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 MICHIGAN 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
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION WITH CONDITION (By Consent)
Case No. 16-130-GA Notice Issued: October 30,2017 Matthew Nicholls, P 74461, Davison, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Genesee County Hearing Panel #1.
Suspension - 180 Days, Effective October 28, 2017. The Grievance Administrator filed Formal Complaint 16-130-GA, alleging that respondent committed professional misconduct in relation to his handling of a probate matter in Midland County Circuit Court in 2014-2015. The respondent and the Grievance Administrator filed a 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.
Based on respondent's default and admissions in the parties' stipulation the panel found that respondent prepared and filed with the circuit court an order which respondent knew contained a false statement, in violation of MCR 2.602(8)(3) and MRPC 3.3(a)(1); prepared and filed with the probate court in each probate matter an Objection to Petition for AppOintment of Guardian of Minor, in which he made a false statement of material fact, in violation of MRPC 3.3(a)(1); failed to correct a false statement of material fact with the circuit and probate court, in violation of MRPC 3.3(a)(1); filed a motion when lacking a good faith basis for doing so that is not frivolous, in violation of MRPC 3.1; and knowingly made a false statement of material fact to one or more third persons, in violation of MRPC 4.1. Respondent was also found to have violated MRPC 8.4(a)-(c) and MCR 9.104(1) (3).
In accordance with the stipulation of the parties, the panel ordered that respondent's license to practice law in Michigan be suspended for a period of 180 days a with condition relevant to the es blished misconduct. Costs were assessed in the amount of $1,192.45.
-#~~~..I.&:.~~~ ....~7:: Mark A. Armitage Executive Director