Disciplinary Proceedings – License Suspension

Listen to this article

Civil

Supreme Court of Wisconsin

Disciplinary Proceedings – License Suspension

2013AP1619-D Office of Lawyer Regulation v. Paul A. Strouse

Where attorney with three previous public reprimands for professional misconduct receives sixty day suspension for continuing “pattern of disregard of supreme court rule requirements.”

“While the misconduct committed in this matter is not identical, we observe a continuing pattern of disregard of supreme court rule requirements. Representation anticipated to exceed $1,000 requires a written fee communication. See SCR 20:1.5. Unilateral changes to fees charged to clients certainly require more than a single line on an invoice. We note, with some concern, repeated discrepancies between disclosures on bankruptcy filings and invoices submitted to clients, a factor that adds to client confusion. As the referee observed, “by failing to accept responsibility for his actions and attempting to shift the blame to others for the poor handling of these matters, Attorney Strouse demonstrates that he lacks both remorse and insight into the impact of his repeated violations on his clients and other third parties.””

Per Curiam

BRADLEY, J. did not participate.

Full Text

Attorney Derek A. Hawkins is the managing attorney 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.