MEMBERS LOUANN VAN DER WIELE CHAIRPERSON REV. MICHAEL MURRAY VICE-CHAIRPERSON BARBARA WILLIAMS FORNEY SECRETARY JAMES A. FINK JOHN W. INHULSEN
JONATHAN E. LAUDERBACH KAREN D. O'DONOGHUE MICHAEL B. RIZIK, JR. LINDA S. HOTCHKISS, MD
STATE OF MICHIGAN ATTORNEY DISCIPLINE BOARD
211 WEST FORT STREET, SUITE 1410 DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48226-3236 PHONE: 313-963-5553 I FAX: 313-963-5571
MARK A. ARMITAGE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WENDY A. NEELEY DEPUTY DIRECTOR KAREN M' DALEY ASSOCIATE COUNSEL SHERRY L. MIFSUD OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
ALLYSON M. PLOURDE CASE MANAGER OWEN R. MONTGOMERY CASE MANAGER JULIE M' LOISELLE RECEPTIONISTISECRETARY
NOTICE OF REPRIMAND (By Consent)
Case No. 18-27 -GA Notice Issued: July 31,2018 Joseph S. Hughes, P 52832, Berrien Springs, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Berrien County Hearing Panel #1.
Reprimand, Effective July 28, 2018 The respondent and the Grievance Administrator filed a Stipulation for Consent Order of Discipline, in accordance with MCR 9.115(F)(5), which was approved by the Attorney Grievance Commission and accepted by the hearing panel. The stipulation contained respondent's admissions to the allegations that he committed acts of professional misconduct as the result of his improper use of an IOlTA account. An overdraft of the IOlTA account occurred when respondent deposited money constituting of costs (filing fees) not yet incurred into his operating account rather than his IOlTA account.
Based upon respondent's admissions and the stipulation ofthe parties, the panel found that respondent failed to deposit all client or third-person funds in an IOlTA or non-IOlTA and failed to hold property of his clients or third persons separate from his own, in violation of MRPC 1.15(d). Respondent was also found to have violated MCR 9.104(2)-(4); and MRPC 8.4(a).
In accordance with the stipulation of the parties, the panel ordered that respondent be reprimanded. Costs were assessed in the amount of $852.62.
~a~> Mark A. Armitage
Executive Director