MEMBERS LOUANN VAN DER WIELE 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 ADMINISTRATOR
ALLYSON M. PLOURDE CASE MANAGER
OWEN R. MONTGOMERY CASE MANAGER JULIE M. LOISELLE RECEPTlONISTISECRETARY
DISMISSAL Case No. 15-155-GA Angela Whitaker, P 54944, Farmington Hills, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board affirming Tri-County Hearing Panel #12's Order of Dismissal.
Dismissal - Effective March 29, 2017. The Grievance Administrator's four-count formal complaint alleged that respondent committed professional misconduct by failing to provide adequate representation and failing to attend various hearings while representing five separate clients in bankruptcy matters. The complaint specifically alleged that respondent's conduct violated MRPC 1.1 (b), 1.1 (c), 1.15(d), 1.15(g), 1.4(a), 1.4(b), 3.4(c) 5.3(a), 5.3(b), 5.4(a), 8.4(a), 8.4(c), and MCR 9.104(1)-(3). Respondent disputed that she did anything wrong in this matter.
The hearing panel found that petitioner failed to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that respondent violated the rules of professional conduct cited in the formal complaint. The Grievance Administrator filed a petition for review and the Attorney Discipline Board affirmed the hearing panel's order. The Grievance Administrator filed an application for leave to appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court. The Court denied the Administrator's application for leave. No costs were assessed against respondent.
Mark A. Armitage Executive Director