On Wednesday, November 30, 2022, the Attorney Discipline Board of the state of Michigan released the Notice of Suspension and Restitution (By Consent) of Detroit attorney William Otis Culpepper, under Case No. 22-2-GA.
The charges cited MRPC 1.3, 1.4(a), 1.4(b), 1.5(b), 1.15(d), 1.16(d), 8.4(a), and (c) of the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct.
Culpepper was found to have violated these rules when he:
failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter;
failed to explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation;
failed to communicate the basis or rate of his fee before or within a reasonable time after commencing the representation;
failed to hold property of clients or third persons in connection with a representation separate from the lawyer’s own property; and
failed to take reasonable steps to protect a client’s interests upon termination of representation, including surrendering property to which the client is entitled and refunding any advance payment of a fee that has not been earned.
The rules of professional conduct can be found here.
The following are as alleged and summarized from the filing:
Culpepper admitted the factual allegations set forth in the Administrator’s amended formal complaint. His admissions of misconduct include lack of diligence in representing a client, failure to keep the client informed about the status of the representation, and failure to provide invoice and refund of unearned fees.
The filing states:
‘Respondent and the Grievance Administrator filed a Stipulation for Consent Order of Discipline, in accordance with MCR 9.115(F)(5), which was approved by the Attorney Grievance Commission and accepted by the hearing panel. The stipulation contained respondent’s admissions to the factual allegations and plea of no contest that he engaged in professional misconduct during his representation of a client in a criminal matter.’
The hearing panel found that Culpepper violated the rules as charged based upon Culpepper’s admissions, plea, and the stipulations of the parties.
Based on the foregoing, the Tri-county Hearing Panel #18 ruled against Culpepper in relation to the above-mentioned rules of professional conduct.
“Williams Otis Culpepper, P23520, Detroit, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-county Hearing Panel #18
Suspension – 30 Days, Effective December 14, 2022.”
As of today, Mr. Culpepper practices in Detroit Michigan. According to Avvo, he has been admitted to the Michigan bar and Illinois bar.
A copy of the notice of automatic interim suspension can be found here.
