Disciplinary Hearing

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WI Supreme Court

Case Name: Office of Lawyer Regulation v. Janet L. Heins

Case No.: 2017 WI 93

Focus: Disciplinary Hearing

We review a report filed by Referee James W. Mohr, Jr., concluding, based on a stipulation filed by the Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) and Attorney Janet L. Heins, that Attorney Heins committed six counts of professional misconduct as alleged in the OLR’s complaint. The referee agrees with the parties that a public reprimand is appropriate discipline for Attorney Heins’ misconduct. The referee recommends, consistent with the stipulation, that we require Attorney Heins to submit the attorney fee dispute with her former client, J.R., to binding arbitration, that we direct her to abide by any ensuing arbitration order, and that she be assessed the full costs of the proceeding, which are $2,378.02 as of July 24, 2017.

After careful review, we accept the referee’s factual findings, conclusions of law, and recommendation. We agree that a public reprimand is appropriate here, and we agree that Attorney Heins should be required to submit her fee dispute with J.R. to binding arbitration, to comply with any resulting arbitration award, and that she shall bear the full costs of this proceeding. The OLR does not seek restitution and, based on this record, restitution is not warranted at this time.

Affirmed

Concur:

Dissent:

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Attorney Derek A. Hawkins is the managing partner at Hawkins Law Offices LLC, where he heads up the firm’s startup law practice. He specializes in business formation, corporate governance, intellectual property protection, private equity and venture capital funding and mergers & acquisitions. Check out the website at www.hawkins-lawoffices.com or contact them at 262-737-8825.