BOARD MEMBERS: FREDERICK G,. BUESSER. JR. JOHN L. COTE. CHAIRPERSON MSGR. CLEMENT H . KERN DAVID BAKER LEWIS. SECRETARY FRANK 4 . MCDEVITT. D.O. WILLIAM G. REAMON LYNN H . SHECTER. VICE-CHAIRPERSON
STATE OF M I C H I G A N
JOHN F. X . DWAlHY COUNSEL/ADMINISTRATOR
SUITE 1260 333 W. FORT STREET DETROIT. MICHIGAN 48226 TELEPHONE: (313) 963-5553
This i s t o inform the Courts of the S t a t e of Michigan of the following f i na l Order of Discipline: ~ Y ~ L / L3- .&5 ~-~A,3 3573b-4, NOTICE OF SUSPENSION 3&o/&-A, 3 L z?L;I-&, 370/3-A
MICHAEL A. THOMAS (P21382), 1824 Guardian Bui 1d ing, Detroi t , MI 48226, by Attorney Discipline Board Oakland County Hearing anel #2, f o r a period of th ree (3 ) years and one (1 ) day, ef fect ivi f January 28, 1980. The Hearing Panel issued the Order of ~ i s c i p ' t i n e pursuant t o a St ipula t ion and Discipl ine Board Order of Consolida- t i on of twenty-three (23) separate f i l e s i nvol v i ng approximately twenty-seven (27) counts of misconduct. Respondent was charged, i n f i v e ( 5 ) separate Formal Complaints, w i t h the following ac t s of misconduct: Criminal conduct resu l t ing in a three-count felony indictment by t he United S t a t e s Government f o r conspiracy t o defraud the government, mail f raud, and removal of papers from a Federal f i l e ; Respondent pleaded gu i l t y t o one (1 ) of sa id counts. Neglect of numerous personal in ju ry matters resu l t ing i n d i smissa l , and, i n several ins tances , loss of a c l i e n t ' s cause of ac t ion , due t o lack of progress and proper prosecution, f a i l u r e t o properly manage and supervise numerous personal in ju ry matters, f a i l ure t o prepare sa id causes f o r t r i a1 , f a i l u r e t o make numerous appearances with o r on behalf of several c l i e n t s and f a i l u r e t o appear a t a scheduled t r i a l . Fai lure t o commence personal in ju ry 1i t i g at ion desp i te promises t o several c l i en t s and repeated mi s re - presenta t ions t o those c l i e n t s regarding t he progress of t h e i r cause. Fraudul en t mi srepresenta t ions t o courts of 1a w and numerous c l i ents regarding: t he taking of defau l t judgments, a1 leged payment of claims, the veraci ty of pleadings, s ignatures , s t i pu l a t i ons and statements ; the Formal Complaints a1 so a1 leged fa1 s e statements made i n response t o the Grievance Administrator 's Request f o r Invest igat ion. Fai 1u re t o respond t o numerous inqui r i e s of various c l i e n t s and f a i l u r e t o explain t o o r no t i fy s a id c l i e n t s of the dismissal of t h e i r causes. The Formal Complaints a l leged viola t ion of t he following d i sc ip l inary ru les : Canon 1 , DR 1-102 (A) (1 ) (4 ) ( 5 ) and ( 6 ) ; Canon 6 , DR 6-101 (A) ( 2 and 3) ; Canon 7, DR 7-101 ( A ) (1- 3) ; Canon 9 , DR 9-102 ( A ) and (B) (4 ) ; Supreme Court Rule 15.2 (1- 4) and (6 ) ; G C R 962.1 and 2 and 953(7). The per t inent rules
prohibit conduct i nvol v i ng di shonesty , fraud , deceit o r mi sre- presentation; conduct prejudi ci a1 t o the administration of jus t ice ; conduct adversely ref1 ecting upon one's f i t ness t o practice 1a w; hand1 ing of a legal matter without adequate preparation; neglect of a legal matter; f a i l u r e to seek the lawful objectives of a c l i e n t ; f a i lu re t o carry out a contract of employment; prejudice or damage t o a c l i e n t - i r ~ t he course of the professional relationship; conduct t h a t exposes the profes- sion or courts to obloquy, contempt, censure, reproach; conduct contrary t o ju s t i ce , e th ics , honesty o r good morals; improper handling of c l i en t funds and fa i lure t o promptly pay or del iver t o a c l i en t funds, secur i t ies , o r other property which the c l i en t i s en t i t l ed to receive and fa i lure t o answer a Request f o r Investigation o r Formal Complaint. Respondent withdrew his Answers t o the various Complaints, and the al legat ions were considered as confessed. The Hearing Panel determined tha t Respondent's misconduct consti tuted violations of each of the aforementioned rules .
David Baker Lewis, Secretary ATTORNEY DISCIPLINE BOARD