Title: Office of Lawyer Regulation v. Michael F. Swensen
Citation: 2008 WI 113
Docket Number: 2008AP000553-D
State: Wisconsin
Issuer: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Date: July 31, 2008

2008 WI 113 
 
SUPREME COURT OF WISCONSIN 
 
 
 
 
 
CASE NO.: 
2008AP553-D 
COMPLETE TITLE: 
 
 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings 
Against Michael F. Swensen, Attorney at Law: 
 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation, 
          Complainant, 
     v. 
Michael F. Swensen, 
          Respondent. 
 
 
 
 
DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST SWENSEN 
 
 
OPINION FILED: 
July 31, 2008   
SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS: 
        
ORAL ARGUMENT: 
        
 
 
SOURCE OF APPEAL: 
 
 
COURT: 
        
 
COUNTY: 
        
 
JUDGE: 
        
 
 
 
JUSTICES: 
 
 
CONCURRED: 
        
 
DISSENTED: 
        
 
NOT PARTICIPATING:         
 
 
 
ATTORNEYS: 
 
      
 
 
 
 
2008 WI 113
NOTICE 
This opinion is subject to further 
editing and modification.  The final 
version will appear in the bound 
volume of the official reports.   
No.  2008AP553-D  
 
 
STATE OF WISCONSIN  
 
 
   : 
IN SUPREME COURT 
 
 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings 
Against Michael F. Swensen, Attorney at Law: 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation, 
 
          Complainant, 
 
     v. 
 
Michael F. Swensen, 
 
          Respondent. 
 
FILED 
 
JUL 31, 2008 
 
David R. Schanker 
Clerk of Supreme Court 
 
 
 
 
 
ATTORNEY 
disciplinary 
proceeding.   
Attorney's 
license 
revoked.   
 
¶1 
PER CURIAM.   This is a reciprocal discipline matter.  
On March 5, 2008, the Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) filed a 
complaint and motion pursuant to SCR 22.22 requesting that this 
court revoke the license of Attorney Michael F. Swensen as 
reciprocal discipline identical to that imposed by the Minnesota 
Supreme Court.  That court disbarred Attorney Swensen from the 
practice of law on November 15, 2007.  The OLR's complaint notes 
that Attorney Swensen failed to notify the OLR of the Minnesota 
No. 
2008AP553-D   
 
2 
 
disciplinary action within 20 days of the effective date of that 
order in violation of SCR 22.22(1).1  The OLR first learned of 
Attorney Swensen's Minnesota disbarment on January 8, 2008, by 
letter from Attorney Swensen.   
¶2 
On March 6, 2008, this court issued an order directing 
Attorney Swensen to show cause in writing by March 20, 2008, why 
the imposition of the identical discipline imposed by the 
Minnesota Supreme Court would be unwarranted.  Attorney Swensen 
and the OLR have filed a stipulation that jointly requests this 
court revoke Attorney Swensen's license to practice law in 
Wisconsin.  This court approves the stipulation and revokes 
Attorney Swensen's Wisconsin law license.     
¶3 
Attorney Swensen was admitted to practice law in 
Wisconsin in 1994 and became licensed to practice law in 
Minnesota in 1991.  Attorney Swensen's Wisconsin law license is 
currently under suspension for failure to comply with mandatory 
continuing legal education requirements and failure to pay State 
Bar of Wisconsin dues.   
¶4 
Attorney Swensen's Minnesota disbarment resulted from 
conduct which included the conversion of rental payments and 
                                                 
1 SCR 22.22(1) states: 
An 
attorney 
on 
whom 
public 
discipline 
for 
misconduct 
or 
a 
license 
suspension 
for 
medical 
incapacity has been imposed by another jurisdiction 
shall promptly notify the director of the matter.  
Failure to furnish the notice within 20 days of the 
effective date of the order or judgment of the other 
jurisdiction constitutes misconduct. 
No. 
2008AP553-D   
 
3 
 
sale proceeds due to a client; inducing his client to transfer 
the client's property interests to the attorney's spouse; making 
false statements to the client and a third party; falsely 
drafting, notarizing, and signing documents; and engaging in 
business 
transactions 
with 
a 
client 
on 
unreasonable 
and 
undisclosed terms without advising the client in writing to seek 
independent counsel and without obtaining the client's written 
consent to the transactions. 
¶5 
Under SCR 22.22(3),2 in reciprocal discipline cases, 
this court shall impose the identical discipline unless three 
exceptions are shown.  Attorney Swensen has stipulated that he 
does not claim any of the exceptions articulated in SCR 
22.22(3).  Attorney Swensen further stipulates that he admits to 
the facts and misconduct alleged by the OLR.  He verifies that 
he fully understands the ramifications should the court impose 
                                                 
2 SCR 22.22(3) states as follows: 
The supreme court shall impose the identical 
discipline or license suspension unless one or more of 
the following is present: 
(a) The procedure in the other jurisdiction was 
so lacking in notice or opportunity to be heard as to 
constitute a deprivation of due process. 
(b) There 
was 
such 
an 
infirmity 
of 
proof 
establishing the misconduct or medical incapacity that 
the supreme court could not accept as final the 
conclusion in respect to the misconduct or medical 
incapacity. 
(c) The 
misconduct 
justifies 
substantially 
different discipline in this state. 
No. 
2008AP553-D   
 
4 
 
the stipulated level of discipline, and fully understands his 
right to counsel along with his right to contest the matter.  He 
states his stipulation is knowingly and voluntarily made and did 
not result from plea bargaining.  Attorney Swensen and the OLR 
jointly request this court revoke Attorney Swensen's Wisconsin 
law license.  This court approves the stipulation and imposes 
the stipulated discipline of revocation of Attorney Swensen's 
license to practice law in Wisconsin.3   
¶6 
IT IS ORDERED that the license of Michael F. Swensen 
to practice law in Wisconsin is revoked, effective the date of 
this order. 
¶7 
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Attorney Swensen shall 
comply, if he has not already done so, with the requirements of 
SCR 22.26 pertaining to the duties of a person whose license to 
practice law in Wisconsin has been revoked. 
                                                 
3 The OLR states that it does not seek costs due to Attorney 
Swensen's cooperation in the litigation process.  No costs are 
imposed.  
No. 
2008AP553-D   
 
 
 
1