By: Derek Hawkins//May 2, 2018//
WI Supreme Court
Case Name: Office of Lawyer Regulation v. Brandon Buchanan
Case No.: 2018 WI 41
Focus: Attorney Disciplinary Proceedings
We review Referee Allan E. Beatty’s recommendation that the court declare Attorney Brandon Buchanan in default and suspend his Wisconsin law license for a period of 60 days for professional misconduct in connection with his work on one client matter and his non-cooperation with the Office of Lawyer Regulation’s (OLR) investigation into that misconduct. The referee also recommended that Attorney Buchanan be required to make restitution to a former client in the amount of $335, and to pay the full costs of this proceeding, which total $410.44 as of February 12, 2018.
Because no appeal has been filed, we review the referee’s report pursuant to Supreme Court Rule (SCR) 22.17(2). After conducting our independent review of the matter, we agree with the referee that, based on Attorney Buchanan’s failure to answer the complaint filed by the OLR, the OLR is entitled to a default judgment. We also agree with the referee that Attorney Buchanan’s professional misconduct warrants a 60–day suspension of his Wisconsin law license. Finally, we agree with the referee that Attorney Buchanan should be ordered to pay the full costs of the proceeding, as well as $335 in restitution.
Affirmed
Concur:
Dissent: