By: WISCONSIN LAW JOURNAL STAFF//January 25, 2013//
Wisconsin Supreme Court
Civil
Professional Responsibility — suspension
Where attorney Everett E. Wood committed 17 acts of professional misconduct, a six-month suspension is appropriate.
“Two of the most important and foundational requirements for a lawyer are to act with diligence and communicate with the client. This case doesn’t involve a situation where Mr. Wood attempted to handle a matter that was beyond his legal capacity, or where he simply didn’t understand a complicated legal issue. These are matters where Mr. Wood simply failed to act diligently on client matters and then when confronted by his clients, failed to communicate. To compound the issue, when several of Mr. Wood’s clients finally lost patience and brought the issue to the OLR for investigation, Mr. Wood often failed to cooperate with the OLR. Further, the misconduct doesn’t involve just one case that slipped through the cracks——this misconduct spans a period of time and a series of cases. This is a pattern of misconduct that has caused Mr. Wood’s clients unnecessary anxiety, stress and money.”
Per curiam.
Attorneys: For Complainant: Hendrix, Jonathan E., Madison; For Respondent: Wood, Everett E., Hubertus