MEMBERS HON. MARTIN M. DOCTOROFF CHMRAIAN ROBERT S. HARRISON VICE CHAIRMAN .HAALES C. VINCENT, M.D. SECRETARY REMONA A. GREEN HANLEY M. GURWIN PATRICK J. KEATlNG ODESSA KOMER
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
JOHN F. VAN BOLT EXECUTlVE DIRKTOR 6 GENERAL COUNSEL
SUITE 1m 333 W. MRT STREET OEWIOIT. MICHIGAN 4.9226 Area C d e 313 9635553
NOTICE OF INCREASED SUSPENSION
F i l e Nos. DP 38/86; DP 154/86 David F. Cassleman, P 23407, 448 Leonard S t r e e t , Grand Rapids, M I 49503 b y the Attorney D i s c i p l i n e Board inc reas ing a suspension of s i x months ordered by Grand Rapids Hearing Panel # l . 1 ) Suspension - one yea r ;
2 ) E f f e c t i v e June 11, 1987. The Respondent f a i l e d t o answer two Formal Complaints conso l ida t ed f o r hear ing and he d id n o t appear a t the hearing. The Panel concluded t h a t misconduct was e s t a b l i s h e d , inc luding Respondent 's f a i l u r e t o a c t on h i s
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c l i e n t ' s beha l f i n a c h i l d suppor t mat te r , h i s f a l s e s ta tements t o h i s c l i e n t c o n c e r n i n g t h e s t a t u s of t h a t c a s e , h i s f a i l u r e t o answer t h e Request f o r I n v e s t i g a t i o n served by the Grievance Adminis t ra tor , and h i s f a i l u r e t o answer the Formal Complaint. Respondent 's conduct wae found t o b e i n v i o l a t i o n of MCR 9.104(1-4,7) and Canons 1, 6 & 7 of the Code of P r o f e s s i o n a l R e s p o n s i b i l i t y , DR 1 - l O l A ( 4 - 6 ) ; DR 6-101(~)(1-3) and DR 7 - 1 0 1 ~ 1 - 3 . Costs were a s s e s s e d i n the amount of $262.28.
I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e r e i n s t a t e m e n t requi rements of MCR 9.123(B) and MCR 9.12 4 , the Panel s p e c i f i c a l l y condi t ioned Respondent's r e i n s t a t e m e n t
upon h i s d i scharge of the judgment a g a i n s t him i n favor of t he complainant i n t h e . a mount o f $1231.44 f o r damages a r i s i n g f rom h e r l o s s o f c h i l d suppor t
P e t i t i o n s f o r review were f i l e d by the Respondent and the Grievance Adminis t ra tor . Respondent d i d n o t appear a t the show cause proceedings b e f o r e the Board on March 23 , 1987. The Board increased d i s c i p l i n e t o a suspens ion of one year no t ing Respondent 's f a i l u r e t o appear a t any s t a g e of the proceedings, h i s f a i l u r e t o o f f e r m i t i g a t i n g evidence, and the aggrava t ing e f f e c t of , a p r i o r suspension f o r 120 days. The Board f u r t h e r noted Respondent 's d e l i b e r a t e mi s rep resen ta t ion t o h i s c l i e n t concern ing the s t a t u s of her case s t a t i n g t h a t a n a t t o r n e y has a s p e c i a l du ty t o promote p u b l i c confidence i n our l e g a l i n s t i t u t i o n s and no t use the l e g a l system a s a scapegoat f o r his or her own neg lec t . Costs i n the rev iew proceeding were a s se s sed i n t he amount of $43.40.
NOTE:
Respondent's l i c e n s e t o p r a c t i c e law has been suspended con t inuous ly the r e s u l t of a 120 days suspension i n a p r i o r n s ion da ted September 19, 1986. 94 /