Case Title: Office of Lawyer Regulation v. Paul A. Henningsen

Citation: 2004 WI 119

Docket Number: 2004AP001133-D

State: wisconsin

Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court

Date: 2004-08-24T00:00:00Z

Document:
2004 WI 119 
 
 
 
SUPREME COURT OF WISCONSIN 
 
 
 
 
 
CASE NO.: 
04-1133-D 
COMPLETE TITLE: 
 
 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings 
Against Paul A. Henningsen, Attorney at Law: 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation,  
          Complainant, 
 
     v. 
 
Paul A. Henningsen,  
          Respondent. 
 
 
 
DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST HENNINGSEN 
 
 
OPINION FILED: 
August 24, 2004   
SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS: 
        
ORAL ARGUMENT: 
        
 
 
SOURCE OF APPEAL: 
 
 
COURT: 
        
 
COUNTY: 
        
 
JUDGE: 
        
 
 
 
JUSTICES: 
 
 
CONCURRED: 
        
 
DISSENTED: 
        
 
NOT PARTICIPATING:         
 
 
 
ATTORNEYS: 
 
      
 
 
2004 WI 119 
NOTICE 
This opinion is subject to further 
editing and modification.  The final 
version will appear in the bound 
volume of the official reports.   
No.  04-1133-D  
 
STATE OF WISCONSIN  
 
 
   : 
IN SUPREME COURT 
 
 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings 
Against Paul A. Henningsen, Attorney at  
Law: 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation,  
 
          Complainant, 
 
     v. 
 
Paul A. Henningsen,  
 
          Respondent. 
 
FILED 
 
AUG 24, 2004 
 
Cornelia G. Clark 
Clerk of Supreme Court 
 
 
 
 
 
ATTORNEY 
disciplinary 
proceeding.  Attorney's 
license 
suspended.   
 
¶1 
PER CURIAM.   We review the stipulation filed by 
Attorney Paul A. Henningsen and the Office of Lawyer Regulation 
(OLR) pursuant to SCR 22.121 concerning Attorney Henningsen's 
                                                 
1 SCR 22.12 provides:  Stipulation. 
(1)  The director may file with the complaint a 
stipulation of the director and the respondent to the 
facts, conclusions of law regarding misconduct, and 
discipline to be imposed. The supreme court may 
consider the complaint and stipulation without the 
appointment of a referee.  
No. 
04-1133-D   
 
2 
 
professional misconduct that resulted in his conviction in 
federal court for four counts of mail fraud, in violation of 
18 U.S.C. § 1341.  The parties stipulated that the appropriate 
discipline to impose for that professional misconduct is the 
suspension of Attorney Henningsen's license to practice law for 
two years, retroactive to the date on which his license to 
practice law was summarily suspended based on his criminal 
conviction. 
¶2 
We approve the stipulation and adopt the stipulated 
facts and conclusions of law.  We agree that the seriousness of 
Attorney Henningsen's misconduct warrants the suspension of his 
license to practice law.  We accept the parties' stipulation 
that a two-year suspension is appropriate discipline for this 
offense.  We further agree that it is appropriate to make the 
suspension retroactive to the date Attorney Henningsen's license 
was summarily suspended based on his criminal conviction.  
¶3 
Attorney Henningsen was admitted to practice law in 
Wisconsin in 1976.  In January 2003 he was indicted by a federal 
                                                                                                                                                             
(2)  If the supreme court approves a stipulation, 
it shall adopt the stipulated facts and conclusions of 
law and impose the stipulated discipline. 
(3)  If 
the 
supreme 
court 
rejects 
the 
stipulation, a referee shall be appointed and the 
matter shall proceed as a complaint filed without a 
stipulation. 
(4)  A stipulation rejected by the supreme court 
has no evidentiary value and is without prejudice to 
the respondent's defense of the proceeding or the 
prosecution of the complaint. 
No. 
04-1133-D   
 
3 
 
grand jury on one count of extortion and four counts of mail 
fraud.  In June 2003 a federal court jury acquitted him of the 
extortion charge but found him guilty on all four mail fraud 
counts.  He was sentenced to 33 months in prison, ordered to pay 
a $2500 fine and ordered to make restitution of $7370.  He is 
serving his sentence at a federal prison camp in South Dakota.  
On March 2, 2004, this court summarily suspended Attorney 
Henningsen's license based on his criminal convictions.   
¶4 
Attorney Henningsen and the OLR have stipulated that 
by engaging in conduct resulting in his conviction for four 
counts of mail fraud he committed criminal acts that reflect 
adversely on his honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer 
in other respects, in violation of SCR 20:8.4(b).2   
¶5 
We adopt the findings of fact and conclusions of law 
to which the parties have stipulated concerning Attorney 
Henningsen's professional misconduct.  We determine that the 
seriousness of the misconduct warrants the suspension of his 
license to practice law for two years.  
¶6 
IT IS ORDERED that the license of Paul A. Henningsen 
to practice law in Wisconsin is suspended for a period of two 
years, retroactive to March 2, 2004.  
¶7 
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, if he has not already done 
so, Attorney Henningsen comply with the provisions of SCR 22.26 
                                                 
2 SCR 20:8.4(b) provides: "Misconduct. It is professional 
misconduct for a lawyer to: (b) commit a criminal act that 
reflects adversely on the lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness or 
fitness as a lawyer in other respects." 
No. 
04-1133-D   
 
4 
 
concerning the duties of a person whose license to practice law 
in Wisconsin has been suspended.   
 
No. 
04-1133-D   
 
 
 
1