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Milwaukee attorney challenging referee’s findings in disciplinary case

By: Erika Strebel, [email protected]//February 22, 2017//

Milwaukee attorney challenging referee’s findings in disciplinary case

By: Erika Strebel, [email protected]//February 22, 2017//

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A Milwaukee attorney is challenging a referee’s recommendation that his license to practice be suspended for a year despite reaching a stipulation with the state’s lawyer-regulation agency.

James Toran filed his notice appealing the referee’s report on Monday.

The referee’s findings from Jan. 30 stem from charges filed last year by the Office of Lawyer Regulation against Toran, alleging that he committed three counts of misconduct while representing an inmate and asking that the Wisconsin Supreme Court suspend his license for 60 days.

The OLR’s allegations included that Toran mishandled client fees and failed to return money for work he had not done.

After a hearing in September, the OLR and Toran reached a stipulation, agreeing to certain facts, and Toran pleaded no contest to the charges.

The referee, retired Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge John Fiorenza, recommended that Toran pay $500 in restitution to the client. He also recommended that the Wisconsin Supreme Court suspend Toran’s license for one year given Toran’s disciplinary history.

Toran has been disciplined four times. He was publicly reprimanded in 1987 and 2012, privately reprimanded in 2007 and his license was suspended for six months in 1989.

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