OLR Compendium > Public Reprimand of Charles J. Labanowsky III

Public Reprimand of Charles J. Labanowsky III

2009-OLR-2

Charles J. Labanowsky, III (“Labanowsky”), age 58, is an attorney in private practice in the city of Kenosha, Wisconsin.

On April 7, 2006, Labanowsky was the subject of a traffic stop which led to charges of Operating While Under Influence (2nd) and Operating with PAC .08 or More (2nd). State of Wisconsin vs. Charles J. Labanowsky, Jefferson County case no. 2006CT287, filed April 27, 2006. Pursuant to a plea of no contest, Labanowsky was convicted of misdemeanor second offense Operating with PAC .08 or More. The OWI 2nd charge was dismissed on the prosecutor’s motion. The conviction date was October 17, 2006. Labanowsky was fined, sentenced to 90 days in jail with Huber privileges, and had his driver’s license revoked for 18 months.

As a result of conduct occurring on June 21, 2006, namely consuming alcohol contrary to terms of bail set in Jefferson County case no. 2006CT287, Labanowsky was charged with misdemeanor Bail Jumping in State v. Charles J. Labanowsky, Jefferson County case no. 2006CM584, filed July 20, 2006. Pursuant to a plea of no contest, Labanowsky was convicted of the misdemeanor offense. The conviction date was October 17, 2006. Labanowsky was ordered to pay court costs and he was sentenced to 20 days in jail with Huber privileges, consecutive to the sentence in Jefferson County case no. 2006CT287.

On March 24, 2006, Labanowsky was the subject of a traffic stop which led to charges of misdemeanor OWI 2nd (later amended to OWI 3rd), misdemeanor second offense Operating With PAC .08 or More (later amended to third offense), and misdemeanor Bail Jumping in State v. Charles J. Labanowsky, Kenosha County case no. 2006CM700, filed April 11, 2006. Pursuant to a plea of no contest, Labanowsky was convicted of misdemeanor OWI 3rd. The misdemeanor charges of third offense Operating with PAC .08 or More and Bail Jumping were dismissed on the prosecutor’s motion. The conviction date was April 11, 2008. Labanowsky was fined, sentenced to nine months in jail with Huber privileges, had his driver’s license revoked for three years, and was ordered to use an ignition interlock system for three years.

On October 8, 2006, Labanowsky was the subject of a traffic stop which led to charges of misdemeanor OWI 3rd (later amended to fourth offense), misdemeanor third offense Operating With PAC .08 or More, and four counts of misdemeanor Bail Jumping in State v. Charles J. Labanowsky, Kenosha County case no. 2006CM2093, filed November 3, 2006. Pursuant to a plea of no contest, Labanowsky was convicted of misdemeanor OWI 4th. The remaining charges were dismissed on the prosecutor’s motion. The conviction date was April 11, 2008. Concurrent with the sentence imposed in Kenosha County case no. 2006CM700, Labanowsky was fined, sentenced to nine months in jail with Huber privileges, had his driver’s license revoked for three years, and was ordered to use an ignition interlock system for three years.

By engaging in acts leading to each of the separate convictions of misdemeanor second offense Operating With PAC .08 or More, misdemeanor Bail Jumping, misdemeanor OWI 3rd and misdemeanor OWI 4th, Labanowsky violated SCR 20:8.4(b), which states, “It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to… commit a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer in other respects.”

Labanowsky has no prior discipline.

This reprimand is conditioned upon Labanowsky continuing to receive treatment for alcoholism. Labanowsky or his counsel shall submit to the Office of Lawyer Regulation quarterly reports from a treatment provider, documenting continued participation in treatment for alcoholism, with the quarterly reports due on May 1, 2009, August 1, 2009, November 1, 2009, and February 1, 2010. In accordance with SCR 22.09(3), Attorney Charles J. Labanowsky is hereby publicly reprimanded.