Opinion
No. 14 October Term 1974, Docket No. 55,411.
Decided October 30, 1974.
Appeal from State Bar Grievance Board. Submitted October 11, 1974. (No. 14 October Term 1974, Docket No. 55,411.) Decided October 30, 1974.
Disciplinary proceedings against Donald M. Posler. Order entered suspending respondent from practicing law for 90 days. Respondent appeals. State Bar Grievance Administrator cross-appeals. Affirmed.
Louis Rosenzweig, for the State Bar Grievance Administrator.
Donald M. Posler, in propria persona, respondent.
Respondent appeals an order of the State Bar Grievance Board suspending him from the practice of law for a period of 90 days. The State Bar Grievance Administrator claims a cross-appeal from the order because it reduced the six months suspension imposed by the hearing panel. We affirm the order of the board.
The hearing panel found that respondent had conducted himself in an unprofessional manner by his handling of certain probate matters. There is sufficient testimony and factual support on the record to support these findings. See State Bar Grievance Administrator v Estes, 392 Mich. 645; 221 N.W.2d 322 (1974).
In one instance respondent delayed the filing of a petition for probate of an estate for over seven years. He also advised the administrator of the estate to distribute funds, although there had been no determination of heirs, no accounting in the probate court and no petition for distribution of assets. In the other instance, respondent unreasonably delayed the filing of an inventory necessary for the probate of an estate. Direct and repeated intercession by the probate court was necessary.
The hearing panel concluded that respondent was "unfit to be entrusted with professional or judicial matters". The length of his suspension reflected respondent's previous history. On 3 separate occasions he had received reprimands concerning a total of 11 individual complaints. He had received a previous suspension of 30 days for his negligent handling of a claim for damages. The suspension was affirmed in State Bar Grievance Administrator v Posler, 390 Mich. 581; 213 N.W.2d 133 (1973).
Respondent makes three claims of error. (1) He argues that Rule 16.11, which permits the respondent to be called by the grievance administrator and cross-examined, violates his right to due process of law. He claims his answers were coerced because of the possibility that any refusal to answer would be regarded as contemptuous.
Compare State Bar of Michigan v Block, 383 Mich. 384; 175 N.W.2d 769 (1970), where the identical issue was raised by respondent therein and was decided adversely to him.
The record discloses no threat or finding of contempt by the grievance administrator or the hearing panel. It does disclose that respondent was aware that he could refuse to testify whenever he believed the testimony would violate his privilege against self-incrimination. We find no coercion.
(2) The hearing panel filed its report and order 77 days after the hearing. Respondent claims that the delay violates Rule 16.3.3(d) which states, "[e]ach hearing panel shall * * * [r]eport their actions to the board; within 30 days of conclusion of a hearing". This must be read in conjunction with Rule 16.33 which requires that procedures "shall be as expeditious as possible". The 30-day period in 16.3.3(d) should be regarded as a goal and not jurisdictional. We are not faced with a protracted hearing process. Compare State Bar Grievance Administrator v Albert, 390 Mich. 234; 212 N.W.2d 17 (1973). We are concerned with the time needed to reach a decision after the facts are gathered. It would be unreasonable and unfair to both sides to impose a rigid rather than a reasonable time limitation on such process. See Cowen v Wayne Circuit Judge, 296 Mich. 678; 296 N.W. 837 (1941).
(3) Respondent's final allegation of error is that his 90-day suspension is an excessive penalty. Given the facts of this proceeding and respondent's past history, the suspension imposed must be characterized as merciful, not excessive.
The grievance administrator also disagrees with the 90-day suspension. He asks this Court to reinstate the hearing panel's six months suspension. Rule 16.23(h) permits this Court to "make such order as may be deemed appropriate". See State Bar Grievance Administrator v Estes, 390 Mich. 585; 212 N.W.2d 903 (1973). However, we invoke this power only if the disciplinary action imposed by the grievance board is inappropriate. In this case we think the 90-day suspension, although merciful, is nevertheless within reason, so we will not overturn its decision.
Respondent's suspension is affirmed.
T.M. KAVANAGH, C.J., and T.G. KAVANAGH, SWAINSON, WILLIAMS, LEVIN, and J.W. FITZGERALD, JJ., concurred with M.S. COLEMAN, J.