Opinion ID: 2072414
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: client t.o.count xiii

Text: ¶ 67. Reitz does not now challenge the referee's findings and conclusion that he committed the misconduct as alleged in Count XIII in OLR's complaint. The facts surrounding that count are these: On October 21, 1999, T.O. was injured when he jumped off his motorcycle to avoid being hit by a truck that was backing toward him. T.O. then retained an attorney to represent him in a personal injury action. That attorney secured a $5000 settlement offer from the truck driver and his insurer but T.O. rejected that offer. That attorney then filed suit in Waushara County on September 26, 2000 against the truck driver, his employer, and the insurer. The attorney, however, did not serve those defendants with the summons and complaint at that time. Shortly after that action was filed, in October 2000, T.O. retained Mandelman & Reitz to take over the case from the first attorney. ¶ 68. Reitz, however, never prepared a formal substitution of attorneys to be signed by T.O. and filed in court. He had prepared, but never filed in court, a formal notice of retainer. The first attorney turned over T.O.'s file to Reitz in November of 2000 but Reitz at that time delayed service of the summons and complaint in order to come up to speed on T.O.'s file. ¶ 69. On December 27, 2000, the Waushara County circuit court sent the first attorney a letter warning that the matter would be dismissed with prejudice if certificates of service were not filed within 20 days. Service was thereafter effectuated and Reitz filed the certificates on January 2, 2001. ¶ 70. On March 29, 2001, the circuit court, by letter, informed Reitz and T.O.'s first attorney that no substitution of attorneys on behalf of T.O. had been filed. The first attorney responded that it was up to Reitz to prepare and file the substitution of attorneys, stipulation, and order. Reitz, however, did not respond to the court's letter or the other attorney's assertion that it was Reitz's responsibility to prepare and file a substitution of attorneys. On May 2, 2001, T.O.'s case was dismissed without prejudice for failure to prosecute. ¶ 71. This course of conduct led to Count XIII in OLR's complaint. As noted, Reitz does not challenge the referee's findings and conclusion that he committed the following misconduct as alleged:  Count XIIIBy failing to timely respond to the court's correspondence regarding [T.O.'s] case, Reitz failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing [T.O.] in violation of SCR 20:1.3. ¶ 72. After making the findings of fact and conclusions of law, Referee Baron then discussed the appropriate discipline to be recommended for Reitz's 13 violations of the Rules of Professional Responsibility. The referee was not persuaded by Reitz's argument that because he had never before been disciplined, and because he had not engaged in theft or deceit that had caused harm to his clients, a public reprimand would be an appropriate sanction for the nine counts of misconduct duct which Reitz did not dispute. Instead, the referee concluded that the OLR had met its burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that Reitz had committed all 13 counts of misconduct as alleged. The referee reasoned that in order to impress upon Reitz, the public, the courts and the legal system, the seriousness of Reitz's disregard of his responsibilities as a lawyer, she would recommend a six-month suspension of his license, plus the requirement that he pay all the costs of these proceedings. ¶ 73. Because the referee's findings of fact have not been shown to be clearly erroneous, we adopt them. We also agree with the referee's conclusions of law except with respect to Count II. As discussed above, with regard to that count, we reject the referee's conclusion that Reitz's actions violated SCR 20:1.8(h). ¶ 74. Although this court takes into account the referee's recommendation regarding discipline, we do not accord such recommendation conclusive or great weight because ultimately, it is this court's responsibility to determine the appropriate discipline to be imposed for an attorney's misconduct. In making that determination, this court is free to impose discipline that is more or less severe than that recommended by the referee. In re Disciplinary Proceedings Against Widule, 2003 WI 34, ¶ 44, 261 Wis. 2d 45, 660 N.W.2d 686; In re Disciplinary Proceedings Against Elliott, 133 Wis. 2d 110, 394 N.W.2d 313 (1986). ¶ 75. Although the 12 counts of misconduct committed by Reitz were serious infractions of the Rules of Professional Responsibility, under the totality of the circumstances, including the fact that he has never before been disciplined for professional misconduct and the fact a six-month suspension as recommended by the referee would require Reitz to petition for reinstatement, which would entail additional delay and costs, see SCR 22.28(3), we conclude that a five-month suspension of Jeffrey A. Reitz's license to practice law in this state is an appropriate discipline for his misconduct. We also determine that he should pay all the costs of this disciplinary proceeding which now total $7735.62. Accordingly, ¶ 76. IT IS ORDERED that the license of Jeffrey A. Reitz to practice law in Wisconsin is suspended for five months commencing May 15, 2005, as discipline for his professional misconduct. ¶ 77. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within 60 days of the date of this order, Jeffrey A. Reitz pay to the Office of Lawyer Regulation all the costs of this proceeding. 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, the license of Jeffrey A. Reitz to practice law in Wisconsin shall remain suspended until further order of the court. ¶ 78. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Jeffrey A. Reitz comply with the provisions of SCR 22.26 concerning the duties of a person whose license to practice law in Wisconsin has been suspended.