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
211 WEST FORT STREET, SUITE 1410
DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48226-3236 PHONE: 313-963-5653 I FAX: 313·963·6571
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 RECEPTIONISTISECRETARY
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION WITH CONDITION (By Consent)
Case No. 18-49-GA
Notice Issued: January 9,2019
Ralph Wendell Kimble, II, P 64054, Coldwater, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Kalamazoo County Hearing Panel #4.
SuspenSion - 180 Days, Effective January 8, 2019.
The respondent and the Grievance Administrator filed a stipulation for a consent order of discipline, in accordance with MCR 9.115(F)(5), which was approved by the Attorney Grievance Commission and accepted by the hearing panel. Based on respondent's admissions, plea of no contest and the stipulation of the parties, the panel found that respondent committed professional misconduct in his position as Branch County Prosecutor by sexually harassing and/or by failing to treat several employees of the Branch County Prosecutor's Office, Circuit Court and the Friend of the Court with courtesy and respect.
Specifically, the panel found that respondent engaged in conduct that violated a criminal law, MCL 750.520e (fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct), in violation of MCR 9.1 04(5); engaged in conduct that involved a 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); and failed to treat with courtesy and respect all persons involved in the legal process and failed to take particular care to avoid treating such persons discourteously because of a person's race, gender, or other protected personal characteristic, in violation of MRPC 6.5(a). Respondent was also found to have violated MCR 9.104(2) and (3).
In accordance with the stipulation of the parties, the panel ordered that respondent's license to practice law in Michigan be suspended for a period of 180 days with the condition that respondent resign as the Branch County Prosecutor, effective January 1, 2019. Costs were assessed in the amount of $1,656.12.
'114tdi a Mark A. Armitage
Executive Director