MEMBERS ROBERT S. HARRISON CHAIRMAN
)+ANLEY 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 GENEAAL COUNSEL
SUITE 1260 333 W . FORT STREET
DETROIT. MICHIGAN 48226
Area Code 31 3 963-5553
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION ADB 171-87; 197-87 Mary E. Gerisch, P 30951, 20 S. Bishop, Greenwich, CT 06830, by Attorney Di sc ip l ine Board Wayne County Hearing Panel $15-
1 ) Suspension - t h r e e yea r s ;
2) E f f e c t i v e February 18, 1988. The Responden t , who was l i c e n s e d t o p r a c t i c e l a w i n Michigan i n 1980 and l a s t maintained an o f f i c e i n Michigan i n Midland County, 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 h e r d e f a u l t and a n examination of t h e documents submit ted by t h e Grievance Adminis t ra tor , t h e hear ing panel concluded t h a t Resppndent a l l o w e d t h e e n t r y o f a s t i p u l a t i o n and o r d e r o f d i s m i s s a l i n a c i v i l a c t i o n t h e n p e n d i n g i n Midland County C i r c u i t Court i n January 1985 wi thout f i r s t consu l t i ng wi th he r c l i e n t o r adv i s ing t h e c l i e n t t h a t t h e c a s e was dismissed. I n response t o subsequent i n q u i r i e s from h e r c l i e n t , Respondent advised t h a t a s e t t l emen t had been reached i n h e r c l i e n t ' s f a v o r i n t h e amount of $3226 and she provided t h e c l i e n t w i t h a copy of t h e purported se t t l emen t check. In f a c t , Respondent knew t h a t no se t t l emen t had been reached and t h e copy of t h e se t t l emen 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 s e t t l e m e n t amount l e s s a t t o r n e y f e e s and c o s t s , was 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 1-102(A)(5,6); DR 6-101(A) and DR 7-101(A)(1-3). Costs were a s se s sed i n t h e amount
of $115.88.
The G r i e v a n c e A d m i n i s t r a t o r h a s f i l e d a P e t i t i o n f o r Review wi th the Attorney Di sc ip l ine Board seeking an inc rease i n t h e d i s c i p l i n e imposed. I n t h e absence of a P e t i t i o n f o r Review o r r e q u e s t f o r s t a y f i l e d Responden t , t h e s u s p e n s i o n became e f f e c t :