Office of Lawyer Regulation v. Daniel J. Rostollan , 381 Wis. 2d 5 ( 2018 )


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    2018 WI 38
    SUPREME COURT          OF   WISCONSIN
    CASE NO.:               2016AP1890-D
    COMPLETE TITLE:         In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings
    Against Daniel J. Rostollan, Attorney at Law:
    Office of Lawyer Regulation,
    Complainant,
    v.
    Daniel J. Rostollan,
    Respondent.
    DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ROSTOLLAN
    OPINION FILED:          April 18, 2018
    SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS:
    ORAL ARGUMENT:
    SOURCE OF APPEAL:
    COURT:
    COUNTY:
    JUDGE:
    JUSTICES:
    CONCURRED:
    DISSENTED:
    NOT PARTICIPATING:
    ATTORNEYS:
    
    2018 WI 38
    NOTICE
    This opinion is subject to further
    editing and modification.   The final
    version will appear in the bound
    volume of the official reports.
    No.    2016AP1890-D
    STATE OF WISCONSIN                          :              IN SUPREME COURT
    In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings
    Against Daniel J. Rostollan, Attorney at Law:
    Office of Lawyer Regulation,                                        FILED
    Complainant,
    APR 18, 2018
    v.
    Sheila T. Reiff
    Daniel J. Rostollan,                                           Clerk of Supreme Court
    Respondent.
    ATTORNEY      disciplinary   proceeding.          Attorney's         license
    suspended.
    ¶1    PER CURIAM.     We review Referee Jonathan V. Goodman's
    amended    report   recommending   that   this     court     suspend      Attorney
    Daniel J. Rostollan's license to practice law in Wisconsin for a
    period of two years and direct him to pay restitution as well as
    the costs of this proceeding.
    ¶2    No appeal has been filed so we review the referee's
    report pursuant to Supreme Court Rule (SCR) 22.17(2).                         After
    conducting an independent review of the matter, we agree that
    No.       2016AP1890-D
    Attorney Rostollan should be deemed to have defaulted, we accept
    and adopt the referee's findings of fact and conclusions of law,
    which are based on the allegations of the complaint filed by the
    Office    of    Lawyer      Regulation       (OLR).        We     agree    that          Attorney
    Rostollan's law license should be suspended for two years and
    that he should be directed to pay restitution.                             We impose the
    full costs of this proceeding on Attorney Rostollan, which are
    $2,663.71 as of January 30, 2018.
    ¶3         Attorney     Rostollan       was     admitted      to   practice           law   in
    Wisconsin in 1983.              He has not previously been disciplined.
    However, while this matter was pending, this court granted the
    OLR's    request      and     temporarily         suspended      Attorney       Rostollan's
    license to practice law for failure to cooperate in a new and
    separate disciplinary investigation.                       As of the date of this
    order,    his       license     is    suspended.            See     Office          of     Lawyer
    Regulation v. Daniel J. Rostollan, No. 2018XX173-D, unpublished
    order (S. Ct. April 9, 2018).
    ¶4         On   September        30,    2016,    the    OLR    filed        a    complaint
    against Attorney Rostollan alleging 21 counts of professional
    misconduct.
    ¶5         Attorney Rostollan filed an answer and asserted, inter
    alia, that his practice was adversely affected by depression and
    family issues.          He also stated that he had reimbursed former
    client,    R.W.       Thereafter,          however,    he       failed    to        respond     to
    discovery requests and on June 5, 2017, the OLR moved for a
    default    judgment.           On    July    11,     2017,       the     referee          advised
    2
    No.    2016AP1890-D
    Attorney Rostollan that he had seven days to respond to the
    default motion.           Attorney Rostollan did not respond.
    ¶6      On July 31, 2017, the referee issued an initial report
    and    recommendation,          recommending        the     court     deem     Attorney
    Rostollan to have defaulted, finding the facts as alleged in the
    OLR's complaint as true, and concluding that Attorney Rostollan
    had committed the alleged misconduct.                     The referee recommended
    we suspend Attorney Rostollan's license to practice law for two
    years and recommended that Attorney Rostollan be ordered to pay
    restitution to R.W.
