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: 313·963-5663 I FAX: 313·963-5571
MARK A. ARMITAGE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WENDY A. NEELEY DEPUTY DIRECTOR KAREN M. DALEY ASSOCIATE COUNSEL SHERRY L. MIFSUD OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR ALLYSON M. PLOURDE CASE MANAGER OWEN R. MONTGOMERY CASE MANAGER JULIE M. LOISELLE
RECEPTIONIST/SECRETARY
NOTICE OF DISBARMENT AND RESTITUTION (Pending Review)
Case No. 17 -59-GA Notice Issued: March 19, 2018 Harold C. MacDonald, P 16912, Troy, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #105.
Disbarred, Effective March 16, 2018 The hearing panel found that respondent committed acts of professional misconduct in his conversion of funds from a client's living trust and another client's estate, and by failing to respond to two separate Requests for Investigation. Specifically, respondent failed to a keep client reasonably informed about the status of their matter and failed to explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation, in violation of MRPC 1.4(a) and (b); failed to promptly payor deliver funds that the client or third person is entitled to receive and failed to promptly render a full accounting of such funds, in violation of MRPC 1.15(b)(3); failed to appropriately safeguard client funds by maintaining them in an IOLTA and/or client trust account, and converting the funds, in violation of MRPC 1.15(d); failed to appropriately safeguard other client property in a storage facility and in his former office space, in violation of MRPC 1.15(d); upon termination of the representation, failed to return client property consisting of the client's funds to the client, in violation of MRPC 1.16(d); knowingly failed to respond to a lawful demand for information from disciplinary authority, in violation of MRPC 8.1 (a)(2); and failed to answer a Request for Investigation in conformity with MCR 9.113(A), in violation of MCR 9.104(7). 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 law in Michigan. Respondent was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $160,545.33. Respondent filed a petition for review and this matter has been scheduled for hearing before the Attorney DiSCipline Board. TQ.tal costs were assessed in the amount of $3,398.19. e" J 41 if ,4. ~ ,/ I e '" ,·/I # . , , . , ' 4';~.R f./~ .--..., ,~~ '<'" ""}.../.
Mark A. Armitage Executive Director