License Revocation For Self-Reported Thefts

An attorney who gambled away his law license has accepted revocation from the Wisconsin Supreme Court

In November 2012 Attorney W. self-reported to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office (MCDA) and to the OLR that he had stolen money from his IOLTA client trust account to fund a severe gambling addiction and to pay personal bills.  The funds in Attorney W.’s trust account were generated from money judgments that Attorney W. secured on behalf of various clients.  Attorney W. admitted that he had taken a significant amount of money from his trust account over the past several years; he was not certain of the exact amount.

In March 2013 Attorney W. provided the MCDA with a partial accounting in which he identified dozens of clients from whom he had taken funds totaling $450,923.04.  In May 2013 Attorney W. provided the OLR with a second partial accounting showing that Attorney W. had taken $784,734.87 from numerous clients.  Attorney W. estimated this second partial accounting was “90% complete.”

As to sanction

We agree that revocation is warranted and necessary. This has never been in dispute.  Attorney W. admitted he used his law practice to misappropriate over three-quarters of a million dollars from numerous persons and entities.  Attorney W. acknowledged that he cannot successfully defend against misconduct allegations and further acknowledges that he will owe restitution to the clients he has harmed.  He notes that he is represented by counsel regarding his criminal liability and has opted to proceed pro se in this disciplinary matter.  We grant the petition and we revoke Attorney W.’s license to practice law in Wisconsin.

Because of the attorney’s cooperation, the court declined to impose costs. (Miwe Frisch)