Opinion ID: 1578886
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: counts nineteen and twenty

Text: ¶ 36. The OLR complaint alleged, and Jaconi now stipulates, that in late 2001 V.S. contacted Jaconi about representing V.S. and J.B. in an ordinance violation matter involving V.S.'s alleged use of J.B.'s hunting license. On January 8, 2002, V.S. paid Jaconi a flat fee of $250 for the representation. The matter was scheduled for a plea hearing on January 22, 2002. Prior to that date, V.S. left several telephone messages for Jaconi but received no response from him. ¶ 37. On the January 22, 2002, plea-hearing date, Jaconi did not appear. Instead, without informing V.S., Jaconi entered a written appearance and a plea of not guilty on V.S.'s and J.B.'s behalf. Both J.B. and V.S. Personally appeared at that January 22 hearing. After that hearing, V.S. left over 30 telephone messages for Jaconi but received no response from him. ¶ 38. On February 20, 2002, V.S. filed a grievance with the OLR complaining about Jaconi's failure to respond to his repeated inquiries. It was only after V.S. received a copy of Jaconi's response to that grievance that V.S. discovered that a trial date in the ordinance matter had been set for June 21, 2002. Jaconi appeared at that June 21 court trial but neither V.S. nor J.B. had been contacted by Jaconi prior to that trial. ¶ 39. Based on admitted course of conduct regarding his representation of V.S. and J.B., the OLR complaint charged Jaconi with an additional two counts of professional misconduct, to which he now stipulates: COUNT NINETEEN: By failing to appear on the plea date when he had not informed his clients that he did not intend to appear, and by failing to contact his clients prior to June 21, 2002 to prepare for trial, Jaconi failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client, in violation of SCR 20:1.3. COUNT TWENTY: By failing to return V.S.'s telephone calls, by failing to have any contact with his clients, either written or oral between January 8, 2002 and the trial on June 21, 2002, Jaconi failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information, in violation of SCR 20:1.4(a). ¶ 40. As noted, Jaconi has now stipulated to these 20 counts of misconduct as alleged by the OLR in its complaint. He admits the facts and the misconduct and agrees that a one-year suspension of his license to practice law in this state is an appropriate sanction for that misconduct. He also agrees with the OLR that he should be ordered to refund $500 to T.O., $175 to J.Y., and $200 to J.Y.'s friend who paid that amount to Jaconi as part of the flat fee in the J.Y. matter. ¶ 41. We approve the stipulation and determine that the seriousness of Jaconi's misconduct warrants a suspension of his license to practice law in this state for one year. Jaconi's admitted acts are serious violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct governing lawyers in this state. We also agree that Jaconi should make the refunds in the stipulated amounts. ¶ 42. IT IS ORDERED that the license of Jevon Jones Jaconi to practice law in Wisconsin is suspended for a period of one year, effective the date of this order. ¶ 43. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Jevon Jones Jaconi comply with the provisions of SCR 22.26 regarding the duties of a person whose license to practice law in Wisconsin has been suspended. ¶ 44. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within 60 days of the date of this order Jevon Jones Jaconi shall make refunds in the amounts and to the persons as stipulated. If those refunds are not paid within 60 days, and absent a showing to this court of his inability to make such refunds within that time, the license of Jevon Jones Jaconi to practice law in Wisconsin shall remain suspended until further order of this court.