NOTICE OF INCREASED SUSPENSION (With Conditions)
Case Nos. 90-41-GA; 91-11-GA Thomas H. Peterson III, P-36408, Las Vegas, Nevada (formerly of Detroit, Michigan), by the Attorney Discipline Board increasing and modifying the effective date of a hearing panel order of suspension for two and one-half years.
1) Suspension - two years and eleven months; 2) Effective July 21, 1993. The respondent admitted the allegations of professional misconduct contained in both formal complaints, which included five counts of misappropriation, two counts of misrepresentation, three counts of neglect, one count of forgery and one count of fraud. In mitigation, respondent cited his cocaine abuse at the time of the misconduct.
Respondent's conduct was found to be in violation of MCR 9.104(1)-(5); Canons 1, 6, 7 and 9 of the then-applicable Code of Professional Responsibility, DR 1-102(A)(1),(3)-(6); DR 6- 101(A)(3); DR 7-101(A)(1)-(3); DR 9-102(A); and DR 9-102(B)(4); and the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct, 1.1(c); 1.3; 1.4(a)and(b); 1.15(a)and(b); and 8.4(a)-(c).
On October 10, 1991, the panel entered an interim order of probation pending further proceedings and the panel's final order of discipline. On July 21, 1993, the panel entered an order suspending respondent's license to practice law in Michigan for two and one-half years effective retroactive to November 18, 1991.
The Grievance Administrator and the respondent filed petitions for review. In an order entered on February 18, 1994, the Attorney Discipline Board increased discipline to a suspension of two years and eleven months, modified the effective date to July 21, 1993, and added conditions regarding respondent's treatment for substance abuse.
Costs were assessed in the total amount of $1920.18.