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 LYhN H . SHECTER. VICE -CHAIRPERSON
STATE O F MICHIGAN
NOTICE OF REVOCATION DP-94/82 DP-148181 DP-130/82 DP-150/82
J O H N F. X.D'*'AIHY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR B GENERAL COUNSEL
SUITE 1 2 6 0 333 W.FORT STREET DETROIT. M'CHISAN 4 8 2 2 6 TELEPHONE:'^^^' 963-5553
GORDON SUBER (P 21118), 28080 Rey De Copas Lane, Malibu, CA 90265, by t h e At to rney D i s c i p l i n e Board Genesee C i r c u i t Hear ing P a n e l "C" .
(1) Revocat ion of l i c e n s e ; ( 2 ) E f f e c t i v e October 28, 1982. The h e a r i n g p a n e l made t h e f o l l o w i n g f i n d i n g s : Respondent r e p r e s e n t e d a c l i e n t i n a c e r t a i n r e a l e s t a t e t r a n s a c t i o n r e s u l t i n g i n p roceeds t o t h e c l i e n t o f abou t $26,310; Respondent a d m i t t e d t h a t h e s o l i c i t e d and d i d borrow from s a i d c l i e n t $15,000 through a corpora- t i o n of which Respondent was s o l e s t o c k h o l d e r and a n a d d i t i o n a l $7,000 l o a n t o Respondent p e r s o n a l l y ; Respondent moved t o C a l i f o r n i a w i t h o u t a d v i s i n g t h e c l i e n t - c r e d i t o r and f i l e d bankrup tcy d i s c h a r g i n g t h e d e b t t o t h e c l i e n t c r e d i t o r i n v i o l a t i o n of t h e Code o f P r o f e s s i o n a l Respon- s i b i l i t y , to-wi t : DR1-102(A) ( 4 ) , DR5-104(A) and GCR 1963, 953(4) . Respondent v i o l a t e d GCR 964.13 by a t t e m p t i n g t o r e s i g n from t h e S t a t e Bar of Michigan w h i l e under i n v e s t i g a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e a fo rement ioned m a t t e r . Respondent improper ly a d v i s e d a c l i e n t t o a c c e p t s e t t l e m e n t of a p e r s o n a l i n j u r y c l a i m a g a i n s t t h e d r ive r -defendan t i n a "Dram Shop Act'' a c t i o n and improper ly a d v i s e d t h a t t h e c l i e n t cou ld s e p a r a t e l y pursue h i s c l a i m a g a i n s t t h e b a r owner; Respondent a d m i t t e d f a i l u r e t o comply w i t h t h e o r d e r s of t h e Genesee C i r c u i t Cour t t o u n d e r t a k e a j o i n d e r of t h e d r i v e r a s a d e f e n d a n t i n t h e pending s u i t a g a i n s t t h e b a r owner; Respondent ' s mishand l ing o f t h e c a s e r e s u l t e d i n d i s m i s s a l of t h e c l i e n t ' s s u i t a g a i n s t t h e b a r owner and a r e s u l t i n g o b s t a c l e t o r e c o v e r y a g a i n s t t h e b a r owner, i n v i o l a t i o n of DR1-102(A)(1)(5)(6), DR6-lOl(A) (3) ( n e g l e c t ) , DR7-101(A) (1 ) - (3 ) and GCR 1963, 953(1) - (4 ) . I n a s e p a r a t e m a t t e r t h e p a n e l found t h a t Respondent had f a i l e d and n e g l e c t e d t o pursue a c e r t a i n p e r s o n a l i n j u r y c l a i m r e s u l t i n g i n e f f e c t u a t i o n of t h e a p p l i c a b l e s t a t u t e of l i m i t a t i o n s . Respondent o b t a i n e d a s e t t l e m e n t of $175,000 f o r a c e r t a i n p e r s o n a l i n j u r y c l i e n t , $35,000 of which was ~ e s p o n d e n t ' sf e e ; t h e c l i e n t was of poor h e a l t h and l a c k e d t h e knowledge n e c e s s a r y f o r management o r inves tment of t h e n e t s e t t l e m e n t funds ; Respondent a d v i s e d t h e c l i e n t t o i n v e s t i n c e r t a i n r e a l e s t a t e and o b t a i n e d from h e r a power of a t t o r n e y t o manage t h e f u n d s ; t h a t Respondent i n v e s t e d t h e c l i e n t funds i n a b u s i n e s s ven-
Notice of Revocation Gordon Suber (P 21118) Page Two
ture known as FourISixteen Associates and at the time of the investment Respondent was the sole stockholder of said corporation; respondent failed to protect the interests of said client, failed to advise the client regarding any investments and moved to California without advising the client regarding the funds and respondent filed bankruptcy, in viola- tion of DR5-104 and DR6-101(A) (3) and GCR 953(2)-(4). The panel also found that Respondent, as fiduciary handling the estate of his father, failed to file an inventory and accounting, failed to pay estate assets to the fiduciary appointed upon Respondent's removal, failed to pay a surcharge and neglected the matter in violation of DR1-102(A)(5),
DR~-101(A)(1-3), DR7-101(1-3), DR9-102(A)(2) and DR9-102(B)(l-4). Respondent also failed to answer a Formal Complaint filed by the Grie- vance Administrator in violation of GCR 1963, 953(7) and 964.4(a). There is no record of previous discipline. Costs were assessed in the amount of $797.21.
( am a % M ' DtADA ViD C.:KER LEWIS. Secretary of tho W m r a l C ounsel - -v--- C i t t ~ r ~ cCylis ci;:ins
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