Disciplinary Proceedings Against Kasprowicz
2004 WI 151, 277 Wis. 2d 96, 690 N.W.2d 13 (2004)
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ATTORNEY disciplinary
proceeding. Attorney publicly
reprimanded.
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1. PER CURIAM. We review the referee's
report and
recommendation that Attorney Paul M.
Kasprowicz be publicly reprimanded for
having committed 16 counts of professional
misconduct involving six separate client
matters as alleged in the complaint filed by
the Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) in
this court on October 23, 2003. Noting that
Kasprowicz had admitted to most of the
misconduct counts in his answer or at the
public hearing, the referee concluded that
his misconduct had been proven by clear and
convincing evidence. The primary dispute
before the referee concerned the appropriate
sanction to be recommended for Kasprowicz'
multiple counts of misconduct: The OLR
sought a 60-day suspension of Kasprowicz'
license to practice law, while Kasprowicz
urged the referee to recommend a public
reprimand. The referee appointed in this
matter, Attorney Kim M. Peterson, agreed
with Kasprowicz and has recommended to this
court that Kasprowicz receive a public
reprimand for his professional misconduct.
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2. Neither the OLR nor Kasprowicz have
appealed
from the referee's report and
recommendation; thus, this court's review
proceeds pursuant to SCR 22.17(2). We
conclude the referee's findings of fact are
supported by clear and convincing evidence
in the record and accordingly, we adopt
those findings as well as the referee's
conclusions of law that Kasprowicz committed
all 16 counts of misconduct as alleged in
the OLR complaint. We also accept the
referee's recommendation and publicly
reprimand Attorney Kasprowicz for his
misconduct.
3. We also direct that Attorney
Kasprowicz
pay the OLR the costs accrued in this
disciplinary proceeding, now totaling
$5760.16.
4. Respondent, Attorney Paul Kasprowicz,
was
admitted to practice law in this state in
1986 and has practiced as a sole
practitioner in Waukesha county. He has
never before been the subject of a
disciplinary proceeding. Because there has
been no appeal and there is no dispute over
the facts, the allegations of the OLR
complaint and the referee's findings will be
only briefly discussed.
COUNTS 1 THROUGH 6-CLIENT K.M.
5. K.M. retained Kasprowicz on December
14,
1998, to help in the probate of her mother's
estate. Kasprowicz and K.M. agreed that his
fee would be based on a percentage of the
estate.
6. On January 8, 1999, Kasprowicz filed
an
application for informal probate and K.M.
was appointed personal representative.
Subsequently, on July 13, 1999, the register
in probate filed a "Notice of Overdue
Inventory" because the inventory of the
estate had not been filed within six months
of the appointment of the personal
representative as required by Wis. Stat. §
858.01.
7. On August 4, 1999, Kasprowicz filed
the
inventory listing property valued at
$417,835.22 as subject to administration.
The inventory, however, improperly included
an IRA and life insurance policy that were
held by the decedent's living trust, a
document Kasprowicz had drafted for the
decedent in 1992. The beneficiary form on
the decedent's IRA designated her trust, not
her estate, as beneficiary.
8. The inventory also incorrectly listed
the
decedent as having a one-half ownership in
real estate in Monroe county, when in fact,
she had only a one-quarter ownership in that
property.
9. The value of the property Kasprowicz
had
erroneously included in the decedent's
estate exceeded $275,000.
10. After the inventory, Kasprowicz
filed no
additional documents in the estate and
failed to close the estate within 18 months.
When orders to show cause were subsequently
issued in October 2000 regarding his failure
to close the estate, Kasprowicz appeared and
asked that the file be transferred to
another attorney, Attorney George Love.
Kasprowicz stated at the order to show cause
hearing that he would pay all of Attorney
Love's fees incurred in closing the estate.
11. That order to show cause hearing had
been
requested by K.M. because Kasprowicz had
been unresponsive to her questions about
settling the estate. Kasprowicz had moved
his office without informing K.M. of the new
location and her numerous attempts to
discuss the status of her mother's estate
with Kasprowicz had been unsuccessful.
