NOTICE OF REPRIMAND Case No. 92-40-GA Leonard R. Eston, P-13231, Oak Park, Michigan (formerly of Detroit), by the Attorney Discipline Board reducing a hearing panel order of suspension for 18 months.
1) Reprimand; 2) Effective August 5, 1993. Respondent was retained to investigate and prosecute an appeal of a criminal conviction. Tri-County Hearing Panel #20 found that respondent failed to visit his client in prison in violation of MCR 9.104(2)-(4); and Canons 1, 6 and 7 of the then applicable Code of Professional Responsibility, DR 1-102(A)(1)and(6); DR 6-101(A)(3); and DR 7-101(A)(1)-(3). The panel imposed an 18-month suspension, "[g]iving considerable weight to the aggravating factor of Respondent's serious record of prior discipline . . . "
The Grievance Administrator and the respondent each filed a petition for review. In an order and opinion issued July 14, 1993, the Attorney Discipline Board reduced discipline to a reprimand. The Board held that because respondent's misconduct in the instant case preceded the effective date of his first order of discipline in 1986, "For purposes of considering the appropriate level of discipline for respondent's neglect of his duties to a client in 1985 . . . respondent's subsequent disciplinary history is of dubious value."
The Grievance Administrator filed an application for leave to appeal with the Michigan Supreme Court, which was denied in an order dated November 30, 1993.
Costs were assessed in the amount of $1326.95. NOTE: Respondent's license to practice law in Michigan has been continuously suspended since July 29, 1987.