SSTTAATTEE OOFF MIICCHHIIGGAANN Attttorrneey Diisscciiplliinee Boaarrd
, .. ffIILLEEDD . . AUrHt-nR8~R)tN:'Hy f'lI(,I"IDllilC. a AOA H VI ill.". ~ miJlSvvC"f P-Ufl'HN. ... [ BOAl) hU RUD ~ " - : . . '. .: ' . 1155 JJUUlt .-;'71 PPMH 22:: 5571
GGrriieevvaannccee AAddmiinniissttrraattoorr,, PPeettiittiioonneerr//AAppppeellllaanntt,, vv TTiimootthhyy AA.. SSttooeeppkkeerr,, PP 3311229977,, RReessppoonnddeenntt!/AA ppppeelllleeee,, CCaassee NNoo.. 1133--3322--GGAA
DDeecciiddeedd:: JJuullyy 77,, 22001155
AAppppeeaarraanncceess:: RRoobbeerrtt E E.. EEddiicckk aanndd DDiinnaa PP DDaajjaannii,, ffoorr tthhee GGrriieevvaannccee AAddmmiinniissttrraattoorr,, PPeettiittiioonneerr!/AA ppppeellllaanntt D D o o n n a al l d d D D. . C C a a m m p p b b e e l l l l , , C C o o l l l l e e e e n n H H . . B B u u r r k k e e, , a a n n d d T T r r e e n n t t B B.. C C o o l l l l i i e e r r , , f f o o r r t t h h e e R R e e s s p p o o n n d d e e n n t t / / A A p p p p e e l l l l e e e e
BBOOAARRDD OOPPIINNIIOONN PPeettiittiioonneerr ffiilleedd tthhiiss ppeettiittiioonn ffoorr rreevviieeww aanndd aarrgguueess tthhaatt KKeenntt CCoouunnttyy HHeeaarriinngg PPaanneell ##33 eerrrreedd iinn ggrraannttiinngg rreessppoonnddeenntt''ss mmoottiioonn ffoorr iinnvvoolluunnttaarryy ddiissmmiissssaall,, aanndd iinn ddeennyyiinngg ppeettiittiioonneerr''ss ssuubbsseeqquueenntt mmoottiioonn ffoorr aaddddiittiioonnaall ffiinnddiinnggss,, wwhhiicchh aasskkeedd tthhee ppaanneell ttoo aammeenndd iittss ddeecciissiioonn.. Wee ccoonncclluuddee tthhaatt tthhee ppaanneell ccoommmmiitttteedd nnoo eerrrroorr aanndd aaffffiirrmm tthhee oorrddeerr ooff ddiissmmiissssaall eenntteerreedd bbeellooww.. RReessppoonnddeenntt wwaass iinniittiiaallllyy cchhaarrggeedd iinn aa ffoorrmmaall ccoommppllaaiinntt wwiitthh:: ((11)) vviioollaattiinngg tthhee ccrriimmiinnaall llaaww,, ssppeecciiffiiccaallllyy,, tthhee Miicchhiiggaann CCaammppaaiiggnn FFiinnaannccee AAcctt,, MCCLL 116699..225544 ((pprroohhiibbiittiinngg ccoorrppoorraattee ccoonnttrriibbuuttiioonnss ttoo ccaamppaaiiggnnss aanndd pprroovviiddiinngg tthhaatt aann aaggeenntt''ss aaccttiioonnss iinn vviioollaattiioonn ooff tthhiiss pprroovviissiioonn sshhaallll ccoonnssttiittuuttee aa ffeelloonnyy)),, ccoonnttrraarryy ttoo MCCRR 99..110044((55)) aanndd MRRPPCC 88..44((bb));; aanndd,, ((22)) aalllleeggiinngg tthhaatt aannsswweerrss ggiivveenn bbyy rreessppoonnddeenntt wwhhiillee tteessttiiffyyiinngg aass aa wwiittnneessss dduurriinngg aa ddeeppoossiittiioonn iinn aa cciivviill aaccttiioonn wweerree ""iinntteennttiioonnaallllyy aanndd kknnoowwiinnggllyy ffaallssee aanndd mmiisslleeaaddiinngg,,"" ccoonnttrraarryy ttoo MRRPPCC 88..44((bb)).. RReessppoonnddeenntt ssuucccceessssffuullllyy cchhaalllleennggeedd
