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Wausau attorney denies allegations that he mishandled clients’ money

Wausau attorney denies allegations that he mishandled clients’ money

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A Wausau attorney is denying allegations that he mishandled client money.

Lawyer-regulators charged Jeffery Drach of Drach Elder Law Center in February with three counts of professional misconduct over his handling of the estate-planning affairs of a Marathon County Couple.

The Office of Lawyer Regulation alleged, among other things, that he had the couple sign flat-fee agreements but charged them an hourly rate, double-charged the couple and withdrew some fees from his trust account before he had earned them.

The OLR is asking the Wisconsin Supreme Court to publicly reprimand Drach, meaning that while there would be no suspension of Drach’s license, the court would make its final decision in his disciplinary case available to the public and mail it to Drach’s hometown newspaper.

The agency is also seeking $11,452.40 in restitution to be paid to the couple’s estate.

Drach is being represented by Dean Dietrich of Wausau-based Ruder Ware. Drach filed an answer to the complaint on March 16.

In the filing, Drach admitted to some of the facts in the complaint and denied others. He is asking that the OLR’s complaint be dismissed.

He also offered some affirmative defenses, including that all the fees charged had been reasonable and that the couple’s son, who was power of attorney for the husband, got monthly statements supporting all the fees charged during the representation.

The court has appointed Hon. Robert Kinney, a reserve judge, to be the referee in the case, and a two-day evidentiary hearing has been scheduled for July, according to court records.

Kinney will make recommendations concerning factual findings and discipline. The Wisconsin Supreme Court will review them and issue a final decision.

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