Case Title: Office of Lawyer Regulation v. Jon Evenson

Citation: 2015 WI 38

Docket Number: 2014AP002906-D

State: wisconsin

Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court

Date: 2015-04-16T00:00:00Z

Document:
2015 WI 38 
 
SUPREME COURT OF WISCONSIN 
 
 
 
 
 
CASE NO.: 
2014AP2906-D 
COMPLETE TITLE: 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings 
Against 
Jon Evenson, Attorney at Law: 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation, 
          Complainant, 
     v. 
Jon Evenson, 
          Respondent. 
 
 
 
DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST EVENSON 
 
 
OPINION FILED: 
April 16, 2015 
SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS: 
        
ORAL ARGUMENT: 
      
 
 
SOURCE OF APPEAL: 
 
 
COURT: 
      
 
COUNTY: 
      
 
JUDGE: 
      
 
 
 
JUSTICES: 
 
 
CONCURRED: 
      
 
DISSENTED: 
      
 
NOT PARTICIPATING:          
 
 
 
ATTORNEYS: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2015 WI 38
NOTICE 
This opinion is subject to further 
editing and modification.  The final 
version will appear in the bound 
volume of the official reports.   
No.   2014AP2906-D 
 
 
STATE OF WISCONSIN  
 
 
   : 
IN SUPREME COURT 
 
 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings 
Against Jon Evenson, Attorney at Law: 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation, 
 
          Complainant, 
 
     v. 
 
Jon Evenson, 
 
          Respondent. 
 
FILED 
 
APR 16, 2015 
 
Diane M. Fremgen 
Clerk of Supreme Court 
 
 
 
 
ATTORNEY 
disciplinary 
proceeding.  Attorney's 
license 
suspended.   
 
¶1 
PER CURIAM.   We review a stipulation filed pursuant 
to Supreme Court Rule (SCR) 22.121 by the Office of Lawyer 
                                                 
1 SCR 22.12 provides:  
(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, in which case the supreme 
court 
may 
approve 
the 
stipulation, 
reject 
the 
(continued) 
No. 
2014AP2906-D   
 
2 
 
Regulation (OLR) and Attorney Jon Evenson.  In the stipulation, 
Attorney Evenson agrees that, by engaging in conduct leading to 
a criminal conviction for one felony count of delivery of a 
controlled substance and two misdemeanor counts of fourth degree 
sexual assault, Attorney Evenson violated SCR 20:8.4(b),2 and 
that he engaged in offensive personality in violation of 
                                                                                                                                                             
stipulation, 
or 
direct 
the 
parties 
to 
consider 
specific modifications to the stipulation. 
(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 a stipulation, 
a referee shall be appointed and the matter shall 
proceed as a complaint filed without a stipulation. 
(3m)  If the supreme court directs the parties to 
consider specific modifications to the stipulation, 
the parties may, within 20 days of the date of the 
order, file a revised stipulation, in which case the 
supreme court may approve the revised stipulation, 
adopt the stipulated facts and conclusions of law, and 
impose the stipulated discipline. If the parties do 
not file a revised stipulation within 20 days of the 
date of the order, 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. 
2 SCR 20:8.4(b) provides that it is professional misconduct 
for a lawyer to "commit a criminal act that reflects adversely 
on the lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer 
in other respects."   
No. 
2014AP2906-D   
 
3 
 
SCR 40.15,3 enforceable via SCR 20:8.4(g).4  He also agrees that 
a 30-month suspension of his license to practice law in 
Wisconsin is appropriate discipline for his misconduct.  There 
is no request in this matter for a restitution award, nor is 
there a request for the imposition of costs against Attorney 
Evenson. 
¶2 
After careful review, we approve the stipulation and 
adopt the stipulated facts and conclusions regarding Attorney 
Evenson's two counts of misconduct as alleged in the OLR's 
complaint.  We agree that a 30-month suspension of Attorney 
Evenson's license to practice law is a proper sanction.  The OLR 
did not request and we do not impose restitution.  Finally, 
because 
Attorney 
Evenson 
entered 
into 
a 
comprehensive 
stipulation under SCR 22.12, thereby obviating the need for the 
appointment of a referee and a full disciplinary proceeding, we 
do not impose costs in this matter. 
¶3 
Attorney Evenson was admitted to the practice of law 
in Wisconsin in 2001.  In 2011, he received a consensual public 
reprimand for violating SCR 20:8.4(b) and SCR 21.15(5), based on 
his conviction for two misdemeanor counts of battery and one 
felony count of substantial battery with intent to cause bodily 
harm and for his subsequent failure to provide timely written 
                                                 
3 SCR 40.15 (Attorney's Oath) provides, in relevant part, 
that an attorney "will abstain from all offensive personality." 
4 SCR 20:8.4(g) provides that it is professional misconduct 
for a lawyer to "violate the attorney's oath." 
No. 
2014AP2906-D   
 
4 
 
notice of the convictions to the clerk of this court and to the 
OLR.  Public Reprimand of Jon Evenson, 2011-8.  On June 3, 2014, 
his license to practice law was suspended for failure to comply 
with 
mandatory 
continuing 
education 
requirements. 
 