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h h e e a a r r i i n n g g . . ! The case then proceeded to hearing on the allegations 1 The case then proceeded to hearing on the allegations g g a a r r d d i i n n g g o o n n l l y y r r e e s s p p o o n n d d e e n n t t' ' s s t t e es s t t i i m m o o n n y y a a t t t t h h e e d d e e p p o o s s i i t t i i o o n n . . s s e e d d i i n n a a c c i i v v i il l a a c c t t i i o o n n f f o o r r m m a a l l i i c c i io o u u s s p p r r o o s s e e c c u u t t i i o o n n a as s a a r r e e s s u u l l t t o of f h h i i s s h h s s o o u u g g h h t t t to o o o p p e en n a a s s t t o o r r e e i in n A A c c m m e e T T o o w w n n s s h h i i p p , , M M i i c c h h i i g g a a n n . . T T h h e e e e p p e e r r m m i i t t , , t t h he e n n , , a a f f t t e e r r t th h e e B B o o a a r r d d ' ' s s c c o o m m p p o o s s i i t t i i o o n n c c h h a a n n g g e e d d a a s s a a r r e e s s u u l l t t w w o o r r h h a a l l t t t t h h e e d d e e v v e e l l o o p p m m e e n n t t o o f f " " b bi i g g b b o o x x " " s s t t o o r r e e s s i i n n t th h e e t t o o w w n n s s h h i i p p . . t i i o o n n , , a a r r e e f f e e r r e en n d d u u m m , , a a n n d d a a r r e e c c a a l l l l e e l l e e c c t t i i o o n n e e n n s su u e e d d . . T T h h e e a a l l l l e e g g a a t t i i o o n n s s o o s s t t p p e e r r t t i i n n e e n n t t t t o o t t h h e e p p a a n n e e l l ' ' s s d d e e c c i i s s i i o o n n s s a a n n d d t th h i i s s r r e e v v i i e e w w p p r r o o c c e e e e d d i i n n g g
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a a s s k k e e d d t t h h e e a a n n s s w w e e r r s s : :
C C a a n n y y o o u u t t e e l l l l m m e e h h o o w w e e l l e e c c t t i i o o n n , , r r e e f f e e r r e e n n d d u u m m I I h h a a v v e e n no o k k n n o o w w l l e e d d g g e e D Do o y y o o u u k k n n o o w w w w h h a a t t c c o o m m a a d d e e t t o o l l o o c c a a l l p p o o l l i i t t i i c c A Ac c m m e e a a r r e e a a ? ? I I h h a a v v e e n n o o k k n n o o w w l l e e d d g g e e
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. .
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n n t t h h e e B B o o P P a a r r s s o o n n s s . .
