BOARD MEMBERS JOHN L . COTE. CHAIRPERSON LEO A. FARHAT MSGR. CLEMENT H . KERN DAVID BAKER LEWIS. SECRETARY FRANK J. MCDEVITT. D . 0 . WILLIAM G . REAMON LYNN H . SHECTER. VICE-CHAIRPERSON
STATE OF MICHIGAN
MAILING ADDRESS: P. 0. BOX 149 DETROIT. MICHIGAN 4 8 2 3 1
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 J ] 9 6 3 - 5 5 5 3
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION
JAMES S. RICHARDS (P 32612) 711 Eas t Main S t r e e t , Flushing, M I 48433, by the Attorney Disc ip l ine Board inc reas ing t h e d i s c i p l i n e im- posed by t h e hearing panel.
(1) Suspension; ( 2 ) For a per iod of t h r e e years and one day; (3) Ef fec t ive November 8 , 1982. ( ~ f f e c t i v ed a t e of hear ing panel order of suspension which was appealed by t h e Grievance Corn- mission. )
The Disc ip l ine Board made t h e fol lowing f indings : Respondent converted funds from an employer-law f i r m ' s t r u s t account i n the amount of $6,792 t o s a t i s f y a personal debt without t h e knowledge o r consent of the p a r t n e r s of t h e firm; s a i d funds were repaid wi th in one month of s a i d conversion; Respondent misrepresented t o a per- sonal i n j u r y c l i e n t t h a t t h e c l i e n t ' s case had been s e t t l e d f o r $7,500 and gave the c l i e n t a check i n t h e amount of $4,060 which he f a l s e l y represented t o be t h e n e t proceeds of the se t t lement when i n f a c t no se t t lement had been reached and Respondent's check was re turned f o r i n s u f f i c i e n t funds; the c l i e n t has no t been reimbursed f o r her l o s s . Respondent a l s o misrepresented t o s a i d personal i n j u r y c l i e n t t h a t a second s u i t had been f i l e d on h e r behalf and t h a t he was negot ia t ing a se t t lement when a c t u a l l y no work had been undertaken on behalf of s a i d c l i e n t ; Respondent a l s o made improper advances of money t o t a l l i n g $500 t o s a i d c l i e n t thereby obta in ing a personal f inan- c i a l i n t e r e s t i n t h e case i n v i o l a t i o n of Canon 5 of the Code of Pro- f e s s i o n a l Responsib i l i ty , to-wit: ~ ~ 5 - 1 0 3 ( B ) .T he Board aff irmed the f indings of f a c t of t h e hear ing panel and f indings t h a t the follow- ing r u l e s were v io la ted : GCR 1963, 953(1-4) and Canons 1 and 9 of the Code of Profess ional Respons ib i l i ty , to-wit: DR1-102(A) ( 4 ) (6) and DR9-102(A). Respondent has no record of p r i o r d i s c i p l i n e . Costs were assessed i n the amount of $291.33 r . tj- -;-y=.--- . g k b \ 7iL)cD--y i ..-.zgJ I CAVID BAKER LE\rm, Secretary ot the & Gensral Chunsel +..:'icr?ey Ciscipline b a r d
Dated: AUGUST 12, 1983