Title: Office of Lawyer Regulation v. Andrew L. Hunsick
Citation: 2001 WI 58
Docket Number: 2001AP001212-D
State: Wisconsin
Issuer: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Date: June 12, 2001

2001 WI 58 
 
SUPREME COURT OF WISCONSIN 
 
 
Case No.: 
01-1212-D 
 
 
Complete Title 
of Case: 
 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings 
Against Andrew L. Hunsick, Attorney at Law. 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation,  
 
Complainant, 
 
v. 
Andrew L. Hunsick,  
 
Respondent.  
 
 
DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST HUNSICK 
 
 
Opinion Filed: 
June 12, 2001 
Submitted on Briefs: 
      
Oral Argument: 
      
 
 
Source of APPEAL 
 
COURT: 
      
 
COUNTY: 
      
 
JUDGE: 
      
 
 
JUSTICES: 
 
Concurred: 
      
 
Dissented: 
      
 
Not Participating:       
 
 
ATTORNEYS: 
      
 
2001 WI 58 
 
 
NOTICE 
This opinion is subject to further editing and 
modification.  The final version will appear in 
the bound volume of the official reports. 
 
 
No. 01-1212-D 
 
STATE OF WISCONSIN               :        
        
 
 
 
 
IN SUPREME COURT 
 
 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings 
Against Andrew L. Hunsick, Attorney at  
Law: 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation,  
 
          Complainant, 
 
     v. 
 
Andrew L. Hunsick,  
 
          Respondent.  
 
FILED 
 
JUN 12, 2001 
 
Cornelia G. Clark 
Clerk of Supreme Court 
Madison, WI 
 
 
 
ATTORNEY 
disciplinary 
proceeding.  Attorney's 
license 
suspended.  
¶1 
PER CURIAM   We review the stipulation, filed pursuant 
to SCR 22.121 by the Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) and 
                     
1  SCR 22.12 provides: Stipulation 
 
(1)  The director may file with the complaint a stipulation 
of the director and the respondent to the facts, conclusions of 
law regarding misconduct, and discipline to be imposed.  The 
supreme court may consider the complaint and stipulation without 
the appointment of a referee. 
 
(2)  If the supreme court approves a stipulation, it shall 
adopt the stipulated facts and conclusions of law and impose the 
stipulated discipline. 
 
No. 
01-1212-D 
 
2 
Attorney 
Andrew L. 
Hunsick, 
concerning 
Attorney 
Hunsick's 
professional misconduct that resulted in his conviction in 
circuit court of one count of misconduct in public office.  The 
parties stipulated that the appropriate discipline to impose for 
that professional misconduct is the suspension of Attorney 
Hunsick's license to practice law for two years. 
¶2 
We approve the stipulation and adopt the findings of 
fact and conclusions of law set forth in it.  We determine that 
the seriousness of Attorney Hunsick's professional misconduct 
warrants his two-year license suspension to which the parties 
have stipulated.   
¶3 
Attorney Hunsick was admitted to the practice of law 
in Wisconsin in 1976 and most recently was employed as assistant 
principal corporation counsel for Milwaukee County.  Except for 
this matter, he does not have a history of attorney disciplinary 
problems.   
¶4 
The facts to which the parties stipulated concern 
Attorney 
Hunsick's 
conduct 
while 
employed 
in 
the 
county 
corporation counsel's office.  In 1992 the county took title to 
certain private property pursuant to a tax lien foreclosure.  
The 
owners 
subsequently 
entered 
into 
a 
memorandum 
of 
                                                                  
(3)  If the supreme court rejects the stipulation, a referee 
shall be appointed and the matter shall proceed as a complaint 
filed without a stipulation. 
 
(4)  A stipulation rejected by the supreme court has no 
evidentiary value and is without prejudice to the respondent's 
defense of the proceeding or the prosecution of the complaint.  
  
No. 
01-1212-D 
 
3 
understanding with the county, represented by Attorney Hunsick, 
under which they would make periodic payments over the following 
year in order to have the title to the property returned to 
them.  Attorney Hunsick set up an account at a local bank to 
receive these payments.  However, the owners did not make all 
payments as required and did not receive title to the property. 
¶5 
In early 2000 the owners again approached the county 
regarding the delinquent payments.  The county determined that 
there was a discrepancy between what was, and what should have 
been, in the bank account from the earlier failed attempt to 
redeem the property.  It appeared that $5000 was missing.  
Further 
investigation, 
including 
questioning 
of 
Attorney 
Hunsick, revealed that he had personally withdrawn these funds 
for 
his 
own 
purposes 
because 
he 
was 
having 
financial 
difficulties, although he had subsequently repaid the account 
$2000, leaving $3000 still outstanding.  
¶6 
In May of 2000 Attorney Hunsick did repay the county 
the shortfall plus interest, a total of $3300.  However, shortly 
thereafter he was charged with one count of misconduct in public 
office in violation of Wis. Stat. § 946.12(2), a Class E felony. 
 On September 28, 2000, he pled guilty to this offense and was 
subsequently convicted.  On October 23, 2000, sentence was 
withheld with Attorney Hunsick placed on probation for 18 months 
and required to perform 500 hours of community service.   
¶7 
Attorney Hunsick and OLR have stipulated that the 
conduct for which he was convicted constitutes a criminal act 
that reflects adversely on his honesty, trustworthiness, or 
No. 
01-1212-D 
 
4 
fitness as a lawyer in other respects, in violation of SCR 
20:8.4(b).2  As aggravating factors to be considered, the parties 
stipulated that his position as a public official constituted a 
violation of the public trust and that his multiple withdrawals 
of these funds over a period of time constituted a pattern of 
misconduct.  In mitigation, the parties stipulated to his lack 
of prior discipline, his cooperation with OLR, his payment of 
full restitution to the county, and other personal matters that 
were reflected in the circuit court sentencing proceeding.   
¶8 
We adopt the findings of fact and conclusions of law 
to which the parties have stipulated concerning Attorney 
Hunsick's professional misconduct in this matter.  We determine 
that the seriousness of the misconduct, in light of the 
aggravating and mitigating factors set forth in the parties' 
stipulation, warrants the suspension of his license to practice 
law for two years as discipline. 
¶9 
IT IS ORDERED that the license of Andrew L. Hunsick to 
practice law in Wisconsin is suspended for a period of two 
years, effective on the date of this order.  
¶10 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within 60 days of the date 
of this order, Andrew L. Hunsick shall pay to OLR the costs of 
                     
2  SCR 20:8.4(b) provides: 
 It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to:  
(b)  commit a criminal act that reflects adversely on the 
lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer in 
other respects.  
  
No. 
01-1212-D 
 
5 
this proceeding, provided that if the costs are not paid within 
the time specified, and absent a showing to this court of his 
inability to pay the costs within that time, his license to 
practice law in Wisconsin shall remain suspended until further 
order of the court.  
¶11 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Andrew L. Hunsick comply 
with the provisions of SCR 22.26 concerning the duties of a 
person whose license to practice law in Wisconsin has been 
suspended.   
 
 
1