NOTICE OF REPRIMAND WITH CONDITIONS (By Consent)
Case No. 92-192-GA Noel J. Saleh, P-26594, Detroit, Michigan, by Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #14.
1) Reprimand; 2) Effective August 24, 1993. 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 was retained to represent a client in deportation proceedings. Respondent pled nolo contendere to charges that: he informed the Court, without his client's knowledge or consent, that he would not be filing a petition for suspension of deportation; he failed to file an application for political asylum on or before the date set by the Court; he failed to adequately prepare for a status telephone call; although the Court gave him an additional ten days to file an application for political asylum, he failed to do so; he failed to file an application for political asylum on or before a subsequent hearing, or to notify his client of the proceeding, resulting in the entry of an Order of Deportation; he failed to timely advise his client of the Order of Deportation; he failed to file the necessary brief in support of a Petition for Reconsideration; and, during the pendency of the proceedings, he failed to keep his client reasonably informed concerning the status of the matter.
Respondent's conduct was alleged to be in violation of MCR 9.104(1-4); and the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct, 1.1(c); 1.3; 1.4(a,b); 3.2; and 8.4(a,c). Respondent agreed to make restitution to his client in the amount of $500, as well as to other conditions. Costs were assessed in the amount of $130.36.