On Monday, September 11, 2023, the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board granted reconsideration of disciplinary actions against Respondent Attorney Rebecca S. Tieppo. Tieppo has faced formal disciplinary charges since November 2022 relating to an undisclosed grievance.
The case is entitled “Grievance Administrator v. Rebecca S. Tieppo,” with case no. 22-82-GA.
Tieppo originally filed an answer to the two-count complaint on January 4, 2023, but the Grievance Administrator argued it lacked sufficient details. On January 23, the hearing panel ordered Tieppo to file a more definite statement. However, on February 7, Tieppo inadvertently re-filed her original answer.
At a February 20 pre-hearing conference, the panel allowed Tieppo until 4pm that day to file an amended answer. Tieppo’s amended answer was filed at 4:56 p.m., citing technical difficulties. However, the Grievance Administrator objected that the answer referenced events after the February 7 deadline.
On March 21, the hearing panel struck Tieppo’s answers and entered her default for failing to timely file an adequate answer. Tieppo filed motions on April 11 seeking to set aside the default, which the panel denied on April 21. A sanction hearing was scheduled for May 2.
Tieppo then petitioned the Discipline Board for interlocutory review of the panel’s orders. The Board granted Tieppo’s petition and motion to stay the proceedings on June 14 pending their decision.
In their September 11 ruling, the Board vacated the hearing panel’s default order and reconsidered Tieppo’s defense filings. The Board accepted Tieppo’s amended February 20 answer as timely filed, lifted the stay, and remanded the case to the hearing panel to proceed with an evidentiary hearing on the formal complaint’s merits.
The Board order noted that after nearly 20 years without prior discipline, a fair examination of the serious allegations on the merits was prudent given the potential sanctions. Tieppo will now have an opportunity to defend against the grievance complaint at the remanded hearing.
According to Avvo, Ms. Tieppo is a criminal defense attorney in Michigan. She attended the Wayne State University Law School, graduating in 2003. She acquired her law license in Michigan in 2003.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
