NOTICE OF SUSPENSION WITH CONDITION
Case No. 20-13-GA
Notice Issued: May 30, 2024
Andrew A. Paterson, P 18690, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Suspension - 100 Days, Effective May 29, 2024
The Grievance Administrator filed a Nine-Count Amended Complaint against Respondent.
Based on the evidence presented to the hearing panel at hearings held in this matter in accordance with MCR 9.115, the hearing panel found that respondent committed professional misconduct during his representation of various clients in numerous cases against governmental entities, their employees, and elected government officials.
Specifically, the panel found that respondent: brought a proceeding or asserted an issue therein that was frivolous, in violation of MRPC 3.1 (Counts One, Four, Five, Seven, and Eight); knowingly made a false statement of material fact or law to a tribunal or failed to correct a false statement of material fact or law previously made to the tribunal by the lawyer, in violation of MRPC 3.3(a) (Counts Six, Seven, and Nine); knowingly disobeyed an obligation under the rules of a tribunal, in violation of MRPC 3.4(c) (Counts Six and Seven); in the course of representing a client, knowingly made a false statement of material fact or law to a third person, in violation of MRPC 4.1 (Count Nine); engaged in conduct involving dishonestly, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation, where such conduct reflects adversely on the lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer, in violation of MRPC 8.4(b) (Counts Six, Seven, and Nine); and engaged in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice, in violation of MRPC 8.4(c) (Counts One, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, and Nine). The panel also concluded that respondent committed the following violations of the Michigan and Federal Court Rules: failed to abide by and violated the requirements of MCR 1.109(E) (Counts Four and Five); filed a motion that was presented for an improper purpose, such as to embarrass or harass the litigants before trial, in violation of MCR 2.302(G)(3) (Count Nine); engaged in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice, in violation of MCR 9.104(1) (Counts One and Four through Nine); 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 Four through Nine); engaged in conduct that is contrary to justice, ethics, honesty, or good morals, in violation of MCR 9.104(3) (Counts One and Four through Nine); and filed a motion that was presented for an improper purpose in violation of FRCP 11(b) (Count Nine). The hearing panel also determined the Grievance Administrator failed to establish respondent violated any rule of professional conduct or court rule as set forth in Counts Two and Three of the formal complaint, so those counts were dismissed.
The panel ordered that respondent’s license to practice law in Michigan be suspended for a period of 100 days and that he be subject to conditions relevant to the established misconduct. Respondent timely filed a petition for review and a petition for stay, which resulted in an automatic stay of the hearing panel’s order of suspension with conditions, and complainants filed a cross-petition for review.
After review proceedings in accordance with MCR 9.118, on April 30, 2024, the Board affirmed the hearing panel’s order suspension, affirmed a condition, and vacated a separate condition. Total costs were assessed in the amount of $6,295.00.