MEMBERS LOUANN VAN DER WIELE 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 MICHIGAN ATTORNEY DISCIPLINE BOARD
211 WEST FORT STREET, SUITE 1410
DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48226-3236 PHONE: 313-963-5553 I FAX: 313-963-5571
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 RECEPT/ONISTISECRETARY
NOTICE OF DISBARMENT Case Nos. 17-86-JC; 17-87-GA Notice Issued: April 5, 2018 Mark A. Kaufman, P 57919, lansing, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Ingham County Hearing Panel #6.
Disbarred, Effective April 5, 20181 Respondent was convicted, by guilty plea, of attempted third degree retail fraud, in violation of MCl 750.356D4[A], in People of the State of Michigan v Mark Andrew Kaufman, 54A District Court Case No. 15-05319. Respondent was also convicted, by guilty plea, of attempted third degree retail fraud, in violation of MCl 750.356D4[A], in People of the State of Michigan v Mark Andrew Kaufman, 54A District Court Case No. 16-04168. Based on these convictions, the panel found that respondent engaged in conduct that violated a criminal law of a state or of the United States, an ordinance, or tribal law pursuant to MCR 2.615, in violation of MCR 9.104(5).
Additionally, based on respondent's default for failing to answer the formal complaint, the hearing panel found that respondent committed professional misconduct by failing to report his convictions; holding himself out as an attorney to another attorney while his license was suspended; and failing to answer a Grievance Administrator Request for I nvestigation. Specifically, the panel found that respondent failed to report two convictions, in violation of MCR 9.120(A) and (B); failed to timely answer a request for investigation, in violation of MeR 9.104(7), MCR 9.113(A), MCR 9.113(B)(2) and MRPC 8.1 (a)(2); and held himself out as being an actively licensed attorney to engage in the practice of law, in violation of MCR 9.119(E)(4) and MRPC 5.5(b)(2). Respondent was also found to have violated MCR 9.104(1)-(2) and (4); and MRPC 8.4(a)-(c).
The panel ordered that respondent be disbarred from the practice law in Michigan. Costs were assessed in the amount of $1,975.42.
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1 Respondent has been continuously suspended from the practice of law in Michigan since October 9,2013. Please see Notice of Automatic Interim Suspension, Grievance Administrator v Mark A. Kaufman, 13-124-AI; 13-141-JC, issued November?, 2013.