NOTICE OF SUSPENSION AND RESTITUTION Case No. 93-66-GA Michael J. Berezowsky, P-22800, Farmington Hills, Michigan, by Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #58.
1) Suspension - 120 days; 2) Effective March 5, 1994. Respondent was retained to represent a client in a custody/ paternity action. Respondent admitted that he failed to advise his client of a visitation order entered by the court; consented to an order requiring his client to pay weekly child support, without the client's knowledge or consent; failed to advise his client of the child support order, causing the client to be found in contempt of court for his failure to comply with the order; failed to keep his client reasonably informed concerning the status of his case; failed to informed his client of his suspension from the practice of law; remained attorney of record in the matter during the period of suspension; and wrote his client a letter during the period of suspension in which he held himself out as an attorney.
Respondent's conduct was found to be in violation of MCR 9.104(1)-(4)and(9); MCR 9.119(A); and the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct, 1.1(c); 1.2(a); 4.1; 5.5(a); and 8.4(a)-(c).
The Grievance Administrator and the respondent stipulated to a 120-day suspension to run concurrently with the three-year suspension ordered in Case No. 92-179-GA. The parties also agreed that respondent would make restitution to his client in the amount of $600.00. Costs were assessed in the amount of $118.86.
NOTE: Respondent's license to practice law in Michigan has been suspended continuously since February 4, 1992.