Attorney Samuel Henkel of Grand Rapids, MI; thieving slacker

The state of Michigan presented Samuel Paul Henkel with a law license in 2007 after he graduated from Wayne State University School of Law.

The Attorney Discipline Board Kent County Hearing Panel #1 found Sammy guilty of engaging in the following misconduct.

• Committed professional misconduct in his representation of a client in a custody and parenting time matter
• Once Sammy received the advance retainer fee in the custody matter, he ceased communication with his client despite his client’s multiple attempts to communicate with him regarding the status of his matter
• Failed to refund unearned fees (thief)
• Failed to act with due diligence (slacker)
• Upon termination of representation, failed to refund any advanced payment of fee that had not been earned
• Failed to comply with client information requests
• Engaged in conduct that was contrary to justice, ethics, honesty, or good morals
• Knowingly made a false statement of material fact in connection with a disciplinary matter (Up yours, said Sammy!)
• Engaged in conduct that involved dishonesty, fraud, deceit, misrepresentation
• Failed to disclose a fact necessary to correct a misapprehension known by the person to have arisen in a disciplinary matter
• Engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice
• Engaged in conduct that exposed the legal profession or the courts to obloquy, contempt, censure, or reproach

As a direct consequence of his misconduct, the cheerleaders for Attorney Misfits sitting on the Michigan Supreme Court punished Sammy by gifting him with a complimentary 270-day suspension of his law license and assessed costs of $2,403.09.

Additionally, the Hearing Panel ordered that Sammy pay restitution in the total amount of $3,000 to his prior client (victim).

As we speak (ca. August 2023), Sammy practices his so-called brand of law with Henkel & Henkel PLLC at 801 Broad Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan.