MEMBERS LOUANN VAN DERWIELE 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 MICIDGAN ATTORNEY DISCIPLINE BOARD
211 WEST FORT STREET, SUITE 1410
DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48226-3236 PHONE: 313-963-5553 I FAX: 313-963ยท5571
MARK A. ARMITAGE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
WENDY A. NEELEY DEPUTY DIRECTOR
KAREN M. DALEY ASSOCIATE COUNSEL
SHERRY L. MIFSUD OFFICE ADMINISTRA TOR
ALLYSON M. PLOURDE CASE MANAGER
OWEN R. MONTGOMERY CASE MANAGER
JULIE M. LOISELLE RECEPTION/STISECRETARY
NOTICE OF DISBARMENT AND RESTITUTION Case No. 17-107-GA Notice Issued: May 17,2018 Robert E. Siameka, P 20567, Detroit, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #19.
Disbarred, Effective May 16, 20181 Respondent filed an answer and an amended answerto the formal complaint and appeared at the hearings. Based upon the exhibits offered, and witness testimony presented by the Grievance Administrator, the hearing panel found that respondent committed professional misconduct in his representation of a client in a direct appeal of his criminal conviction.
The panel found that respondent failed to provide competent representation, in violation of MRPC 1.1 (a); failed to provide diligent representation, in violation of MRPC 1.3; failed to communicate the status of the representation to his client, in violation of MRPC 1.4(a); failed to explain the matter to his client to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation, in violation of MRPC 1.4(b); knowingly made false statements of fact to a tribunal, in violation of MRPC 3.3(a)(1); knowingly made false statements of material fact to third parties while representing a client, in violation of MRPC 4.1; and failed to notify the opposing attorney and tribunals of his suspension, in violation of MCR 9.119(C). Respondent was also found to have violated MCR 9.104(1 )-(4); and MRPC 8.4(a)-(c).
The panel ordered that respondent be disbarred from the practice of law in Michigan and that he be required to pay restitution to Effie Vann in the amount of $7,500 with interest at the rate of 7% per annum, retroactive to May 1,2012 (the date Ms. Vann paid respondent's retainer in full). Costs were assessed in the amount of $1,834.59.
~CjLAvD Mark A. Armitage ~ Executive Director
1 Respondent has been continuously suspended from the practice of law in Michigan since May 1, 2015. Please see Notice of Suspension and Restitution (By Consent), Grievance Administrator V Robert E. S/ameka, 14-107-JC, issued April 14, 2015.