Attorney Disciplinary Hearing

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WI Supreme Court

Case Name: Office of Lawyer Regulation v. Thomas R. Napierala

Case No.: 2018 WI 101

Focus: Attorney Disciplinary Hearing

We review the report filed by Referee Kim M. Peterson, adopting a stipulation between the Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) and Attorney Thomas R. Napierala. The referee agreed that Attorney Napierala committed three counts of misconduct, as alleged in the OLR’s complaint. The referee further agreed with the parties that a public reprimand is an appropriate level of discipline for Attorney Napierala’s misconduct, that Attorney Napierala should be ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $15,021.66 to a former client, T.A, and should be assessed the full costs of the proceeding, which are $1,677.53 as of August 14, 2018.

After careful review of the matter, we conclude that the referee’s findings of fact are supported by clear, satisfactory, and convincing evidence. We adopt the referee’s conclusions of law. We agree that the appropriate discipline for Attorney Napierala’s misconduct is a public reprimand, and we agree that Attorney Napierala should pay restitution to T.A., and bear the full costs of this proceeding.

Affirmed

Concur:

Dissent:

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Attorney Derek A. Hawkins is the managing partner 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.