MEMBERS LINDA S. HOTCHKISS, MD CHAIRPERSON ALAN GERSHEL VICE-CHAIRPERSON REV. DR. LOUIS J. PRUES SECRETARY PETER A. SMIT LINDA M. ORLANS
JASON M. TURKISH ANDREAS SIDIROPOULOS, MD KATIE STANLEY TISH VINCENT
STATE OF MICHIGAN ATTORNEY DISCIPLINE BOARD
333 WEST FORT STREET, SUITE 1700
MARK A. ARMITAGE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR — WENDY A. NEELEY DEPUTY DIRECTOR — KAREN M. DALEY ASSOCIATE COUNSEL — SHERRY MIFSUD OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR —
ALLYSON M. PLOURDE CASE MANAGER OWEN R. MONTGOMERY CASE MANAGER — JULIE M. LOISELLE RECEPTIONIST/SECRETARY —
DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48226-3147
PHONE: 313-963-5553
www.adbmich.org
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION (By Consent)
Case No. 22-48-GA Notice Issued: December 7, 2022 Michael D. Langnas, P 42357, Southfield, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #56
Suspension - 30 Days, Effective December 12, 2022 Respondent and the Grievance Administrator filed a Stipulation for Consent Order of Discipline, in accordance with MCR 9.115(F)(5), which was approved by the Attorney Grievance Commission and accepted by the hearing panel. The stipulation contained respondent’s admissions to the factual allegations and allegations of professional misconduct set forth in the formal complaint in its entirety.
The complaint specifically alleged that in July 2020, the Attorney Grievance Commission received notice that a check presented against respondent’s IOLTA account was rejected due to insufficient funds, prompting an overdraft of the account. In response to a Grievance Administrator’s Request for Investigation, and during the Administrator’s subsequent investigation, respondent admitted that he transferred “future payroll funds” into his IOLTA to secure funds from an IRS levy and possible garnishment, deposited earned fees into the same account, and used it to make two premium payments for his legal malpractice insurance.
Based upon respondent’s admissions and the stipulation of the parties, the panel found that respondent held funds other than client or third person funds in an IOLTA, in violation of MRPC 1.15(a)(3); deposited his own funds into an IOLTA in an amount more than reasonably necessary to pay financial institution service charges or fees, in violation of MRPC 1.15(f); engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation, where such conduct reflects adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer, in violation of MRPC 8.4(b). The panel also found that respondent violated MRPC 8.4(a), and MCR 9.104(2) and (3).
In accordance with the stipulation of the parties, the hearing panel ordered that respondent’s license to practice law in Michigan be suspended for 30 days, effective December 12, 2022, as agreed to by the parties and approved by the panel. Costs were assessed in the amount of $759.17.