NOTICE OF SUSPENSION ADB 217-87; 246-87 Jean D. Artman, P-23847, Detroit, Michigan, by Attorney Discipline Board Oakland County Hearing Panel 1129.
1) Suspension - sixty (60) days; 2) Effective February 8, 1989. The Respondent was retained to represent clients in a claim for damages and was paid a retainer of $2,500.00. Respondent instituted suit in Oakland County Circuit Court, but failed to appear at a mediation hearing or file a mediation brief; failed to appear for trial; failed to notify her clients that the case had been dismissed; and failed to reply to inquiries of her clients regarding that status of the case.
In a separate matter, Respondent was retained to represent a client In a claim for damages against an oil company for termination of a franchise. Respondent filed an action of behalf of her client in Wayne County Circuit Court which was removed to the U.S. District Court, and later appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Respondent failed to file the required pre-argument statement with the Court of Appeals and failed to notify the Court that necessary transcript arrangements had been made, causing dismissal; and failed to inform her client that the appeal had been dismissed.
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)(1, 4-6); DR 6-101(A)(3); and DR 7-101(A)(1-3). Costs were assessed in the amount of $859.39.