NOTICE OF SUSPENSION (By Consent)
Case No. 93-37-GA Samuel Bell, P-10655, Farmington Hills, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board affirming a hearing panel Order of Suspension (By Consent).
1) Suspension - 120 days; 2) Effective November 6, 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 pled nolo contendere to nine counts of client neglect; eight counts of misrepresentation to clients; one count of misrepresentation to the Attorney Grievance Commission; one count of entering into an improper loan transaction with a client; and one count of misappropriation.
Respondent's conduct was alleged to be in violation of MCR 9.103(C); MCR 9.104(1)-(4),(6)and(7); MCR 9.113(A); the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct, 1.1(c); 1.3; 1.4; 1.8(a)(1)-(3); 1.8(e); 1.15; 3.2; 8.1(a); and 8.4(a)-(c); and Canons 1, 5, 6 and 7 of the then applicable Code of Professional Responsibility, DR 1- 102(A)(1),(4)-(6); DR 5-103(B); DR 6-101(A)(3); and DR 7-101(A)(1)- (3). Costs were assessed in the amount of $473.88.
One complainant filed a petition for review seeking an increase in discipline and restitution. In show cause proceedings before the Attorney Discipline Board, counsel for the Grievance Administrator noted the mitigating effect of the respondent's unblemished record during twenty-seven years of practice but conceded that other mitigating factors considered by the Grievance Administrator and the Attorney Grievance Commission were not disclosed in the record.
In an order issued January 21, 1994, the Board affirmed the panel's acceptance of the stipulation for consent discipline.