BOARD MEMBERS FREDERICK G. BUESSER. JR. JOHN L. COTE, CHAIRPERSON MSGR. CLEMENT H. KERN DAVln 8.4KER LEWIS. SECRETARY FRANK J. MCDEVITT. 0 . 0 . WILLIAM G. REAMON LYNN H. SHECTER. VICE-CHAIRPERSON
STATE O F M I C H I G A N
JOHN F. X. DWAIHY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & GENERAL COUNSEL
SUITE 1260 3 3 3 W . FORT STREET DETROIT. MICHIGAN 4 8 2 2 6 TELEPHONE: (313) 9 6 3 - 5 5 5 3
This i s t o inform t h e Courts of t h e S t a t e of Michigan of t h e fo l lowing Order o f Disc ip l ine : NOTICE OF SUSPENSION F i l e No. DP-26/81 NEIL C. WILLISTON, (P22380), 11756 Newburgh, Livonia, Michigan 48150, by Attorney D i s c i p l i n e Board, Oakland C i r c u i t Hearing Panel "En.
(1) Suspension; (2) For a pe r iod of 130 days; ( 3 ) E f f e c t i v e J u l y 27, 1981. T h e Hearing Panel found t h a t Respondent f a i l e d t o f i l e a proof of s e r v i c e i n a c i v i l l i t i g a t i o n m a t t e r , f a i l e d t o appear a t a hear ing on a Motion f o r Summary Judgment r e s u l t i n g i n a
judgment a g a i n s t h i s c l i e n t , neglec ted t o t a k e f u r t h e r a c t i o n a g a i n s t a s e p a r a t e defendant , and f a i l e d , r e fused o r neg lec ted t o communicate wi th h i s c l i e n t o r n o t i f y h i s c l i e n t of t h e s t a t u s of s a i d case. Regarding a s e p a r a t e Count t h e panel found t h a t Respondent t o t a l l y neglec ted c e r t a i n c i v i l l i t i g a t i o n and made numerous misleading and unt rue s ta tements t o h i s c l i e n t concern- i n g t h e s t a t u s of h e r case. Regarding a t h i r d Count, t h e pane l
found t h a t Respondent neglec ted t h e ma t t e r and misrepresented t o t h e c l i e n t t h a t an a c t i o n had been f i l e d and a t r i a l d a t e s e t when t h e same had n o t been done. I n a f o u r t h Count, Re- spondent f a i l e d t o commence proceedings i n Wayne County Probate Court u n t i l two y e a r s a f t e r being r e t a i n e d t o do s o and improp- e r l y neglec ted t o a r range f o r a s t a t u t o r y claims hearing and f a i l e d t o communicate wi th h i s c l i e n t concerning t h e s t a t u s of h e r f i l e . The panel dismissed one of t h e s i x Counts and found
v i o l a t i o n s of GCR 953 ( 1 - 4 ) and t h e Code of P r o f e s s i o n a l Re- s p o n s i b i l i t y , Canon 1, DR 1 - 1 0 2 , Canon 6 , DR 6-101, and Canon 7, DR 7-101. Respondent was assessed c o s t s of $292.71.
d ! L y & - ~ & DAVID BAKER LEWIS, S e c r e t a r y ATTORNEY DISCIPLINE BOARD
September 2 5 1981