NOTICE OF SUSPENSION AND RESTITUTION Case Nos. 90-31-GA; 90-54-FA Jean D. Artman, P-28347, Detroit, Michigan, by Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #22.
1) Suspension - one year; 2) Effective July 17, 1990. The respondent failed to answer the formal complaints and failed to appear at the hearing held in Detroit on April 17, 1990. Respondent's defaults were entered and the hearing panel determined that the defaults established the allegations of the formal complaints.
Respondent was retained to represent parties in a civil action and filed an action on her clients' behalf. The action was settled and checks totalling $5,722.30 were forwarded to the respondent. Respondent failed to negotiate the checks and place the proceeds in a trust account, failed to turn the checks over to her clients, failed to pay her clients the funds to which they were entitled, failed to notify her clients of her suspension from the practice of law (ADB 217-87; 246-87--sixty days--effective February 8, 1989 and ADB 73-88--thirty days--effective April 13, 1989), continued to hold herself out as an attorney, failed to file a notice of suspension with the Wayne County Circuit Court, failed to pay the costs assessed in the prior disciplinary proceedings, and failed to answer the request for investigation.
Respondent's conduct was found to be in violation of MCR 9.104(1-4,8); MCR 9.103(C); MCR 9.113(B)(2); MCLA 600.916; MSA 27A.916; and Rules 1.15(a,b,c), 5.5(a) and 8.4(a,c) of the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct. The hearing panel ordered the respondent to make restitution to her clients in the amount of $3000.00. Costs were assessed in the amount of $126.30.