On 
October 31, 2014, he was suspended for nonpayment of State Bar 
dues and failure to file a trust account certification.  His 
license remains suspended.   
¶4 
In the early morning hours of September 5, 2013, 
Attorney Evenson approached an obviously intoxicated 22-year-old 
woman, E.V., and her friend as they were getting into a cab 
outside a bar on State Street in Madison, Wisconsin.  E.V. 
agreed to leave with Attorney Evenson despite the cab driver's 
effort to dissuade her.  Attorney Evenson took E.V. to his 
downtown Madison law firm, where he provided her "Molly" 
(commonly known as "ecstasy") and alcohol.  They had sexual 
intercourse at the law office.  Attorney Evenson then drove the 
woman to his home where they had more alcohol and again engaged 
in sexual intercourse.  The next day, E.V. awoke bruised, unsure 
where she was, and had difficulty recalling what had happened.  
She notified the police.  
¶5 
Attorney Evenson was criminally charged and, pursuant 
to a plea arrangement, pled guilty to one count of delivery of a 
schedule I drug, contrary to Wis. Stat. §§ 961.41(1)(b) and 
939.50(3)(h) (Class H Felony), and two counts of fourth degree 
sexual assault, contrary to Wis. Stat. §§ 940.225(3m) and 
939.51(3)(a) (Class A Misdemeanors).  He was sentenced to six 
years on count one (three-year prison term, with three years of 
No. 
2014AP2906-D   
 
5 
 
extended supervision), and two consecutive nine-month jail terms 
on counts two and three.  His sentence was stayed and the court 
imposed 
a 
three-year 
term 
of 
probation 
with 
conditions, 
including nine months in jail with Huber privileges.  
¶6 
The 
OLR 
filed 
a 
disciplinary 
complaint 
against 
Attorney Evenson on December 17, 2014, alleging that:  
[Count One]  By engaging in acts leading to his 
convictions of one felony count of delivery of a 
controlled substance and two misdemeanor counts of 
fourth 
degree 
sexual 
assault, 
[Attorney] 
Evenson 
violated SCR 20:8.4(b).  
[Count Two]  By urging an obviously intoxicated 
woman 
to 
accompany 
him, 
by 
providing 
her 
with 
"Ecstasy" 
and 
additional 
alcohol, 
and 
sexually 
assaulting 
her, 
[Attorney] 
Evenson 
engaged 
in 
offensive personality in violation of SCR 40.15, the 
Attorney's Oath, enforceable via SCR 20:8.4(g).  
As noted above, Attorney Evenson has stipulated to the facts and 
misconduct as alleged in the OLR's complaint.  Attorney Evenson 
further stipulates that a 30-month suspension of his license to 
practice law in this state is an appropriate sanction for his 
misconduct. 
¶7 
The stipulation states that Attorney Evenson fully 
understands the misconduct allegations, his right to contest 
this 
matter, 
the 
ramifications 
of 
his 
entry 
into 
this 
stipulation, and his right to consult with counsel.  The 
stipulation further provides that Attorney Evenson entered into 
the stipulation knowingly and voluntarily. 
¶8 
The 
OLR 
filed 
a 
memorandum 
in 
support 
of 
the 
stipulation citing several cases in support of its request for a 
No. 
2014AP2906-D   
 
6 
 
30-month suspension.  The OLR noted in its memorandum that 
several aggravating factors were present in this case, including 
that Attorney Evenson's conduct involved the illicit use and 
delivery of a controlled substance; that he has been previously 
disciplined for assaultive conduct; and that his victim was much 
younger and intoxicated, rendering her vulnerable to his 
predatory advances.  In mitigation of his misconduct, the OLR 
noted that Attorney Evenson cooperated in the disciplinary 
matter and admits that he has a substance abuse issue.  
¶9 
After our independent review of the matter, we accept 
the stipulation and determine that the seriousness of Attorney 
Evenson's misconduct warrants a 30-month suspension of his 
license to practice law.  We note that we have previously 
imposed license suspensions of comparable length in cases where 
attorneys have been convicted of criminal offenses.  See In re 
Disciplinary Proceedings Against Calhoun, 196 Wis. 2d 665, 
538 N.W.2d 797 (1995) (three-year suspension for conduct that 
resulted in two convictions for possession and delivery of 
cocaine and for misrepresentations to the court).  We determine 
that a 30-month suspension of Attorney Evenson's license to 
practice law should suffice to protect the public, the courts, 
and the legal system from repetition of the misconduct, will 
impress upon Attorney Evenson the seriousness of his misconduct, 
and 
will 
deter 
other 
attorneys 
from 
committing 
similar 
misconduct. 
¶10 In light of the fact that Attorney Evenson entered 
into a comprehensive stipulation, thereby obviating the need for 
No. 
2014AP2906-D   
 
7 
 
the appointment of a referee and for additional litigation 
costs, we agree with the OLR's request that the costs of this 
disciplinary 
proceeding 
not 
be 
assessed 
against 
Attorney 
Evenson.  The OLR did not request and we do not impose 
restitution. 
¶11 IT IS ORDERED that the license of Jon Evenson to 
practice law in Wisconsin is suspended for a period of 30 
months, effective the date of this order. 
¶12 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, to the extent he has not 
already done so, Jon Evenson 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. 
2014AP2906-D   
 
 
 
1