Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court v. Ward

[¶ 1] Attorney Michael Ward objects to a report of a hearing panel of the Disciplinary Board finding he violated professional rules of conduct and recommending he be suspended from the practice of law for four months and pay the costs of the disciplinary proceedings. Ward argues the hearing panel erred in finding he violated N.D.R. Prof. Conduct 1.1 relating to competence and N.D.R. Prof. Conduct 1.3 relating to diligence. We conclude there is not clear and convincing evidence of a violation, and we decline to adopt the hearing panel’s recommendation. We dismiss the petition for discipline.

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