspended for one year and that he make restitution to one client in the amount of $500.
The Grievance Administrator filed a petition for review seeking an increase in discipline. In an order and opinion issued June 24, 1994, the Attorney Discipline Board increased discipline to revocation of respondent's license to practice law in Michigan.
Costs were assessed in the total amount of $675.95.