Charges stacking up against Eau Claire attorney

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An Eau Claire attorney who had originally faced a two-year suspension of his Wisconsin law license now might instead see it revoked.

The Office of Lawyer Regulation filed an amended complaint on Wednesday asking the Wisconsin Supreme Court to revoke Thad Gegner’s license, alleging 47 counts of misconduct related to 11 of his clients. The original complaint, filed Sept. 28, had asked the court to suspend Gegner’s license for two years in response to 24 counts of misconduct.

The amended complaint stems from Gegner’s representation of clients in an array of legal matters, including divorce proceedings, traffic violations and criminal allegations. The misconduct included failing to return unearned advance fees, abandoning clients, failing to appear at hearings and failing to distribute a settlement to an insurance company.

Also, according to the OLR, Gegner appeared in court on behalf of a client even though his license had been temporarily suspended in June 2013 for failing to complete continuing-education in ethics and professional responsibility.

The OLR had also originally asked the court in September to order Gegner to pay more than $4,000 in restitution to clients. Now the OLR is asking for $12,000 in restitution to clients and insurance companies.

Gegner graduated in 2002 from Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul, Minn. He has been licensed to practice law in Wisconsin since 2003. He has not previously been disciplined.

Gegner could not be immediately reached Thursday. The phone number listed for him at the OLR and the State Bar has been disconnected. Follow @erikastrebel