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 MICmGAN 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 RECEPTION/STISECRETARY
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION AND RESTITUTION (By Consent)
Case No. 17-67-GA Notice Issued: November 27,2017 Brian D. Figot, P 33443, Farmington Hills, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #74.
Suspension - Three Years and One Day, Effective November 21,2017. The respondent and the Grievance Administrator filed an amended stipulation for a 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 amended stipulation contained respondent's admission that he committed acts of professional misconduct when he, as the Staff Executive Director at the Federal Bar Association - Eastern District of Michigan Chapter (FBA), made multiple withdrawals of FBA funds, without consent or authorization, from the organization's checking account for unearned salary advances, inflated or nonexistent expenses, and unexplained cash withdrawals.
Based upon respondent's admissions and the amended stipulation of the parties, the panel found that respondent engaged in conduct that exposed the legal profession or the court 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); engaged in conduct that violates a criminal law of a state orofthe Unite States, an ordinance, or tribal law, in violation of MCR 9.104(5); engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, or violation of 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); and violated, or attempted to violate the rules of professional conduct, knowingly assisted or induced another to do so, or did so through the acts of another, contrary to MRPC 8.4(a).
In accordance with the stipulation of the parties, the hearing panel ordered that respondent's license to practice law in Michigan be suspended for three years and one day. Respondent was also .-tered to pay restitution to...t.'!llng $20,161.23. Costs were assessed in the amount of $750.00. ~a~6 Mark A. Armitage
Executive Director