MEMBERS LOUANN VAN DER WIELE CHAIRPERSON REV. MICHAEL MURRAY VICE-CHAIRPERSON DULCE M. FULLER SECRETARY JAMES A. FINK JOHN W. INHULSEN JONATHAN E. LAUDERBACH BARBARA WILLIAMS FORNEY KAREN D. O'DONOGHUE MICHAEL B. RIZIK, JR.
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 ADMIN/STRATOR ALLYSON M. PLOURDE CASE MANAGER OWEN R. MONTGOMERY CASE MANAGER JULIE M. LOISELLE RECEPTIONISTISECRETARY
AMENDED NOTICE OF SUSPENSION1 (Pending Review)
Case No. 16-55-GA Notice Issued: August 31, 2017 Otis M. Underwood, Jr., P 21678, Oxford, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #71.
Suspension - 179 Days, Effective August 29,2017 The Grievance Administrator filed a formal complaint alleging that respondent committed professional misconduct in his handling of a dispute over attorney fees stemming from respondent's representation of a client in three separate actions directly related to an auto accident that occurred during the course of his client's employment. The hearing panel found that respondent committed professional misconduct by bringing a proceeding or asserting an issue therein that was frivolous, in violation of MRPC 3.1; knowingly making a false statement of material fact or law to a tribunal or failing to correct a false statement of material fact or law previously made to the tribunal by him, in violation of MRPC 3.3(a)(1); and, in an ex parte proceeding, failing to inform the tribunal of all material facts that were known to the lawyer, in violation of MRPC 3. 3( d). Respondent was also found to have violated MCR 9.104(1)-(4) and MRPC 8.4(a).
The hearing panel ordered that respondent's license to practice law in Michigan be suspended for 179 days. The Grievance Administrator filed a petition for review. The review hearing in this matter' scheduled for October 18, 2017.
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1 Amended as to the date of the scheduled review hearing only.