Case Title: Board of Attorneys Professional Responsibility v. Robert K. Kuhnmuench

Citation: 

Docket Number: 2000AP000842-D

State: wisconsin

Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court

Date: 2000-04-13T00:00:00Z

Document:
2000 WI 32 
 
SUPREME COURT OF WISCONSIN 
 
 
Case No.: 
00-0842-D 
 
 
Complete Title 
of Case: 
 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings 
Against Robert K. Kuhnmuench, Attorney at Law. 
 
Board of Attorneys Professional  
Responsibility,  
 
Complainant, 
 
v. 
Robert K. Kuhnmuench,  
 
Respondent.  
 
 
DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST KUHNMUENCH 
 
 
Order Filed: 
April 12, 2000 
Submitted on Briefs: 
      
Oral Argument: 
      
 
 
Source of APPEAL 
 
COURT: 
      
 
COUNTY: 
      
 
JUDGE: 
      
 
 
JUSTICES: 
 
Concurred: 
      
 
Dissented: 
      
 
Not Participating:       
 
 
ATTORNEYS: 
      
 
2000 WI 32 
 
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT 
 
Order – April 12, 2000 
 
 
 
 
Case No. 00-0842-D 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings Against 
Robert K. Kuhnmuench, Attorney at Law 
 
 
You are hereby notified that the Court has entered the following order: 
 
 
Robert K. Kuhnmuench filed a petition seeking revocation by 
consent of his license to practice law in Wisconsin, 
pursuant 
SCR 
21.10(1). 
 
In 
that 
petition, 
Attorney 
Kuhnmuench acknowledged that he cannot successfully defend 
himself against professional misconduct allegations that he 
engaged in a scheme of filing false requests, purportedly 
on behalf of clients, for unclaimed funds being held by 
Milwaukee county, falsely represented himself as attorney 
for 68 persons entitled to such funds, and forged claim 
forms, retainer agreements and claimants' endorsements on 
checks issued by the county.  Attorney Kuhnmuench pleaded 
guilty to one count of felony theft by fraud of more than 
$66,000 and was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, which 
he currently is serving.  Attorney  Kuhnmuench made 
restitution to the county in that amount prior to being 
sentenced.   
The 
petitioner 
also 
acknowledged 
that 
he 
cannot 
successfully defend against allegations that he converted 
an additional $5500 from the county and $200 from a person 
entitled to funds in his trust account, commingled on a 
regular basis his personal funds with funds in his trust 
account and deposited trust funds in his business account, 
failed 
to 
label 
as 
"advertisement" 
numerous 
written 
communications he directed to a person whose funds were 
held by Milwaukee county and failed to file a copy of those 
communications with the Board of Attorneys Professional 
Responsibility 
(Board), 
persistently 
sent 
written 
communication involving coercion, duress or harassment to a 
person recommending his legal services after he was asked 
not to, made false statements to that person concerning the 
filing of a claim for funds being held by the county and 
filed a frivolous small claims action against the person, 
refused to file a notice of intent to pursue postconviction 
 
2 
relief despite a client's request that he do so, and failed 
to cooperate in the investigation into his conduct.   
The 
petition 
acknowledged 
that 
Attorney 
Kuhnmuench's 
misconduct violated the following provisions of the Rules 
of Professional Conduct for Attorneys:  SCR 20:8.4(b) and 
(c), 1.15(a), 7.3(b) and (d), 7.1(a)(1), 3.1(a)(1), 1.2(a), 
21.03(4), and 22.07(2) and (3). 
Attorney Kuhnmuench was admitted to practice in Wisconsin 
in 1978 and practiced in Milwaukee.  The Board filed a 
report March 23, 2000, recommending that the petition for 
revocation be granted. 
IT IS ORDERED that the petition is granted and the license 
of Robert K. Kuhnmuench to practice law in Wisconsin is 
revoked by consent, pursuant to SCR 21.10(1), effective the 
date of this order.  
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Robert K. Kuhnmuench comply with 
the provision s of SCR 22.26 concerning the duties of a 
person whose license to practice law in Wisconsin has been 
revoked.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cornelia G. Clark 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Clerk of Supreme Court