On Wednesday, August 24, 2022, the Attorney Discipline Board of Michigan issued a Notice of Suspension (By Consent) relating to the charges for attorney discipline against Southfield attorney Isaiah Lipsey brought by the Grievance Administrator, Case #21-46-GA.
The charges cited Lipsey’s violation of the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct specifically Rules 1.15(a)(3), 1.15(d), 1.15(f), 9.104(1)-(3), which provide:
An IOLTA account shall include only client or third person funds that cannot earn income for the client or third person in excess of the costs incurred to secure such income while the funds are held.
A lawyer shall hold the property of clients or third persons in connection with a representation separate from the lawyer’s own property. All client or third-person funds shall be deposited in an IOLTA or non-IOLTA account. Other property shall be identified as such and appropriately safeguarded.
The following acts or omissions by an attorney, individually or in concert with another person, are misconduct and grounds for discipline, whether or not occurring in the course of an attorney-client relationship:
(1) conduct prejudicial to the proper administration of justice;
(2) conduct that exposes the legal profession or the courts to obloquy, contempt, censure, or reproach;
(3) conduct that is contrary to justice, ethics, honesty, or good morals;
According to the filing:
Respondent and the Grievance Administrator filed a Stipulation for Consent Order Discipline, in accordance with MCR9.115(F)(5), which was approved by the Attorney Grievance Commission and accepted by the hearing panel. The stipulation contained respondent’s admission that the committed professional misconduct while using his IOLTA between July 2018 and 2020. Based upon respondent’s admissions as set forth in the parties’ stipulation, the panel found that respondent held funds other than client or third funds in his IOLTA, in violation of MRPC1.15(a)(3); failed to hold property of a client in connection with a representation separate from the lawyer’s own property, in violation of MRPC1.15(d); and, deposited his own funds in his IOLTA in an amount more than reasonably necessary to pay financial service charges or fees, in violation of MRPC1.15(f). The panel also found respondent in violation of MCR9.104(1)-(3).
Accordingly, in accordance with the stipulation of the parties, the hearing panel ordered that respondent’s license to practice law in Michigan be suspended for 30 days and that respondent be subject to conditions relevant to the established misconduct. Costs were assessed in the amount of $1,127.65.
The Board, in its Notice of Suspension With Conditions (By Consent), stated:
Isaiah Lipsey, P57361, Southfield, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel # 79
Suspension-30Days,EffectiveAugust24,2022
According to MoreLaw, Lipsey practices in Southfield, Michigan. He has been licensed in Michigan.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
