Professional Responsibility — suspension

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Wisconsin Supreme Court

Civil

Professional Responsibility — suspension

Where attorney Matthew C. Siderits misrepresented his billable hours to his firm in order to receive bonuses, a 12-month suspension is appropriate.

“[G]iven the unique circumstances of this case, and acknowledging that the imposition of discipline in attorney disciplinary cases is not an exact science, we believe that the recommended 18-month license suspension is not quite necessary. We conclude that a 12-month license suspension is sufficient to advance the objectives of lawyer discipline. This is so due to the number of mitigating factors that appear in the record. Attorney Siderits has no previous disciplinary history. He lost his job with the Firm. He paid $60,000 to the Firm to compensate for the bonuses to which he was not entitled and for other unspecified damages claimed by the Firm. He forfeited his interest in the Firm’s profit sharing plan. As explained below, these disciplinary proceedings have been costly to Attorney Siderits. We are persuaded that, given these particular circumstances, Attorney Siderits understands the seriousness with which this court views his conduct, and he will not likely repeat it.”

2011AP259-D OLR v. Siderits

Per Curiam.

Attorneys: For Complainant/Respondent: Weigel, William J., Madison; MacArthur, Anne, Madison; For Respondent/Appellant: Dall’osto, Raymond M., Milwaukee