On Wednesday, October 25, 2023, the Attorney Discipline Board denied the Motion to Lift the Automatic Stay of the suspension order against Attorney Andrew Paterson.
The case is titled ‘In the Matter of Andrew A. Paterson’ with case no. 20-13-GA.
On July 27, 2023, Washtenaw County Hearing Panel #2 of the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board issued an Order of 100-Day Suspension With Conditions against attorney Andrew Paterson, effective August 18, 2023, for misconduct findings. Paterson filed a petition for review on August 16 to appeal both the findings and sanction. He also filed a petition for stay of proceedings An automatic stay was issued on August 23.
Three complainants in the matter – Lawrence Garcia, David Fink, and Floyd Allen – filed a cross-petition for review arguing the sanction was too light. Additionally, they filed a motion on September 13 to lift the automatic stay, asserting Paterson presented a “continuing danger to the public, the courts, and the legal profession.”
The Board concluded the complainants did not establish good cause to grant that relief. While misconduct was found, the Board upheld the automatic stay currently protecting Paterson from suspension until the appeals process is complete. Paterson’s request for sanctions against the complainants for the motion was also denied by the Board. The matter will proceed with the petitions for review of both the findings and sanction.
The disposition reads:
“NOW THEREFORE,
IT IS ORDERED that complainants’ motion to lift the automatic stay filed on September 13, 2023, is DENIED for the reason that complainants have not established good cause for the granting of that relief.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondent’s request for sanctions is DENIED.”
According to Avvo, Attorney Andrew Paterson is an administrative law attorney based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He attended the University of Illinois and acquired his license in Michigan in 1969.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
