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OLR seeking default judgement against Beaver Dam attorney

By: Erika Strebel, [email protected]//December 14, 2017//

OLR seeking default judgement against Beaver Dam attorney

By: Erika Strebel, [email protected]//December 14, 2017//

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The Office of Lawyer Regulation is asking for a Beaver Dam attorney to be found in default for failing to file an answer to misconduct charges.

The OLR filed a complaint in September against Richard Steffes of Steffes Law Office alleging six counts of misconduct stemming from his conduct in a Dodge County guardianship.

The agency has alleged that Steffes, who had been appointed guardian in 1975, took thousands from the ward’s estate. A judge eventually removed Steffes from guardianship and ordered him to repay the estate and pay the attorney fees of the guardian ad litem assigned to guardianship as a result of Steffes’ conduct. When Steffes failed to do so, the judge reported him to the OLR.

The agency is seeking to have Steffes’ license suspended for three years. The agency also wants the Wisconsin Supreme Court to order Steffes to pay back more than $11,000 to the ward’s account.

The OLR, represented by its retained counsel Brenda Sunby, of Wausau-based Sunby Law Office, filed a motion Dec. 12, asking the referee in the case to find Steffes in default for failing to answer the complaint within 21 days of being served and order default judgment against Steffes that includes a determination that all the allegations in the complaint have been established.

According to court records, a referee has not yet been assigned to the case.

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