The Michigan Attorney Discipline Board has issued a reprimand to Michael J. Szappan (P68107) of Flushing, Michigan, effective October 7, 2025, following a consent resolution of professional misconduct allegations.
The discipline was imposed pursuant to Michigan Court Rule 9.115.
Case Overview
Szappan and the Grievance Administrator filed a Stipulation for Consent Order of Discipline under MCR 9.115(F)(5). The stipulation was approved by the Attorney Grievance Commission and accepted by Genesee County Hearing Panel #2.
Szappan pled no contest to selected factual allegations and grounds for discipline in the formal complaint. The admitted conduct occurred while he was serving as an assistant prosecutor in a criminal case.
Underlying Conduct
According to the notice, Szappan:
- Failed to provide required discovery related to a defendant’s cell phone(s) in a criminal prosecution
- The discovery failure resulted in a mistrial
- After his termination, sent multiple unprofessional text messages to the then-elected prosecutor
As part of the consent agreement, numerous additional allegations and counts were dismissed.
Rules Violated
Based on Szappan’s no contest plea and the parties’ stipulation, the panel found violations of the following:
- MRPC 6.5(a) – failure to treat all persons involved in the legal process with courtesy and respect
- MCR 9.104(2) – engaging in conduct that exposes the legal profession or the courts to obloquy, contempt, censure, or reproach
Discipline Imposed
The Attorney Discipline Board ordered that:
- Michael J. Szappan be reprimanded, effective October 7, 2025
- Costs were assessed in the amount of $936.84
Why This Matters
Discovery violations by prosecutors strike at the core of due process. When failures result in mistrials, the consequences extend beyond professional discipline, impacting defendants, victims, courts, and public confidence in the system. This case also reinforces that post-employment conduct tied to official duties remains subject to professional oversight.
