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 WITH CONDITIONS (By Consent)
Case No. 22-53-GA Notice Issued: April 27, 2023 Robert J. Pleznac, P 18950, Kalamazoo, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Kalamazoo County Hearing Panel #1
Suspension - 30 Days, Effective April 27, 2023 Respondent and the Grievance Administrator filed a Stipulation for Consent Order of Discipline, pursuant to MCR 9.115(F)(5), which was approved by the Attorney Grievance Commission and accepted by the hearing panel. The stipulation contains respondent’s admissions to the factual allegations and allegations of misconduct set forth in the formal complaint filed by the Administrator, in its entirety. Specifically, respondent admitted that he misused his client trust account by causing an overdraft to occur in the account, commingled personal and client funds in the account, and, neglected and provided incompetent representation in his client’s bankruptcy matter.
Based on respondent's admissions and the stipulation of the parties, the panel found that respondent failed to provide competent representation of a client in violation of MRPC 1.1(a); failed to adequately prepare for his representation of his client, in violation of MRPC 1.1(b); neglected his client's legal matter, in violation of MRPC 1.1(c); failed to communicate with his client regarding the status of his legal matter, in violation of MRPC 1.4(a); failed to communicate with his 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 hold property of clients or third persons in connection with a representation separate from the lawyer's own property, in violation of MRPC 1.15(d); failed to safeguard client funds in his IOLTA account, in violation of MRPC 1.15(d); and deposited funds into his IOLTA account in an amount in excess of an amount reasonably necessary to pay financial institution service charges or fees, in violation of MRPC 1.15(f). The panel also found that respondent violated MCR 9.104(1)-(4) and MRPC 8.4(a).
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 and that he be subject to conditions relevant to the established misconduct. Total costs were assessed in the amount of $1,040.17.