NOTICE OF REPRIMAND
(By Consent)
Case No. 25-17-GA
Notice Issued: October 8, 2025
Michael J. Szappan, P 68107, Flushing, Michigan
Reprimand, Effective October 7, 2025
Respondent and the Grievance Administrator filed a Stipulation for Consent Order of Discipline in accordance with MCR 9.115(F)(5), which was approved by the Attorney Grievance Commission and accepted by Genesee County Hearing Panel #2. Respondent pled no contest to the factual allegations and grounds for discipline set forth in paragraphs 1-4, 16-17, 21 as amended,[1] 43, 45-46, 51(c) and 51(f) of the formal complaint, namely that respondent, while working as an assistant prosecutor on a criminal case, failed to provide discovery related to the defendant’s cell phone(s), which resulted in a mistrial, and following his termination, sent several unprofessional text messages to then-elected prosecutor. The stipulation further contained the parties' agreement that the following are dismissed: paragraphs 5-15, 18-42, 44, 47-50, and 51(a), (b), (d), (e), and (g).
Based upon respondent's no contest plea and the stipulation of the parties, the panel found that respondent failed to treat all persons involved in the legal process with courtesy and respect, in violation of MRPC 6.5(a), and engaged in conduct that exposes the legal profession or the courts to obloquy, contempt, censure, or reproach, in violation of MCR 9.104(2).
In accordance with the stipulation of the parties, the panel ordered that respondent be reprimanded. Costs were assessed in the amount of $936.84.
[1] Paragraph 21 as originally alleged was dismissed as agreed, and replaced with the amended version to which respondent plead no contest.