Ultimately, Kasprowicz left a voicemail
message for K.M. stating that he was taking
a leave of absence from his law practice.
12. After taking over the estate as
successor
counsel, Attorney Love asked Kasprowicz
several times to turn over his file on the
estate; Kasprowicz finally did so over four
months later.
13. During the time he handled the
estate,
Kasprowicz failed to file a fiduciary income
tax return for the estate and the trust.
That failure resulted in the assessment of
$4100 in interest and penalties.
14. After K.M. filed a grievance with
the OLR
about Kasprowicz' conduct, the OLR began its
investigation; Kasprowicz, however, failed
to timely respond to the OLR's investigative
efforts.
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15. Ultimately, however, Kasprowicz paid
over
$11,000 which included all of Attorney
Love's fees, a return to the client of one-
half of Kasprowicz' fees, and all of the
penalties and interest imposed by the IRS as
the result of the late filing of the
estate's tax returns.
16. This course of conduct, as alleged
in the
OLR complaint and which the referee found
had been proven by clear and convincing
evidence, led to the following six counts of
misconduct against Kasprowicz:
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· Count 1. By improperly including an
IRA and life insurance policy in the
estate's inventory, Kasprowicz failed to
represent a client with the legal knowledge,
skills, thoroughness, and preparation
reasonably necessary for the representation,
in violation of SCR 20:1.1.
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· Count 2. By failing to file the
estate's inventory within six months as
required by Wis. Stat. § 858.01, by failing
to close the estate within 18 months, as
required by Wis. Stat. § 863.35, without
filing a request for an extension of time to
close the estate, and by failing to file
fiduciary income tax returns for the estate
and trust, which resulted in approximately
$4100 in interest and penalties, Kasprowicz
failed to act with reasonable diligence and
promptness in representing a client, in
violation of SCR 20:1.3.
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· Count 3. By failing to respond to
K.M.'s attempts to contact him regarding the
status of the estate, Kasprowicz failed to
promptly comply with a client's numerous
requests for information, in violation of
SCR 20:1.4(a).
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· Count 4. By failing to turn K.M.'s
file over to her new counsel for
approximately four and one-half months after
a request was made for the file, Kasprowicz
failed to take steps to the extent
reasonably practicable to protect a client's
interest, in violation of SCR 20:1.16(d).
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· Count 5. By charging K.M. a percentage
of the estate's value for his representation
in the matter, Kasprowicz violated a statute
[Wis. Stat. § 851.40(2)(e)] and supreme
court decision [In re Disciplinary
Proceedings Against Sylvan, 202 Wis. 2d
123, 549 N.W.2d 249 (1996)] regulating the
conduct of lawyers, in violation of SCR
20:8.4(f).
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· Count 6. By failing to timely respond
to OLR staff's investigative letters and by
failing to provide relevant information
during the course of an investigation,
Kasprowicz failed to timely disclose all
facts and circumstances pertaining to the
grievance and failed to timely answer
questions or furnish documents, in violation
of SCR 22.03(2), constituting misconduct,
pursuant to SCR 20:8.4(f).
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17. In October 1999 R.K. retained
Kasprowicz
to handle the probate of R.K.'s mother's
estate. In October 2001 R.K. filed a
grievance with the OLR asserting that
despite multiple orders to show cause issued
by the probate court, the estate had not
been closed.
18. The OLR staff mailed a copy of that
grievance to Kasprowicz and informed him
that pursuant to SCR 22.03(2), he was
required to provide a written response
disclosing all facts and circumstances
pertaining to the alleged misconduct on or
before November 15, 2001. Kasprowicz failed
to respond to that letter.
19. Kasprowicz also failed to respond to
a
second investigative letter sent by the OLR
staff by certified mail on November 28,
2001. Likewise, although Kasprowicz had
signed a return receipt for a third letter
from the OLR on December 14, 2001, he did
not respond to that letter either.
