NOTICE OF REPRIMAND (By Consent)
ADB 18-89 Thomas J. Budzynski, P-26355, Mt. Clemens, MI by Attorney Discipline Board Macomb County Hearing Panel #6.
1) Reprimand; 2) Effective July 14, 1989. The Attorney Grievance Commission and a hearing panel approved a stipulation for consent discipline submitted by the Grievance Administrator and the respondent in accordance with MCR 9.115(F)(5). The hearing panel accepted the respondent's plea of nolo contendere to the charges in a formal complaint based upon respondent's representation of a client in a bankruptcy. At the time he was retained to institute bankruptcy proceedings, the client owed respondent approximately $4000 in unpaid attorney fees for prior services. The complaint charges that the respondent advised his client that those attorney fees were not dischargeable in bankruptcy, that he failed to make full disclosure or render appropriate advice to this client concerning his rights in the bankruptcy proceeding and that his professional judgment on behalf of the client was affected by his own financial interest. Respondent's conduct was alleged to be in violation of MCR 9.104(1- 4) and Canons 1 and 5 of the Code of Professional Responsibility, DR 1-102(A)(1,4-6) and DR 5-101(A).