    ¶7      The     court     identified       some     factual    and     procedural
    issues with the report and, on November 13, 2017, remanded the
    matter       to     the    referee     for       additional      information,       with
    directions to file a supplemental report.
    ¶8      On remand, Attorney Rostollan indicated he wanted to
    participate in this proceeding.                  The referee conducted a hearing
    on December 5, 2017, at which Attorney Rostollan appeared.                           The
    referee afforded him an opportunity to respond to discovery, but
    Attorney Rostollan then failed to respond.
    ¶9      Accordingly, the referee filed a supplemental report
    on January 10, 2018, including additional information requested
    by    this    court       and   confirming        the    previous     recommendation.
    Neither party has appealed so we consider the amended report
    pursuant to SCR 22.17(2).
    ¶10     We review a referee's findings of fact subject to the
    clearly erroneous standard.             See In re Disciplinary Proceedings
    Against       Eisenberg,        
    2004 WI 14
    ,     ¶5,      
    269 Wis. 2d 43
    ,
    3
    No.     2016AP1890-D
    
    675 N.W.2d 747
    .              We    review         the       referee's       conclusions         of    law
    de novo.     
    Id.
            We determine the appropriate level of discipline
    independent        of    the        referee's               recommendation.              See    In     re
    Disciplinary Proceedings Against Widule, 
    2003 WI 34
    , ¶44, 
    261 Wis. 2d 45
    , 
    660 N.W.2d 686
    .
    ¶11    First,          in   light          of    Attorney         Rostollan's      failure       to
    consistently appear or participate in this case, we accept the
    referee's     finding             that           Attorney          Rostollan's          conduct       was
    egregious such that his answer should be stricken and he should
    be deemed to have defaulted.
    ¶12     The       referee's            findings         of    fact     are    based       on    the
    allegations in the complaint.                              They have not been shown to be
    clearly     erroneous,            and       we    adopt      them.         We     also   accept      the
    conclusions of law that flow from those findings.
    ¶13    The    first         nine       counts          of    the    complaint      pertain       to
    Attorney     Rostollan's            representation                 of    R.W.      In    2012,       R.W.
    retained    Attorney          Rostollan               to    file    a    Chapter    13     bankruptcy
    petition on his behalf and to represent him in certain adversary
    claims.
    ¶14    There       were           a    number          of     problems        with       Attorney
    Rostollan's representation of R.W.                                 These included no written
    fee   agreement         or    disclosures,                 mishandling      of     the     bankruptcy
    proceeding,         mishandling                  of         trust        funds,      and       various
    misrepresentations that Attorney Rostollan made to his client,
    the court, and the OLR.
    ¶15    On     July          23,       2013,          Attorney       Rostollan        filed     the
    requested Chapter 13 bankruptcy petition in the Eastern District
    4
    No.     2016AP1890-D
    of Wisconsin.          The bankruptcy court dismissed this petition, so
    Attorney       Rostollan       filed     a   second      petition,       with        documents
    required for two related adversary proceedings.                            He then filed
    inaccurate       bankruptcy         schedules,         and     electronically         affixed
    R.W.'s signature to these filings, potentially exposing R.W. to
    charges of perjury and endangering the bankruptcy matter.
    ¶16     Attorney Rostollan also informed the bankruptcy court
    that he had charged R.W. $4,000 for the bankruptcy action but
    later acknowledged that he had charged R.W. an additional $4,690
    for     related        adversary         actions       without         disclosing        these
    additional fees to the bankruptcy court.
    ¶17     The bankruptcy court has established a presumptively
    reasonable fee of $4,000 for Chapter 13 cases.                          If attorney fees
    will exceed the presumptively reasonable amount, the attorney
    must    disclose       the     additional       fees    to     the     bankruptcy      court.
    11 U.S.       Code    § 329,      Rule   2016(b).            Additionally,      it     is    the
    bankruptcy       court's          policy     that       fees     in     addition        to    a
    presumptively reasonable fee must be approved by the court under
    local Rule 20.16.
