Notices

NOTICE OF SUSPENSION WITH RESTITUTION AND CONDITION

Case No.  23-87-GA

Notice Issued: August 21, 2024

Jason Robert Baker, P 72645, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Suspension - 3 Years, Effective August 21, 2024^[1]

After proceedings conducted pursuant to MCR 9.115, Kent County Hearing Panel #2 found that respondent committed professional misconduct during his representation of four different clients in separate matters, and by failing to answer four requests for investigation.

Respondent failed to file an answer to the complaint and his default was entered by the Grievance Administrator on October 27, 2023.  After failing to appear at a scheduled prehearing conference, the panel entered an Order of Interim Suspension pursuant to MCR 9.115(H)(1). 

Based on respondent's default and the evidence presented at the hearing, the hearing panel found that respondent: neglected legal matters entrusted to him, in violation of MRPC 1.1(c) (Counts One, Three, Five, and Seven); failed to seek the lawful objective of clients through reasonable available means, in violation of MRPC 1.2(a) (Counts One, Three, Five, and Seven); failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness when representing a client, in violation of MRPC 1.3 (Counts One, Three, Five, and Seven); failed to keep clients reasonably informed about the status of their matters and failed to comply with reasonable requests for information, in violation of MRPC 1.4(a) (Counts One, Three, Five, and Seven); failed to respond to a lawful demand for information from a disciplinary authority, in violation of MRPC 8.1(a)(2) and MCR 9.113(A) and (B)(2) (Counts Two, Four, Six, and Eight); 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) (Counts Five and Seven); engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice, in violation of MCR 9.104(1) and MRPC 8.4(c) (All Counts); engaged in conduct that exposes the legal profession or the courts to obloquy, contempt, censure, or reproach, in violation of MCR 9.104(2) (All Counts); engaged in conduct that is contrary to justice, ethics, honesty, or good morals, in violation of MCR 9.104(3) (Counts One, Three, Five, and Seven); knowingly violated the Rules of Professional Conduct adopted by the Supreme Court, in violation of MCR 9.104(4) and MRPC 8.4(a) (Counts One, Three, Five, and Seven); and, engaged in conduct that violates the standards or rules of professional responsibility adopted by the Supreme Court, in violation of MCR 9.104(4) and MRPC 8.4(a) (Counts Two, Four, Six, and Eight).

The Panel ordered that respondent's license to practice law in Michigan be suspended for three (3) years, that he pay restitution in the total amount of $5,500.00, and that he be subject to a condition relevant to the established misconduct.  Costs were assessed in the amount of $2,689.32.