Contributor
Reported by Donald Talonen, Clutch Justice contributor covering Michigan attorney discipline and professional accountability.
City
Three Rivers, Michigan
Case No.
24-45-GA (consolidated with 22-83-JC)
Hearing Panel
Tri-County Hearing Panel, Michigan ADB
Discipline
Two-Year Suspension
Effective Date
January 11, 2025
Reinstatement
Conditional — terms must be satisfied
Prior Discipline
Reprimand with conditions, Case No. 22-83-JC (2023)
Key Points
EscalationMcDonough initially received a reprimand with conditions in Case No. 22-83-JC (2023). When he failed to satisfy those conditions, the Grievance Administrator filed both a show cause motion and a new formal complaint, which were consolidated into a single proceeding.
DefaultMcDonough failed to respond to either the show cause motion or the formal complaint. A default was entered and the panel proceeded on the evidence presented, resulting in the two-year suspension.
ViolationsThe Tri-County Hearing Panel found violations across client care, communication, case management, disciplinary cooperation, and compliance with the prior order — a broad pattern, not an isolated incident.
ConditionsReinstatement is not automatic. McDonough must satisfy the conditions attached to the suspension order before he may seek to return to practice.
QuickFAQs
Who is John L. McDonough and where did he practice?
John Lawrence McDonough (P68576) is a Three Rivers, Michigan attorney. He was suspended from practice for two years effective January 11, 2025, by the Tri-County Hearing Panel of the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board.
What triggered the two-year suspension?
McDonough received a reprimand with conditions in a 2023 case (22-83-JC). When he failed to comply with those conditions, the Grievance Administrator filed a show cause motion and a new formal complaint (24-45-GA). McDonough did not respond to either. A default was entered, and the hearing panel imposed the two-year suspension.
What violations did the panel find?
The panel found violations including client neglect (MRPC 1.1, 1.2, 1.3), failure to communicate (MRPC 1.4), abandonment of client obligations at termination (MRPC 1.16), failure to expedite proceedings (MRPC 3.2), failure to cooperate with the disciplinary process (MRPC 8.1, 8.4), improper conduct to suppress investigation cooperation, and violation of the prior disciplinary order (MCR 9.104(9)).
Can McDonough return to practice after two years?
Not automatically. Reinstatement is conditional. McDonough must satisfy the terms attached to the suspension order before he may seek to return to practice.
Failure to Comply With Prior Discipline Spurs Further Action
McDonough’s 2025 suspension did not emerge from a single complaint. It is the outcome of a two-stage disciplinary process that began in 2023 and escalated when he declined to participate in either stage. Kalamazoo Hearing Panel #2 issued a reprimand with conditions in Case No. 22-83-JC following a criminal conviction. When McDonough failed to meet the terms of that order, the Grievance Administrator responded with a show cause motion and an additional formal complaint (24-45-GA) alleging client neglect and failure to cooperate with the investigation.
The two matters were consolidated. McDonough did not respond to either the motion or the complaint. A default was entered and the Tri-County Hearing Panel proceeded on the evidence before it.
Findings of Misconduct
The panel’s findings cover a range of professional conduct failures across multiple rules.
MRPC 1.1(c), 1.2(a), 1.3Neglecting a legal matter and failing to pursue the client’s lawful objectives with reasonable diligence.
MRPC 1.4(a)Failure to keep the client informed and to respond to reasonable requests for information.
MRPC 1.16(d)Abandonment of client responsibilities at termination, including failure to refund unearned fees and protect client interests.
MRPC 3.2Failure to make reasonable efforts to expedite litigation consistent with the client’s interests.
MRPC 8.1(a)(2), 8.4(b)Failure to answer a Request for Investigation; dishonesty during disciplinary proceedings.
MCR 9.104(10)Improper conduct, including efforts to suppress reporting or cooperation in the disciplinary investigation.
MCR 9.104(9)Violation of the prior 2023 disciplinary order by failing to comply with its conditions.
MCR 9.104(1)–(3)Conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice and damaging to the reputation of the legal profession.
Sanctions and Costs
The panel suspended McDonough’s license for two years effective January 11, 2025, and attached conditions tied to the nature of the misconduct. Compliance with those conditions is required before any reinstatement petition may be considered. Costs of $1,887.43 were also imposed.
Why This Case Matters
The McDonough matter illustrates a pattern that recurs in attorney discipline: escalation through non-participation. The 2023 reprimand was an opportunity to comply and avoid further consequences. When McDonough ignored both the conditions and the subsequent proceedings, the panel had no choice but to proceed on the available record, which documented client harm, disciplinary defiance, and a prior conviction. The result was a suspension nearly three times more severe than the original sanction would have been if he had met its terms.
The ADB’s disciplinary record for McDonough is publicly accessible through the Attorney Discipline Board’s online database. His prior reprimand case is covered separately in Clutch Justice’s earlier report on Case No. 22-83-JC.
Sources
Case
Michigan Attorney Discipline Board,
In the Matter of John Lawrence McDonough, Case No. 24-45-GA (consolidated with 22-83-JC), Tri-County Hearing Panel (2025).
ADB Record
Ethics
Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct, MRPC 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.16, 3.2, 8.1, 8.4.
Read (PDF)
Court
Michigan Court Rules, MCR 9.104(1)–(3), (9), (10) (grounds for discipline; violation of prior order; improper settlement conduct).
MCR Chapter 9
Cite This Article
Bluebook (Legal)
Talonen, Donald, Attorney John L. McDonough Suspended for Two Years for Client Neglect and Disciplinary Violations, Clutch Justice (Aug. 3, 2025), https://clutchjustice.com/2025/08/03/attorney-john-l-mcdonough-suspended-for-two-years-for-client-neglect-and-disciplinary-violations/.
APA 7
Talonen, D. (2025, August 3). Attorney John L. McDonough suspended for two years for client neglect and disciplinary violations. Clutch Justice. https://clutchjustice.com/2025/08/03/attorney-john-l-mcdonough-suspended-for-two-years-for-client-neglect-and-disciplinary-violations/
MLA 9
Talonen, Donald. “Attorney John L. McDonough Suspended for Two Years for Client Neglect and Disciplinary Violations.” Clutch Justice, 3 Aug. 2025, clutchjustice.com/2025/08/03/attorney-john-l-mcdonough-suspended-for-two-years-for-client-neglect-and-disciplinary-violations/.
Chicago
Talonen, Donald. “Attorney John L. McDonough Suspended for Two Years for Client Neglect and Disciplinary Violations.” Clutch Justice, August 3, 2025. https://clutchjustice.com/2025/08/03/attorney-john-l-mcdonough-suspended-for-two-years-for-client-neglect-and-disciplinary-violations/.
