Disciplinary Proceedings Against Thomas W. Batterman

On February 24, 2023, the Wisconsin Supreme Court revoked the law license of Attorney Thomas W. Batterman, Wausau, following Batterman’s petition for consensual license revocation. Disciplinary Proceedings Against Thomas W. Batterman, 2023 WI 13. - - Batterman was admitted to the practice of law in Wisconsin in 1982. He has not practiced law since 1985, does not maintain a law office, and has no clients. On July 19, 2022, OLR filed a complaint against Batterman alleging four counts of misconduct. Thereafter, Batterman filed a petition for consensual license revocation. - - In his petition, Batterman acknowledged that he could not successfully defend himself against the allegations in the complaint. OLR filed a memorandum recommending Batterman's petition be granted and that his Wisconsin law license be revoked.

Batterman is the founder, registered agent, and principal of Financial Fiduciaries and the president and majority shareholder of WTC, Inc., the sole member of Financial Fiduciaries.

By engaging in conduct that amounted to a breach of trust in In the Matter of the [J.G.] Revocable Trust, Batterman violated SCR 20:8.4(c). By misrepresenting to the American Cancer Society that a trust donor wished to remain anonymous and that the funds came from a discretionary trust, Batterman violated SCR 20:8.4(c). By causing Financial Fiduciaries’ violations of Sections 206(2), 206(4) and 207 of the Advisors Act in In the Matter of Financial Fiduciaries, LLC and Thomas Batterman, SEC Administrative Proceeding File No. 3-18385, Batterman violated SCR 20:8.4(c).

In addition, on April 10, 2018, Batterman was pulled over while operating his vehicle at 46 miles per hour in a 35 mile per hour zone. During the traffic stop, the officer detected a strong odor of intoxicants coming from Batterman, as well as glassy eyes and slurred speech. Based on the field sobriety tests, Batterman was placed under arrest for Operating While Intoxicated, 2nd offense. Batterman subsequently submitted to a blood draw showing a blood alcohol content of .124, in excess of the legal limit in Wisconsin. On October 19, 2021, a jury found Batterman guilty of Operating with a Prohibited Alcohol Concentration, 2nd offense. He was sentenced to 15 days confinement in the Marathon County jail, 13 months driver’s license revocation, and 12 months ignition interlock. By engaging in conduct leading to a criminal Conviction of Operating with a PAC 2nd offense in State of Wisconsin v. Thomas Batterman, Marathon County Case No. 2018CM752, Batterman violated SCR 20:8.4(b).

The Court determined, “The seriousness of Attorney Batterman’s misconduct demonstrates that it is appropriate to revoke his law license in order to protect the public, the courts, and the legal system from repetition of his misconduct; to impress upon him the seriousness of his misconduct; and to deter other attorneys from engaging in similar misconduct.” The Court granted the petition and revoked Batterman’s license to practice law in Wisconsin.