    ¶18     Meanwhile,         R.W.   gave       Attorney     Rostollan       a    $36,000
    check,       representing         life     insurance         proceeds     that       Attorney
    Rostollan was to hold in trust for R.W.                               On April 9, 2013,
    Attorney Rostollan deposited these funds into his trust account,
    yielding a balance of $36,020.
    ¶19     Over    several      months,         Attorney    Rostollan       transferred
    money    in    and    out    of    various      accounts.         On    April    10,     2013,
    Attorney Rostollan disbursed $4,281 from his trust account to
    5
    No.    2016AP1890-D
    his business account, leaving $31,719 in trust.                                  On June 12,
    2013, Attorney Rostollan disbursed $5,000 to R.W.                            Between April
    and mid-August 2013, Attorney Rostollan transferred almost all
    of the remaining funds from his trust account into his business
    account.       By May 30, 2014, Attorney Rostollan's trust account
    balance was $10.
    ¶20   In     July    2014,       Attorney        Rostollan          sent     R.W.     an
    accounting stating that only $1,500 remained from the insurance
    proceeds     and    that    some    $36,000       had   been    expended           on   debts,
    adversary      claims,      and     legal    fees.            R.W.        questioned       this
    accounting.
    ¶21   In August 2014, Attorney Rostollan sent R.W. a second
    accounting, this time stating that $14,784 remained in trust.
    Meanwhile,     on    August       15,   2014,     Attorney      Rostollan          deposited
    $29,407.53 belonging to another client, M.Z., into his trust
    account.     The next day, Attorney Rostollan wrote a check to R.W.
    in the amount of $14,784.24 with a memo line stating "balance
    from   trust      account."        At   most,     $10    of    those       funds    actually
    belonged to R.W.            Attorney Rostollan failed to disclose his
    conversion of R.W.'s funds.
    ¶22   The OLR received notice of an overdraft in Attorney
    Rostollan's        trust    account      and      commenced          an     investigation.
    Attorney Rostollan sent the OLR fabricated and misleading trust
    account      ledgers     that      omitted       deposit      information,          internet
    transfers,         and     included      non-existent           disbursements,              and
    transactions.        Attorney Rostollan also made misrepresentations
    to the OLR orally and in writing regarding the source and use of
    6
    No.   2016AP1890-D
    funds in his trust account.    On March 3, 2015, the OLR requested
    additional    information   from   Attorney   Rostollan.     Attorney
    Rostollan failed to fully and timely respond.       Eventually, this
    court issued an order directing Attorney Rostollan to show cause
    why his license should not be suspended for non-cooperation.
    This prompted Attorney Rostollan to respond, so the OLR withdrew
    its motion.
    ¶23     Based on the allegations in the complaint, the referee
    concluded that:
       By failing to communicate in writing to R.W. the
    rate and basis for all of the fees he intended to
    charge related to the representation, and also by
    failing to state in writing the purpose and
    effect of any advanced fee payment, Attorney
    Rostollan violated SCR 20:1.5(b)(1)1 and (2)2
    (Count 1);
    1
    SCR 20.1.5(b)(1) provides:
    The scope of the representation and the basis or
    rate of the fee and expenses for which the client will
    be responsible shall be communicated to the client in
    writing, before or within a reasonable time after
    commencing the representation, except when the lawyer
    will charge a regularly represented client on the same
    basis or rate as in the past.     If it is reasonably
    foreseeable that the total cost of representation to
    the client, including attorney's fees, will be $1000
    or less, the communication may be oral or in writing.
    Any changes in the basis or rate of the fee or
    expenses shall also be communicated in writing to the
    client.
    2
    SCR 20:1.5(b)(2) provides:      "If the total cost of
    representation to the client, including attorney's fees, is more
    than $1000, the purpose and effect of any retainer or advance
    fee that is paid to the lawyer shall be communicated in
    writing."
    7
    No.   2016AP1890-D
       By failing to safeguard and hold in trust client
    funds,      Attorney       Rostollan    violated
    SCR 20:1.l5(b)(1)3 (Count 2);
       By converting client funds to his own use or for
    the use of other clients, Attorney Rostollan
    violated SCR 20:8.4(c)4 (Count 3);
       By making misrepresentations to R.W. regarding
    his handling of R.W.'s funds, Attorney Rostollan
    violated SCR 20:8.4(c) (Count 4);
       By failing to disclose to the United States
    Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of
    Wisconsin that he intended to charge and/or that
    he charged R.W. fees related to the adversary
    proceedings in addition to the $4,000 fee,
    Attorney Rostollan failed to comply with 11 U.S.
