NOTICE OF SUSPENSION AND RESTITUTION (By Consent)
ADB 186-88; 209-88 Vincent W. Dent, P-36828, Detroit, Michigan, by Attorney Discipline Board Wayne County Hearing Panel #12.
1) Suspension - 30 days; 2) Effective December 1, 1988. In a stipulation for consent Order of Discipline filed under the provisions of MCR 9.115(F)(5), the Respondent offered his plea of nolo contendere to charges that he was retained to represent a client in divorce proceedings in Wayne County Circuit Court but failed to enter an appearance or otherwise go forward on his client's behalf; was granted a motion to modify the pro-confesso judgment of divorce taken against his client but failed to cause a written order to be entered; was granted a motion for Specific Visitation and/or Contempt but failed to cause a written order to be entered; failed to keep in reasonable contact with his client; refused to refund unearned portion of the $500.00 paid to him by his client; refused to return his client's file; and failed to answer a Request for Investigation. In a separate matter, Respondent was retained to represent a client in an exclusion proceeding brought against the client by the United States Department of Health and Human Services but failed to seek the lawful objectives of his client through reasonably available means permitted by law; failed to return his client's file; failed to keep in adequate communication with his client; and failed to refund and unearned portion of the $1,000.00 fee paid to him. In a separate matter, Respondent was retained to act as defense counsel in civil litigation but failed to file an appearance on his client's behalf; failed to take any other action on his client's behalf; and failed to keep in adequate communication with his client. Respondent also failed to answer the Formal Complaints. Respondent's conduct was found to be in violation of MCR 9.104(1- 4); MCR 9.103(C); MCR 9.113(B)(2); and Canons 1, 2, 6, and 7 of the Code of Professional Responsibility, DR 1-1-2(A)(1, 5, 6); DR 2- 110(A)(3); DR 6-101(A)(3); and DR 7-101(A)(1-3). Costs were assessed in the amount of $147.63. Respondent was also ordered to make restitution to one of his clients in the amount of $200.00.