Title: Office of Lawyer Regulation v. Michael H. Grady

State: wisconsin

Issuer: Wisconsin Supreme Court

Document:

2003 WI 144 
 
 
 
SUPREME COURT OF WISCONSIN 
 
 
 
 
 
CASE NO.: 
03-2159-D 
COMPLETE TITLE: 
 
 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings 
Against Michael H. Grady, Attorney at Law: 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation,  
          Complainant, 
     v. 
Michael H. Grady,  
          Respondent. 
 
 
 
 
DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST GRADY 
 
 
OPINION FILED: 
November 20, 2003   
SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS: 
        
ORAL ARGUMENT: 
        
 
 
SOURCE OF APPEAL: 
 
 
COURT: 
        
 
COUNTY: 
        
 
JUDGE: 
        
 
 
 
JUSTICES: 
 
 
CONCURRED: 
        
 
DISSENTED: 
        
 
NOT PARTICIPATING:         
 
 
 
ATTORNEYS: 
 
      
 
 
2003 WI 144 
NOTICE 
This opinion is subject to further 
editing and modification.  The final 
version will appear in the bound 
volume of the official reports.   
No.  03-2159-D  
 
STATE OF WISCONSIN  
 
 
   : 
IN SUPREME COURT 
 
 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings 
Against Michael H. Grady, Attorney at  
Law: 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation,  
 
          Complainant, 
 
     v. 
 
Michael H. Grady,  
 
          Respondent. 
 
FILED 
 
NOV 20, 2003 
 
Cornelia G. Clark 
Clerk of Supreme Court 
 
 
 
 
 
ATTORNEY 
disciplinary 
proceeding.  Attorney's 
license 
suspended.   
 
¶1 
PER CURIAM.   We review the stipulation filed by 
Attorney Michael H. Grady and the Office of Lawyer Regulation 
(OLR) pursuant to SCR 22.12,1 which sets forth findings of fact 
                                                 
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. 
03-2159-D   
 
2 
 
and conclusions of law regarding Attorney Grady's professional 
misconduct.  The parties stipulated to a 90-day suspension of 
Attorney Grady's license to practice law.  We accept the 
parties' stipulation and agree that a suspension of 90 days is 
appropriate discipline for Attorney Grady's misconduct.   
¶2 
Attorney Grady was admitted to practice in 1984.  He 
has no previous disciplinary history. 
¶3 
According to the OLR complaint filed in this matter, 
as well as the terms of the stipulation, on June 3, 1997, 
Attorney Grady's state bar membership was suspended for failure 
to comply with mandatory Continuing Legal Education (CLE) 
reporting requirements.  Despite this suspension he continued to 
engage in the practice of law. 
¶4 
On March 11, 1999, a complaint was filed in Milwaukee 
County Circuit Court, signed by Attorney Grady as "Attorney for 
the Plaintiff."  Counsel for the defense in that action learned 
that Attorney Grady's state bar membership was suspended and so 
advised the OLR.   
                                                                                                                                                             
(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. 
03-2159-D   
 
3 
 
¶5 
On May 21, 1999, the OLR sent a letter to Attorney 
Grady asking him to account "for all other law practice 
activities in which you have engaged since June 3, 1997."  
Attorney Grady responded to that inquiry.  He admitted filing 
the summons and complaint in the aforementioned case, but 
stated: 
Since approximately 12/95 I have focused my efforts in 
the field of Mortgage Banking and Brokering.  I was 
employed as a broker/loan originator/loan solicitor by 
Mortgage Concepts, Inc.  Since 6/3/97, and actually 
well before then I have not done anything law wise 
except to receive payment on fees and bills owed for 
work done prior to 6/3/97. 
In response to a follow-up inquiry from the OLR Attorney Grady 
indicated that he did not recall appearing, filing pleadings, 
having cases pending, serving as counsel of record, holding 
himself out as a lawyer, or handling any other legal matters 
since the date of his suspension.   
¶6 
However, Consolidated Court Automation Program (CCAP) 
records reflect that Attorney Grady's name appeared as counsel 
of record in 25 separate cases and that he entered appearances 
or filed pleadings in at least 20 matters during his suspension.  
Subsequently, Attorney Grady admitted that he acted as an 
attorney in some 15 of these matters. 
¶7 
On August 15, 2003, the OLR filed a complaint against 
Attorney Grady which charged that by continuing to represent 
clients, including appearing in court and filing pleadings while 
No. 
03-2159-D   
 
4 
 
his state bar membership was suspended, Attorney Grady violated 
SCR 31.10(1)2 and SCR 20:8.4(f).3 
¶8 
In addition, the complaint alleged that by informing 
the OLR staff that he could only recall one case in which he 
appeared or filed pleadings after his state bar membership was 
suspended, and that he could not recall any pending cases at the 
time 
of 
his 
suspension, 
when 
in 
fact, 
he 
had 
entered 
appearances, filed pleadings, and appeared in court in at least 
20 cases since his suspension, Attorney Grady engaged in conduct 
involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation, in 
violation of SCR 20:8.4(c).4 
                                                 
2 SCR 31.10(1) provides: 
(1) If 
a 
lawyer 
fails 
to 
comply 
with 
the 
attendance requirement of SCR 31.02, fails to comply 
with the reporting requirement of SCR 31.03(1), or 
fails to pay the late fee under SCR 31.03(2), the 
board shall serve a notice of noncompliance on the 
lawyer. This notice shall advise the lawyer that the 
state 
bar 
membership 
of 
the 
lawyer 
shall 
be 
automatically suspended for failing to file evidence 
of compliance or to pay the late fee within 60 days 
after service of the notice. The board shall certify 
the names of all lawyers so suspended under this rule 
to the clerk of the supreme court and to each judge of 
a court of record in this state. A lawyer shall not 
engage in the practice of law in Wisconsin while his 
or her state bar membership is suspended under this 
rule. 
3 SCR 20:8.4(f) provides: "It is professional misconduct for 
a lawyer to: (f) violate a statute, supreme court rule, supreme 
court order or supreme court decision regulating the conduct of 
lawyers." 
4 SCR 20:8.4(c) provides: "It is professional misconduct for 
a lawyer to: (c) engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, 
deceit or misrepresentation." 
No. 
03-2159-D   
 
5 
 
¶9 
On or about August 28, 2003, the OLR and Attorney 
Grady executed a stipulation pursuant to SCR 22.12.  In addition 
to stipulating to the facts as set forth above, the parties 
stipulated to discipline in the form of a 90-day suspension of 
Attorney Grady's license to practice law in Wisconsin. 
¶10 The stipulation provides that it is not the result of 
a plea bargain and reflects neither a reduction of the charges 
nor a reduction of the level of discipline originally sought by 
OLR.  The OLR is not seeking imposition of costs in this matter.  
The memorandum submitted 
by 
the 
OLR 
in 
support of the 
stipulation cites In re Disciplinary Proceedings Against Winter, 
196 Wis. 2d 686, 539 N.W.2d 451 (1995), a factually similar case 
in which a 90-day suspension was imposed. 
¶11 We approve the stipulation and adopt the stipulated 
facts and conclusions of law set forth therein.   We agree that 
Attorney Grady's misconduct warrants the suspension of his 
license to practice law, and we accept the parties' stipulation 
that a 90-day suspension is appropriate discipline in this 
matter.  Therefore, 
¶12 IT IS ORDERED that the license of Attorney Michael H. 
Grady to practice law in Wisconsin is suspended for a period of 
90 days, effective the date of this order. 
¶13 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Attorney Michael H. Grady 
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. 
03-2159-D   
 
 
 
1