Opinion ID: 1295161
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: counts 15 and 16client d.h-v

Text: ¶ 47. In May 2001 D.H-V. retained Kasprowicz to represent her in a child support matter. After Kasprowicz filed a post-divorce petition on her behalf, the circuit court issued an order to show cause and scheduled a hearing for July 13, 2001. That hearing, however, had to be postponed to November 27, 2001, because of a failure to obtain an affidavit of service with respect to D.H-V.'s ex-husband. ¶ 48. At that rescheduled November 27, 2001, hearing, D.H-V. appeared with Kasprowicz; D.H-V.'s husband, however, did not appear. The circuit court entered a default judgment in favor of D.H-V. ordering an increase in the amount of child support D.H-V. would receive; those increased payments were to be retroactive to July 13, 2001. Kasprowicz was directed to determine the arrearages owed by D.H-V.'s former husband and to incorporate that amount into the court order Kasprowicz was to draft. Kasprowicz did not speak with D.H-V. after the November 27, 2001, hearing. ¶ 49. Sometime after that hearing, however, Kasprowicz received a proposed stipulation from the attorney representing D.H-V.'s former husband. The terms of that stipulation differed from the circuit court's November 27, 2001, order that Kasprowicz was to draft. The proposed stipulation provided for an increase in child support but made it effective November 29, 2001, instead of retroactively to July 13, 2001. ¶ 50. In addition, a wage assignment for the monthly child support had become effective on January 31, 2002, but the stipulation proposed by D.H-V.'s former husband calculating the arrearages for December 2001 and January 2002 provided that all other arrearages, and interest accruing therefrom, are hereby waived . . . . ¶ 51. The proposed stipulation also provided that her former husband, rather than D.H-V., would be entitled to claim their son as an exemption on tax returns for 2002 and all successive years. ¶ 52. Kasprowicz did not send a copy of the proposed stipulation to D.H-V.; instead, he called her and left a voicemail describing the terms of the stipulation and stating that if she did not respond, he would sign it. Kasprowicz never received a response from D.H-V. D.H-V. claimed she never received the voicemail. In any event, Kasprowicz signed the stipulation on behalf of D.H-V. D.H-V. first learned of the stipulation and the subsequent order signed by the court in January 2003 when her former husband called and told her that he, not she, was entitled to claim their son as a tax exemption pursuant to the stipulation. ¶ 53. After D.H-V. filed a grievance with the OLR, OLR staff sent Kasprowicz letters on June 6, June 26, and July 18, 2003, requesting information and copies of all correspondence in D.H-V.'s files; Kasprowicz did not provide the requested information. On August 6, 2003, in a telephone conference with OLR staff, Kasprowicz explained he had not submitted the copies of the correspondence in D.H-V.'s file because there were none. Kasprowicz informed the OLR of this lack of documentation more than two months after the OLR had requested the information. ¶ 54. This course of conduct, as alleged in the OLR complaint and which the referee found to have had been proven by clear and convincing evidence, led to the following two counts of misconduct against Kasprowicz:  Count 15. By signing a stipulation without consulting with D.H-V. about its terms and explaining to her how it was different from the previous court order, Kasprowicz failed to abide by a client's decision concerning the objectives of representation and failed to consult with the client as to the means by which they are to be pursued, in violation of SCR 20:1.2(a). [13]  Count 16. By failing to notify D.H-V. of the stipulation and resultant court order, and by failing to send her copies of those documents, Kasprowicz 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). ¶ 55. After listing her findings of fact and conclusions of law, Referee Peterson discussed the sanction she would recommend for Kasprowicz' misconduct. Balancing the mitigating and aggravating factors, the referee concluded that a public reprimand was the appropriate sanction in this situation. She explained that in the first place, the misconduct, while serious, was not malicious or intentionally deceptive; moreover, at least two of the counts were based on Kasprowicz' apparent misunderstanding of the law. Although the misconduct, occurring over approximately a two-year period, involved at least five clients (and one count of failing to cooperate in the investigation of a grievance filed by a sixth client), the referee concluded that Kasprowicz' primary problem was in failing to act and then avoiding his clients when questioned about