NOTICE OF REPRIMAND ADB 21-88 Jacob R. Heffner, P-14820, Roseville, Michigan by Attorney Discipline Board Macomb County Hearing Panel #7.
1) Reprimand 2) Effective May 17, 1989. The respondent was retained to review the record of a divorce proceeding to determine whether or not to proceed with an appeal of a divorce judgment, and was paid a retainer of $1,000.00 plus $750.00 for transcript costs. Respondent failed to file a Claim of Appeal on his client's behalf. The hearing panel unanimously concluded that Respondent owed a duty to his client to protect her right to appeal, that he neglected to determine whether a claim had been filed prior to his retainer, and failed to file a timely claim of appeal preserving that right. Respondent's conduct was found to be in violation, of MCR 9.104(1-4) and Canons 1, 6 and 7 of the Code of Professional Responsibility, DR 1-102(A)(5,6); DR 6-101(A)(3); and DR 7-101(A)(1-3). Costs were assessed in the amount of $1206.20.