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ATTORNEY disciplinary proceeding.
Attorney's license suspended.
¶1 PER CURIAM. The Office of Lawyer
Regulation (OLR) and Attorney Scott D. Fisher
have filed a stipulation pursuant to Supreme
Court Rule (SCR) 22.12 that Attorney Fisher's
license to practice law in Wisconsin should
be suspended for one year, as discipline
reciprocal to that imposed by the Supreme
Court of Iowa. After reviewing the matter,
we approve the stipulation and impose the
stipulated reciprocal discipline. Given the
comprehensive stipulation, which avoided the
need to litigate this matter and to appoint a
referee, we impose no costs in this
proceeding.
¶2 Attorney Fisher was admitted to
practice law in Wisconsin in 2005. His
Wisconsin law license is currently in good
standing, but inactive. He was admitted to
practice law in Iowa in 2007.
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¶3 The OLR filed a complaint in this
matter on November 17, 2021. The complaint
alleged two counts of professional
misconduct: (1) that by virtue of an October
15, 2021, one-year suspension of Attorney
Fisher's Iowa law license by the Supreme
Court of Iowa, Attorney Fisher was subject to
reciprocal discipline in this state, pursuant
to SCR 22.22(3), and (2) that Attorney Fisher
failed to notify the OLR of the Iowa
suspension within the required time, in
violation of SCR 22.22(1).
¶4 On February 3, 2022, the OLR and
Attorney Fisher filed a stipulation in which
Attorney Fisher stipulated to the two counts
set forth in the OLR's complaint. The OLR
filed a memorandum in support of the
stipulation.
¶5 The parties assert that the
stipulation was not the result of plea
bargaining. In the stipulation, Attorney
Fisher states that he does not contest the
factual assertions and misconduct charges
alleged by the OLR, nor does he contest the
discipline requested by the OLR, namely a
one-year suspension of his license to
practice law in Wisconsin. He represents
that he fully understands the allegations of
misconduct alleged by the OLR; that he
understands the ramifications of the
stipulated level of discipline; that he
understands his right to contest the
allegations of misconduct and his right to
consult counsel regarding those allegations;
and that he entered into the stipulation
knowingly and voluntarily.
¶6 In reciprocal discipline matters, SCR
22.22 mandates that this court impose
discipline identical to that imposed by the
other jurisdiction, unless one or more of
three exceptions apply. Attorney Fisher does
not claim that any exception in SCR 22.22(3)
applies to this matter.
¶7 The misconduct that resulted in the
Supreme Court of Iowa suspending Attorney
Fisher's law license involved six separate
client matters as well as an allegation that
Attorney Fisher violated the Iowa Rules of
Professional Conduct with respect to the
handling of his client trust account. The
misconduct alleged in the Iowa Supreme Court
Attorney Disciplinary Board's 67 page second
substituted and amended complaint against
Attorney Fisher included revealing
confidential information of former clients on
the internet; false statements; frivolous
filings; improperly withdrawing from a case;
conduct prejudicial to justice; and failing
to cooperate with the Iowa Supreme Court
Attorney Disciplinary Board.
¶8 In the parties' stipulation and the
supporting memorandum filed by the OLR, the
parties acknowledge that Attorney Fisher is
subject to the imposition of reciprocal
discipline in this state by virtue of the
one-year suspension imposed in Iowa. The OLR
asks this court to impose a one-year
suspension of Attorney Fisher's Wisconsin law
license as the appropriate reciprocal
discipline.
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¶9 Upon review of this matter, we accept
the stipulation and impose a one-year
suspension of Attorney Fisher's license to
practice law in Wisconsin, as discipline
reciprocal to that imposed by the Supreme
Court of Iowa. Because this matter has been
resolved by means of a stipulation without
the appointment of a referee and because the
OLR has not requested the imposition of
costs, we do not impose any costs upon
Attorney Fisher.
¶10 IT IS ORDERED that the license of
Scott D. Fisher to practice law in Wisconsin
is suspended for one year, effective the date
of this order.
¶11 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Scott D.
Fisher shall comply with the provisions of
SCR 22.26 concerning the duties of a person
whose license to practice law in Wisconsin
has been suspended.
¶12 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that compliance
with all conditions of this order is required
for reinstatement. See SCR 22.28(3).
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