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20. Subsequently, on January 28, 2002, the
OLR
filed a motion in this court pursuant to SCR
22.03(4) requesting that Kasprowicz be
ordered to show cause why his license should
not be suspended for his willful failure to
cooperate with the OLR in its investigation
of this grievance. After Kasprowicz had been
served with a copy of that motion, he
finally on January 30, 2002, submitted an
initial response to the R.K. grievance; as a
result, the OLR withdrew its request for a
suspension of Kasprowicz' license for his
failure to cooperate.
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21. On June 18, 2002, OLR staff sent a
letter to
Kasprowicz requesting a supplemental
response to some additional investigative
questions. He was asked to submit his
response by July 1, 2002. Again, Kasprowicz
failed to respond, and he likewise failed to
respond to a second letter sent to him by
OLR staff by certified mail. On July 15,
2002, a third OLR investigative letter,
which requested a response by July 23, 2002,
was personally served on Kasprowicz. On that
date, Kasprowicz finally hand-delivered a
response to the OLR and met with OLR staff.
At that meeting, OLR staff requested
additional information by August 19, 2002,
and Kasprowicz was sent a letter from the
OLR on July 24, 2002, confirming that
request. Kasprowicz, however, again failed
to respond and supply the additional
information by the specified date.
22. Another letter from the OLR
personally
served on Kasprowicz on August 21, 2002,
requested a response from him by August 30,
2002; Kasprowicz faxed his response to OLR
staff on August 31, 2002.
23. On September 5, 2002, OLR staff sent
Kasprowicz another letter requesting
additional information by October 4, 2002;
again, Kasprowicz did not respond or supply
the requested information.
24. This course of conduct, as alleged
in the
OLR complaint and which the referee found
had been proven by clear and convincing
evidence, led to the following count of
misconduct against Kasprowicz:
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· Count 7. By failing to respond to OLR
staff's letters of October 23, 2001,
November 28, 2001, and December 14, 2001,
until after the OLR filed an order to show
cause on January 28, 2002, requesting the
temporary suspension of Kasprowicz' license
to practice law, and by failing to respond
staff's letters of June 18, 2002, and July
2, 2002, until after being personally served
with a third request, and by failing to
respond to staff's letters of July 24, 2002,
until after being personally served with a
second request, Kasprowicz failed to timely
provide relevant information during the
course of the investigation, in violation of
SCR 22.03(2) and SCR 22.03(6), constituting
misconduct, pursuant to SCR 20:8.4(f).
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COUNTS 8 THROUGH 10-CLIENT S.M.
25. Kasprowicz prepared tax returns for
S.M.
for the years 1994 through 1997, and again
for the year 1999. In February 2001 the
Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) placed
a lien on S.M.'s personal residence for back
taxes. S.M. contacted Kasprowicz regarding
the tax lien and signed a power of attorney
allowing Kasprowicz to deal directly with
the DOR regarding S.M.'s taxes.
26. During the next eight months, S.M.
tried
to contact Kasprowicz several times to
discuss the status of the matter. Kasprowicz
failed to respond except to send S.M. a copy
of the letter Kasprowicz had mailed to the
DOR on June 20, 2001. During the eight
months that Kasprowicz represented S.M.
regarding the DOR tax lien, Kasprowicz was
unable to resolve the matter.
27. S.M. subsequently filed a grievance
with
the OLR on October 18, 2001, noting that the
tax lien was still attached to his home and
Kasprowicz had not responded to his attempts
to contact him. Also, in October 2001, S.M.
hired an accountant to deal with the tax
lien. The accountant cleared up that matter
within a month; the accountant later stated
that " . . . it was no problem to make a few
calls and sort out the matter with the DOR
auditor."
28. On December 14, 2001, OLR staff
wrote to
Kasprowicz requesting a response to S.M.'s
grievance by January 8, 2002; Kasprowicz
failed to respond.
