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 RECEPTIONISTISECRCTARY
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION Case No. 16-63-GA Notice Issued: July 28,2017 Richard A. Meier, P 38204, Plymouth, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #68.
Suspension - One Year, Effective March 23,2017. 1 As alleged in the formal complaint, and established by the evidence and testimony submitted, the hearing panel found that respondent committed professional misconduct while representing a client in a breach of contract and retaliatory discharge lawsuit against his former employer.
The panel found that respondent handled a legal matter without preparation adequate in the circumstances, in violation of MRPC 1.1 (b); neglected a legal matter, in violation of MRPC 1.1 (c); failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness on a client's behalf, in violation of MRPC 1.3; and failed to keep a client reasonably informed regarding the status of a legal matter and respond promptly to reasonable requests for information, in violation of MRPC 1.4(a).
The panel ordered that respondent's license to practice law be suspended for a period of one year.
1 Respondent has been continuously suspended from the practice of law in Michigan since October 20,2016. Please see Final Notice of Suspension (Pending Appeal), issued October 7,2016.