Case Title: Office of Lawyer Regulation v. Hans K. Ribbens

Citation: 2004 WI 126

Docket Number: 2003AP001039-D

State: wisconsin

Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court

Date: 2004-10-19T00:00:00Z

Document:
2004 WI 126 
 
 
SUPREME COURT OF WISCONSIN 
 
 
 
 
 
CASE NO.: 
03-1039-D 
COMPLETE TITLE: 
 
 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings 
Against Hans K. Ribbens, Attorney at Law: 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation,  
          Complainant, 
 
     v. 
 
Hans K. Ribbens,  
          Respondent. 
 
 
 
 
DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST RIBBENS 
 
 
OPINION FILED: 
October 19, 2004   
SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS: 
        
ORAL ARGUMENT: 
        
 
 
SOURCE OF APPEAL: 
 
 
COURT: 
        
 
COUNTY: 
        
 
JUDGE: 
        
 
 
 
JUSTICES: 
 
 
CONCURRED: 
        
 
DISSENTED: 
        
 
NOT PARTICIPATING:         
 
 
 
ATTORNEYS: 
 
      
 
 
2004 WI 126 
 
 
SUPREME COURT OF WISCONSIN 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTICE 
This order is subject to further 
editing and modification.  The 
final version will appear in the 
bound volume of the official 
reports.   
 
 
 
No.  03-1039-D  
 
 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings 
Against Hans K. Ribbens, Attorney at Law: 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation,  
          Complainant, 
 
     v. 
 
Hans K. Ribbens,  
          Respondent. 
FILED 
 
OCT 19, 2004 
 
Cornelia G. Clark 
Clerk of Supreme Court 
Madison, WI 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Court entered the following order on this date: 
 
Pending before this court is a petition for consensual 
license revocation filed by Attorney Hans Karl Ribbens pursuant 
to SCR 22.19(1).  A referee’s report and recommendation 
advocating revocation is also before the court. Attorney Ribbens 
did not appeal that report and recommendation.  Attorney 
Ribbens’ license to practice law has been under suspension since 
June 11, 2002.   
 
By order dated May 14, 2004, this court asked the parties 
to respond to the question whether restitution was warranted in 
this matter.  The OLR filed a response on May 28, 2004, 
indicating that it had revised its position and now recommends 
this court order restitution, as follows:  to the Client 
Security Fund in the amount of $31,070.00; and to certain 
clients, as follows:  to B.J., in the amount of $600.00; to P.B. 
in the amount of $2,450.00; to K.W. in the amount of $450.00; 
and to C.W. in the amount of $225.00.  Attorney Ribbens did not 
file a response.   
No.03-1039-D    
 
2 
 
In view of the OLR’s revised recommendation, this court 
afforded Attorney Ribbens another opportunity to respond to this 
matter.  By order dated August 4, 2004, Attorney Ribbens was 
directed to show cause, in writing, why this court should not 
approve the OLR’s revised recommendations with respect to 
restitution and costs.  Attorney Ribbens did not file any 
response and we deem he has waived any objection to the OLR’s 
revised recommendations.  Therefore, 
 
IT IS ORDERED that the referee’s report and recommendation 
is adopted and the petition for consensual license revocation 
filed by Attorney Hans Karl Ribbens is granted; Attorney Hans 
Karl Ribbens’ license to practice law in Wisconsin is revoked 
effective the date of this order.   
 
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Attorney Hans Karl Ribbens 
comply with the provisions of SCR 22.26 concerning duties of a 
person whose license to practice law has been revoked. 
 
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within 60 days of the date of 
this order Attorney Hans Karl Ribbens pay to the OLR the costs 
of the proceeding.   
 
IT 
IS 
FURTHER 
ORDERED 
that 
the 
OLR’s 
revised 
recommendations with respect to restitution are adopted and 
Attorney Hans Karl Ribbens is directed to make restitution to 
the Client Security Fund and to the clients, as set forth 
herein, within 60 days of the date of this order. 
 
 
 
No.03-1039-D    
 
2