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 ADMINISTRATOR ALLYSON M. PLOURDE CASE MANAGER OWEN R. MONTGOMERY CASE MANAGER JULIE M. LOISELLE RECEPTIONISTISECRETARY
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION AND RESTITUTION Case No. 17-19-GA Notice Issued: August 14, 2017 Jacquise A. Purifoy, P 74517, Detroit, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #27.
Suspension - 180 Days, Effective August 12, 2017. Based on respondent's default, the hearing panel found that respondent committed professional misconduct after being retained by a client to initiate a divorce proceeding, and for her failure to timely answer a request for investigation.
The panel found that respondent failed to hold property of clients or third persons in connection with a representation separate from her own property, in violation of MRPC 1.15(d); failed to deposit legal fees and expenses paid in advance into a client trust account, in violation of MRPC 1.15(g); failed to refund the advance payment of an unearned fee or unused expense upon termination of the representation, in violation of MRPC 1.16(d); and failed to timely answer a request for investigation, in violation of MCR 9.104(7) and MCR 9.113(A) and (8)(2). Respondent was also found to have violated MRPC 8.4(a) and (b); and MCR 9.104(2) and (3).
The panel ordered that respondent's license to practice law be suspended for a period of 180 days and that respondent pay $1,500.00 in restitution. Costs were assessed in the amount of $1,821.40.
~9-:2-~ Mark A. Armitage Executive Director