BOARD MEMOCRS FUEOERICK G. OUCSSCR. J(L JOHN L. COT^. C H A I R P E R 1 0 1 MSGR. CLCMCNT H. ICRM OAVID BARER LEWIS. SECICUIPC fRANl l J. MCOEVITT. 00. WILLIAM G. REAMOM L Y N N H SHECTER. VICE-CHAIRPERSON
SUITE I 2 6 0 333 W. POUT STREET DETROIT. MICHIGAN a8226
TELEPHONE: 13131 363-5553
T h i s i s t o i n f o r m t h e Cour ts o f t h e S t a t e of f4ichigan of the f o l l o w i n g Order o f D i s c i p l i n e :
NOTICE OF REPRIMAND F i l e No. DP-58/80 Related: 37113 36652
THOMAS A. RICCA (P23561), 144 Je f fe rson , Clawson, MI 48017, by A t t o r n e y D i s c i p l i n e Board Wayne C i r c u i t Hear ing Panel "P".
( 1 ) Reprimand; ( 2 ) E f f e c t i v e October 15, 1980. Respondent was charged i n t h e Formal Complaint w i t h : ( 1 ) Conv ic t ion o f the c r i m i n a l charge o f l o i t e r i n g i n o r about a p l a c e o f i l l e g a l occupat ion o r bus iness i n v i o l a t i o n o f MCLA S e c t i o n 750.167, which c o n v i c t i o n r e s u l t e d i n a sentence of two years ' p roba t ion , costs , and a r e s t r i c t i v e c o n d i t i o n t h a t Respondent r e f r a i n f rom t h e p r a c t i c e o f law f o r a p e r i o d of twenty-one (21)
months, s a i d c o n v i c t i o n be ing a v i o l a t i o n o f Canon 1, DR 1-102 (A) ( 1 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 6 ) o f t h e Code o f P ro fess iona l R e s p o n s i b i l i t y and GCR 953 (1-5) and 969.
( 2 ) Respondent was a l s o charged w i t h n e g l e c t o f a c e r t a i n c i v i l m a t t e r pending i n t h e U n i t e d S ta tes D i s t r i c t Cour t r e s u l t i n g i n an o r d e r r e f e r r i n g t h e m a t t e r t o t h e U n i t e d S ta tes D i s t r i c t Cour t Ch ie f Judge due t o Respondent's a l l e g e d f a i l u r e t o take a c t i o n on b e h a l f o f h i s c l i e n t , f a i l u r e t o respond t o c o u r t n o t i c e s , f a i l u r e t o m a i n t a i n a business address o r a l t e r n a t e arrangements so t h a t
Respondent c o u l d be a v a i l a b l e t o opposing counsel and f a i l u r e t o f i l e a s u b s t i t u t i o n o r wi thdrawal o r o therw ise n o t i f y the federa l
c o u r t r e g a r d i n g Respondent's i n t e n t i o n s i n s a i d pending c i v i l a c t i o n , s a i d a l l e g e d misconduct be ing i n v i o l a t i o n o f Canon 1, OR 1-102 ( A )
( 1 ) ( 5 ) and ( 6 ) , Canon 2, DR 2-110 (A) ( Z ) , Canon 6, DR 6-102 ( A ) ( 3 ) o f t h e Code o f P ro fess iona l R e s p o n s i b i l i t y and GCR 953 ( 1 - 4 ) .
I n regard t o t h e misdemeanor c o n v i c t i o n , the Panel concluded t h a t t h e Grievance A d m i n i s t r a t o r had f a i l e d t o e s t a b l i s h t h a t s a i d cr ime i n v o l v e d conduct coming w i t h i n t h e scope o f GCR 953 mandating
d i s c i p l i n a r y a c t i o n and f u r t h e r r u l e d t h a t GCR 969 was i n a p p l i c a b l e t o t h e offense i n ques t ion tha twas n o t c h a r a c t e r i z e d as an o f f e n s e
o f moral t u r p i t u d e ; t h e Panel f u r t h e r r u l e d t h a t i t was n o t es ta - b l i s h e d by a preponderance o f t h e evidence t h a t s a i d misdemeanor was a v i o l a t i o n o f Canon 1, DR 1-102. I n regard t o Count I 1 and
t h e Respondent's a l l e g e d n e g l e c t i n s a i d federa l c i v i l m a t t e r , t h e Panel d i d f i n d t h a t t h e a l l e g a t i o n s had been proven and t h a t s a i d misconduct was i n v i o l a t i o n o f Canon 1, Canon 2 and GCR 953 ( 1) and ( 2 ) ; however, t h e Panel d i d n o t f i n d v i o l a t i o n o f Canon 6 o r GCR 953 (3-4) .
.
The Grievance A d m i n i s t r a t o r f i l e d a P e t i t i o n f o r Review o f t h e Panel d i s c i p l i n e on t h e b a s i s t h a t t h e Panel had abused i t s d i s c r e t i o n i n render ing a Reprimand. The A t t o r n e y D i s c i p l i n e Board a f f i r m e d t h e Panel dec is ion . No appeal was taken t o t h e Supreme
Court.
David Baker Lewis, Secre ta ry ATTORNEY DISCIPLINE BOARD
October 21, 1980.