Title: Office of Lawyer Regulation v. Peter J. Kovac

State: wisconsin

Issuer: Wisconsin Supreme Court

Document:

2020 WI 47 
 
SUPREME COURT OF WISCONSIN 
 
 
 
 
 
CASE NO.: 
2016AP2522-D 
 
 
 
COMPLETE TITLE: 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings 
Against Peter J. Kovac, Attorney at Law: 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation, 
          Complainant-Respondent, 
     v. 
Peter J. Kovac, 
          Respondent-Appellant. 
 
 
 
 
 
DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST KOVAC 
 
 
OPINION FILED: 
May 27, 2020   
SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS: 
        
ORAL ARGUMENT: 
        
 
 
SOURCE OF APPEAL: 
 
 
COURT: 
        
 
COUNTY: 
        
 
JUDGE: 
        
 
 
 
JUSTICES: 
 
Per Curiam 
NOT PARTICIPATING: 
REBECCA FRANK DALLET, J.   
 
 
 
ATTORNEYS: 
 
For the respondent-appellant, there was a brief filed by Peter 
J. Kovac, Milwaukee, WI.  
 
For the complainant-respondent, there was a brief filed by 
John T. Payette and The Office of Lawyer Regulation, Madison, WI. 
 
 
 
 
2020 WI 47
NOTICE 
This opinion is subject to further 
editing and modification.  The final 
version will appear in the bound 
volume of the official reports.   
No.   2016AP2522-D 
 
 
STATE OF WISCONSIN  
 
 
   : 
IN SUPREME COURT 
 
 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings 
Against Peter J. Kovac, Attorney at Law: 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation, 
 
          Complainant-Respondent, 
 
     v. 
 
Peter J. Kovac, 
 
          Respondent-Appellant. 
FILED 
 
MAY 27, 2020 
 
Sheila T. Reiff 
Clerk of Supreme Court 
 
 
 
 
ATTORNEY 
disciplinary 
proceeding.   Attorney's 
license 
suspended.   
 
¶1 
PER CURIAM.   Attorney Peter J. Kovac has appealed 
Referee Richard M. Esenberg's recommendation that his license to 
practice law in Wisconsin be suspended for five months for seven 
counts of professional misconduct.  The referee also recommended 
that Attorney Kovac pay the full costs of this proceeding, which 
are $7,401.87 as of December 11, 2019. 
¶2 
Upon careful review of the matter, we agree with the 
referee that Attorney Kovac's professional misconduct warrants a 
five-month suspension of his license to practice law in Wisconsin.  
No. 
2016AP2522-D   
 
2 
 
We also agree that Attorney Kovac should bear the full costs of 
this proceeding.  The OLR did not request restitution, and no 
restitution is ordered. 
¶3 
Attorney Kovac was admitted to practice law in Wisconsin 
in 1973 and practices in Milwaukee.  He has been the subject of 
professional discipline on three prior occasions.  In 2008, he 
agreed to a consensual public reprimand for failure to competently 
represent a criminal appellate client; failure to diligently 
represent three criminal clients; failure to communicate with 
clients; failure to communicate with clients about their appeals' 
status; continuing to represent a client after a conflict of 
interest arose; and failing to cooperate with the Office of Lawyer 
Regulation (OLR) concerning three of the investigations.  Public 
Reprimand of Peter J. Kovac, No. 2008-05 (electronic copy available 
at https://compendium.wicourts.gov/app/raw/002031.html). 
¶4 
In 2012, Attorney Kovac was publicly reprimanded for 
failure to timely respond to a notice of formal investigation from 
the OLR.  See In re Disciplinary Proceedings Against Kovac, 2012 
WI 117, 344 Wis. 2d 522, 823 N.W.2d 371.   
¶5 
In 2016, Attorney Kovac's law license was suspended for 
90 days for failing to have a written fee agreement; failing upon 
termination of representation to promptly turn over a client file 
to successor counsel; failure to file a notice of intent to pursue 
post-conviction relief; failure to respond to multiple orders from 
the court of appeals; and failing to provide a timely initial 
response to a grievance and failing to timely respond to the OLR's 
request for a supplemental response to the grievance.  See In re 
No. 
2016AP2522-D   
 
