MEMBERS LOUANN VAN DER WIELE CHAIRPERSON REV. MICHAEL MURRAY VICE·CHAIRPERSON BARBARA WILLIAMS FORNEY SECRETARY JAMES A. FINK JOHN W. INHULSEN
JONATHAN E. LAUDERBACH KAREN D. O'DONOGHUE MICHAEL B. RIZIK, JR. LINDA S. HOTCHKISS, MD
STATE OF MICIDGAN ATTORNEY DISCIPLINE BOARD
211 WEST FORT STREET, SUITE 1410 DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48226·3236 PHONE: 313·963·5553 I FAX: 313·963·5571
MARK A. ARMITAGE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WENDY A. NEELEY DEPUTY DIRECTOR KAREN M. DALEY ASSOCIATE COUNSEL SHERRY L. MIFSUD OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
ALLYSON M. PLOURDE CASE MANAGER OWEN R. MONTGOMERY CASE MANAGER JULIE M. LOISELLE RECEPTIONISTISECRETARY
AMENDEDi NOTICE OF SUSPENSION (By Consent)
Case No. 17· 72·GA Notice Issued: January 10,2018 Chad M. lucia, P 41277, Flint, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Genesee County Hearing Panel #2.
Suspension - 30 Days, Effective January 16, 2018 The 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 the hearing panel. The stipulation contained respondent's admission that he committed acts of professional misconduct as the result of his improper use of an IOlTA account. The transactions were personal in nature and should not have been conducted through his IOlTA.
Based upon respondent's admissions and the stipulation ofthe parties, the panel found that respondent held funds other than client or third person funds relating to a representation in an IOlTA, in violation of MRPC 1.15(a)(3); deposited his own funds into an IOlTA in an amount more than reasonably necessary to pay financial institution charges or fees, in violation of MRPC 1.15(f); failed to provide a full and fair explanation of the cause of the overdraft and how it was corrected, in violation of MRPC 1.15A(f); and, in connection with a disciplinary matter, knowingly made a false statement of material fact, in violation of MRPC 8.1 (a). Respondent was also found to have violated MCR 9.104(2) and (3) and MRPC 8.4(a) and (b).
In accordance with the stipulation of the parties, the hearing panel ordered that respondent's license to practice law in Michigan be suspended for 30 days. Costs were assessed in the amount of $763.64.
·1uJa~ Mark A. Armitage . Executive Director
1 Amended as to effective date only. On January 5, 2018, a motion and stipulation was filed to change the commencement date of respondent's suspension to January 16, 2018, to allow respondent
additional time to fully comply with MCR 9.119. An Order Granting Stipulated Motion to Change Commencement Date of Suspension was issued by the Genesee County Hearing Panel #2 on January 8,
2018.