Title: Office of Lawyer Regulation v. Maureen B. Fitzgerald
Citation: 2008 WI 101
Docket Number: 2008AP000181-D
State: Wisconsin
Issuer: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Date: July 17, 2008

2008 WI 101 
 
SUPREME COURT OF WISCONSIN 
 
 
 
 
 
CASE NO.: 
2008AP181-D 
COMPLETE TITLE: 
 
 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings 
Against Maureen B. Fitzgerald, Attorney at Law: 
 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation, 
          Complainant, 
     v. 
Maureen B. Fitzgerald, 
          Respondent. 
 
 
 
 
DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST FITZGERALD 
 
 
OPINION FILED: 
July 17, 2008   
SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS: 
        
ORAL ARGUMENT: 
        
 
 
SOURCE OF APPEAL: 
 
 
COURT: 
        
 
COUNTY: 
        
 
JUDGE: 
        
 
 
 
JUSTICES: 
 
 
CONCURRED: 
        
 
DISSENTED: 
        
 
NOT PARTICIPATING:         
 
 
 
ATTORNEYS: 
 
      
 
 
 
 
2008 WI 101
NOTICE 
This opinion is subject to further 
editing and modification.  The final 
version will appear in the bound 
volume of the official reports.   
No.  2008AP181-D  
 
 
STATE OF WISCONSIN  
 
 
   : 
IN SUPREME COURT 
 
 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings 
Against Maureen B. Fitzgerald, Attorney at Law: 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation, 
 
          Complainant, 
 
     v. 
 
Maureen B. Fitzgerald, 
 
          Respondent. 
 
FILED 
 
JUL 17, 2008 
 
David R. Schanker 
Clerk of Supreme Court 
 
 
 
 
 
ATTORNEY 
disciplinary 
proceeding.   
Attorney's 
license 
suspended. 
 
¶1 
PER CURIAM.   We review the stipulation filed pursuant 
to SCR 22.12 by the Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) and 
Attorney Maureen B. Fitzgerald.  Attorney Fitzgerald admits the 
misconduct alleged by the OLR in a six-count disciplinary 
complaint and agrees to a 60-day license suspension plus 
restitution.   
¶2 
Attorney Fitzgerald was admitted to practice law in 
Wisconsin in 1995 and most recently practiced in Milwaukee.  On 
No. 
2008AP181-D   
 
2 
 
May 
9, 
2006, 
this 
court 
temporarily 
suspended 
Attorney 
Fitzgerald's license to practice law due to her failure to 
cooperate with an OLR investigation.  On June 2, 2006, this 
court suspended Attorney Fitzgerald's license for 90 days for 
numerous instances of misconduct.  See In re Disciplinary 
Proceedings Against Fitzgerald, 2006 WI 58, 290 Wis. 2d 713, 714 
N.W.2d 925. 
 
Attorney 
Fitzgerald's 
license 
remains 
under 
suspension.  
¶3 
The disciplinary complaint alleges misconduct arising 
from Attorney Fitzgerald's actions while her license was under 
suspension.  After her May 9, 2006, suspension, while performing 
work on a contract basis for the Office of the State Public 
Defender (SPD), Attorney Fitzgerald appeared in circuit court in 
Milwaukee County on four separate client matters.   
¶4 
Three appearances took place on May 15, 2006.  In the 
first matter, Attorney Fitzgerald billed the SPD for 1.7 hours 
of work and was paid $68 for work performed after the 
suspension.  In the second matter, she was paid a flat fee of 
$266, of which $86.80 was for work performed after her 
suspension.  The SPD has not recouped the $154.80 Attorney 
Fitzgerald received for work performed after her suspension on 
these two cases.1 
¶5 
On December 4, 5, and 6, 2006, Attorney Fitzgerald 
appeared on behalf of a fourth client in a motion hearing in 
                                                 
1 In the third matter, Attorney Fitzgerald was paid a flat 
fee; however, the payment in the third matter does not form a 
basis for a disciplinary count. 
No. 
2008AP181-D   
 