3 
 
Disciplinary 
Proceedings 
Against 
Kovac, 
2016 
WI 
62, 
370 
Wis. 2d 388, 881 N.W.2d 44. 
¶6 
On December 29, 2016, the OLR filed a complaint against 
Attorney Kovac alleging seven counts of misconduct with respect to 
three client matters.  The complaint also alleged that Attorney 
Kovac failed to cooperate with the OLR's investigation into one 
grievance. 
¶7 
The first client matter detailed in the OLR's complaint 
involved Attorney Kovac's representation of M.M., who hired 
Attorney Kovac to represent him to pursue post-conviction relief.  
M.M. was convicted of two felony counts and sentenced in June 2014.  
On July 3, 2014, Attorney Kovac filed a notice of intent to pursue 
post-conviction relief on M.M.'s behalf and represented him during 
the late summer and early fall of 2014.   
¶8 
After September 2014, Attorney Kovac failed to pursue 
post-conviction relief on M.M.'s behalf, failed to respond to his 
inquiries as to the status of his appeal, and the time to appeal 
expired. 
¶9 
M.M. requested an extension of time to pursue post-
conviction relief. 
¶10 On April 24, 2015, the State Public Defender's office 
appointed Attorney Angela Kachelski as M.M.'s appellate counsel.  
Between July 31, 2015 and November 2015, Attorney Kachelski made 
numerous telephone calls and written attempts to contact Attorney 
Kovac to obtain M.M.'s file, but Attorney Kovac failed to respond.  
M.M. personally sent letters to Attorney Kovac requesting that his 
No. 
2016AP2522-D   
 
4 
 
file be turned over to Attorney Kachelski, but Attorney Kovac 
failed to respond. 
¶11 In August 2015 and October 2015, Attorney Kachelski 
filed motions to extend time to file notice of appeal or post-
conviction motions with the court of appeals.  That court extended 
the deadline for M.M. to file a post-conviction motion or a notice 
of appeal to December 11, 2015. 
¶12 On November 24, 2015, Attorney Kachelski received a 
message from Attorney Kovac saying he would get the file materials 
to her "this week."  Attorney Kovac failed to turn over the file. 
¶13 On November 30, 2015, Attorney Kachelski left Attorney 
Kovac a voicemail message saying she could pick up the file from 
him any time or any place.  Attorney Kovac failed to respond. 
¶14 On December 2, 2015, Attorney Kachelski called Attorney 
Kovac, but his voicemail box was full and no longer accepting 
messages. 
¶15 Attorney Kachelski filed four more notices of motion to 
extend time to file a notice of appeal or post-conviction motion 
with the court of appeals between December 2015 and June 2016.  
During that time period, Attorney Kachelski made numerous attempts 
to obtain the file from Attorney Kovac, but Attorney Kovac failed 
to turn over the file. 
¶16 Attorney Kachelski filed a grievance with the OLR 
against Attorney Kovac.  On November 20, 2015 and January 6, 2016, 
the OLR provided Attorney Kovac with notice of the grievance and 
requested a response.  Attorney Kovac failed to respond.   
No. 
2016AP2522-D   
 
5 
 
¶17 On March 9, 2016, the OLR filed a notice of motion and 
motion requesting an order to show cause as to why Attorney Kovac's 
license should not be suspended for willful failure to cooperate 
with the OLR's investigation of the grievance.  This court issued 
an order to show cause on March 10, 2016 requiring Attorney Kovac 
to show in writing within 20 days why the OLR's motion should not 
be granted.  On April 25, 2016, Attorney Kovac provided the OLR 
with an initial response to the grievance so the OLR withdrew its 
motion.  In that response, Attorney Kovac said he would get the 
file to Attorney Kachelski, but he failed to do so. 
¶18 The OLR's complaint alleged the following counts of 
misconduct with respect to Attorney Kovac's representation of 
M.M.: 
Count 1:  Upon termination of representation, in failing 
to deliver his file to successor counsel, despite 
repeated requests that he do so, Attorney Kovac violated 
SCR 20:1.16(d).1 
Count 2:  By failing to provide the OLR with a timely 
written response to the grievance in the M.M. matter, 
                                                 
