REINSTATEMENT

On Nov. 4, 2022, Tri-County Hearing Panel #18 entered an Order of Suspension and Restitution (By Consent), suspending the respondent from the practice of law in Michigan for 30 days, effective Nov. 29, 2022. The respondent’s motion to modify the effective date of the order of suspension from Nov. 29, 2022, to Dec. 14, 2022, was granted in an order issued on Nov. 23, 2022. On Jan. 16, 2023, the respondent, William Otis Culpepper, submitted an affidavit pursuant to MCR 9.123(A) attesting that he has fully complied with all requirements of the panel’s order and will continue to comply with the order until and unless reinstated. The grievance administrator did not file an objection to the respondent’s affidavit pursuant to MCR 9.123(A) and the board being otherwise advised;

NOW THEREFORE,

IT IS ORDERED that the respondent, William Otis Culpepper, is REINSTATED to the practice of law in Michigan effective Jan. 24, 2023.

REPRIMAND (BY CONSENT)

Patrick E. Nyenhuis, P76343, Grosse Pointe Park, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #3. Reprimand, effective Jan. 28, 2023.

The respondent and the grievance administrator filed an Amended Stipulation for Consent Order of Discipline and Waiver pursuant to MCR 9.115(F)(5) that was approved by the Attorney Grievance Commission and accepted by the hearing panel. Based upon the respondent’s no contest plea as set forth in the parties’ amended stipulation, the panel found that the respondent committed professional misconduct while representing a client during a police interrogation involving a shooting death in which the respondent’s client was a suspect.

Based upon the respondent’s plea of no contest and the parties’ amended stipulation, the panel found that the respondent failed to seek the lawful objectives of a client through reasonable available means permitted by law and these rules in violation of MRPC 1.2(a) and counseled a client to engage or assist a client in conduct that the lawyer reasonably should know is illegal or fraudulent in violation of MRPC 1.2(c). The panel also found that the respondent violated MCR 9.104(1)-(3) and MRPC 8.4(c).

In accordance with the stipulation of the parties, the hearing panel ordered that the respondent be reprimanded. Costs were assessed in the amount of $912.67.

THREE-YEAR SUSPENSION (BY CONSENT)

Derrick N. Okonmah, P68221, Bloomfield Hills, by the Attorney Discipline Board Tri-County Hearing Panel #71. Suspension, three years, effective Jan. 28, 2023.¹

The respondent and the grievance administrator filed a Stipulation for Consent Order of Discipline which was approved by the Attorney Grievance Commission and accepted by the hearing panel. The stipulation contained the respondent’s admission that he was convicted on June 21, 2022, of operating while intoxicated, 3rd offense, a felony, in violation of MCL 257.6256D and operating while license suspended, revoked, or denied, second or subsequent offense, a misdemeanor, in violation of MCL 257.904(1)(c) in People of the State of Michigan v. Derrick Nbabuife Okonmah, Oakland County Circuit Court Case No. 2021-276708-FH, and that he violated the terms of his order of reinstatement with conditions as set forth in the grievance administrator’s motion for order to show cause. In accordance with MCR 9.120(B)(1), the respondent’s license to practice law in Michigan was automatically suspended effective June 21, 2022, the date of his felony conviction.

Based on the respondent’s admissions and the parties’ stipulation, the panel found that the respondent violated a criminal law of a state or of the United States, an ordinance, or tribal law which constituted professional misconduct under MCR 9.104(5) and MRPC 8.4(b) and, as a result, violated the terms of his order of reinstatement with conditions.

In accordance with the stipulation of the parties, the hearing panel ordered that the respondent’s license to practice law in Michigan be suspended for three years, effective Jan. 28, 2023. Total costs were assessed in the amount of $987.12.

1. Respondent has been continuously suspended from the practice of law in Michigan since June 21, 2022. Please see Notice of Automatic Interim Suspension issued Aug. 5, 2022.