By: Derek Hawkins//January 15, 2020//
WI Supreme Court
Case Name: Office of Lawyer Regulation v. Beth M. Bant
Case No.: 2019 WI 107
Focus: Attorney Disciplinary Hearing
Attorney Beth M. Bant appeals the report of Robert E. Kinney, referee, recommending that this court suspend her Wisconsin law license for six months, impose the full costs of this proceeding, and order her to undergo a psychological evaluation for consideration at any future reinstatement proceeding. The referee determined that Attorney Bant committed the two counts of misconduct that the Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) complaint alleged and to which she eventually stipulated: engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation, in violation of Supreme Court Rule (SCR) 20:8.4(c), and violating a standard of conduct set forth in one of this court’s decisions, in violation of SCR 20:8.4(f).
After fully reviewing this matter, we reject all but one of Attorney Bant’s arguments on appeal. We accept the referee’s findings of fact (with one minor exception, noted below), and we agree that those facts establish that Attorney Bant committed the two misconduct counts brought by the OLR. We further agree with the referee that those violations require the imposition of a six month suspension. We also determine that Attorney Bant should be required to pay the full costs of this proceeding, which total $10,177.91 as of July 11, 2019. We do not, however, accept the referee’s recommendation that Attorney Bant undergo a psychological evaluation at this time.
Licensed suspended
Concur:
Dissent: