OLR alleges 8 counts of misconduct against New Berlin attorney

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A New Berlin attorney allegedly slept with a client and bought her drinks while the client was free from jail on bond, according to allegations from the Office of Lawyer Regulation that were also stipulated by the attorney.

Christopher Carson was representing the woman on two operating while intoxicated cases and one for felony drug possession in 2010, according to the complaint, which was filed Nov. 26. After the woman’s initial court appearance, Carson received a copy of his client’s bond.

The bond was in effect until May 2011. In April of that year, though, Carson took the woman out of town to visit an art museum, according to the complaint. She agreed, but the day they were to go, they arrived late and the museum was going to close soon. Instead, they went shopping, and Carson bought the woman a dress and makeup, paying in cash.

They also went to dinner, and the woman had two alcoholic drinks, in violation of her bond stipulation, according to the complaint. Carson paid for her food and beverages. Later that night, the pair allegedly had sexual relations.

The pair also had relations the next night; the woman subsequently filed a complaint against Carson.

The OLR is alleging eight counts of misconduct and is asking the state Supreme Court to suspend Carson’s law license for three months. Carson has also stipulated to the facts of the case and has agreed that a suspension is warranted, according to court filings.

Carson graduated from Marquette University Law School in 1992. His law license is active and in good standing.

He was publicly reprimanded in 2009 when he tried to get a judge to enforce a placement order in a divorce case, even though that order did not exist. He also was privately reprimanded in 2008 for continuing to litigate a closed case, even when that litigation violated a permanent injunction.

Reached Friday, Carson referred questions to his attorney, Terry Johnson of Peterson, Johnson & Murray, SC, Milwaukee. Johnson did not immediately return a phone call.

In an unrelated case, Carson allegedly pursued a writ of mandamus in a case where an inmate convicted of molesting a child wanted visitation rights without confirming that the inmate had gone through the appeals process within the state Department of Corrections. He also, in another separate case, mishandled a petition for habeas corpus by making multiple errors, according to the complaint.

He also faces discipline for monetary disputes he had with a client in a divorce proceeding, according to court filings. Follow @eheisigWLJ