NOTICE OF REPRIMAND
(By Consent)
Case No. 24-31-GA
Notice Issued: August 14, 2024
Richard L. Kent, P 65494, Eastpoint, Michigan
Reprimand, Effective August 14, 2024
Respondent and the Grievance Administrator filed a 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 Tri-County Hearing Panel #102. The stipulation contained the parties’ agreement to set aside the default previously entered, and dismiss the allegations of professional misconduct contained in paragraph 27(a), (d), (e), (g), (h), and (i) of the formal complaint. The stipulation also contained respondent’s plea of no contest to the factual allegations and allegations of professional misconduct set forth in the remaining paragraphs the formal complaint, namely that respondent committed professional misconduct during his representation of a client in an immigration matter by failing to file asylum applications for his client’s five minor children. The stipulation further acknowledged that respondent had issued a refund to the client in the amount of $2,000.
Based upon respondent’s no contest pleas and the stipulation of the parties, the panel found that respondent: failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness when representing a client, in violation of MRPC 1.3; failed to keep a client reasonably informed regarding the status of a matter and comply promptly with reasonable requests for information, in violation of MRPC 1.4(a); and engaged in conduct in violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct, in violation of MRPC 8.4(a) and MCR 9.104(4).
In accordance with the stipulation of the parties, the panel ordered that respondent be reprimanded. Costs were assessed in the amount of $768.61.