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 DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48226-3147 PHONE: 313-963-5553
MARK A. ARMITAGE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR — WENDY A. NEELEY DEPUTY DIRECTOR — KAREN M. DALEY ASSOCIATE COUNSEL — SHERRY MIFSUD OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR —
OWEN R. MONTGOMERY CASE MANAGER — JULIE M. LOISELLE RECEPTIONIST/SECRETARY —
www.adbmich.org
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION AND RESTITUTION Case No. 22-70-GA Notice Issued: March 7, 2023 Deborah A. Bonner, P 48031, Detroit, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #14
Suspension - 180 Days, Effective March 4, 2023 1 After proceedings conducted pursuant to MCR 9.115, the panel found, by default, that respondent committed professional misconduct during her representation of a client in a divorce action by failing to respond to her client’s requests for information about her matter, failing to communicate with her client after July 26, 2021, and abandoning her representation of the client.
Based on respondent’s default, and the evidence presented at the hearing, the panel found that respondent neglected a legal matter, in violation of MRPC 1.1(c); failed to seek the lawful objective of the client, in violation of MRPC 1.2(a); failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness, in violation of MRPC 1.3; failed to keep the client reasonably informed about the status of the matter and to comply with reasonable requests for information, in violation of MRPC 1.4(a); failed to explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation, in violation of MRPC 1.4(b); and, failed to make reasonable efforts to expedite litigation consistent with the interest of the client, in violation of MRPC 3.2. The panel also found that respondent violated MRPC 8.4(c), and MCR 9.104(1) and (2).
The panel ordered that respondent’s license to practice law be suspended for 180 days, effective March 4, 2023, and that respondent pay restitution totaling $1,500. Costs were assessed in the amount of $1,887.16.
1 Respondent has been continuously suspended from the practice of law in Michigan since November 10, 2022. Please see Notice of Interim Suspension Pursuant to MCR 9.115(H)(1), issued November 10, 2022, in Grievance Administrator v Deborah A. Bonner, 22-70-GA.