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M M e e i i j j e e r r t t o o o o k k i i n n t t h h e e m m e e l l e e c c t t i i o o n n u u p p t t h h e e r r e e ? ? . . M M e e i i j j e e r r C C o o r r p p o o r r a a t t i i o o n n r r s s o o f f M M e e i i j j e e r r i i n n t t h h e e
p p o o s s e e d d t t o o d d m m i i s s l l e e
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1 Respondent moved fo; dismissal of the criminal conduct charge in light of Citizens United v FEC, 558 1 Respondent moved for dismissal of the criminal conduct charge in light of Citizens United v FEC, 558 U US S 3 3 1 1 0 0 ; ; 1 1 3 3 0 0 S S C C t t 8 8 7 7 6 6 ; ; 1 17 7 5 5 L U U S S 6 6 5 5 2 2 ; ; 1 11 1 0 0 S S C C t t 1 1 3 3 9 9 1 1 ; ; 1 1 0 0 F F i i n n a a n n c c e e A A c c t t i i n n t t h h a a t t c c a a s s e e w w a a s i i n n t t e e r r e e s s t t ) ) . . T T h h e e h h e e a a r r i i n n g g p p a a n n e e l l f f o o r r i i n n t t e e r r l l o o c c u u t t o o r r y y r r e e v v i i e e w w o o f f M M i i c c h h i i g g a a n n S S u u p p r r e e m m e e C C o o u u r r t t , , p p r r e e m m i i s s e e d d o o n n v v i i o o l l a a t t i i o o n n s s o o f f S S o o f f C C i i t t i i z z e e n n s s U U n n i i t t e e d d . . S S t t o o e e p p k k
p o n n
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v v e e r r r r u u l l e e d d A A u u s s t t i i n n v v M M i i c ch h S S t t a a t t e e i n n g g t t h h a a t t a a p p p p l l i i c c a a t t i i o o n n o o f f ยง ยง 5 5 4 4 ( ( r r o o v v i i s s i i o o n n w w a a s s n n a a r r r r o o w w l l y y t t a a i i l l o o t t t t o o r r n n e e y y D D i i s s c c i i p p l l i i n n e e B B o o a a r r d d d d e e d d e e n n t t f f i i l l e e d d a a n n a a c c t t i i o o n n f f o o r r s s u u p p s s o o f f t t h h e e f f o o r r m m a a l l c c o o m m p p l l a a i i n n t t a a m m p p a a i i g g n n F F i i n n a a n n c c e e A A c c t t , , M M C C L L M M i i c c h h 8 8 7 7 0 0 ; ; 8 8 3 3 7 7 N N W W 2 2 d d 2 2 7 7 7 7
L E Ed d 2 2 d d 7 7 5 5 3 3 ( ( 2 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 ) ) , , w w h h i i c c h h o o 8 8 L L E E d d 2 2 d d 6 6 5 5 2 2 ( ( 1 1 9 9 9 9 0 0 ) ) ( ( h h o o l l d d i s c c o o n n s s t t i i t t u u t t i i o o n n a a l l b b e e c c a a u u s s e e t t h h e e p p d d e e n n i i e e d d t t h h e e m m o o t t i i o o n n , , a a n n d d t t h h e e A A t t h h e e p p a a n n e e l l ' ' s s o o r r d d e e r r . . R R e e s s p p o o n n w w h h i i c c h h h h e e l l d d t t h h a a t t t t h h e e p p o o r r t t i i o o n n e e c c t t i i o o n n 5 5 4 4 o o f f t t h h e e M M i i c c h h i i g g a a n n C C e e r r v v A A t t t t y y D D i i s s c c i i p p l l i i n n e e E E d d , , 4 4 9 9 5 5
C C h h a a m m b b e e r r a a / / C C o o m m m m e e r r 1 1 ) ) o o f f t t h h e e M M i i c c h h i i g g a a n n C C a a r r e e d d t t o o s s e e r r v v e e a a c c o o m m p p e e l l l l i i n n i i e e d d r r e e s s p p o o n n d d e e n n t t ' ' s s a a p p p p e e r r i i n n t t e e n n d d i i n n g g c c o o n n t t r r o o l l w w a a l l l l e e g g i i n n g g a a t t t t o o r r n n e e y y m m i i s s c c 1 1 6 6 9 9 . . 2 2 5 5 4 4 , , w w e e r r e e m m o o o o t t ( ( 2 2 0 0 1 1 3 3 ) )
c c e e , , 4 4 9 9 4 4 m m p p a a i i g g n n n n g g s s t t a a t t e e l l i i c c a a t t i i o o n n i i t t h h t t h h e e o o n n d d u u c c t t i i n n l l i i g g h h t t
G G
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T T h h e e s s u u m m m m a a r r i i z z e e s s h h e e a a r r d d : : K K e e n n t t c c o o n n t t r r a a c c t t s s i i g g n n R R e e s s p p o o n n s s i i b b l l e e 2 2 0 0 0 05 5 . . A A t t t t h h e e t t o o M MC C R R 2 2 . . 5 5 a a d d v v i i s s e e m m e e n n t t , , t to o t t h h e e a a l l l l e e g g a a
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h h e e a a r r i i n n g g p p t t h h e e e e v v i i d d e e n n A A . . R R o o z z y y c c e e d d b b y y M M r r G G o o v v e e r r n n m m c c o o n n c c l l u u s s i i o o 0 0 4 4 ( ( B B ) ) ( ( 2 2 ) ) , , r r e e v v i i e e w w e e d d t t i i o o n n t t h h a a t t r r
W W i i t t h h l l a a i i n n t t , , t t p p k k e e r r w w a as T T h h e e l l r r e e c c o o n n s s m e e n n t t w w a a e e r r p p l l a a y y e e a a n n e e l l r r e ev p p k k e e r r a a n n
m m p p o o e e
p pa a n n e e a a r r g g u u m M M e e i i j j T Th h e e p p S S t t o o e e
e e s s e e n n t t a a t t i i o o n n s s . .