1 SCR 20:1.16(d) provides:   
Upon termination of representation, a lawyer shall 
take steps to the extent reasonably practicable to 
protect a client's interests, such as giving reasonable 
notice to the client, allowing time for employment of 
other counsel, surrendering papers and property to which 
the client is entitled and refunding any advance payment 
of fee or expense that has not been earned or incurred.  
The lawyer may retain papers relating to the client to 
the extent permitted by other law.  
No. 
2016AP2522-D   
 
6 
 
Attorney Kovac violated 22.03(2)2 and SCR 22.03(6),3 
enforceable via SCR 20:8.4(h).4 
¶19 The second client matter detailed in the OLR's complaint 
arose out of Attorney Kovac's representation of E.B., who hired 
Attorney Kovac to represent him on sexual assault charges.  In 
January 2010, E.B. was sentenced to 20 years in prison.  He paid 
Attorney Kovac $5,000 to represent him in an appeal. 
¶20 On February 12, 2012, Attorney Kovac filed a notice of 
intent to pursue post-conviction relief for sentence reduction.  
Attorney Kovac failed to file a motion in circuit court or an 
appeal relating to post-conviction relief for sentence reduction. 
                                                 
2 SCR 22.03(2) provides: 
Upon commencing an investigation, the director 
shall notify the respondent of the matter being 
investigated unless in the opinion of the director the 
investigation of the matter requires otherwise.  The 
respondent shall fully and fairly disclose all facts and 
circumstances pertaining to the alleged misconduct 
within 20 days after being served by ordinary mail a 
request for a written response.  The director may allow 
additional time to respond.  Following receipt of the 
response, the director may conduct further investigation 
and may compel the respondent to answer questions, 
furnish documents, and present any information deemed 
relevant to the investigation. 
3 SCR 22.03(6) provides:  "In the course of the investigation, 
the respondent's wilful failure to provide relevant information, 
to answer questions fully, or to furnish documents and the 
respondent's misrepresentation in a disclosure are misconduct, 
regardless of the merits of the matters asserted in the grievance." 
4 SCR 20:8.4(h) provides: "It is professional misconduct for 
a lawyer to fail to cooperate in the investigation of a grievance 
filed with the office of lawyer regulation as required by SCR 
21.15(4), SCR 22.001(9)(b), SCR 22.03(2), SCR 22.03(6), or SCR 
22.04(1)."  
No. 
2016AP2522-D   
 
7 
 
¶21 E.B. filed a grievance against Attorney Kovac.  In 
letters of September 1, 2015 and October 14, 2015, the OLR provided 
Attorney Kovac with a notice of the grievance and requested a 
response.  Attorney Kovac failed to respond. 
¶22 In January 2016, the OLR filed a notice of motion and 
motion requesting an order to show cause as to why Attorney Kovac's 
license should not be suspended for willful failure to cooperate 
with the OLR's investigation of the grievance.  This court issued 
an order to show cause and subsequently granted Attorney Kovac an 
extension of time to file his response.  In February 2016, Attorney 
Kovac provided the OLR with an initial response to the E.B. 
grievance so the OLR withdrew its motion.  In July 2016, the OLR 
requested additional information from Attorney Kovac in the E.B. 
matter, but Attorney Kovac failed to respond. 
¶23 The OLR's complaint alleged the following counts of 
misconduct with respect to Attorney Kovac's handling of the E.B. 
matter: 
Count 3:  After filing a notice of intent to pursue post-
conviction relief, by thereafter failing to pursue post-
conviction relief in circuit court or an appeal, 
Attorney Kovac violated SCR 20:1.3.5 
Count 4:  By failing to provide the OLR with timely 
written responses to the grievance, Attorney Kovac 
violated SCR 22.03(2) and SCR 22.03(6), enforceable via 
SCR 20:8.4(h). 
¶24 The third client matter detailed in the OLR's complaint 
arose out of Attorney Kovac's representation of R.M.  From April 
                                                 
5 SCR 20:1.3 provides:  "A lawyer shall act with reasonable 
diligence and promptness in representing a client." 
No. 
2016AP2522-D   
 
