NOTICE OF REPRIMAND AND RESTITUTION Case No. 90-32-GA Robert Scott Vanderford, P-31432, Detroit, Michigan, by Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #28.
1) Reprimand; 2) Effective August 24, *1990. The hearing panel concluded that all of the allegations of the formal complaint had been proven by a preponderance of the evidence.
Respondent was retained to defend a divorce action, but failed to timely file an answer on behalf of his client,and failed to respond to the inquiries of his client or his client's substitute counsel.
Respondent was retained in a second divorce action, but failed to appear for an appointment with his client, failed to appear for a court hearing, included a property settlement provision in the judgment of divorce contrary to the agreement reached by the parties, failed to include language in the judgment of divorce restoring his client's maiden name, failed to respond to the inquiries of his client, made a false statement in his submitted judgment of divorce, and failed to refund his client's retainer fee.
Respondent's conduct was found to be in violation of MCR 9.104(1-4); Canons 1, 2, 6 and 7 of the Code of Professional Responsibility, DR 1-102(A)(1,4-6); DR 2-110(A)(3); DR 6-101(A)(3); DR 7-101(A)(1-3); and the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct, 1.1(a,c); 1.3; 1.4(a,b); 1.15(b); 3.3(a)(1); 8.4(a-c). The panel ordered the respondent to make restitution to his two clients in the total amount of $1946.00. Costs were assessed in the amount of $320.37.