BOARD MEMBERS JOHN L . COTE. CHAIRPERSON LEO A. FARHAT MSGR. CLEMENT n . KERN DAVID BAKER LEWIS. S E C R ~ A R Y FRANK J. MCDEVITT. 0.0 . WILLIAM G. REAMON LYNN H. SHLCTER. VICE-CHAIRPERSON
STATE OF M I C H I G A N
NOTICE OF REVOCATION
JOHN F. X.OWAIHY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & GENERAL COUNSEL
SUITE 1260 3 3 3 W . FORT STREET DETROIT. MICHIGAN 48226 T E L E P ~ O N E : ( ~9I6~3J- 5 5 5 3
ELWOOD S. BERRY, JR. (P 28880), 740 Seventh St . , Baldwin, M I , 49304, by Attorney Disc ip l ine Board Muskegon C i r c u i t Hearing Panel.
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(1) Revocation of l icense; (2) Ef fec t ive Ju ly 6 , 1982. The hearing panel found t h a t Respondent had v i o l a t e d a p r i o r d i s c i p l i n a r y order of suspension by engaging i n t h e p r a c t i c e of law ' while under suspension; t h a t Respondent ac t ing a s an a t to rney f o r t h e fud ic ia ry of a c e r t a i n probate e s t a t e , received personal property of sub- s t a n t i a l va lue and f a i l e d t o d e l i v e r s a i d property t o t h e fud ic ia ry o r
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t o account f o r s a i d property t o t h e probate cour t ; t h a t , Respondent, a f t e r accepting a s u b s t a n t i a l r e t a i n e r , neglected t o process c e r t a i n c i v i l l i t i g a t i o n causing a delay of more than twenty months and permit t ing t h e s t a t u t e of l i m i t a t i o n s t o run aga ins t one defendant; t h a t Respondent was re ta ined t o i n v e s t i g a t e a poss ib le wrongful death a c t i o n and was paid a r e t a i n e r and f a i l e d t o take any a c t i o n o r commence s u i t ; t h a t Respon-
dent was re ta ined and paid t o d r a f t c e r t a i n l e t t e r s on behalf of a c l i e n t , f a i l e d t o do so , and f a i l e d t o i n any way p ro tec t the i n t e r e s t of t h e c l i e n t s ; t h a t Respondent induced a c l i e n t t o borrow the sum of $1,500 which funds Respondent r e ta ined f o r h i s personal use, f a i l i n g t o pay debts of the c l i e n t a s promised. The panel a l s o found t h a t Respondent f a i l e d t o
answer a Formal Complaint and two separa te Requests f o r Inves t iga t ion sub- mit ted by t h e Grievance Administrator . The panel found v i o l a t i o n s of GCR 953 and Canpns 1, 3, 6, 7 , and 9 of t h e Code of Profess ional Respon- s i b i l i t y . Thepanel oonsfdeted p r i o r suspensions of 45 days i n December of 1980 and 60 days i n December of 1981. Costs were assess ed i n t h e amount of $445. 89. -
QAvlD BAKER LEWIS, Seor-y A ttornay Disciptine Bcaa
JUL
8 1982
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