8 
 
2010 until January 2012, Attorney Kovac represented R.M. in a 
criminal matter.  In December 2011, R.M. was convicted of felony 
murder and sentenced to life in prison. 
¶25 Attorney Steven Zaleski represented R.M. in the appeal 
of the conviction.  In September 2013, the court of appeals 
reversed and remanded the case to the circuit court.  R.M. hired 
Attorney Kovac to represent him at the new trial.  Attorney Kovac 
came into possession of transcripts obtained by Attorney Zaleski 
during the first appeal. 
¶26 On remand, R.M. entered a plea and was sentenced to 25 
years in prison in September of 2014.  Attorney Zaleski represented 
R.M. during his second appeal.  R.M. and his mother contacted 
Attorney Kovac in writing and by telephone to request the 
transcripts from the first appeal, but Attorney Kovac failed to 
respond. 
¶27 R.M. filed a grievance against Attorney Kovac.  In 
February 17, 2016 and April 12, 2016, the OLR sent letters to 
Attorney Kovac with notice of the grievance and requested a 
response.  In an April 22, 2016 response, Attorney Kovac told the 
OLR he would forward the transcripts to R.M., but he failed to do 
so.   
¶28 In letters to the OLR dated May 3, May 9, June 6, and 
June 30, 2016, R.M. informed the OLR he had not received the 
transcripts. 
¶29 In a July 1, 2016 letter, the OLR requested that Attorney 
Kovac inform the OLR whether he had sent the transcripts to R.M. 
and the date on which he sent them.  Attorney Kovac failed to 
No. 
2016AP2522-D   
 
9 
 
respond.  To date, Attorney Kovac has failed to provide the 
transcripts to R.M. 
¶30 The OLR's complaint alleged the following count of 
misconduct with respect to Attorney Kovac's handling of the R.M. 
matter: 
Count 5:  Upon termination of representation, in failing 
to deliver the trial transcripts to R.M., Attorney Kovac 
violated SCR 20:1.16(d). 
¶31 The final two counts detailed in the OLR's complaint 
involved 
Attorney 
Kovac's 
failure 
to 
cooperate 
in 
the 
investigation of a grievance filed by V.Y.  V.Y. had signed a fee 
agreement in December 2014 whereby Attorney Kovac was to represent 
him in three criminal matters. 
¶32 V.Y. filed a grievance against Attorney Kovac in 
February of 2015.  In May 20 and July 1, 2015 letters, the OLR 
provided Attorney Kovac with notice of the investigation and 
requested a response.  Attorney Kovac failed to respond. 
¶33 On July 30, 2015, the OLR filed a notice of motion and 
motion requesting an order to show cause as to why Attorney Kovac's 
license should be not suspended for willful failure to cooperate 
with the OLR's investigation of the V.Y. grievance.  This court 
issued an order to show cause.  In August 2015, Attorney Kovac 
submitted an initial response, and the OLR withdrew its motion. 
¶34 In a February 3, 2016 letter, the OLR requested Attorney 
Kovac to advise when he had turned over V.Y.'s files to successor 
counsel.  Attorney Kovac failed to respond. 
No. 
2016AP2522-D   
 
10 
 
¶35 In March 2016, the OLR filed a second notice of motion 
and motion requesting an order to show cause as to why Attorney 
Kovac's license should not be suspended for his willful failure to 
cooperate with investigation of the grievance.  This court issued 
an order to show cause.  In April 2016, Attorney Kovac submitted 
a supplemental written response and the OLR withdrew its motion. 
¶36 The OLR's complaint alleged the following counts of 
misconduct with respect to Attorney Kovac's failure to respond to 
V.Y.'s grievance: 
Count 6:  By failing to provide the OLR with a timely 
written response to the grievance, Attorney Kovac 
violated SCR 22.03(2) and SCR 22.03(6), enforceable via 
SCR 20:8.4(h). 
Count 7:  By failing to provide a timely written response 
to the OLR's February 3, 2016 request for additional 
information relating to the investigation, Attorney 
Kovac violated SCR 22.03(6), enforceable via SCR 
20:8.4(h). 
¶37 A referee was appointed on February 1, 2017.  The OLR 
filed a timely motion for substitution of the referee, which was 
granted.  Referee Esenberg was appointed on April 3, 2017.  By the 
time Referee Esenberg was appointed, the OLR had filed a motion 
for default judgment because Attorney Kovac had failed to file an 
answer to the complaint.  Referee Esenberg issued an order giving 
Attorney Kovac until May 26, 2017 to file an answer.  Attorney 
Kovac did file an answer on May 24, 2017.  The answer admitted 
most of the allegations in the complaint and offered various 
mitigating circumstances. 
No. 
2016AP2522-D   
 
