NOTICE OF REVOCATION Case No. 92-106-GA Richard E. Meden, P-17580, Alpena, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board increasing a hearing panel order of suspension for 18 months.
1) Revocation; 2) Effective December 29, 1992. Respondent was retained to represent the sellers in a real estate transaction; the property had two outstanding land contracts. Respondent received a draft in the amount of $48,223.15, made payable to him, to satisfy the outstanding land contracts.
The hearing panel found that respondent failed to timely notify one land contract holder or her attorney of the receipt of the proceeds; failed to promptly deliver to either land contract holder the proceeds to which they were entitled; misappropriated the proceeds; failed to respond to one land contract holder's inquiries, or those of her attorney, concerning the funds; failed to keep one land contract holder or her attorney informed concerning the funds; and, made false statements in his answer to the request for investigation.
Respondent's conduct was found to be in violation of MCR 9.104 (1)-(4)and(6); MCR 9.113(A); and the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct, 1.15; 4.1; 8.1; and 8.4(a)-(c). Cheboygan County Hearing Panel #2, by majority, ordered that respondent's license to practice law in Michigan be suspended for a period of 18 months.
The Grievance Administrator and the respondent each filed a petition seeking review of the hearing panel order of discipline. Respondent's request for stay of discipline was denied by the Board. In an order and opinion issued July 30, 1993, the Attorney Discipline Board increased discipline to revocation of the respondent's license to practice law in Michigan. Costs were assessed in the total amount of $1729.75.