NOTICE OF SUSPENSION DP 192/85; ADB 38-87 David N. Walsh, P-21942, Birmingham, MI, by the Attorney Discipline Board affirming a hearing panel order of suspension of two years.
1) Suspension - two years; 2) Effective January 19, 1989. The Attorney Discipline Board affirmed the findings of a hearing panel that the respondent was suspended for 121 days in a prior disciplinary matter and that the suspension in that case became effective June 10, 1985, the date of an order of the Michigan Supreme Court denying the respondent's application for leave to appeal. Contrary to the terms of the order of suspension, the respondent continued to hold himself out as a licensed attorney, made court appearances on behalf of various clients, and failed to notify his clients of his suspension. The panel found that respondent's answer to a written inquiry from the Grievance Administrator and his Affidavit of Compliance filed with the Supreme Court contained false statements. In a separate matter, the hearing panel found that the respondent, while representing a party in a divorce case, communicated directly with the opposing party without obtaining the consent of her attorney. Respondent's conduct was found to be in violation of MCR 9.104(1-4); MCR 9.119; MCR 9.123 and Canons 1, 3 and 7 of the Code of Professional Responsibility, DR 1-102(A)(1,4-6); DR 3-101(B) and DR 7-104(A) (1). Costs were assessed in the amount of $1010.78.
As a further condition of the Order of Suspension, the respondent must be recertified by the Board of Law Examiners before he may be reinstated to the practice of law.