NOTICE OF REPRIMAND AND RESTITUTION
(By Consent)
Case No. 23-20-GA
Notice Issued: April 30, 2024
Patrick M. O’Connell, P 42605, Coldwater, Michigan
Reprimand, Effective April 19, 2024
Respondent and the Grievance Administrator filed an amended stipulation for consent order of reprimand in accordance with MCR 9.115(F)(5), which was approved by the Attorney Grievance Commission and accepted by Ingham County Hearing Panel #5. Based on the parties’ amended stipulation and respondent’s admissions, the panel found that respondent committed professional misconduct during his representation of a client in a driver’s license restoration matter filed with the Secretary of State.
Specifically, the panel found respondent neglected a legal matter entrusted to him, in violation of MRPC 1.1(c); acted without reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client, in violation of MRPC 1.3; failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter or comply promptly with reasonable requests for information, in violation of MRPC 1.4(a); and, engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, or violation of the criminal law, where such conduct reflects adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer, in violation of MRPC 8.4(b). The panel also found that respondent’s conduct violated MCR 9.104(1)-(3).
In accordance with the amended stipulation of the parties, the panel ordered that respondent be reprimanded and that he pay restitution totaling $1,500.00. Costs were assessed in the amount of $1,046.40.