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 1410 WEST FORT STREET, SUITE 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 ADMINISTRA TOR ALLYSON M. PLOURDE CASE MANAGER
OWEN R. MONTGOMERY CASE MANAGER
JULIE M. LOISELLE
RECEPTIONISTISECRETARY
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION Case No. 17 -15-GA Notice Issued: August 17,2017 Susan F. Reed, P 26897, Detroit, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #23.
Suspension - 180 Days, Effective August 15, 2017.1 Based on respondent's default, the hearing panel found that respondent committed professional misconduct in her representation of a client in a criminal matter by failing to adequately communicate with the client; failing to explain the matter to her client; and by failing to answer an Attorney Grievance Commission request for investigation. The panel found that respondent failed to keep her client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and failed to comply promptly with reasonable requests for information in violation of MRPC 1.4(a); failed to explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation, in violation of MRPC 1.4(b); knowingly failed to respond to a lawful demand for information from a disciplinary authority, in violation of MRPC 8.1 (a)(2); and failed to answer a request for investigation in conformity with MCR 9.113(A), in violation of MCR 9.104(7). Respondent was also found to have violated MRPC 8.4(a) and (c); and MCR 9.104(1)-(4).
The panel ordered that respondent's license to practice law be suspended for a period of 180 days. Costs were assessed in the amount of $1,686.70.
~().~b Mark A. Armitage Executive Director
1 Respondent has been continuously suspended from the practice of law in Michigan since October 20,2016. Please see Order of Interim SuspenSion, issued October20, 2016, Grievance Administrator v Susan F. Reed, Case No. 16-76-GA.