Plaintiff Attorney In Kilpatrick Affair Suspended Rather Than Reprimanded

Another bar discipline proceeding arising from the Kwame Kilpatrick whistleblower litigation has been brought to a conclusion by the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board.

The board affirmed findings of ethical misconduct against the attorney for the plaintiffs. He had issued subpoenas for the now-former Detroit Mayor's e-mail messages without notice to opposing counsel and arranged to have the responses sent directly to him in violation of a court order. However, the board increased the sanction imposed by a panel from a reprimand to a suspension of 30 days.

The board praised the "exceptionally sound analysis" of the panel but concluded that the knowing aspect of the violations warranted the suspension. (Mike Frisch)