11 
 
¶38 In August 2017, the OLR moved for judgment on the 
pleadings or, in the alternative, for summary judgment.  Referee 
Esenberg established a briefing schedule which required Attorney 
Kovac to file a response by September 18, 2017.  He failed to do 
so. 
¶39 On November 14, 2017, Referee Esenberg issued an interim 
report finding that the OLR had met its burden of proof with 
respect to all of the counts in the complaint with the exception 
of Count 3.  
¶40 In June 2018, the referee entered an order setting a 
scheduling conference.  The referee advised Attorney Kovac that if 
his health precluded his participating in the proceeding, a proper 
avenue for relief might be SCR 22.16(4).6  At a July 5, 2018 
scheduling conference, Attorney Kovac agreed he would provide a 
statement by July 16, 2018 on whether he continued to dispute the 
allegations of Count 3.  He also agreed to provide written 
statements from any witnesses he intended to call with respect to 
mitigation or sanctions by September 4, 2018.  Attorney Kovac 
failed to comply with that order. 
                                                 
6 SCR 22.16(4) provides: 
(a) If in the course of the proceeding the 
respondent claims to have a medical incapacity that 
makes the defense of the proceeding impossible, the 
referee shall conduct a hearing and make findings 
concerning whether a medical incapacity makes defense of 
the proceeding impossible. The referee may order the 
examination of the respondent by qualified medical or 
psychological experts. 
No. 
2016AP2522-D   
 
12 
 
¶41 In October 2018, the OLR filed a notice of motion and 
motion for default judgment as to Count 3.  The referee directed 
Attorney Kovac to respond no later than October 22, 2018 and again 
asked if he intended to contest Count 3 on the merits.   
¶42 On October 23, 2018, Attorney Kovac hand delivered a 
letter to the referee apologizing for failing to comply with the 
scheduling order and admitting that his failure to do so had been 
disrespectful and frustrated the process.  Attorney Kovac stated 
he did not wish to bear the expense of an evidentiary hearing and 
hoped that the referee's consideration of Count 3 would be limited 
to the complaint and statements of "V.Y.'s successor counsel."  
Attorney Kovac apparently was confused with respect to which client 
was the subject of Count 3.  
¶43 On November 7, 2018, Referee Esenberg issued a second 
interim report.  In the report the referee said that Attorney Kovac 
failed to clearly indicate whether he intended to contest Count 3, 
so Count 3 would be addressed at an evidentiary hearing.  The 
hearing was held on November 12, 2018.  The referee issued his 
final report on July 23, 2019.  In that report the referee found 
that Attorney Kovac did commit the misconduct alleged in Count 3 
of the OLR's complaint.   
¶44 As to the appropriate discipline for the seven counts of 
misconduct, the referee concluded that the five-month suspension 
requested by the OLR was appropriate.  The referee said that 
Attorney Kovac's conduct showed either a disregard for, or an 
inability to comply with, his obligations to his clients.  The 
referee said Attorney Kovac was "astonishingly cavalier" about his 
No. 
2016AP2522-D   
 
13 
 
obligations to cooperate with the OLR; he was dilatory in pursing 
post-conviction relief on behalf of M.M. and E.B.; and he did not 
cooperate with successor counsel in the R.M. case. 
¶45 The referee noted that this is Attorney Kovac's fourth 
disciplinary matter; all have come in the last ten years; and the 
prior matters involved allegations of inattention, neglect, and 
failure to cooperate with the OLR. 
¶46 The referee said Attorney Kovac concedes that he has a 
problem with organization and procrastination but believes that he 
should not be sanctioned but rather should be helped.  Attorney 
Kovac says someone should be "provided" to help him out.  The 
referee said: 
I have no doubt that there are many brilliant and capable 
attorneys who need someone to keep them on track.  But 
it is not the obligation of this Court, OLR or the public 
to provide that assistance.  If Attorney Kovac needed 
help with organization, it was his obligation to get it. 
¶47 The referee also noted that Attorney Kovac pointed to 
various health issues, most notably a serious problem with diabetes 
that has significantly improved.  The referee said again that an 
attorney whose health is impaired has an obligation to seek 
whatever assistance is required or to limit his or her activities 
so as to protect the public. 
¶48 In recommending a five-month suspension, the referee 
said he was mindful that Attorney Kovac will not need a 
reinstatement hearing to regain his license and this will give him 
a chance to return to practice without undue delay while still 
retaining a measure of progressive discipline. 
No. 
2016AP2522-D   
 
