NOTICE OF SUSPENSION (By Consent)
Case No. 90-68-GA Charles J. Sautter, P24310, Charlotte, Michigan, by Attorney Discipline Board Ingham County Hearing Panel #6.
1) Suspension - thirty (30) days; 2) Effective August 20, 1991. 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 offered his plea of nolo contendere to the allegations contained in the formal complaint. Respondent was appointed to represent 14 separate defendants in appellate proceedings, but in 13 of those cases respondent failed to file a trial court motion, failed to perfect a claim of appeal within the time prescribed, and failed to file appropriate pleadings to dismiss the appeals. In the fourteenth case, respondent failed to reply to a warning letter sent him by the clerk notifying him that the appellate brief was overdue, failed to reply to a warning letter sent him by the clerk notifying him that the appeal would be placed on the no progress docket, failed to file an appellate brief, failed to pay costs pursuant to the court's order, and failed to reply to a warning letter sent him by the clerk notifying him the appeal had again been placed on the no progress docket. Respondent's conduct was found to be in violation of MCR 9.104 (1-4); Canons 1, 6 and 7 of the Code of Professional Responsibility, DR 1-102(A)(1,5,6); DR 6-101(A)(3); DR 7-101(A) (1-3); and the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct, 1.1(c); 1.2(a); 1.3; 1.4; 8.4(a,c). Costs were assessed in the amount of $64.20.