BOARD MEMBERS JOHN L. COTE. CHAIRPERSON LEO A. FARHAT Dr. Bernadine Denning Dr. C,harles Vincent WILLIAM G . REAMON LYNN SHECTER. H. VICE-CHAIRFERSON Patrick J. Keating
STATE OF MICHIGAN
MAILING ADDRESS: P. O. BOX 149 DETROIT. MICHIGAN 48231
J O H N F. X .DWAIHY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 6. GENERAL COUNSEL
SUITE I 2 6 0 3 3 3 W . FORT STREET DETROIT, MICHIGAN 4 8 2 2 6 T E L E P H O N E : ( ~ I ~9)6 3 - 5 5 5 3
NOTICE OF REVOCATION OF LICENSE File No. DP-120183
JAMES S. RICHA 3, P32612, 911 East Main Street, Flushing, Michigan 3433, by the Attorney-D iscipline Board Flint Hearing 2anel #2. (1) Revocation of License (2) Effective January 11, 1984
The hearing panel found: That Respondent was retained to take over a civil action commenced by another attorney. After receiving a retainer, Respondent failed to appear in opposition to a Motion for Summary Judgment and failed to notify his client regarding the progress of the case. Judgment was enterred dismissing the Respondent's client's case with prejudice. Respondent later gave a check in the amount of $1,000 to the client as part of an assignment of all interest in the lawsuit to Respondent. As part of this transaction, Respondent obtained from the client an agreement to withhold any claim against Respondent in consideration of Respondent's promise to pay the additional sum of $2,000 to the client within 14 days. The $1,000 check was returned for insufficient funds. In another matter, Respondent was appointed by the Genesee County Circuit Court to file a post-conviction appeal. Respondent failed to timely file said appeal and the Court assessed $100 costs for said failure. Respondent has not paid said costs. The Panel further found that Respondent failed to answer a Request for Investigation filed by the Grievance Administrator. The Panel noted a prior disciplinary suspension of 3 years and 1 day imposed in 1982 and found violations of GCR 953 (1) - (4) (7) , and Canons 5, 6 , and 7 of the Code of Pro- fessional Responsibility, to-wit : DR5-103(A) ; DR6-101(1) (2) (3) ; DR7-lOl(A) (3) (5). Costs in the amount of $194.07 were assessed.
DATED : January 11, 1984
/' (JQb4f.i F. X. DWAIHY, Exwutk Dj ti General Counsal