MEMBERS LOUANN VAN DERWIELE 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 ADMIN/STRATOR ALLYSON M. PLOURDE CASE MANAGER OWEN R. MONTGOMERY CASE MANAGER JULIE M. LOISELLE RECEPTIONISTISECRETARY
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION (By Consent)
Case No. 17-137-GA Notice Issued: March 27, 2018 NaderW. NaSsif, P 72557, Royal Oak, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #60.
Suspension -179 Days, Effective June 1,2017.1 The respondent and the Grievance Administrator filed a Stipulation for Consent Discipline, in accordance with MCR 9.115(F)(5), which was approved by the Attorney Grievance Commission and accepted by the hearing panel. The stipulation contained respondent's admissions that he committed acts of professional misconduct by partaking in ex parte communications and a personal friendship with Christopher S. Easthope, former judge at the 15th Judicial District Court, requiring disclosure or disqualification.
Based upon respondent's admissions and the stipulation of the parties, the panel found that respondent violated or attempted to violate MRPC 3.5(a) by seeking to influence Mr. Easthope by means prohibited by law; violated or attempted to violate MRPC 3.5(b) by having an ex parte communication with Mr. Easthope regarding a pending matter without being authorized by law or court order; violated, or attempted to violate, the Rules of Professional Conduct, contrary to MRPC 8.4(a); failed to report Mr. Easthope's violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct, in violation of MRPC 8.3(a); failed to report Mr. Easthope's violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct to the Judicial Tenure CommiSSion, in violation of MRPC 8.3(b); engaged in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice, in violation of MRPC 9.104(1) and MRPC 8.4(c); violated or attempted to violate MRPC 8.4(e) by knowingly assisting a judge or judicial officer in conduct that is a violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct or other law. Respondent was also found to have violated MCR 9.104(2)-(4) and MRPC 8.4(b).
In accordance with the stipulation of the parties, the hearing panel ordered that respondent's 0 lic r e , n 0 se 8 t o . ractice law in Mi hig 2.
be suspended for 179 days. Costs were assessed in the amount
1 Respondent has been continuously suspended from the practice of law in Michigan since May 23, 2014. Please see Notice of Automatic Interim SuspenSion, Grievance Administrator v Nader W Nassif, Case No. 14-58-AI; 14-84-JC, issued June 11, 2014.