that failure. ¶ 56. Disclaiming any attempt to minimize Kasprowicz' failures, the referee additionally pointed out that his conduct was not intended toand did notprovide him with any monetary gain or benefit. According to the referee, Kasprowicz' avoidance behavior was not the result of any attempt on his part to harm his clients; rather, his behavior was a result of the medical and emotional problems he was experiencing during the two-year period. ¶ 57. Moreover, the referee noted that the harm caused by Kasprowicz' misconduct was generally minor in nature; the only monetary damage suffered involved K.M. when interest and penalties were imposed due to Kasprowicz' failure to file the fiduciary income tax return for the estate and the trust involved in that matter. In any event, the referee further observed that all monetary damages resulting from Kasprowicz' conduct had been voluntarily repaid by him, including his payment of successor counsel fees in the K.M. matter. ¶ 58. Because the referee found that Kasprowicz was sincerely remorseful and obviously embarrassed about the situation, the referee determined that a public reprimand would be an appropriate sanction to remind Kasprowicz of the seriousness of his conduct. ¶ 59. Although the OLR had argued that Kasprowicz' misconduct was intentional, the referee pointed to the analysis of the psychologist who had been hired to evaluate Kasprowicz' ability to practice law and based on that analysis, the referee determined that Kasprowicz had not acted intentionally in a way that was meant to harm his clients; he had not deceived or lied to them, nor had he taken money that was not his. The referee characterized Kasprowicz' conduct as a failure to act. She said that while that failure to act was frustrating, it did not result in significant harm to his clients. ¶ 60. Furthermore, the referee concluded that there were significant mitigating factors, specifically Kasprowicz' medical condition during the time period in question. The referee wrote: . . . the testimony indicates that around the year 2000, respondent's health began deteriorating. He gained weight, became lethargic, tired, and was unable to concentrate or focus on work. Respondent himself testified that he had trouble sleeping and concentrating. When he realized that he was having difficulties with the OLR, and several clients, rather than address the situation, [he] avoided the problems, failing to respond to either his clients or the OLR until the last possible moment. Respondent indicated he felt somewhat hopeless, and due to his illness, felt unable to address the problems. After seeing several doctors and undergoing numerous tests, respondent was finally diagnosed with hyperinsulinism, with a degree of depression as well. As both respondent and his wife testified, as part of his treatment, respondent started a new eating regimen designed to improve his condition. After a few months, respondent's health improved. His energy returned, he became more focused, lost his weight, and, as friends and family indicated, was back to his old self. He has not had any problems with clients, the OLR or family since his diagnosis and treatment. Respondent appears to have cooperated in these proceedings; he presented himself well throughout the course of this proceeding. I find the unanimous testimony of respondent, his wife, and close friend, demonstrates that respondent's conduct in avoiding his clients, avoiding the inquiries of the office of lawyer regulation and failing to act in various respects, are a direct result of his illness. In other words, had respondent been healthy, I do not believe he would have acted the way he did in these matters, and this belief is bolstered by the fact that he has not had problems since his treatment began. ¶ 61. After review, we conclude, consistent with prior similar cases such as In re Disciplinary Proceedings Against Theobald, 2004 WI 59, 271 Wis. 2d 690, 679 N.W.2d 804, that a public reprimand is an appropriate sanction for Kasprowicz' misconduct as established in this disciplinary proceeding. We agree with the referee's analysis and observations. We find that the seriousness of Attorney Kasprowicz' misconduct warrants this public reprimand and we direct that Attorney Kasprowicz pay the costs of this disciplinary proceeding now totaling $5760.16. ¶ 62. IT IS ORDERED that Paul M. Kasprowicz is publicly reprimanded for professional misconduct. ¶ 63. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within 60 days of the date of this order Paul M. Kasprowicz pay to the Office of Lawyer Regulation all the costs of this proceeding provided that if such 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 Attorney Paul M. Kasprowicz to practice law in Wisconsin shall be suspended until further order of this court.