    Code § 329, Rule 2016(b) of the Federal Rules of
    Bankruptcy Procedure, and the Eastern District's
    local policy, in violation of SCR 20:3.4(c)5
    (Count 5);
       By filing with the United States Bankruptcy Court
    for the Eastern District of Wisconsin documents
    related to R.W.'s bankruptcy that included false
    3
    SCR 20:1.15(b)(1) provides:
    A lawyer shall hold in trust, separate from the
    lawyer's own property, that property of clients and
    3rd parties that is in the lawyer's possession in
    connection with a representation.        All funds of
    clients and 3rd parties paid to a lawyer or law firm
    in connection with a representation shall be deposited
    in one or more identifiable trust accounts.
    4
    SCR 20:8.4(c) provides:  "It is professional misconduct
    for a lawyer to engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud,
    deceit or misrepresentation."
    5
    SCR 20:3.4(c) provides: "A lawyer shall not knowingly
    disobey an obligation under the rules of a tribunal, except for
    an open refusal based on an assertion that no valid obligation
    exists."
    8
    No.   2016AP1890-D
    and/or inaccurate information, Attorney Rostollan
    violated SCR 20:8.4(c) (Count 6);
       By acting under a concurrent conflict of interest
    by   representing   R.W.    in   the    bankruptcy
    proceedings   after  R.W.   had   claims   against
    Attorney Rostollan for misuse of R.W.'s funds,
    Attorney Rostollan violated SCR 20:1.7(a)(2)6
    (Count 7);
       By making deposits in and disbursements from his
    trust account via internet banking transactions,
    6
    SCR 20:1.7(a)(2) provides:
    Except as provided in par. (b), a lawyer shall
    not represent a client if the representation involves
    a concurrent conflict of interest.      A concurrent
    conflict of interest exists if;
    . . .
    (2) there is a significant risk that the
    representation of one or more clients will be
    materially limited by a personal interest of the
    lawyer.
    (b) Notwithstanding the existence of a concurrent
    conflict of interest under par. (a), a lawyer may
    represent a client if:
    (1) the lawyer reasonably believes that the
    lawyer will be able to provide competent and diligent
    representation to each affected client;
    (2) the representation is not prohibited by law;
    (3) the representation does not involve the
    assertion of a claim by one client against another
    client   represented  by   the  lawyer   in  the   same
    litigation or other proceeding before a tribunal; and
    (4) each affected client gives informed consent,
    confirmed in a writing signed by the client.
    9
    No.    2016AP1890-D
    Attorney      Rostollan       violated         former
    SCR 20:1.l5(e)(4)c7 (Count 8);
       By failing to timely file responses to the OLR's
    investigative     letters,     and    by     making
    misrepresentations    to   the   OLR  during    its
    investigation, Attorney Rostollan violated SCR
    22.03(2)8 and (6),9 enforceable via SCR 20:8.4(h)10
    (Count 9).
    7
    Effective July 1, 2016, substantial changes were made to
    Supreme Court Rule 20:1.15, the "trust account rule." See
    S. Ct. Order 14-07, (issued Apr. 4, 2016, eff. July 1, 2016).
    Because the conduct underlying this case arose prior to July 1,
    2016, unless otherwise indicated, all references to the supreme
    court rules will be to those in effect prior to July 1, 2016.
    Former SCR 20:1.15(e)(4)c provided: "A lawyer shall not
    make deposits to or disbursements from a trust account by way of
    an Internet transaction."
    8
    SCR 22.03(2) provides:
    Upon commencing an investigation, the director
    shall notify the respondent of the matter being
    investigated unless in the opinion of the director the
    investigation of the matter requires otherwise.     The
    respondent shall fully and fairly disclose all facts
    and circumstances pertaining to the alleged misconduct
    within 20 days after being served by ordinary mail
    request for a written response.       The director may
    allow additional time to respond.     Following receipt
    of the response, the director may conduct further
    investigation and may compel the respondent to answer
    questions,   furnish   documents,   and   present   any
    information deemed relevant to the investigation.
