MEMBERS ROBERT S. HARRISON CHAIRMAN HANLEY M. GURWIN VICE CHAIRMAN CHARLES C. VINCENT, M.D. SECRETARY HON. MARTIN M. DOCTOROFF REMONA A. GREEN PATRICK J. KEATING THEODORE P. ZEGOURAS
STATE OF MICHIGAN
JOHN F. VAN BOLT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 6 GENERA -L C -O UNSEL
SUITE l a 333 W FORT STREET DETROIT. MICHIGAN 48226
Area Code 313 963-5553
NOTICE OF REVOCATION ADB 171-87; 197-87 Mary E. Gerisch, P 30951, 20 S. Bishop, Greenwich, CT 06830 by t h e Attorney D i s c i p l i n e Board inc reas ing a suspension of t h r e e years imposed by Wayne County Hearing Panel #15.
1 ) Revocation; 2 ) E f f e c t i v e February 18, 1988. The Respondent f a i l e d t o answer t h e Formal Complaint and f a i l e d t o appear a t t h e hear ing on November 16, 1987. Based upon he r d e f a u l t and an examination of t h e documents submitted by t h e Grievance Administrator , t h e hea r ing panel concluded t h a t Respondent f a l s e l y advised a c l i e n t t h a t a s e t t l e m e n t had been reached i n t h e c l i e n t ' s f avo r i n a c i v i l case and s h e
p r o v i d e d t h e c l i e n t w i t h a copy of t h e p u r p o r t e d s e t t l e m e n t check . Respondent knew t h a t no s e t t l e m e n t had been reached and t h a t t h e copy of t h e s e t t l e m e n t check was a forgery. Respondent's own check t o h e r c l i e n t , a l l e g e d l y r ep re sen t ing t h e se t t l emen t amount l e s s a t t o r n e y f e e s and c o s t s ,
w a s dishonored f o r i n s u f f i c i e n t funds. Respondent's conduct was found t o be i n v i o l a t i o n of MCR 9.104(1-4) and Canons 1, 6 and 7 of t h e Code of P ro fe s s iona l Respons ib i l i t y , DR 1 - 1 0 2 ( ~ ) ( 5 , ) ; DR 6-101(A) and DR 7-lOl(A)(l-3).
Upon c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f a P e t i t i o n o r Review f i l e d on behalf of t h e Grievance Administrator , t h e Board increased d i s c i p l i n e t o a revoca t ion o f Respondent's l i c e n s e t h e m a j o r i t y (Board members Green, Gurwin, Vincent and Zegouras ) n o t e d t h a t o u r l e g a l sys t em depends o n t h e a s s u m p t i o n t h a t lawyers , a s o f f i c e r s of t h e c o u r t , a r e t e l l i n g t h e t r u t h when they make s t a t emen t s about t h e c a s e s t hey a r e handl ing and a n a t to rney who c r e a t e s forged p leadings o r documents not on ly d e s t r o y s t h e t r u s t of t h e c l i e n t bu t does i n c a l c u l a b l e harm t o t h e l e g a l system. Board member P a t r i c k Keating would a f f i r m t h e hea r ing panel suspension of t h r e e years on t h e grounds t h a t t h e e n t r y of a d e f a u l t f o r f a i l u r e t o answer a formal complaint does n o t , i n and of i t s e l f , e s t a b l i s h t h e t r u t h of t h e misconduct a l l e g e d i n t h e complaint. Board cha i rpe r son Robert Harr i son would a f f i r m t h e suspens ion of t h r e e years f o r t h e reason t h a t he is no t persuaded t h a t t he d e c i s i o n of t h e hear ing panel was erroneous. Costs i n t h e s e proceedings were a s se s sed i n t h e aqount of $163.28.
Johu F. VanBolt DY t e d :MAY201988