NOTICE OF SUSPENSION
Case Nos. 24-41-JC; 24-42-GA
Notice Issued: September 25, 2024
Michael J. Zayed, P 53518, White Lake, Michigan
Suspension ‑ 180 Days, Effective September 19, 2024
The Grievance Administrator filed a combined Notice of Filing of Judgment of Conviction and Formal Complaint. The notice, filed in accordance with MCR 9.120(B)(3), stated that respondent was convicted by guilty plea of operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of more than .17 grams or more per 100 millimeters of blood, a misdemeanor. The formal complaint alleged that respondent failed to notify the Grievance Administrator and the Attorney Discipline Board of his conviction, and failed to respond to a request for investigation.
After proceedings conducted pursuant to MCR 9.115 and 9.120, the panel found that respondent committed professional misconduct as alleged in the Notice of Filing of Judgment of Conviction, and that by virtue of his default for failure to answer the formal complaint or appear at the hearing, respondent committed professional misconduct as alleged in the formal complaint, in its entirety.
Based on respondent's conviction, the panel found that respondent engaged in conduct that violated a criminal law of a state or of the United States, an ordinance, or tribal law pursuant to MCR 2.615, in violation of MRPC 8.4(b) and MCR 9.104(5).
Based on respondent's default and the evidence presented at the hearing, the panel found that respondent engaged in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice, in violation of MRPC 8.4(c) and 9.104(1); engaged in conduct that exposes the legal profession or the courts to obloquy, contempt, censure or reproach, in violation of MCR 9.104(2); engaged in conduct that is contrary to justice, ethics, honesty, or good morals, in violation of MCR 9.104(3); engaged in conduct that violates the standards or rules of professional conduct adopted by the Supreme Court, in violation of MCR 9.104(4); failed to notify the Grievance Administrator and the Board of the conviction within 14 days after the conviction, in violation of MCR 9.120(A)(1); and, failed to answer a request for investigation in conformity with MCR 9.113(A)(B)(2), in violation of MCR 9.104(7) and MRPC 8.1(a)(2).
The panel ordered that respondent's license to practice law be suspended for 180 days. Costs were assessed in the amount of $1,782.15.