    9
    SCR 22.03(6) provides:
    In   the   course  of   the    investigation,   the
    respondent's   wilful  failure   to   provide   relevant
    information, to answer questions fully, or to furnish
    documents and the respondent's misrepresentation in a
    disclosure are misconduct, regardless of the merits of
    the matters asserted in the grievance.
    10
    No.     2016AP1890-D
    ¶24    The    next     nine        counts     alleged       involved         Attorney
    Rostollan's representation of clients in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy
    petition.       The   clients,       who     will     jointly      be   called       "E.A.",
    informed      Attorney      Rostollan       that     they    wished     to    file       their
    petition promptly.           There was no written fee or representation
    agreement.      Attorney       Rostollan           delayed     until         the     clients
    indicated     they    intended       to    hire     another    attorney.            At    that
    point, Attorney Rostollan filed the Chapter 13 petition, but
    failed to file a fee disclosure statement or a Chapter 13 plan.
    Attorney Rostollan emailed the clients an affidavit for E.A. to
    sign    and   return.        The     client       signed     the   emailed         affidavit
    outside of Attorney Rostollan's presence, yet Attorney Rostollan
    notarized it.
    ¶25    The bankruptcy court dismissed the matter because no
    Chapter 13 plan had been filed.                    Attorney Rostollan moved the
    court to reconsider dismissal of the bankruptcy, but did so
    without informing E.A. of the dismissal or his plans to file a
    reconsideration       motion.             Attorney     Rostollan        filed      his     fee
    disclosure with the bankruptcy court, indicating that he was to
    be paid $2,750 to represent the clients, none of which had been
    paid.
    10
    SCR 20:8.4(h) provides:   "It is professional misconduct
    for a lawyer to fail to cooperate in the investigation of a
    grievance filed with the office of lawyer regulation as required
    by SCR 21.15(4), SCR 22.001(9)(b), SCR 22.03(2), SCR 22.03(6),
    or SCR 22.04(1)."
    11
    No.    2016AP1890-D
    ¶26        On November 12, 2015, Attorney Rostollan sent E.A. a
    proposed Chapter 13 plan, disclosed that the court had dismissed
    their case, but said he had filed a reconsideration motion.                     On
    November       14,   2015,    E.A.    terminated        Attorney      Rostollan's
    representation.
    ¶27        On November 17, 2015, Attorney Rostollan appeared on
    E.A.'s     behalf    at   a   bankruptcy      hearing    on    his    motion   for
    reconsideration, without telling the court that the clients had
    terminated him.       Attorney Rostollan told the court that E.A. had
    agreed to a Chapter 13 plan, while her spouse had not.                   In fact,
    Attorney Rostollan had not presented a plan to the clients until
    after    the    dismissal.      The   court    denied    the    reconsideration
    motion, citing the clients' alleged inability to agree on a
    Chapter 13 plan as not excusable neglect.
    ¶28        The OLR alleged and the referee concluded:
         By failing to communicate the rate and basis of
    his fees, and any changes in the rate and basis
    of his fees, in writing to the clients, Attorney
    Rostollan violated SCR 20:1.5(b)(1) (Count 10);
         By depositing the $300 the clients paid to him in
    his business account, Attorney Rostollan violated
    former SCR 20:1.l5(b)(4) (Count 11);11
    11
    Former SCR 20:1.15(b)(4) provided:
    Except as provided in par. (4m) unearned fees and
    advanced payments of fees shall be held in trust until
    earned by the lawyer, and withdrawn pursuant to sub.
    (g).   Funds advanced by a client or 3rd party for
    payment of costs shall be held in trust until the
    costs are incurred.
