NOTICE OF REPRIMAND Case No. 92-23-GA George R. Darrah, P12510, Flint, Michigan, by Attorney Discipline Board Genesee County Hearing Panel #4.
1) Reprimand; 2) Effective September 1, 1992. The hearing panel found that the allegations of professional misconduct contained in the formal complaint were established by a preponderance of the evidence.
Respondent was retained by the defendant/husband in a divorce action. In accordance with a court order releasing funds, respondent received a $5800 check made payable to himself to be held in trust for his client and his client's wife for the purpose of paying medical bills owed by his client. Respondent deposited the check into his client trust account, but failed to pay funds from the proceeds to the Michigan Department of Social Services in violation of the order releasing funds; released $2031.50 to the plaintiff/wife and $1631.50 to the defendant/husband without having satisfied the debt owed to the Michigan Department of Social Services in violation of the order releasing funds; and, without authority, respondent paid to himself $400 from the funds in trust, and commingled and misappropriated that sum.
Respondent's conduct was found to be in violation of MCR 9.104 (1-4); and the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct, 1.15(a,b); 8.4(a-c). Costs were assessed in the amount of $677.92.