Disciplinary Proceedings Against Krause
2000 WI 114, 238 Wis. 2d 877, 618 N.W.2d 527 (2000)
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ATTORNEY disciplinary
proceeding. Attorney's license revoked.
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1. PER CURIAM. We review the
recommendation of the referee
that the license of Harold E. Krause, Jr.,
to practice law in Wisconsin be revoked as
discipline reciprocal to that imposed upon
him in Rhode Island for professional
misconduct. On September 21, 1999, the Rhode
Island Supreme Court disbarred Attorney
Krause, having determined that he had
engaged in 31 counts of professional
misconduct, including withdrawing without
court permission $25,000 from the estate of
a person over whom he was appointed
guardian, failing to reimburse that estate
for $10,350 in excess fees he had charged,
failing to segregate the ward's funds in a
separate account and commingling them with
his own funds, failing promptly to pay bills
owed by the ward, continuing to serve as
guardian after the court directed his
removal, converting a portion of personal
injury settlement funds belonging to a minor
client, and negotiating a check for a
portion of a personal injury settlement
after having endorsed it on behalf of the
State of Rhode Island without authorization.
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2. We determine that the professional
misconduct for which Attorney Krause was
disbarred in Rhode Island warrants the
revocation of his license to practice law in
Wisconsin. In addition to that misconduct,
he engaged in misconduct by failing to
notify the Board of Attorneys Professional
Responsibility of the Rhode Island
disbarment, as required by SCR 22.25(1). In
the instant proceeding, he stipulated that
he has not supported any claim under SCR
22.25(5) that imposition of discipline
identical to that imposed in Rhode Island is
not warranted. He stipulated, in addition,
to pay the costs of the instant proceeding.
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3. Attorney Krause was admitted to practice
law
in Wisconsin in February 1970. He resides in
Rhode Island and is not practicing law
currently in Wisconsin. He was disciplined
here previously in 1997, when we suspended
his license for one year as discipline
reciprocal to discipline imposed previously
in Rhode Island.
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4. IT IS ORDERED that the license of Harold
E.
Krause, Jr., to practice law in Wisconsin is
revoked, effective the date of this order.
5. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within 60
days
of the date of this order, Harold E. Krause,
Jr., pay to the Office of Lawyer Regulation
the costs of this proceeding.
6. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Harold E.
Krause, Jr., comply with the provisions of
SCR 22.26 concerning the duties of a person
whose license to practice law in Wisconsin
is revoked.
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