14 
 
¶49 Attorney Kovac has appealed.  Although his brief does 
not identify any specific issues, he asserts that a five-month 
suspension is an unduly harsh sanction.  He points out that he has 
never been accused of misappropriating funds, dishonesty, trust 
account violations, or criminal or immoral conduct.  He says most 
of the complaints against him have been for being dilatory in post-
conviction matters and not timely cooperating with the OLR.  He 
argues that while his clients may have had their appeals delayed, 
their appellate rights "were eventually honored." 
¶50 Attorney Kovac says that his multiple health issues 
contributed to his dilatory conduct.  He says he has now made 
substantial changes in his lifestyle and has overcome many of his 
health problems.  He says he does not dispute that he has 
rightfully been found to have violated Supreme Court Rules, nor 
does he claim the rules he did violate are inconsequential.  He 
says he recognizes that he has a serious procrastination problem, 
and he hopes that this court will require that, in order for him 
to keep his law license, he be required to have the assistance of 
a lawyer monitor to ensure that he keeps current on all time 
deadlines for his legal work. 
¶51 Attorney Kovac says the OLR uncompromisingly takes the 
position that sanctions must be increased with each new complaint 
it files against a lawyer.  He says that rationale should not apply 
in cases such as this one where the alleged misconduct occurred 
before the previous sanction was imposed because in such situations 
the lawyer will not have had the necessary prior notice.  He says 
in this case the misconduct involving clients occurred before his 
No. 
2016AP2522-D   
 
15 
 
90-day suspension was imposed in 2016.  He does say, "this argument 
is admittedly weakened by the fact that some of the dilatory 
conduct during the investigation by the Office of Lawyer Regulation 
did occur after the effective date of the previous sanction."  
Attorney Kovac does not suggest the sanction he believes would be 
appropriate. 
¶52 The OLR asserts that the referee's recommended five-
month suspension is the appropriate sanction for Attorney Kovac's 
seven counts of misconduct.  It notes that Attorney Kovac does not 
dispute that he committed the misconduct alleged in the OLR's 
complaint.  The OLR says alleged health concerns do not mitigate 
the misconduct or weigh in favor of a lesser sanction.  The OLR 
points out that, as the referee observed, despite claiming that 
his health concerns had resolved, Attorney Kovac continued his 
pattern of dilatory behavior in his defense of this disciplinary 
proceeding and that continued conduct undermined any argument that 
improved health had put him on the straight and narrow path.   
¶53 The OLR goes on to say that there is no evidence that 
Attorney Kovac's purposed health concerns caused any of the 
misconduct.  It notes the only evidence regarding health concerns 
comes from Attorney Kovac's own self-serving discussion of his 
alleged condition.  It notes this court has expressly held that a 
party's own say-so is not enough to support mitigation of the 
sanction in attorney disciplinary cases.  See In re Disciplinary 
Proceedings Against Alfredson, 2019 WI 17, ¶32, 385 Wis. 2d 565, 
923 N.W.2d 869.  The OLR says since Attorney Kovac presented no 
reliable independent evidence to support a causal link between his 
No. 
2016AP2522-D   
 
