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On two separate occasions in late October 1998 and early November 1998, Attorney Stephen Compton falsely recorded time indicating that he worked on a contingency fee case in Madison, Wisconsin. The alleged work involved reviewing documents at a secured building that required a security card to enter. In addition, Atty. Compton obtained from his firm reimbursement in the amount of $88 for false mileage, parking and lunch expenses associated with these false time entries.
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In late November or early December 1998, Atty. Compton’s supervising partner questioned Atty. Compton why his time records showed him working on November 15, 1998, but that the security entry sheet did not show that Atty. Compton had used his security card to enter the building that day. Atty. Compton misrepresented that he had lost his card and that another associate had let him into the building. After this conversation, Atty. Compton asked the other associate to lie for him and corroborate that he had worked in Madison at the time in question. The other associate did not agree to do so and advised Atty. Compton to tell his supervising attorney the truth.
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Later that same day, Atty. Compton told his supervising attorney that the time entry for November 15, 1998 was false, one other entry was false and the mileage, parking and lunch expenses associated with these entries were false. The only explanation for his conduct Atty. Compton provided was that he wanted to be the associate with the highest billable hours. Atty. Compton reimbursed the firm for the $88 in false expenses.
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By falsifying time records, obtaining
reimbursement for expenses not actually
incurred, making misrepresentations
regarding the same to his supervising
attorney and attempting to have another
attorney corroborate these
misrepresentations, Atty. Compton engaged in
conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit
or misrepresentation in violation of SCR
20:8.4(c).
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In accordance with SCR 22.09(3), Attorney Stephen M. Compton is hereby publicly reprimanded.
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