Notices

NOTICE OF SUSPENSION AND RESTITUTION

(By Consent)

Case No.  23-73-GA

Notice Issued:  February 22, 2024

Carl M. Woodard, P 37502, Dansville, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Ingham County Hearing Panel #6

Suspension - 1 Year, Effective February 10, 2024^[1]

Respondent and the Grievance Administrator filed an Amended 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.  Based upon respondent’s admissions to all of the allegations set forth in the formal complaint, the panel found that he committed professional misconduct during his representation of two clients in a civil matter.  Specifically, respondent failed to comply with discovery, resulting in the dismissal of his clients’ case. Thereafter, respondent misrepresented to his clients that the defendant wished to settle and that he had submitted a proposal to the defendant's insurance company.   Respondent also failed to advise his clients that he had a pending disciplinary case and had agreed to accept a 180 day suspension of his license to practice law in Michigan, effective May 4, 2021.  The panel also found that respondent failed to answer a request for investigation served on him by the Grievance Administrator.

Based upon respondent’s admissions as set forth in the parties' stipulation, the hearing panel found that respondent neglected a legal matter entrusted to him, in violation of MRPC 1.1(c) [Count One]; failed to seek the lawful objectives of a client, in violation of MRPC 1.2(a) [Count One]; failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness, in violation of MRPC 1.3 [Count One]; failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter, in violation of MRPC 1.4(a) [Count One]; failed to explain matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation, in violation of MRPC 1.4(b) [Count One]; failed to take reasonable steps to protect a client’s interests upon termination of representation, such as failing to surrender papers and property to which the client is entitled and failing to refund any advance payment of fee that has not been earned, in violation of MRPC 1.16(d) [Count One]; knowingly failed to respond to a lawful demand for information from a disciplinary authority, in violation of MRPC 8.1(a)(2) [Count Two]; 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 MCR 8.4(b) [Count One]; Engaged in conduct that is prejudicial to the administrator of justice, in violation of MCR 9.104(1) and MRPC 8.4(c) [Count Two]; engaged in conduct that exposes the legal profession or the courts to obloquy, contempt, censure, or reproach, in violation of MCR 9.104(2) [Counts One and Two]; engaged in conduct that is contrary to justice, ethics, honesty, or good morals, in violation of MCR 9.104(3) [Counts One and Two]; engaged in conduct that violates the standards or rules o professional conduct adopted by the Supreme Court, in violation of MRPC 8.4(a) and MCR 9.104(4) [Counts One and Two]; and failed to answer a request for investigation, in violation of MCR 9.104(7), MCR 9.112(A), and MCR 9.113(B)(2) [Count Two].

The panel ordered that respondent’s license to practice law be suspended for one year, effective February 10, 2024, and that respondent pay restitution totaling $1,000.00.  Costs were assessed in the amount of $769.94.