Referee: Eau Claire attorney should be suspended

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A referee is recommending that an Eau Claire attorney’s license be suspended over allegations that he broke five attorney-ethics rules while representing a couple in a bankruptcy case.

The recommendation stems from a complaint the Office of Lawyer Regulation filed in October against Brandon Buchanan of Buchanan Law Office. According to the allegations in the complaint, Buchanan failed to take an advanced fee a couple had paid him and deposit into his trust account, failed to respond to the couple’s inquiries about their case and failed to turn over their file to another lawyer.

In its complaint, the OLR had asked the Wisconsin Supreme Court to suspend Buchanan’s license for 60 days and order him to pay the couple $335 in restitution.

Buchanan failed to file an answer to the complaint within 20 days, and the OLR filed a motion for default judgement.

As a result of Buchanan’s failure to respond, the court-appointed referee in the case, Allan Beatty, agreed with the OLR’s request.

Beatty filed a report on Jan. 24 finding Buchanan in default. He also found that Buchanan had committed all five counts of misconduct and recommending that the justices grant the OLR’s request for discipline and restitution.

“Due to the absence of a response from the Respondent, there is nothing to discuss,” Beatty wrote.

Buchanan may choose to appeal Beatty’s recommendations. The high court will review those findings and issue a final decision on the matter. Follow @erikastrebel