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
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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www.adbmich.org
PHONE: 313-963-5553
NOTICE OF REPRIMAND (By Consent)
Case No. 23-26-GA Notice Issued: June 15, 2023 Rochelle E. Guznack, P 61675, Temecula, California, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #14
Reprimand, effective June 14, 2023 Respondent and the Grievance Administrator filed a Stipulation for Consent Order of Discipline, pursuant to MCR 9.115(F)(5), that was approved by the Attorney Grievance Commission and accepted by the hearing panel. The parties’ stipulation contained respondent’s admission that she committed professional misconduct on various occasions between March 2017 and October 2018, by transferring client funds from her IOLTA into her personal and/or business account and by making deposits to her IOLTA to rectify shortfalls she created by removing unearned fees from the account.
Based on 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); failed to hold property of clients or third persons in connection with a representation in trust and separate from the lawyer’s own property, in violation of MRPC 1.15(d); deposited her own funds into an IOLTA in an amount more than reasonable necessary to pay financial institution services charges or fees, in violation of MRPC 1.15(f); and enaged in conduct that exposes the legal profession or the courts to obloquy, contempt, censure, or reproach, in violation of MCR 9.104(2).
In accordance with the stipulation of the parties, the hearing panel ordered that respondent be reprimanded. Costs were assessed in the amount of $1,642.50