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a a n n e e l l ' ' s s D D e e c c i i s s i i o o n n R R c c e e s s u u b b m m i i t t t t e e d d b by y t t k k i i , , K K e e n n P P e e t t t t e e r r s s o o n n . . S S t t o o e e p p k k e e r r ; ; ( ( 2 2 ) ) a a c c e e n n t t ' ' s s a a r r t t i i c c l l e e s s o o f f i i n n c c n n o o f f p p e e t t i i t t i i o o n n e e r r ' ' s s p p r r a a n n d d p p e e t t i i t t i i o o n n e e r r a a t t h h e e t t r r a a n n s s c c r r i i p p t t s s a a n n d d e e s s p p o o n n d d e e n n t t ' ' s s a a n n s s w w
R R e e s s p p o o n n d d e e n n t t a a s s s s e e " " o o p p i i n n i i o o n n " " o o f f M M r r . . e e l l e e c c t t i i o o n n . . M M r r . . S S t t o o o of f M M e e i i j j e e r r a a n n d d n n g g w wh h a a t t o o t t h h e e r r p p e e r r e e v v e e n n t t s s , , a a n n d d t t h h u u s s d d i i d d t t o o w w h h a a t t a a n n y y o o o o n n c c l l u u d d e e s s t t h ha a t t b b a as d d e e n n c c e e t t o o c c o o n n t t r r a a d d i i n n f f o o r r I I n n v v o o l l u u n n t t a a r r y y
f f o o r r a a n n i i n n t t h h e e b b e e h h a a l l f f k k n n o o w w i i r re e l l a a t t e e d d M M e e i i j j e e r r p p a a n n e e l l c c n n o o e e v v i i M M o o t t i i o o
r r e e s s p p e e c c h h e e p p a a n n e e s u u n n t t r r u u t t A A d d m m i i n n i i i i d d e e r r a a n n s s t t h h a a t t " " i d d i i n n t t h h e e v i i e e w w e e d d d d f f o o u u n n d d
t t i i o o n n [ [ A A m m
t t t t o o t t h h e e s s l l f f o o u u n n d d t t h h h h f f u u l l i i n n h h i i s s s s t t r r a a t t o o r r t th h e e d d a a m m e e n n d d i i t t i t t w w a a s s d d i i s s h h m m o o r r a a t t o o r r i i u u t t h he e r r e e c c o o r r d d n no o r r e e a a s s o o n n
M M e e i d d e e d d
e e c c o o n n d d a a t t " " t t h h a a n n s s w we e n n f fi i l l e e d d s s f f i in n d d i i o o n n e e s s t t f f m m r r e e f f a a g ga a i i n n t to o a a m m
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a a g g e e n n t t s s m m p p l l a a i i n n
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r r t t s s t t h h a a t t t th S S t t o o e e p p k k e e e e p p k k e e r r t t e e s s w w h h a a t t h h i i s s s s o o n n s s o o r r e h h e e c c o o u u l l d d n n e e e e l l s s e e d d s e e d d o o n n t t h h c c t t s s u u c c h h a a D D i i s s m m i i s s s s
