Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

State Supreme Court suspends attorney’s license

By: Jack Zemlicka, [email protected]//December 19, 2011//

State Supreme Court suspends attorney’s license

By: Jack Zemlicka, [email protected]//December 19, 2011//

Listen to this article

The Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended the law license of Menomonie attorney William Lamb for 60 days.

In a disciplinary order issued Friday, the court found the sole practitioner guilty on 21 counts of misconduct in four client matters alleged by the Office of Lawyer Regulation.

According to the order, Lamb was hired in 2006 to represent a client in a child guardianship case, but he failed to adequately represent the client. He received $3,500 in advance payment from the client, but did not have a written agreement for representation and Lamb failed to deposit the money into a trust account.

The client demanded a $2,800 refund, but Lamb did not respond to those requests or refund the money, according to the order.

Three additional complaints against Lamb also dealt with failure to keep clients informed of representation and failure to properly deposit money in a trust account.

OLR filed a complaint Jan. 10 and Lamb filed a stipulation with the court July 15 agreeing to all 21 allegations. The agreement also included $700 in restitution to one of Lamb’s former clients.

Justice Ann Walsh Bradley dissented in part to the decision and recommended Lamb pay the additional $2,800 restitution owed to the guardianship client.

According to the complaint, the justices also considered if a 60 day suspension was the appropriate level of discipline, given that Lamb had twice received private reprimands in 1997 and 2003.

Referee James Erickson recommended the 60-day suspension because, he said, a longer punishment “may very well contribute to the demise of Mr. Lamb’s realistic ability to practice law and therefore is most likely not necessary,” according to the complaint.

The court assessed $2,261.99 in costs of the proceeding on Lamb, who has 60 days to pay.

The court also ordered Lamb to complete a minimum of 12 hours of Continuing Legal Education credits relating to trust account requirements and ethical obligations of Wisconsin attorneys.

Polls

Should Steven Avery be granted a new evidentiary hearing?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Legal News

See All Legal News

WLJ People

Sea all WLJ People

Opinion Digests