29. On January 11, 2002, OLR staff sent
additional correspondence to Kasprowicz
requesting a response to S.M.'s grievance by
January 22, 2002. By letter dated January
23, 2002, Kasprowicz requested an extension
of time to respond to S.M.'s grievance and
informed the OLR that he had retained an
attorney to represent him in the OLR
investigation. The request for an extension
was granted.
30. On March 29, April 8, and April 30,
2002,
the OLR received copies of letters the
attorney sent to Kasprowicz stating that the
attorney needed to talk with Kasprowicz as
soon as possible regarding S.M.'s grievance
and telling Kasprowicz to contact the
attorney to schedule a conference to discuss
the matter. The final letter from the
attorney informed Kasprowicz that he was
withdrawing from representing Kasprowicz in
the grievance matter.
31. By letter dated May 7, 2002, OLR
staff
requested Kasprowicz to respond to S.M.'s
grievance no later than May 15, 2002. After
being personally served with that letter,
Kasprowicz contacted OLR staff and promised
to provide a response; again he failed to do
so.
32. On July 23, 2002, Kasprowicz
appeared at
the OLR office in Milwaukee and stated that
he would respond to S.M.'s grievance by
August 2, 2002, a date OLR staff later
confirmed by letter. Kasprowicz, however,
failed to respond as promised. He finally
responded on August 30, 2002, after he had
been personally served with another follow
up letter from OLR staff.
33. This course of conduct, as asserted
in
the OLR complaint and which the referee
found had been proven by clear and
convincing evidence, led to the following
three counts of misconduct against
Kasprowicz:
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· Count 8. By failing to diligently and
promptly pursue removal of the tax lien on
his client's home, and by sending only one
letter to the Wisconsin Department of
Revenue in the matter during an eight-month
time span, Kasprowicz failed to act with
reasonable diligence and promptness in
representing a client, in violation of SCR
20:1.3.
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· Count 9. By failing to return
telephone calls and respond to other
attempts of his client to contact him about
the matter, Kasprowicz failed to keep a
client reasonably informed about the status
of a matter and promptly comply with
reasonable requests for information, in
violation of SCR 20:1.4.
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· Count 10. By failing to respond to
multiple OLR staff investigative letters
relating to the S.M. grievance, Kasprowicz
failed to timely fully and fairly disclose
all facts and circumstances pertaining to
alleged misconduct, in violation of SCR 22.03
(2), constituting misconduct, pursuant to
SCR 20:8.4(f).
COUNTS 11 AND 12-CLIENT N.G.
34. Kasprowicz represented N.G. in her
divorce action and obtained a judgment of
divorce on her behalf on February 20, 2002.
As the attorney for the moving party,
Kasprowicz was to draft and submit proposed
findings of fact, conclusions of law, and
the judgment within 30 days of the final
divorce hearing pursuant to Wis. Stat. §
767.37(1).
35. Because this proposed draft had not
been
filed by Kasprowicz, an order to show cause
hearing was held on May 24, 2002. Kasprowicz
informed the court that he had drafted the
paperwork and forwarded it to opposing
counsel; opposing counsel finally received
the proposed drafts on May 28, 2002. On that
same day, the court approved the drafts as
to form and returned them to Kasprowicz;
Kasprowicz, however, did not file the
documents with the court until July 2002.
36. On June 26, 2002, N.G. filed a
grievance
about Kasprowicz' conduct with the OLR. The
OLR sent Kasprowicz a letter on August 22,
2002, requesting a response to N.G.'s
allegations. Kasprowicz submitted a two-
paragraph response and a copy of his final
bill to N.G.
37. On September 19, 2002, the OLR
requested
additional specific information from
Kasprowicz relating to N.G.'s grievance, but
Kasprowicz failed to respond.
38. On October 11, 2002, the OLR sent
another
request to Kasprowicz by certified mail
which Kasprowicz signed for; however, he
again did not respond.
