Title: Office of Lawyer Regulation v. Joseph J. Klein

State: wisconsin

Issuer: Wisconsin Supreme Court

Document:

2004 WI 7 
 
 
 
SUPREME COURT OF WISCONSIN 
 
 
 
 
CASE NO.: 
85-1734-D 
COMPLETE TITLE: 
 
 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings  
Against Joseph J. Klein, Attorney at Law: 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation, f/k/a Board  
of Attorneys Professional Responsibility,  
          Complainant, 
 
     v. 
 
Joseph J. Klein,  
          Respondent. 
 
 
 
 
REINSTATEMENT OF KLEIN 
 
 
OPINION FILED: 
February 2, 2004   
SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS: 
        
ORAL ARGUMENT: 
        
 
 
SOURCE OF APPEAL: 
 
 
COURT: 
        
 
COUNTY: 
        
 
JUDGE: 
        
 
 
 
JUSTICES: 
 
 
CONCURRED: 
        
 
DISSENTED: 
        
 
NOT PARTICIPATING:         
 
 
 
ATTORNEYS: 
 
      
 
 
2004 WI 7 
 
 
SUPREME COURT OF WISCONSIN 
 
 
 
NOTICE 
This order is subject to further 
editing and modification.  The 
final version will appear in the 
bound volume of the official 
reports.   
 
 
No.  85-1734-D  
 
 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings  
Against Joseph J. Klein, Attorney at Law: 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation, f/k/a Board  
of Attorneys Professional Responsibility,  
          Complainant, 
 
     v. 
 
Joseph J. Klein,  
          Respondent. 
 
FILED 
 
FEB 2, 2004 
 
Cornelia G. Clark 
Clerk of Supreme Court 
Madison, WI 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Court entered the following order on this date: 
 
The license to practice law of Joseph J. Klein was revoked 
pursuant to Disciplinary Proceedings Against Joseph J. Klein, 
135 Wis. 2d 342, 400 N.W.2d 459 (1986).  Klein petitioned for 
reinstatement on February 13, 2003.  A response opposing 
reinstatement was filed by the Office of Lawyer Regulation on 
May 29, 2003.  A response was filed by the Board of Bar 
Examiners on May 7, 2003 which did not oppose reinstatement 
pending Klein’s satisfaction of certain CLE requirements.   
 
Referee Cheryl Rosen Weston was thereafter appointed by the 
court, conducted proceedings on July 31, 2003 and August 19, 
2003, and filed her report to this court on September 26, 2003.  
Referee Weston recommended that Klein’s license be reinstated 
with costs but not until 90 days after the date of the order in 
order to emphasize to him the high standards of conduct that are 
expected of him as a member of the Bar.  She indicated some 
concern over Klein’s:  (1) use of the term “legal counsel” to 
describe his activities during brief employment at a title 
company in 1993; (2) belated payment of the costs from the 1986 
No. 85-1734-D   
 
2 
revocation; and, (3) possibly belated filing of his affidavit of 
compliance arising out of the revocation.  But Referee Weston 
concluded 
that 
none 
of 
these 
concerns 
justify 
denying 
reinstatement although a ten-day delay was necessary for Klein 
to contemplate the high expectations of conduct expected of him 
prior to resuming his former profession. 
 
The court is concerned about Klein’s past trust account 
misconduct and his continued financial problems during the 
period 
of 
revocation. 
 
It 
agrees 
with 
OLR’s 
initial 
recommendation that if he is reinstated he should submit 
quarterly trust account and any other escrow or fiduciary 
records to OLR for monitoring.  It further believes this should 
continue for a period of four years, and not just two years, 
after reinstatement.  Accordingly, the court does not follow the 
referee’s recommendation to the contrary. 
 
Upon the referee’s findings, report and recommendation, 
which the court accepts except as noted, 
 
IT IS ORDERED that the license to practice law of Joseph J. 
Klein be reinstated effective 90 days after the date of this 
order.   
 
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this reinstatement is subject to 
Klein’s compliance with the 2003-2004 CLE requirement by 
reporting an additional 30.0 approved hours, including 3.0 hours 
EPR; or by electing the exemption available at SCR 31.04(2) on 
the CLE Form 1 that will be due for the 2003-2004 reporting 
period. 
 
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Klein shall submit quarterly 
trust account and any other escrow and fiduciary records to OLR 
for a period of four years following the date of reinstatement.   
 
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Klein pay the costs of these 
proceedings in an amount of $4,331.85. 
 
 
 
Cornelia G. Clark 
Clerk of Supreme Court 
 
 
 
No. 85-1734-D   
 
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