MEMBERS MARTIN M. DOCTOROFF
WUWU( ROBERT S. HARRISON VICECWIIW*N :HARLES C. VINCENT. M.D. SECmTARv
REMONA A. GREEN HANLEY M. GURWIN PATRICK J. KEATING ODESSA KOMER
STATE OF MICHIGAN
JOHN F VAN BOLT UKUrrVE WMCTOr( 6 ~ C o W s E i
SUllE rlao 333 W. FORT STREET OmIOlT, MCHIGAN 4Ua
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION F i l e Nos. DP 73/86; DP 100/86 ' R i c h a r d L. F i r c h a r , P 13456, 18535 E. Warren Avenue, D e t r o i t , M I 48236 by the Uichigan Suprema Respondent's Appl icat ion fo r Leave to Appeal.
Court
*rU cod. 313 mUU
denying
1) Suspension - 2 years ;
2 ) Ef fec t ive February 23, 1987. Respondent administered a decedent 's e s t a t e and, by agreement of c l i e n t s , took con t ro l of the res idue of the e s t a t e which was t o b e used fo r the ca re of the decedent 's companion. Upon the death of t h a t benef ic ia ry severa l years latar, Respoadent's c l i e n t s discovered t h a t $5000 was no t accounted f o r and Respondent admitted to them that he had misappropriated t h a t sum over a period of t i m e to discharge h i s owa personal
6
obl igat ions . Respondent's conduct was found to b e i n v i o l a t i o n of MCR 9.104(1-4) and Canons 1 and 9 of the Code of Profess ional Respons ib i l i ty , DR 1-102 (A)(4-6); DR 9-102 (A) and DR 9-102 (1,4)
Noting mi t iga t ing f a c t o r s which included Respondent' a uablemished r e c o r d i n twen ty- f ive y e a r s of p r a c t i c e and h i s voluntary agreement t o make r e s t i t u t i o n with i n t e r e s t , the Panel ordered t h a t Respondent's l i c e n s e to p r a c t i c e law be suspended f o r a p e r i o d of two y e a r s . Upoa c o n s i d e r a t i o n of s e p a r a t e P e t i t i o n s f o r Review f i l e d by the Respondent and the Grievance Adminis t ra tor , the d i s c i p l i n e imposed was aff i rmed by a major i ty of the Attorney Disc ip l ine Board. Costs were assessed i n the amount of $171.43.
Respondent's Appl icat ion for Leave t o Appeal and P e t i t i o n for Stay of Disc ip l ine were denied by the Court i n an Order dated Apr i l 27, 1987. ?,