3 
 
Milwaukee County and on January 25, 2007, she appeared as 
counsel at his sentencing.   
¶6 
On March 27, 2007, the OLR sent Attorney Fitzgerald a 
letter informing her that the OLR was investigating her 
potential practice of law while under suspension and requesting 
certain information.  On April 9, 2007, the OLR sent a second 
letter by first-class mail informing Attorney Fitzgerald that 
the OLR was expanding its investigation and pursuant to SCR 
22.03(2), she was required to provide a written response by May 
2, 2007.  Attorney Fitzgerald failed to respond to the OLR's 
correspondence.  
¶7 
On May 7, 2007, the OLR sent Attorney Fitzgerald a 
third letter via first-class mail and certified mail informing 
her of her duty to cooperate with the OLR and requesting a 
response by May 17, 2007.  The OLR received a signed certified 
mail receipt (signed by "CTA/C. Lathrop") on May 8, 2007, 
acknowledging delivery of the May 7 letter.  The letter sent via 
first-class mail to Attorney Fitzgerald was not returned.  
Attorney Fitzgerald failed to respond to the OLR's letter of May 
7, 2007.   
¶8 
Counts 1 through 3 of the disciplinary complaint 
charge (1) by appearing on behalf of clients while her license 
to practice law was suspended, Attorney Fitzgerald violated SCR 
22.26(2);2 (2) by billing the SPD and accepting payment for 
                                                 
2  SCR 22.26(2) provides: 
An attorney whose license to practice law is 
suspended or revoked or who is suspended from the 
No. 
2008AP181-D   
 
4 
 
appearances made on behalf of two clients while her license to 
practice law was suspended, Attorney Fitzgerald violated SCR 
20:8.4(c);3 and (3) by failing to respond to correspondence from 
the OLR requesting information, Attorney Fitzgerald violated SCR 
22.03(2).4  
¶9 
Counts 4 through 6 of the disciplinary complaint 
involve Attorney Fitzgerald's misconduct with respect to her 
representation of a client in Jefferson County.  On July 24, 
2007, the Jefferson County clerk of circuit court received an 
unsigned facsimile transmission ("fax") entering a not guilty 
                                                                                                                                                             
practice of law may not engage in this state in the 
practice 
of 
law 
or 
in 
any 
law 
work 
activity 
customarily done by law students, law clerks, or other 
paralegal personnel, except that the attorney may 
engage in law related work in this state for a 
commercial employer itself not engaged in the practice 
of law. 
3 SCR 20:8.4(c) states it is professional misconduct for a 
lawyer to "engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit 
or misrepresentation."   
4 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. 
No. 
2008AP181-D   
 
5 
 
plea on behalf of client P.N.  The header on the fax indicated 
it came from Attorney Fitzgerald.   
¶10 On the same day, the Jefferson County clerk telephoned 
Attorney Fitzgerald to ascertain the name and state bar number 
of the attorney representing P.N.  Attorney Fitzgerald indicated 
to the clerk that she was unsure who from her firm would be 
representing the client and asked that any notice of a hearing 
be sent to her.  The clerk informed Attorney Fitzgerald that no 
notices 
could 
be 
sent 
without 
the 
attorney 
information.  
Attorney Fitzgerald stated she would provide the clerk with the 
information. 
¶11 On July 25, 2007, the clerk had not yet received 
information from Attorney Fitzgerald and left a message for her.  
When the clerk checked for Attorney Fitzgerald's bar number on 
the State Bar of Wisconsin's Web site, the clerk learned 
Attorney Fitzgerald's license to practice law was suspended.  On 
July 31, 2007, the OLR sent Attorney Fitzgerald a letter 
informing her of the nature of its investigation and requesting 
information.  Attorney Fitzgerald did not respond. 
¶12 On August 27, 2007, the OLR sent Attorney Fitzgerald a 
second letter via first-class mail and certified mail reminding 
her of her duty to cooperate with the OLR and requesting a 
response.  The OLR received a signed certified mail receipt (by 
"J. Purnell") on August 28, 2007, acknowledging receipt of the 
OLR's August 27, 2007 letter.  The letter sent by first-class 
mail had not been returned.  Attorney Fitzgerald failed to 
respond.   
No. 
2008AP181-D   
 
