Title: In the Matter of Reciprocal Discipline of Julie L. Bruggeman, a Member of the Bar of State of North

State: north-dakota

Issuer: North Dakota Supreme Court

Document:

1 IN THE SUPREME COURT STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA 2024 ND 101 In the Matter of Reciprocal Discipline of Julie L. Bruggeman, a Member of the Bar of the State of North Dakota No. 20240111 Recommendation for Reciprocal Discipline. SUSPENSION ORDERED Per Curiam. [¶1] On April 4, 2024, the Disciplinary Board notified the Supreme Court under N.D.R. Lawyer Discpl. 4.4(D) that it was recommending the reciprocal discipline of Julie L. Bruggeman. The record reflects that the State of Minnesota filed an order suspending Bruggeman for indefinitely with no right to petition for reinstatement for 90 days for representing clients with a conflict of interest, providing incompetent representation and failing to properly serve defendants with the complaint, neglecting the matter, failing to communicate with clients, forging a client’s electronic signature on an affidavit and filing it with the court, making knowingly false statements to the clients, failing to timely withdraw from representation, failing to provide clients with a copy of the file upon termination of the representation, failing to inform the clients of costs they would be responsible for, and fabricating documents and making knowingly false statements to the Director during a disciplinary investigation. [¶2] Bruggeman was admitted to practice law in North Dakota on April 23, 2012, and was licensed until December 31, 2021. Bruggeman did not pay her license fee for 2022 and has not been licensed since then. [¶3] Disciplinary Counsel attempted to serve notice to Bruggeman that under N.D.R. 2 Lawyer Discipl. 4.4(B) a certified copy of the order of the Minnesota Supreme Court was received. The notice informed Bruggeman that she had 30 days to file any claim that imposition of the identical discipline in North Dakota would be unwarranted and the reasons for the claim. The certified mailing was returned. Assistant Disciplinary Counsel filed an affidavit outlining unsuccessful efforts to serve Bruggeman in this disciplinary matter. Therefore, service in this matter was made on the Clerk of the Supreme Court under Admission to Practice R. 1. Bruggeman failed to respond. On April 4, 2024, the Disciplinary Board filed its recommendation that Bruggeman be disbarred. [¶4] The Court considered the matter, and [¶5] ORDERED that Julie L. Bruggeman is SUSPENDED from the practice of law in North Dakota for six months and one day, effective upon entry of judgment in this matter. [¶6] IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that Bruggeman must comply with N.D.R. Lawyer Discipl. 6.3 regarding notice. [¶7] IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that reinstatement is governed by N.D.R. Lawyer Discipl. 4.5. [¶8] Jon J. Jensen, C.J. Daniel J. Crothers Lisa Fair McEvers Jerod E. Tufte Douglas A. Bahr