NOTICE OF REPRIMAND (By Consent)
Case No. 91-239-GA Richard D. Zaharie, P32852, Jackson, Michigan, by Attorney Discipline Board Ingham County Hearing Panel #2.
1) Reprimand; 2) Effective September 16, 1992. 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 admitted the allegations of professional misconduct contained in Count One of the formal complaint. Count Two was dismissed by stipulation.
Respondent was retained to probate an estate, but failed to keep the interested parties informed as the to status of the proceedings in the probate court or to serve the interested parties with notices and documents relative to the estate; and, filed, or caused to be filed, an inaccurate inventory and accounting which resulted in further costs and attorney fees to the estate and the heirs.
Respondent's conduct was found to be in violation of MCR 9.104 (1-4); the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct, 1.1(a,c); 1.2(a,c); 1.3; 1.4(a); 8.4(a,c) and Canons 1, 6 and 7 of the then-applicable Code of Professional Responsibility, DR 1-102(A) (1,5,6); DR 6-101(A)(3); DR 7-101(A)(1,3). Costs were assessed in the amount of $55.15.