6 
 
¶13 The disciplinary complaint in count 4 charges that by 
entering the not guilty plea by fax on P.N.'s behalf while her 
license 
was 
suspended, 
Attorney 
Fitzgerald 
violated 
SCR 
22.26(2).  Count 5 charges that by misleading the Jefferson 
County clerk of circuit court about her license status, 
indicating she was a member of a firm and failing to clarify she 
would not be representing P.N., Attorney Fitzgerald violated SCR 
20:8.4(c).  Count 6 charges that by failing to respond to the 
OLR's letters, Attorney Fitzgerald violated SCR 22.03(2).   
¶14 By her stipulation, Attorney Fitzgerald admits the 
misconduct alleged and agrees to the level of discipline sought 
by the OLR:  a 60-day suspension and restitution of $154.80 to 
the SPD.  The stipulation states it does not reflect plea 
bargaining or negotiations.  Attorney Fitzgerald states that she 
fully understands her right to contest the matter and consult 
with counsel, her entry into the stipulation is knowing and 
voluntary, and she understands the misconduct allegations and 
ramifications 
should 
this 
court 
impose 
the 
agreed 
upon 
discipline.5  
                                                 
5 It appears that the stipulation contains a misstatement on 
page 
9, 
paragraph 
35, 
in 
which 
it 
refers 
to 
Attorney 
Fitzgerald's understanding of the ramifications of a "private 
reprimand."  The disciplinary complaint, however, seeks a 60-day 
license suspension and restitution.  Also, paragraph 34 of the 
stipulation 
states, 
"Fitzgerald 
agrees 
to 
the 
level 
of 
discipline sought by the OLR: 60-day suspension and restitution 
of $154.80 to the SPD."  The OLR's memorandum in support of the 
stipulation recommends a 60-day suspension and restitution.   In 
view of the record, we conclude that the stipulation's isolated 
reference 
to 
a 
private 
reprimand 
is 
an 
inconsequential 
misstatement. 
No. 
2008AP181-D   
 
7 
 
¶15 The OLR states that a 60-day suspension is consistent 
with this court's opinion in In re Disciplinary Proceedings 
Against 
Engelbrecht, 
2000 
WI 
120, 
239 
Wis. 2d 236, 
618 
N.W.2d 743.  Attorney Engelbrecht, who had been previously 
reprimanded 
privately 
for 
misconduct 
including 
misrepresentation, received a 60-day suspension for appearing at 
a trial and filing a brief during a suspension for non-
compliance 
with 
continuing 
legal 
education 
requirements.  
Attorney Engelbrecht had also failed to notify the court or 
opposing counsel of his suspension, made misleading statements 
to the Board of Bar Examiners, and failed to cooperate in the 
Board of Attorneys Professional Responsibility's investigation.  
See id., ¶1.  The OLR contends Attorney Fitzgerald's misconduct 
resembles that charged in the Engelbrecht case because not only 
did she practice during her suspension, but her prior discipline 
involved issues of dishonesty and noncooperation.   
¶16 This 
court approves the stipulation, adopts the 
stipulated facts and conclusions of law, and imposes the 
stipulated discipline.  We determine the seriousness of the 
misconduct warrants the suspension of Attorney Fitzgerald's 
license to practice law for 60 days and the imposition of 
$154.80 restitution to the SPD.  In view of the stipulation, the 
OLR does not seek costs.  Costs of this proceeding will not be 
imposed.  
¶17 IT 
IS 
ORDERED 
that 
the 
license 
of 
Maureen 
B. 
Fitzgerald to practice law in Wisconsin is suspended for a 
period of 60 days, effective the date of this order. 
No. 
2008AP181-D   
 
8 
 
¶18 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, to the extent she has not 
yet done so, Attorney Fitzgerald comply with the provisions of 
SCR 22.26 concerning the duties of a person whose license to 
practice law in Wisconsin has been suspended.    
¶19 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within 60 days of the date 
of this order, Attorney Fitzgerald make restitution to the 
Office of the State Public Defender in the sum of $154.80, 
provided that if restitution is not paid within the time 
specified and absent a showing to this court of her inability to 
pay restitution within that time, her license to practice law in 
Wisconsin shall remain suspended until further order of the 
court.  
 
No. 
2008AP181-D   
 
 
 
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