39. On December 9, 2002, Kasprowicz was
personally served with a request for
information regarding the N.G. grievance and
finally submitted his written response to
the OLR on December 16, 2002.
40. This course of conduct, as alleged
in the
OLR complaint and which the referee found to
have been proven by clear and convincing
evidence, led to the following counts of
misconduct against Kasprowicz:
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· Count 11. By failing to provide
opposing counsel with proposed final
paperwork until three months after the final
divorce hearing, and by failing to file the
paperwork until five months after the final
divorce hearing, in violation of Wis. Stat.
§ 767.37(1), Kasprowicz failed to act with
reasonable diligence and promptness in
representing a client, in violation of SCR
20:1.3.
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· Count 12. By failing to timely respond
to OLR staff's investigative letters
regarding N.G.'s grievance, Kasprowicz
failed to provide relevant information
during the course of an investigation, in
violation of SCR 22.03(6), constituting
misconduct, pursuant to SCR 20:8.4(f).
COUNTS 13 AND 14-CLIENT R.S.
41. In early 1999 R.S. retained
Kasprowicz to
represent her in a divorce action. R.S. was
granted a divorce on February 15, 2000, but
a Qualified Domestic Relation Order (QDRO)
was necessary to divide R.S.'s ex-husband's
retirement account. After the final hearing,
Kasprowicz told R.S. that it would be
necessary to hire a third party to prepare
the QDRO. R.S. thought Kasprowicz would hire
someone to prepare it, but Kasprowicz did
nothing and failed to advise R.S. that he
was not arranging for someone to prepare the
QDRO.
42. Subsequently, when R.S. attempted to
contact Kasprowicz about the QDRO,
Kasprowicz failed to respond to her calls.
Later, R.S. hired other counsel to prepare
the QDRO which was then submitted to the
trial court and signed by the court in March
of 2003.
43. After R.S. filed a grievance against
Kasprowicz, the OLR sent Kasprowicz a
request on October 2, 2002, that he submit a
full and complete response to the grievance;
Kasprowicz did not reply.
44. On October 30, 2002, the OLR sent
another
request to Kasprowicz, this one by certified
mail. Although Kasprowicz signed for that
letter, he did not respond.
45. Then, on December 9, 2002,
Kasprowicz was
personally served with the OLR's request
that he respond to the grievance; he finally
did so submitting a written response to the
OLR on December 23, 2002.
46. This course of conduct, as alleged
in the
OLR's complaint and which the referee found
to have been proven by clear and convincing
evidence, led to the following two counts of
misconduct against Kasprowicz:
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· Count 13. By failing to follow up on
the status of the QDRO, and by failing to
ensure the completion of the division of the
marital estate, Kasprowicz failed to act
with reasonable diligence and promptness in
representing a client, in violation of SCR
20:1.3.
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· Count 14. By failing to timely fully
and fairly disclose all facts and
circumstances pertaining to the alleged
misconduct, Kasprowicz failed to timely
fully and fairly disclose all facts and
circumstances pertaining to the alleged
misconduct, in violation of SCR 20:03(2),
constituting misconduct, pursuant to SCR
20:8.4(f).
COUNTS 15 AND 16-CLIENT D.H-V
47. In May 2001 D.H-V. retained
Kasprowicz to
represent her in a child support matter.
After Kasprowicz filed a post-divorce
petition on her behalf, the circuit court
issued an order to show cause and scheduled
a hearing for July 13, 2001. That hearing,
however, had to be postponed to November 27,
2001, because of a failure to obtain an
affidavit of service with respect to D.H-
V.'s ex-husband.
48. At that rescheduled November 27,
2001,
hearing, D.H-V. appeared with Kasprowicz;
D.H-V.'s husband, however, did not appear.
The circuit court entered a default judgment
in favor of D.H-V. ordering an increase in
the amount of child support D.H-V. would
receive; those increased payments were to be
retroactive to July 13, 2001. Kasprowicz was
directed to determine the arrearages owed by
D.H-V.'s former husband and to incorporate
that amount into the court order Kasprowicz
was to draft. Kasprowicz did not speak with
D.H-V. after the November 27, 2001, hearing.
