Case Title: Office of Lawyer Regulation v. D. V. P.

Citation: 

Docket Number: 2023AP000869-D

State: wisconsin

Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court

Date: 2023-08-25T00:00:00Z

Document:
2023 WI 63 
 
SUPREME COURT OF WISCONSIN 
 
 
 
 
 
CASE NO.: 
2023AP869-D 
 
 
 
COMPLETE TITLE: 
In the Matter of Medical Incapacity Proceedings 
Against David V. Penn, Attorney at Law: 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation, 
          Complainant, 
     v. 
David V. Penn, 
          Respondent. 
 
 
 
 
 
DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST PENN  
 
 
OPINION FILED: 
August 25, 2023   
SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS: 
        
ORAL ARGUMENT: 
        
 
 
SOURCE OF APPEAL: 
 
 
COURT: 
        
 
COUNTY: 
        
 
JUDGE: 
        
 
 
 
JUSTICES: 
 
Per curiam.  
  
 
 
 
ATTORNEYS: 
 
      
 
 
 
 
2023 WI 63
NOTICE 
This opinion is subject to further 
editing and modification.  The final 
version will appear in the bound 
volume of the official reports.   
No.  2023AP869-D 
 
 
STATE OF WISCONSIN  
 
 
   : 
IN SUPREME COURT 
 
 
In the Matter of Medical Incapacity Proceedings 
Against David V. Penn, Attorney at Law: 
 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation, 
 
          Complainant, 
 
     v. 
 
David V. Penn, 
 
          Respondent. 
 
FILED 
 
AUG 25, 2023 
 
Samuel A. Christensen 
Clerk of Supreme Court 
 
 
 
 
The Court entered the following order on this date:    
 
¶1 
Attorney David V. Penn was admitted to the practice of 
law in Wisconsin in 1986 and practices law in northern 
Wisconsin.  In 1996, this court suspended Attorney Penn's 
license to practice law for two years based on his drug use and 
multiple violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct for 
Attorneys while he was serving as the Vilas County District 
Attorney.  In re Disciplinary Proc. Against Penn, 201 Wis. 2d 
405, 407, 548 N.W.2d 526 (1996).  Attorney Penn's license to 
No. 
2023AP869-D   
 
2 
 
practice law was reinstated in 2002.  In re Disciplinary Proc. 
Against Penn, 2002 WI 5, 249 Wis. 2d 667, 638 N.W.2d 287.   
¶2 
On February 21, 2023, this court issued an order 
temporarily suspending Attorney Penn's license to practice law 
after concluding that his continued practice of law posed a 
threat to the interests of the public and the administration of 
justice under Supreme Court Rule (SCR) 22.21(1).1  See OLR v. 
Penn, 2023XX16-D (Feb. 21, 2023 Order, as amended Feb. 27, 
2023).   
¶3 
On May 17, 2023, the Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) 
filed a petition, pursuant to SCR 22.34,2 requesting that 
Attorney Penn be found to have a medical incapacity and that the 
court indefinitely suspend Attorney Penn's license to practice 
law in Wisconsin.  On July 19, 2023, before a referee was 
appointed, the OLR and Attorney Penn filed a stipulation 
pursuant to SCR 22.34(10).3  Both the OLR and Attorney Penn 
                                                 
1 SCR 22.21(1) provides: 
The supreme court, on its own motion, upon the motion 
of the director, or upon the motion of a special 
investigator acting under SCR 22.25, may suspend 
temporarily an attorney's license to practice law 
where 
it 
appears 
that 
the 
attorney's 
continued 
practice of law poses a threat to the interests of the 
public and the administration of justice. 
2 SCR 22.34 governs medical incapacity proceedings.  SCR 
22.001(8) defines "medical incapacity" as a "physical, mental, 
emotional, social or behavioral condition that is recognized by 
experts in medicine or psychology as a principal factor which 
substantially prevents a person from performing the duties of an 
attorney to acceptable professional standards."   
3 SCR 22.34(10) provides, in pertinent part: 
No. 
2023AP869-D   
 
3 
 
"jointly request the Court impose an indefinite suspension on 
Penn's license to practice law in Wisconsin."  Attorney Penn 
"stipulates to all of the facts alleged and set forth in the 
Petition . . . . [and] agrees that the Court may use the 
allegations of the Petition as an adequate factual basis in the 
record for a determination that he suffers from a medical 
incapacity."  The parties "agree that the appropriate remedy is 
an indefinite suspension of his Wisconsin law license."   
¶4 
The parties represent that the stipulation is not the 
result of plea bargaining and that "[i]t instead represents 
Penn's admission of a medical incapacity that substantially 
prevents him from performing the duties of an attorney to 
acceptable professional standards."  Attorney Penn further 
represents and verifies that he fully understands his right to 
contest the OLR's allegations of medical incapacity, to see and 
cross-examine witnesses called by the OLR, to call witnesses and 
present testimony and evidence on his own behalf, to require the 
OLR to prove its allegations by clear, satisfactory and 
convincing evidence, and to make arguments to the referee that 
the OLR has failed to meet its burden of proof.  Attorney Penn 
further avers that he understands the ramifications of his entry 
                                                                                                                                                             
The petition may be accompanied by a stipulation of 
the director and the respondent to a suspension or to 
the imposition of conditions on the respondent's 
practice of law.  The supreme court may consider the 
petition and stipulation without the appointment of a 
referee. 
 
If 
the 
supreme 
court 
approves 
the 
stipulation, it shall issue an order consistent with 
the stipulation. . . . 
 
No. 
2023AP869-D   
 
4 
 
into the stipulation, that he has the right to consult counsel, 
and that his entry into the stipulation is made knowingly and 
voluntarily.   
¶5 
Having reviewed the record in this matter, the court 
approves and adopts the parties' stipulation pursuant to SCR 
22.34(10).  The court finds that Attorney Penn currently suffers 
from a medical incapacity that substantially prevents him from 
performing the duties of an attorney to acceptable professional 
standards. 
¶6 
IT IS ORDERED that the petition is granted. 
¶7 
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Attorney David V. Penn's 
license to practice law is indefinitely suspended, effective the 
date of this order.  
¶8 
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that because this matter was 
resolved by stipulation without the need for appointment of a 
referee, 
no 
costs 
are 
imposed 
relating 
to 
this 
medical 
incapacity proceeding. 
¶9 
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, to the extent he has not 
already done so, Attorney David V. Penn shall comply with the 
provisions of SCR 22.26 concerning the duties of a person whose 
license to practice law in Wisconsin has been suspended. 
 
No. 
2023AP869-D   
 
 
 
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