The Michigan Attorney Discipline Board has imposed a three-year suspension with conditions against Richard Daniel Dorfman (P80980) of Boca Raton, Florida, following his criminal conviction and related professional misconduct.
The suspension is effective November 26, 2025.
🔗 Michigan Court Rules – Chapter 9 (Attorney Discipline, including MCR 9.115 and MCR 9.120)
🔗 Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct (PDF)
Case Overview
- Respondent: Richard Daniel Dorfman, P80980
- Location: Boca Raton, Florida
- Case Numbers: 25-37-AI; 25-64-JC
- Notice Issued: November 26, 2025
- Discipline: Three-Year Suspension with Condition
Basis for Discipline
Mr. Dorfman 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 Tri-County Hearing Panel #15.
As part of the stipulation, Mr. Dorfman admitted that he had been convicted of a criminal offense, as reflected in the filed judgment of conviction, and that the conviction constituted professional misconduct.
Under MCR 9.120(B)(1), Mr. Dorfman’s Michigan law license was automatically suspended effective December 10, 2024, the date of conviction.
Rule Violations
Based on respondent’s admission and the parties’ stipulation, the hearing panel found that Mr. Dorfman:
- Engaged in conduct that violated a criminal law of a state or of the United States, in violation of MCR 9.104(5); and
- Engaged in conduct involving a violation of the criminal law that reflects adversely on a lawyer’s fitness to practice law, in violation of MRPC 8.4(b).
Discipline Imposed
In accordance with the consent discipline:
- Mr. Dorfman’s license to practice law in Michigan is suspended for three years, effective November 26, 2025
- He is subject to a condition relevant to the established misconduct
- Costs assessed: $948.38
Why This Matters
This case illustrates how criminal convictions automatically trigger discipline under Michigan’s attorney regulatory framework, regardless of where the attorney primarily resides or practices. Even when discipline proceeds by consent, felony or misdemeanor convictions reflecting on fitness to practice can result in multi-year suspensions and conditions.
The matter also underscores the function of automatic interim suspension under MCR 9.120, followed by negotiated final discipline through the Attorney Discipline Board process.
