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: 313-963-5553 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 RECEPTIONISTISECRETARY
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION AND RESTITUTION WITH CONDITION Case No. 17-95-GA Notice Issued: May 22, 2018 Ronald Thomas Bruce, Jr., P 62579, Monroe, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #24.
Suspension - 180 Days, Effective January 23, 20181 As alleged in the four-count formal complaint, the panel found that respondent committed professional misconduct during his handling of a decedent's estate matter in Monroe County; a pending divorce matter; an objection to a referee's recommendation regarding parenting time; and by failing to timely answer three Requests for Investigation.
Specifically, the panel found that respondent neglected a legal matter entrusted to him, in violation of MRPC 1.1 (c); failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness, in violation of MRPC 1.3; failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter, in violation of MRPC 1.4(a); failed to explain a matter to a client to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation, in violation of MRPC 1.4(b); failed to communicate to the client the basis or rate of the attorney fee before or within a reasonable time after commencing the representation, in violation of MRPC 1.5(b); engaged in the representation of a client notwithstanding having been discharged, in violation of MRPC 1.16(a)(3); upon termination of the representation of the client, failed to refund the unearned advance payment for attorney fees and costs and to return and/or turnover to the client, papers to which he was entitled, in violation of MRPC 1.16(d); knowingly failed to respond to a lawful demand for information from a 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).
The panel ordered that respondent's license to practice law in Michigan be suspended for a period of 180 days, that he be required to pay restitution totaling $1,500.00, and that he be subject to a condition relevant to the established misconduct. Costs were assessed in the amount of $2,576.09.
#A+lfa~ Mark A. Armitage Executive Director
1 Respondent has been continuously suspended from the practice of law in Michigan since June 30, 2017. See Notice of Suspension and Restitution With Condition, Grievance Administrator v Ronald Thomas Bruce, Jr., Case No. 16-101-GA, issued February 23,2018.