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IInn rreevviieewiinngg aa hheeaarriinngg ppaanneell ddeecciissiioonn,, tthhee Booaarrdd muusstt ddeetteerrmiinnee whheetthheerr tthhee ppaanneell''ss ffiinnddiinnggss ooff ffaacctt hhaavvee ""pprrooppeerr eevviiddeennttiiaarryy ssuuppppoorrtt oonn tthhee whhoollee rreeccoorrdd.."" Grriieevvaannccee AAddmiinniissttrraattoorr vv AAuugguusstt,, 443388 Miicchh 229966,,330044;; 447755 NW22dd 225566 ((11999911)).. SSeeee aallssoo,, Grriieevvaannccee AAddmiinniissttrraattoorr vv TT. Paattrriicckk Frreeyydd/l,, 9966--119933--GA ((ADB 11999988)).. ""Thhiiss ssttaannddaarrdd iiss aakkiinn ttoo tthhee cclleeaarrllyy eerrrroonneeoouuss ssttaannddaarrdd [[aappppeellllaattee ccoouurrttss]] uussee iinn rreevviieewiinngg aa ttrriiaall ccoouurrtt''ss ffiinnddiinnggss ooff ffaacctt iinn cciivviill pprroocceeeeddiinnggss.."" Grriieevvaannccee AAddmiinniissttrraattoorr vv LLooppaattiinn,, 446622 Miicchh 224488 nn1122 ((22000000)) ((cciittiinngg MCR 22..661133((C))))..
Beeccaauussee tthhee hheeaarriinngg ppaanneell hhaass tthhee ooppppoorrttuunniittyy ttoo oobbsseerrvvee tthhee wiittnneesssseess dduurriinngg tthheeiirr tteessttiimoonnyy,, tthhee Booaarrdd ddeeffeerrss ttoo tthhee ppaanneell''ss aasssseessssmeenntt ooff tthheeiirr ddeemeeaannoorr aanndd ccrreeddiibbiilliittyy.. Grriieevvaannccee AAddmiinniissttrraattoorr vv Neeiill CC.. SSzzaabboo,, 9966--222288--GA ((ADB 11999988));; Grriieevvaannccee AAddmiinniissttrraattoorr vv Deebboorraahh CC.. LLyynncchh,, Noo 9966--9966--GA ((ADB 11999977)).. SSeeee aallssoo IInn rree MccWhhoorrtteerr,, 444499 Miicchh 113300,, 113366 nn 77 ((11999955)).. IInn sshhoorrtt,, ""iitt iiss nnoott tthhee Booaarrdd''ss ffuunnccttiioonn ttoo ssuubbssttiittuuttee iittss oownn jjuuddggmeenntt ffoorr tthhaatt ooff tthhee ppaanneellss'' oorr ttoo ooffffeerr aa ddee nnoovvoo aannaallyyssiiss ooff tthhee eevviiddeennccee.."" Grriieevvaannccee AAddmiinniissttrraattoorr vv Caarrrriiee LL.. PP.. Grraayy,, 9933-- 225500--GA ((ADB 11999966)),, IIvv ddeenn 445533 Miicchh 11221166 ((11999966)).. [[Grriieevvaannccee AAddmiinniissttrraattoorr vv RRoobbeerrtt EE.. JJoonneess,, 0055--0099--GA ((ADB 22000077)),, pp 44,, qquuoottiinngg Grriieevvaannccee AAddmiinniissttrraattoorr vv EEddggaarr JJ Diieettrriicchh,, 9999--114455--GA ((ADB 22000011)),, pp 22..]] TThhee cclleeaarrllyy eerrrroonneeoouuss ssttaannddaarrdd iiss ssppeecciiffiiccaallllyy aapppplliiccaabbllee ttoo ffaacctt--ffiinnddiinngg iinn bbeenncchh ttrriiaallss,, aanndd,, tthheerreeffoorree,, aapppplliieess ttoo moottiioonnss ffoorr iinnvvoolluunnttaarryy ddiissmiissssaall,, whhiicchh rreeqquuiirree ffiinnddiinnggss ooff ffaacctt bbyy tthhee ttrriiaall jjuuddggee oorr aaddjjuuddiiccaattoorrss.. MCeR 22..661133((C));; Doouuggllaass vv AAllllssttaattee IInnss Coo,, 449922 Miicchh 224411,,225566--225577;; 882211 NW22dd 447722 ((22001122));; Maarrddeerroossiiaann vv SSttrroohh Brreeweerryy Coo,, 112233 Miicchh Apppp 771199;; 333333 NW22dd 334411 ((11998833)).. ""A ffminddiinngg iiss ''cclleeaarrllyy eerrrroonneeoouuss'' whheenn aalltthhoouugghh tthheerree iiss eevviiddeennccee ttoo ssuuppppoorrtt iitt,, tthhee