Grievance Administrator v. Fink

**What happened:** This case involved an attorney who physically assaulted a witness during a legal deposition (a formal questioning session under oath). The Attorney Discipline Board had given the lawyer a reprimand - essentially a formal warning - for this violent behavior. **What the court decided:** The Michigan Supreme Court sent the case back to the Attorney Discipline Board, ordering them to reconsider the punishment using newly adopted professional standards from the American Bar Association. The court felt the original reprimand might not be appropriate under these updated guidelines for attorney conduct. **Why this matters for workers:** This case shows that courts take workplace violence seriously, even when committed by professionals like attorneys. When lawyers represent workers in employment disputes, those attorneys must maintain professional standards and appropriate behavior. Workers can expect that attorneys who engage in physical violence during legal proceedings will face meaningful consequences. The case also demonstrates that professional discipline standards evolve over time to better protect everyone involved in legal processes, including workers who may be witnesses or parties in employment-related lawsuits.