BOARD MEMBERS JOHN L . COTE. CHAIRPERSON LEO A. FARHAT MSGR. CLEMENT H . KERN DAVID BAnER LEWIS. SECRETARY FRANK J. MCDEVITT. 0 . 0 . WILLIAM G. REAMON
LYNN H. SHECTER. VICE-CHAIRPERSON
STATE O F MICHIGAN
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION F i l e No. DP-165/80
JOHN F. X .DWAIHY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR I
GENERAL COUNSEL
SUITE 1260
3 3 3 W.FORT STREET DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48226 TELEPHONE:^^^^) 9 6 3 - 5 5 5 3
RONALD J i PREBENDA (P 19080), 528 Buhl Building, D e t r o i t , M I 48226, by a s p l i t dec i s ion of t h e Attorney Disc ip l ine Board having t h e e f f e c t of aff irm-
i n g t h e hear ing panel Order of Disc ipl ine .
(1) Suspension; (2) For a per iod of 121 days; (3) ~ f f e c t i v eJ u l y 29,. 1981 (Board appeal period over 12/23/81). Respondent was charged i n a t h r e e count Formal Complaint with: par- t i c i p a t i o n i n a f r a d u l e n t a t t o r n e y f e e arrangement; p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n a fradu- l e n t s t o c k s a l e scheme; and, pe r ju ry be fore a Federal Grand Jury , o r i n t h e a l t e r n a t i v e , submitt ing a f a l s e answer t o t h e Grievance Administrator 's Request
)
f o r Inves t iga t ion . The Attorney D i s c i p l i n e Board Wayne C i r c u i t Hearing Panel 11 E1 1 found: t h a t Responden s a l e schemes (two counts) . t
had engaged i n f r a d u l e n t a t t o r n e y f e e and s tock However, t h e panel dismissed Count I11 which charged
pe r ju ry o r t h e making of f a l s e s ta tements i n an answer t o t h e Grievance Adminis-
t r a t o r ' s Request f o r Inves t iga t ion .
Mit igat ing evidence was considered,
On review, t h r e e Opinions were issued by t h e Attorney Disc ip l ine Board There being no major i ty opinion, t h e hear ing panel Order of Suspension of 121 days was affirmed. A two member minor i ty of t h e Board would a f f i r m t h e 121 day suspension and found as follows: Respondent had engaged i n a f radu len t a t t o r n e y f e e arrangement which provided f o r payment of f e e s without s e r v i c e s and payment of f e e s t o an o f f i c i a l of a c e r t a i n labor union; Respondent had sub- mi t t ed pe r ju r ious testimony t o t h e Federal Grand Jury , o r i n t h e a l t e r n a t i v e , submitted a f a l s e answer t o t h e Grievance Administrator 's Request f o r I n v e s t i - ga t ion. The two member minor i ty of t h e Board found t h a t t h e r e was i n s u f f i c i e n t evidence t o support t h e a l l e g a t i o n s t h a t Respondent engaged i n a f radu len t cor- p o r a t e s tock s a l e scheme.
A t h r e e member p l u r a l i t y of t h e Board found support f o r a l l t h r e e counts and would i n c r e a s e t h e suspension t o one (1) year. A one member minor i ty would af f i rm t h e f ind ings of the panel , b u t reduce d i s c i p l i n e t o 60 days. Respondent was assessed c o s t s i n t h e amount of $2,900.20.
F-rc . . '+ . - ,7-, z-. 7,x ; < 4 - c ~" I J ~ H NF. h DWAIHY. Executive ~ireciof. -- & General Counsel
-/,,I f i 1 4' 1 .""r+. - -,:\,t!3G ,L.,K~RL .F,IV~S, Secretsry cf the ,: ,: .;j i;'lscl;l~!~r Board
DEC 2 3 1988