    12
    No.   2016AP1890-D
       By failing to take the steps necessary to file
    the Chapter 13 plan, or to file a motion for an
    extension of time to file the plan, Attorney
    Rostollan violated SCR 20:1.312 (Count 12);
       By failing to clearly and accurately communicate
    with the   clients when their Chapter 13 petition
    would be filed, and failing to inform them of the
    dismissal of their Chapter 13 bankruptcy or of
    his intent to file a motion to reconsider the
    dismissal until after the motion was filed,
    Attorney Rostollan in each instance violated
    SCR 20:1.4(a)(3)13 (Count 13);
       By appearing on behalf of the clients at the
    November 17, 2015 hearing without advising the
    court that they had terminated or attempted to
    terminate    his  representation,   and   without
    clarifying with the clients whether they wished
    for him to appear on their behalf or the steps
    they would need to take to protect their own
    interests if they did not wish for him to appear,
    Attorney Rostollan violated SCR 20:1.16(a)(3) and
    (d)14 (Count 14);
    12
    SCR 20:1.3 provides: "A lawyer shall act with reasonable
    diligence and promptness in representing a client."
    13
    SCR 20:1.4(a)(3) provides:     "A lawyer shall keep        the
    client reasonably informed about the status of the matter."
    14
    SCR 20:l.16(a)(3) and (d) provides:
    Except as stated in par. (c), a lawyer shall not
    represent a client or, where representation has
    commenced, shall withdraw from the representation of a
    client if:
    . . .
    (3) the lawyer is discharged.
    . . .
    (d) Upon termination of representation, a lawyer
    shall take steps to the extent reasonably practicable
    to protect a client's interests, such as giving
    (continued)
    13
    No.     2016AP1890-D
       By making false statements to the bankruptcy
    court, and/or by failing to correct false
    statements previously made to the bankruptcy
    court,      Attorney       Rostollan violated
    SCR 20:3.3(a)(1)15 (Count 15);
       By causing, or failing to correct, the bankruptcy
    court's mistaken belief that the clients had been
    presented with a Chapter 13 plan for signature
    prior to the dismissal of their case and had
    failed to agree to that plan, causing or
    contributing to the failure of a plan to be
    timely   filed,    Attorney  Rostollan   violated
    SC 20:8.4(c) (Count 16);
       By notarizing the affidavit signed by E.A.,
    thereby asserting that it had been "Subscribed
    and sworn to before me," even though E.A. did not
    sign the affidavit in front of him, Attorney
    Rostollan violated SCR 20:8.4(c) (Count 17);
       By making misrepresentations to the OLR during
    the course of its investigation of the clients'
    matter, Attorney Rostollan violated SCR 22.03(6),
    enforceable via SCR 20:8.4(h) (Count 18).
    ¶29      In May 2015, J.V.E. filed a grievance against Attorney
    Rostollan.     The OLR requested certain information but Attorney
    Rostollan    did   not   timely   respond,   despite   repeated    requests.
    This court ordered Attorney Rostollan to show cause why his
    reasonable notice to the client, allowing time for
    employment of other counsel, surrendering papers and
    property to which the client is entitled and refunding
    any advance payment of fee or expense that has not
    been earned or incurred. The lawyer may retain papers
    relating to the client to the extent permitted by
    other law.
    15
    SCR 20:3.3(a)(l) provides: "A lawyer shall not knowingly
    make a false statement of fact or law to a tribunal or fail to
    correct a false statement of material fact or law previously
    made to the tribunal by the lawyer. "
    14
    No.     2016AP1890-D
    license        to    practice    law       should      not   be    suspended.           Attorney
    Rostollan did not respond and, on December 2, 2015, Attorney
    Rostollan's license to practice law was temporarily suspended.
    ¶30       On December 8, 2015, Attorney Rostollan appeared at
    two bankruptcy hearings on behalf of clients, despite the fact
    that his license was temporarily suspended.
    ¶31       On    January        19,   2016,      Attorney     Rostollan       provided     a
    response        sufficient           to    allow       the     OLR     to     continue       its
    investigation, and Attorney Rostollan's license to practice law
    was   reinstated.               On     January        25,    2016,    Attorney          Rostollan
    disclosed           that   he    had       practiced         law     during       his    license
    suspension.