49. Sometime after that hearing,
however,
Kasprowicz received a proposed stipulation
from the attorney representing D.H-V.'s
former husband. The terms of that
stipulation differed from the circuit
court's November 27, 2001, order that
Kasprowicz was to draft. The proposed
stipulation provided for an increase in
child support but made it effective November
29, 2001, instead of retroactively to July
13, 2001.
50. In addition, a wage assignment for
the
monthly child support had become effective
on January 31, 2002, but the stipulation
proposed by D.H-V.'s former husband
calculating the arrearages for December 2001
and January 2002 provided that "all other
arrearages, and interest accruing therefrom,
are hereby waived . . . ."
51. The proposed stipulation also
provided
that her former husband, rather than D.H-V.,
would be entitled to claim their son as an
exemption on tax returns for 2002 and all
successive years.
52. Kasprowicz did not send a copy of
the
proposed stipulation to D.H-V.; instead, he
called her and left a voicemail describing
the terms of the stipulation and stating
that if she did not respond, he would sign
it. Kasprowicz never received a response
from D.H-V. D.H-V. claimed she never
received the voicemail. In any event,
Kasprowicz signed the stipulation on behalf
of D.H-V. D.H-V. first learned of the
stipulation and the subsequent order signed
by the court in January 2003 when her former
husband called and told her that he, not
she, was entitled to claim their son as a
tax exemption pursuant to the stipulation.
53. After D.H-V. filed a grievance with
the
OLR, OLR staff sent Kasprowicz letters on
June 6, June 26, and July 18, 2003,
requesting information and copies of all
correspondence in D.H-V.'s files; Kasprowicz
did not provide the requested information.
On August 6, 2003, in a telephone conference
with OLR staff, Kasprowicz explained he had
not submitted the copies of the
correspondence in D.H-V.'s file because
there were none. Kasprowicz informed the OLR
of this lack of documentation more than two
months after the OLR had requested the
information.
54. This course of conduct, as alleged
in the
OLR complaint and which the referee found to
have had been proven by clear and convincing
evidence, led to the following two counts of
misconduct against Kasprowicz:
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· Count 15. By signing a stipulation
without consulting with D.H-V. about its
terms and explaining to her how it was
different from the previous court order,
Kasprowicz failed to abide by a client's
decision concerning the objectives of
representation and failed to consult with
the client as to the means by which they are
to be pursued, in violation of SCR 20:1.2
(a).
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· Count 16. By failing to notify D.H-V.
of the stipulation and resultant court
order, and by failing to send her copies of
those documents, Kasprowicz failed to keep a
client reasonably informed about the status
of a matter and promptly comply with
reasonable requests for information, in
violation of SCR 20:1.4(a).
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55. After listing her findings of fact and
conclusions of law, Referee Peterson
discussed the sanction she would recommend
for Kasprowicz' misconduct. Balancing the
mitigating and aggravating factors, the
referee concluded that a public reprimand
was the appropriate sanction in this
situation. She explained that in the first
place, the misconduct, while serious, was
not malicious or intentionally deceptive;
moreover, at least two of the counts were
based on Kasprowicz' apparent
misunderstanding of the law. Although the
misconduct, occurring over approximately a
two-year period, involved at least five
clients (and one count of failing to
cooperate in the investigation of a
grievance filed by a sixth client), the
referee concluded that Kasprowicz' primary
problem was in failing to act and then
avoiding his clients when questioned about
that failure.
56. Disclaiming any attempt to minimize
Kasprowicz' failures, the referee
additionally pointed out that his conduct
was not intended to-and did not-provide
him with any monetary gain or benefit.
According to the referee, Kasprowicz'
avoidance behavior was not the result of any
attempt on his part to harm his clients;
rather, his behavior was a result of the
medical and emotional problems he was
experiencing during the two-year period.
