TALLAHASSEE (Florida Record) — Michigan attorney Richard Shant Norsigian, practicing in Florida for about 10 years, has been suspended following a Feb. 23 Florida Supreme Court order after he failed to respond to an official inquiry, according to a recent announcement by The Florida Bar.
"Norsigian [of Royal Oak, Michigan] was found in contempt for noncompliance. He failed to respond to official bar inquiries dated Jan. 18, 2017, March 3, 2017, May 2, 2017, and May 25, 2017," the state bar said in its March 27 announcement of the discipline and the Supreme Court's order.
Norsigian's suspension, until further order, was effective 30 days from the date of the state Supreme Court's order. Norsigian also was ordered to pay $1,250 in costs.
The state Supreme Court's two-page order is not final until time to file a rehearing motion expires. Filing such a motion would not alter the effective date of the Norsigian's suspension.
Norsigian was admitted to the Florida bar Oct. 4, 2007, according to his profile at the state bar website. No prior discipline before the state bar is listed on Norsigian's state bar profile.
Last month the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board issued a notice of suspension and restitution with conditions against Norsigian, suspending him for 60 days "with conditions relevant to the established misconduct" and ordered him to pay restitution, in addition to ordering him to pay a little more than $1,851 in costs. The notice also ordered Norsigian to pay costs. Norsigian's 60-day suspension in Michigan was effective Feb. 14, the day prior to the date of the discipline board's notice.
"Based on [Norsigian]'s default and his admissions at the Nov. 29, 2017, hearing, the hearing panel found that [Norsigian] committed acts of professional misconduct while handling an eviction matter, a notary fraud action and a quiet title action," the board's notice said.
The Michigan hearing panel found Norsigian had neglected a legal matter entrusted to him when he filed a motion for reconsideration without his client's consent, according to the notice. Norsigian also failed to surrender property and papers and to refund a fee paid in advance that he did not earn after his client terminated his employment, the notice said.