rreevviieewiinngg ccoouurrtt oonn tthhee eennttiirree eevviiddeennccee iiss lleefftt wiitthh tthhee ddeeffiinniittee aanndd ffiirrm ccoonnvviiccttiioonn tthhaatt aa miissttaakkee hhaass bbeeeenn ccoommiitttteedd.."" BBeeaassoonn vv BBeeaassoonn,, 443355 Miicchh 779911,,880022;; 446600 NW22dd 220077 ((11999900)).. Unnddeerr tthhiiss ssttaannddaarrdd,, tthhee rreevviieewiinngg ccoouurrtt ccaannnnoott rreevveerrssee iiff tthhee ttrriiaall ccoouurrtt''ss vviieew oofft thhee eevviiddeennccee iiss ppllaauussiibbllee.. IIdd aatt 880055..
Grievance Administrator v Timothy A. Stoepker, Case No. 13-32-GA -- Board Opinion
Page 5
The Administrator's brief limits the argument on review to whether there was proper evidentiary support for the panel's finding that Mr. Stoepker' s answer to following question was not false: Q: I must be getting - I'm losing track. I'm sorry. All right. Can you tell me how big a role Meijer took in the election - the referendum or the moratorium election up there?
A:
I have no knowledge of that at alJl.22
---~--~~ The Administrator urges us to conclude that the panel "tumncritically adopted ,Mr. Stoepker's explanation of his deposition testimony," which was also self-serving, and further states that a trier of fact may reject uncontradicted evidence, and the "testimony of an interested party is always considered to be controverted." We see no basis to conclude that the panel uncritically accepted any evidence, assertions, or positions in this matter. And, none of the legal truisms offered by petitioner on review alter the fact that he was obliged to prove misconduct by a preponderance of the evidence (MCR 9.115(1J)(3)) or the standard by which this Board reviews a panel's decision as to whether there is evidentiary support for the panel's decision. It is undisputed that Mr. Stoepker had knowledge of some of Meijer' s efforts to overturn the big box moratorium ordinance through the referendum his firm was retained to work on. Respondent admitted that he acquired such knowledge through his own work, the work of his associates with whom he conferred, and his review of the billing records. Respondent argued below that he was not in a position to say "how big a role" Meijer played in the election. The Administrator takes issue with respondent's theory and the panel's agreement with it because "[t]he incompleteness ofMr. Stoepker's knowledge in no way precludes a finding
2 The second exchange giving rise to a charge of dishonesty was this: Q: Do you know what contributions Meijer Corporation made to local political supporters of Meijer in the Acme area? A: I have no knowledge. [Amended Formal Complaint, ,~ 30; Exhibit 5, Pp 47.]
Petitioner does not take issue with the panel's decision that there was insufficient evidence to prove that respondent's answer to this question constitutes misconduct.