16 
 
health concerns and his misconduct, his alleged medical condition 
would not mitigate the sanction in this case even if his recent 
conduct showed improved diligence and cooperation, which it does 
not. 
¶54 The OLR says the referee properly invoked this court's 
longstanding practice of progressive discipline when recommending 
a five-month suspension.  The OLR notes that the referee 
acknowledged Attorney Kovac's argument that his misconduct in this 
case pre-dated the 2016 suspension, but the referee correctly 
observed that Attorney Kovac's argument would have more force were 
it not for the ongoing failure to cooperate with the OLR and his 
lack of diligence in this case. 
¶55 The OLR says the misconduct at issue here is serious and 
extensive.  It says because prior public reprimands and a shorter 
license suspension have failed to impress upon Attorney Kovac the 
seriousness of his misconduct, a longer suspension is necessary to 
protect the public, the courts, and the legal system from his 
continued repetition of that misconduct.   
¶56 A referee's findings of fact are affirmed unless clearly 
erroneous.  Conclusions of law are reviewed de novo.  See In re 
Disciplinary Proceedings Against Eisenberg, 2004 WI 14, ¶5, 269 
Wis. 2d 43, 675 N.W.2d 747.  The court may impose whatever sanction 
it sees fit, regardless of the referee's recommendation.  See In 
re Disciplinary Proceedings Against Widule, 2003 WI 34, ¶44, 261 
Wis. 2d 45, 660 N.W.2d 686.  Upon careful review of the matter, we 
adopt the referee's findings of fact and agree with the referee's 
No. 
2016AP2522-D   
 
17 
 
conclusions of law that Attorney Kovac violated the Supreme Court 
Rules referenced above. 
¶57 We also agree with the referee that a five-month 
suspension of Attorney Kovac's license to practice law in Wisconsin 
is an appropriate sanction for his misconduct.  Even though the 
neglect of the various client matters occurred prior to Attorney 
Kovac's 90-day suspension in 2016, as the referee and the OLR both 
note, Attorney Kovac continued to display a lack of diligence and 
lack of cooperation while the OLR was attempting to investigate 
the various grievances that had been filed against him.  In 
imposing the 90-day suspension in 2016, we stated: 
We share the referee's concern that, in spite of 
receiving two prior public reprimands for, among other 
things, failing to diligently represent and communicate 
with criminal clients and failing to cooperate with the 
OLR's investigation into pending grievances, Attorney 
Kovac has continued to engage in the same type of 
behavior that led to the public reprimands.   
In re Disciplinary Proceedings Against Kovac, 370 Wis. 2d 388, 
¶22.  Just as the two public reprimands failed to change Attorney 
Kovac's habit of procrastination and dilatory practices, the 90-
day suspension also apparently failed to have its intended effect.  
We agree with the referee that a more severe sanction is warranted 
this time around.   
¶58 Although no two disciplinary proceedings are precisely 
the same, we find that this fact situation is somewhat analogous 
to In re Disciplinary Proceedings Against Berlin, 2008 WI 4, 306 
Wis. 2d 288, 743 N.W.2d 683.  In that case the attorney was 
suspended for six months for eight counts of misconduct relating 
No. 
2016AP2522-D   
 
18 
 
to two client matters.  The misconduct included failure to 
cooperate with the OLR, failure to act with reasonable diligence, 
failure to adequately communicate with a client, and making 
misrepresentations to the OLR.  In addition, Attorney Berlin made 
misrepresentations to a probate court.  Attorney Berlin had a prior 
public reprimand.  In this case, Attorney Kovac's misconduct did 
not include dishonesty.  Thus, a slightly lesser sanction than 
that imposed on Attorney Berlin is appropriate. 
¶59 Finally, we agree with the referee that Attorney Kovac 
should pay the full costs of this proceeding. 
¶60 IT IS ORDERED that the license of Peter J. Kovac to 
practice law in Wisconsin is suspended for a period of five months, 
effective July 8, 2020. 
¶61 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within 60 days of the date of 
this order, Peter J. Kovac shall pay to the Office of Lawyer 
Regulation the costs of this proceeding, which are $7,401.87 as of 
December 11, 2019. 
¶62 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Peter J. Kovac shall comply 
with the provisions of SCR 22.26 concerning the duties of an 
attorney whose license to practice law has been suspended.   
¶63 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that compliance with all 
conditions of this order is required for reinstatement.  See 
SCR 22.28(2). 
 
No.  2016AP2522-D.rfd 
 
1 
 
¶64 REBECCA FRANK DALLET, J.   (dissenting).  While I 
recognize that this court normally adheres to the concept of 
progressive discipline, based upon the nature and timing of the 
misconduct in this case, I would depart from that practice here 
and impose a 90-day suspension. 
¶65 Accordingly, I respectfully dissent. 
 
 
No.  2016AP2522-D.rfd 
 
 
 
1