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FLORIDA RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Michigan attorney reprimanded in Florida for failing to comply with suspension conditions

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TALLAHASSEE (Florida Record) — Michigan attorney Richard Shant Norsigian has been publicly reprimanded following an April 16 Florida Supreme Court order for allegedly failing to comply with a previous suspension's conditions, according to a recent announcement by The Florida Bar.

"Norsigian failed to notify clients, opposing counsel and tribunals of his suspension," the state bar said in its April 30 announcement of the discipline and the Supreme Court's order. "Norsigian was found to be in contempt for failing to timely respond to official bar inquiries."  

In its two-page order, the Florida high court recalled that Norsigian, of Royal Oak, Michigan, failed to respond to the state bar's petition for contempt and order to show cause.

"[Norsigian] alleges that he has now responded to the inquiries albeit not in a timely manner," the court's order said. "The court takes very seriously every attorney's obligation to completely and timely respond to inquiries made by The Florida Bar. Therefore, because [Norsigian] did not respond to the inquiries in a timely manner, R. Shant Norsigian is hereby held in contempt and is hereby publicly reprimanded."

The court also ordered Norsigian to pay $1,250 in costs.

Florida court orders are not final until time to file a rehearing motion expires. Filing such a motion does not alter the effective date of Norsigian's suspension.

Norsigian was admitted to the bar in Florida on Oct. 4, 2007, according to his profile at the state bar website.

The reprimand is not the first time Norsigian has been disciplined in Florida. In February 2018 he was suspended following a Florida Supreme Court order after he failed to respond to an official inquiry. The official inquiry in Florida began after he was found to have neglected a legal matter in Michigan.

In November, Norsigian again was suspended following a Supreme Court order over allegations stemming from two client matters and for failing to respond to a state bar inquiry.

Ahead of that suspension, Norsigian waived his right to a final hearing and stipulated to allegations against him in two client matters, including failures to return client telephone calls or emails and to advance a client's personal injury matter, according to the consent judgment filed at the time.

Norsigian also stipulated he failed to timely respond to the state bar's inquiries.

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