Grriievvancce Admiiniissttrrattorr vv Tiimotthyy A.. Sttoepkkerr,, Casse No.. 13--32--GA ---- Boarrd Opiiniion
Page 6
tthatt hiis deposiittiion ttesttiimony was diishonestt..,,,,3 The essence of tt he Admiiniisttrrattorr''s arrgumentt may be ffound on page 8 of hiis brriieff:: "The [[unmiisttakablle]] iimprressiion prroduced by Mrr.. Sttoepkerr''s deposiittiion ttesttiimony was tthatt he had ''no knowlledge ...... att allll'' as tto how biig a rrolle Meiijjerr pllayed iin tthe ellecttiion.. Thatt iimprressiion was ffallse because Mrr.. Sttoepkerr had some knowlledge aboutt Meiijjerr''s rrolle.." We arre nott perrsuaded tthatt tthe panell''s ffiindiings werre cllearrlly errrroneous,, fforr att lleastt ttwo rreassonss.. Fiirrsstt,, tto prrove tthe ffallssiitty off an ansswerr diisscllaiimiing knowlledge ass tto ""how biig a rrolle"" Meiijjerr pllayed iin an ellecttiion,, iitt woulld have tto be esttablliished tthatt tthe perrson answerriing had compllette knowlledge off Meiijjerr'' s acttiiviittiies and "tthe rrolle" tthose acttiiviittiies pllayed iin tthe ellecttiion.. We agrree wiitth tthe hearriing panell tthatt tthe prrooffss werre iinadequatte tto tthe ttassk.. Allso,, we agrree wiitth Mrr.. Sttoepkerr tthatt tthe ttask woulld be allmostt iimpossiiblle tto accomplliish.. The questtiion asks fforr an opiiniion orr a jjudgmentt,, nott rrealllly a verriiffiiablle rresponse.. The questtiionerr asked whetther Mr.. Sttoepker coulld ttellll tthe questtiionerr "how biig a rolle" Meiijjerr pllayed.. The questtiionerr diid nott ask "whatt do you know aboutt Meiijjerr''s iinvollvementt iin tthe rrefferrendum?" orr even "whatt do you know aboutt tthe rrolle Meiijjerr pllayed?" These arre nott niittpiickiing diisttiincttiions.. The questtiion acttualllly asked matttterrs grreattlly when iitt iis alllleged tthatt tthe answerr iis ffallse.. Fiinalllly,, we do underrsttand tthatt tthatt tthe answerr "no knowlledge att allll" may be consiiderred ttoo brroad orr cattegorriicall a rresponse.. Butt,, even iif one coulld iintterrprrett tthe iillll--fforrmed questtiion as iiff iitt werre acttualllly phrrased so as tto rrequiirre tthe answerrerr tto begiin tto rrecountt whatt tthe answerrerr knows of Meiijjerr''s acttiiviittiies,, nott everryone woulld hearr iitt tthatt way,, and ttherre iis cllearrlly adequatte supporrtt iin tthe rrecorrd fforr a ffiindiing tthatt rrespondentt''s answerr was nott shown tto be diishonestt,, ii..e..,, iinttenttiionalllly and knowiinglly ffallse and miislleadiing,, as alllleged iin tthe amended compllaiintt.. Therre beiing prroperr eviidenttiiarry ssupporrtt fforr tthe panell''ss deciissiion,, we wiillll affffiirrm tthe orrderr off diissmiissssall..
Boarrd memberrs Crraiig H.. Lubben,, Syllviia P.. Whiittmerr,, Ph..D..,, Rosalliind E.. Grriiffffiin,, M..D..,, Carrll E.. Verr Beek,, Dullce M.. Fullllerr,, and Louann Van Derr Wiielle concurr iin tthiis deciisiion..
Boarrd Memberr James M.. Camerron,, Jrr..,, was absentt and diid nott parrttiiciipatte.. Boarrd memberrs Lawrrence G.. Campbellli and Miichaell Murrrray werre rrecused..
33 Peettiittiioneerr''ss brriieeff on rreeviieew,, p 55..
Attorney Discipline Board
FILEB AU8RNEY QXSEWUNE BSARU
|4JuI_ -8 PH M232
Grievance Administrator, Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission,
Petitioner, vs. Timothy A. Stoepker, P31297, Respondent.