    ¶32       On    February        4,    2016,      the     OLR    requested          Attorney
    Rostollan provide it with additional information but Attorney
    Rostollan failed to timely respond.                          Again, this court ordered
    Attorney Rostollan to show cause why his license to practice law
    should not be suspended.                   Attorney Rostollan responded and the
    OLR withdrew its motion.
    ¶33       The OLR alleged and the referee concluded:
        By failing to timely file a response to the OLR's
    July 31, 2015 letter in the J.V.E. matter,
    Attorney Rostollan violated SCR 22.03(2) and (6),
    enforceable via SCR 20:8.4(h) (Count 19);
        By practicing law in Wisconsin at a time when his
    license to practice law was suspended, Attorney
    Rostollan violated SCR 22.26(2) (Count 20);16
    16
    SCR 22.26(2) provides:
    (continued)
    15
    No.     2016AP1890-D
       By failing to timely file a response to the OLR's
    February 4, 2016 letter, Attorney Rostollan
    violated SCR 22.03(2) and (6), via SCR 20:8.4(h)
    (Count 21).
    ¶34   Having accepted the referee's conclusions of law, we
    turn   to    the    appropriate    discipline        for      Attorney    Rostollan's
    misconduct.        While no two disciplinary cases are identical, we
    agree that In re Disciplinary Proceedings Against Ramthun, 
    2015 WI 94
    , 
    365 Wis. 2d 7
    , 
    869 N.W.2d 775
    , supports the referee's
    recommendation for a two-year license suspension.                       Like Attorney
    Rostollan,      Attorney    Ramthun    had    no     prior     formal    disciplinary
    history,     initially      participated        in      the     matter    but     later
    defaulted, and cited extenuating medical issues as a reason for
    his failure to abide by the rules of professional misconduct.
    He was suspended for two and one-half years for 46 counts of
    misconduct      that    included      failure      to   respond     to     pleadings,
    failure to appear at court proceedings, failure to communicate,
    trust account anomalies, including conversion of a portion of
    the    client      funds,   and   failure     to     cooperate     with     the   OLR,
    including making misrepresentations.                 We agree that a two-year
    An attorney whose license to practice law is
    suspended or revoked or who is suspended from the
    practice of law may not engage in this state in the
    practice of law or in any law work            activity
    customarily done by law students, law clerks, or other
    paralegal personnel, except that the attorney may
    engage in law related work in this state for a
    commercial employer itself not engaged in the practice
    of law.
    16
    No.     2016AP1890-D
    license suspension is required to impress on Attorney Rostollan
    the seriousness of his extensive misconduct.
    ¶35   The OLR requested we order Attorney Rostollan to pay
    $4,690 in restitution to R.W.       In his initial report the referee
    agreed and recommended restitution in the amount on $4,690.              In
    his   supplemental    report,   however,    the    referee     recommended
    $1,690.     In response to an inquiry from the court, the referee
    confirmed this was a typographical error; the referee recommends
    restitution    in    the   amount   of   $4,690.      We      accept   this
    recommendation.     Further, consistent with our standard practice,
    we impose the costs of this proceeding on Attorney Rostollan
    which are $2,663.71 as of January 30, 2018.
    ¶36   IT IS ORDERED that the license of Daniel J. Rostollan
    to practice law in Wisconsin is suspended for a period of two
    years, effective the date of this order.
    ¶37   IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Daniel J. Rostollan shall
    comply with the provisions of SCR 22.26 concerning the duties of
    a person whose license to practice law in Wisconsin has been
    suspended.
    ¶38   IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within 60 days of the date
    of this order, Daniel J. Rostollan shall pay restitution to his
    former client, R.W., in the amount of $4,690.
    ¶39   IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within 60 days of the date
    of this order, Daniel J. Rostollan shall pay to the Office of
    Lawyer Regulation the costs of this proceeding.
    17
    No.   2016AP1890-D
    ¶40     IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the restitution is to be
    completed     prior   to   paying   costs   to   the   Office   of   Lawyer
    Regulation.
    18
    No.   2016AP1890-D
    1
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 2016AP001890-D

Citation Numbers: 911 N.W.2d 112, 2018 WI 38, 381 Wis. 2d 5

Filed Date: 4/18/2018

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 1/12/2023