A Michigan Tri-Valley Hearing Panel imposed a three year and a day suspension for a host of post-suspension ethics violations

Based on the evidence presented to Tri-Valley Hearing Panel #3 at hearings held in this matter in accordance with MCR 9.115, the hearing panel found that respondent committed professional misconduct in multiple matters in which respondent met with clients and improperly accepted retainer payments from clients while suspended from the practice of law, held himself out as an attorney, practiced law while suspended, and failed to comply with prior orders of discipline.

MLive (Michigan) had reported on an earlier suspension

Czuprynski said the ruling is a smear tactic with no factual support.

“It’s disgusting,” he said. “The whole system is disgusting.”

In its ruling, the board stated Czuprynski “has committed acts of professional misconduct warranting discipline.” The board recounted how the Grievance Administrator on July 29, 2020, filed a three-count complaint against Czuprynski.

The first count alleged Czuprynski acted inappropriately during a civil suit he had filed against another attorney in 2015. Specifically, Czuprynski allegedly wrongfully entered a default judgment before pleadings were due. The default was set aside and although Czuprynski was twice ordered to pay sanctions to the other attorney and held in contempt, he did not pay the sanctions until he was arrested in July 2018.’

The second count alleged that Czuprynski in 2013 was hired by one Calvin Eaton, who suffered serious injuries in a traffic crash. Czuprynski filed a lawsuit against State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company on Eaton’s behalf. He then filed a separate action against the offending driver and his employer.

At [sic]  this was going on, Czuprynski represented the offending driver in a criminal matter, unbeknownst to Eaton, the board wrote. Czuprynski then failed to respond to a motion for summary disposition from State Farm and hindered Eaton’s ability to recover significant benefits. Eaton fired Czuprynski in 2017 and hired a new attorney, who negotiated a settlement.

Czuprynski then asserted a lien on the proceeds, claiming he was owed $12,500 in attorney fees and expenses. The lien was challenged and Czuprynski was subsequently awarded $5,000, which was later reversed on appeal. In the meantime, Eaton’s new lawyer filed a legal malpractice action against Czuprynski and Eaton filed a request for investigation against Czuprynski with the Attorney Grievance Commission.

“During mediation of the malpractice matter, (Czuprynski) demanded the dismissal of Mr. Eaton’s grievance,” the board wrote. Eaton wrote to the commission and sought to withdraw his investigation request, after which Czuprynski falsely told the commission that Eaton had offered to withdraw the complaint for a payment of $1,000, the board wrote.

The third count related to an appeal in Bay County Circuit Court filed by a former tenant of Czuprynski who had received an insufficient judgment in her favor. Visiting Bay County Circuit Judge Richard Volbach Jr. was assigned to the appeal, after which Czuprynski moved for the judge’s disqualification.

Volbach in August 2018 ruled against disqualifying himself. Czuprynski was then ordered to pay $2,400 in sanctions and in March 2019, was found in civil contempt for failing to pay them.

In in its conclusion, the board wrote in part that Czuprynski “engaged in conduct that involved dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation, where such conduct reflected adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer.”

The commission previously brought a professional misconduct charge against Czuprynski stemming from a dispute between him and a former tenant. He was accused of putting glue in her locks and letting air out of her tires

Czuprynski maintained he did nothing wrong in his conduct with his former tenant.