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
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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 —
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NOTICE OF DISBARMENT AND RESTITUTION WITH CONDITIONS Case No. 22-31-GA Notice Issued: April 6, 2023 Kimberly Shea Grzic, P 79927, Howell, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Ingham County Hearing Panel #3
Disbarment, Effective April 4, 2023 1 After proceedings conducted pursuant to MCR 9.115, the panel found, by default, that respondent committed professional misconduct in her handling of five different legal matters and as charged in a six-count formal complaint. The legal matters included a driver’s license restoration matter, two child custody matters, a contract and fee dispute matter, and a post-divorce judgment matter. Respondent also failed to timely respond to a request for investigation and failed to answer four others.
Based on respondent’s default and the evidence presented at the hearing, the panel found that respondent neglected a legal matter entrusted to her, in violation of MRPC 1.1(c) (Counts One-Five); failed to seek the lawful objectives of the client, in violation of MRPC 1.2(a) (Counts One-Five); failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client, in violation of MRPC 1.3 (Counts One-Five); failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of the matter and to comply with reasonable requests for information, in violation of MRPC 1.4(a) (Counts One-Five); failed to explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions about the representation, in violation of MRPC 1.4(b) (Counts One-Five); failed to return property to which the client is entitled, in violation of MRPC 1.16(d) (Count Two); failed to refund an unearned fee, in violation of MRPC 1.16(d) (Count Five); engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, misrepresentation or violation of criminal law, in violation of MRPC 8.4(b) (Counts One, Three, and Four); knowingly failed to respond to a lawful demand for information from a disciplinary authority, in violation of MRPC 8.1(a)(2) (Count Six); and, failed to timely answer a Request for Investigation, in violation of MRPC 9.104(7) and MCR 9.113(A)(2) and MCR 9.113(B)(2) (Count Six). Respondent was also found to have violated MRPC 8.4(a) and (c); and, MCR 9.104(1)-(3). (Counts One-Six).
The panel ordered that respondent be disbarred, that she pay restitution in the total amount of $3,660.00, and be subject to conditions relevant to the established misconduct. Costs were assessed in the amount of $2,010.45.
1 Respondent’s license to practice law in Michigan has been continuously suspended since November 8, 2022. See, Notice of Interim Suspension Pursuant to MCR 9.115(H)(1), issued November 10, 2022.