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57. Moreover, the referee noted that the
harm
caused by Kasprowicz' misconduct was
generally minor in nature; the only monetary
damage suffered involved K.M. when interest
and penalties were imposed due to
Kasprowicz' failure to file the fiduciary
income tax return for the estate and the
trust involved in that matter. In any event,
the referee further observed that all
monetary damages resulting from Kasprowicz'
conduct had been voluntarily repaid by him,
including his payment of successor counsel
fees in the K.M. matter.
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58. Because the referee found that
Kasprowicz
was sincerely remorseful and obviously
embarrassed about the situation, the referee
determined that a public reprimand would be
an appropriate sanction to remind Kasprowicz
of the seriousness of his conduct.
59. Although the OLR had argued that
Kasprowicz' misconduct was intentional, the
referee pointed to the analysis of the
psychologist who had been hired to evaluate
Kasprowicz' ability to practice law and
based on that analysis, the referee
determined that Kasprowicz had not acted
intentionally in a way that was meant to
harm his clients; he had not deceived or
lied to them, nor had he taken money that
was not his. The referee characterized
Kasprowicz' conduct as a "failure to act."
She said that while that failure to act was
frustrating, it did not result in
significant harm to his clients.
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60. Furthermore, the referee concluded that
there were significant mitigating factors,
specifically Kasprowicz' medical condition
during the time period in question. The
referee wrote:
. . . the testimony indicates that
around the year 2000, respondent's health
began deteriorating. He gained weight, became
lethargic, tired, and was unable to
concentrate or focus on work. Respondent
himself testified that he had trouble
sleeping and concentrating. When he realized
that he was having difficulties with the
OLR, and several clients, rather than
address the situation, [he] avoided the
problems, failing to respond to either his
clients or the OLR until the last possible
moment. Respondent indicated he felt
somewhat hopeless, and due to his illness,
felt unable to address the problems.
After seeing several doctors and
undergoing numerous tests, respondent was
finally diagnosed with hyperinsulinism, with
a degree of depression as well. As both
respondent and his wife testified, as part
of his treatment, respondent started a new
eating regimen designed to improve his
condition. After a few months, respondent's
health improved. His energy returned, he
became more focused, lost his weight, and,
as friends and family indicated, was back to
his "old self." He has not had any problems
with clients, the OLR or family since his
diagnosis and treatment. Respondent appears
to have cooperated in these proceedings; he
presented himself well throughout the course
of this proceeding.
I find the unanimous testimony of
respondent, his wife, and close friend,
demonstrates that respondent's conduct in
avoiding his clients, avoiding the inquiries
of the office of lawyer regulation and
failing to act in various respects, are a
direct result of his illness. In other
words, had respondent been healthy, I do not
believe he would have acted the way he did
in these matters, and this belief is
bolstered by the fact that he has not had
problems since his treatment began.
61. After review, we conclude, consistent
with prior similar cases such as In re
Disciplinary Proceedings Against Theobald,
2004 WI 59, 271 Wis. 2d 690, 679 N.W.2d 804,
that a public reprimand is an appropriate
sanction for Kasprowicz' misconduct as
established in this disciplinary proceeding.
We agree with the referee's analysis and
observations. We find that the seriousness
of Attorney Kasprowicz' misconduct warrants
this public reprimand and we direct that
Attorney Kasprowicz pay the costs of this
disciplinary proceeding now totaling
$5760.16.
62. IT IS ORDERED that Paul M. Kasprowicz
is
publicly reprimanded for professional
misconduct.
63. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within 60
days of the date of this order Paul M.
Kasprowicz pay to the Office of Lawyer
Regulation all the costs of this proceeding
provided that if such costs are not paid
within the time specified, and absent a
showing to this court of his inability to
pay the costs within that time, the license
of Attorney Paul M. Kasprowicz to practice
law in Wisconsin shall be suspended until
further order of this court.
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