I
ADB Case No. 13-32-GA
DECISION REGARDING MOTION FOR ADDITIONAL FINDINGS The Grievance Administrator filed a Motion for Additional Findings pursuant to MCR 2.517(B) dated June 11, 2014, along with a Brief in Support. The Motion "requests the hearing panel to make additional findings of fact and to amend its decision accordingly". The "decision" referred to by the Grievance Administrator is the Decision Regarding Motion for Involuntary Dismissal dated May 21, 2014, wherein the panel granted respondent's motion for involuntary dismissal of the Amended Formal Complaint. Timothy A. Stoepker's Response To Grievance Administrator's Motion For Additional Findings was filed on June 25, 2014. The panel members have reviewed the recently-filed motion, response, briefs, as well as portions of the transcript of the May 5, 2014 hearing, and the exhibits introduced at the hearing. Counsel for Mr. Stoepker contends that this panel has no authority to take any further action regarding this case after entering the order dismissing the Amended Formal Complaint. The members of the panel disagree. MCR 9.115(A) states which
court rules apply to a proceeding before a hearing panel, and the panel believes that includes MCR 2.517B. Therefore, the panel has considered the Motion filed by the Grievance Administrator. The panel having reviewed the aforementioned documents have not found any reason to amend or change in any way the findings or conclusion set forth in the May 21, 2014 Decision. The Brief in Support filed by the Grievance Administrator does not provide the panel with reason to change its previously-stated findings, to make new findings, or to change the decision to grant the motion for involuntary dismissal. As was true during the hearing on May 5, 2014, the Grievance Administrator failed to set forth one thing that Meijer did with regard to the election in question, or one thing Meijer did to support those opposed to the moratorium, and more importantly, that Mr. Stoepker had knowledge of such actions by Meijer. While the panel believes the Motion for Additional Findings is without any merit, perhaps, it is appropriate to set forth the two answers by Mr. Stoepker to questions asked of him during his October 1, 2007 deposition that the Grievance Administrator alleges were untruthful. The questions and answers were: Q. I must be getting - l'm losing track. l'm sorry. All right. Can you tell me how big a role Meijer took in the election - the referendum or the moratorium election up there?
A. Q.
A.
l have no knowledge of that at all. Do you know what contributions Meijer Corporation made to local political supporters of Meijer in the Acme area?
I have no knowledge. (Deposition transcript p. 47).
The Grievance Administrator refers to the billing records of Dickinson Wright as the basis for establishing the misconduct of Mr. Stoepker under MRPC 8.4(b). The billing records establish what certain Dickinson Wright lawyers, including Mr. Stoepker, did on behalf of Meijer, but the billing records do not establish what role Meijer took with regard to the election in question, or what Meijer contributed, if anything, to supporters of Meijer, let alone that Mr. Stoepker had knowledge of such activity by Meijer. The billing records, alone, prove nothing. The Grievance Administrator states that the panel did not discuss the billing records in the Decision of May 21, 2014. lt is true that the billing records were not specifically discussed. However, the panel stated in the Decision "That the exhibits do not support the allegations." The "exhibits" included the billing records. The Grievance Administrator does not cite any specific entry in the billing records that he contends support the allegations against Mr. Stoepker. At the end of the Brief in Support, the Grievance Administrator suggests that Respondent's invocation of the attorney-client privilege and the work-product privilege 13 different times during the deposition testimony of Mr. Stopeker is somehow significant. The Grievance Administrator then sets forth 5 issues or questions to which a privilege was asserted. None of the 5 issues or questions has anything to do with the "role Meijer took in the election", or what "contribution Meijer Corporation made to local political supporters of Meijer". The panel is at a loss to understand how this argument by the Grievance Administrator supports any of his allegations against Mr. Stoepker. ln the Amended Formal Complaint, the Grievance Administrator alleged that Meijer paid more than $46,000 to support the referendum campaign. Yet, during the May 5, 2014 hearing, there was not one word of testimony, or one exhibit offered, to
support this allegation. The same is true regarding what role Meijer took in the election. Such proofs are necessary if there is to be any success in the case presented against Mr. Stoepker by the Grievance Administrator. For the reasons set forth herein, the Motion for Additional Findings is denied.
DATED; July 8, 2014
ATTORNEY DISCIPLINE BOARD Kent County Hearing Panel #3
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