Office of Lawyer Regulation v. Leslie J. Webster
Annotate this Case
Download PDF
2002 WI 100 SUPREME COURT CASE NO.: OF WISCONSIN 98-0677-D COMPLETE TITLE: In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings Against Leslie J. Webster, Attorney at Law. Office of Lawyer Regulation, f/k/a Board of Attorneys Professional Responsibility, Complainant, v. Leslie J. Webster, Respondent. REINSTATEMENT OF WEBSTER OPINION FILED: SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS: ORAL ARGUMENT: July 11, 2002 March 11, 2002 SOURCE OF APPEAL: COURT: COUNTY: JUDGE: JUSTICES: CONCURRED: DISSENTED: NOT PARTICIPATING: PROSSER, J., dissents (opinion filed). WILCOX, J., took no part. ATTORNEYS: For the respondent there were briefs by Hildebrand and DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C., Madison. For the complainant there was a brief by Tuerkheimer and LaFollette Godfrey & Kahn, Madison. Daniel W. Frank M. 2002 WI 100 NOTICE This opinion is subject to further editing and modification. The final version will appear in the bound volume of the official reports. No. 98-0677-D STATE OF WISCONSIN IN SUPREME COURT : In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings Against Leslie J. Webster, Attorney at Law. FILED Office of Lawyer Regulation, f/k/a Board of Attorneys Professional Responsibility, JUL 11, 2002 Complainant, Cornelia G. Clark Clerk of Supreme Court v. Leslie J. Webster, Respondent. ATTORNEY reinstatement proceeding. ¶1 PER referee's CURIAM. Leslie findings recommendation that of J. fact, the Reinstatement denied. Webster appealed conclusions petition for of was suspended on January reinstatement 21, 1998, the law, license to practice law in this state be denied. license from and of his Webster's for two years following his felony conviction in federal court on the charge of aiding and abetting the fraudulent concealment of a debtor's property from Proceedings a Against bankruptcy Webster, trustee. 217 Wis. 2d In 371, re Disciplinary 577 N.W.2d 21 No. (1998). 98-0677-D Webster was incarcerated as a result of that conviction from December 18, 1997, until January 15, 1999.1 ¶2 After a public hearing on Webster's reinstatement petition the referee issued a report making specific findings of fact and conclusions of law. First, the referee concluded that 1 On December 16, 1999, Webster petitioned for reinstatement and that petition, pursuant to the procedure then in effect under the Board of Attorneys Professional Responsibility, was referred to the District 5 Professional Responsibility Committee for a public hearing and report. On July 12, 2000, that committee filed its report concluding that although Webster had engaged in the practice of law during the period of his suspension and therefore had not demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence his full compliance with the terms of the suspension order, the committee nevertheless recommended his reinstatement because, in its view, to do otherwise would result in unjustifiable harshness. See In re Disciplinary Proceedings Against Eisenberg, 96 Wis. 2d 342, 291 N.W.2d 565 (1980). Effective October 1, 2000, Wisconsin's attorney disciplinary process was substantially restructured. The name of the body responsible for investigating and prosecuting cases involving attorney misconduct was changed from the Board of Attorneys Professional Responsibility (BAPR) to the Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) and the supreme court rules applicable to the lawyer regulation system were also revised in part. Although this case arose and was processed under the former BAPR procedures, and even though the District 5 Professional Responsibility Committee had made a favorable recommendation, on January 29, 2001, this court, at Webster's request, assigned the reinstatement petition to a referee noting that if Webster's petition for reinstatement had been filed under the new OLR procedural rules, a referee would have been appointed. SCR 22.30. This court further noted that even under the former BAPR procedures, reinstatement petitions could be referred to a referee. See [former] SCR 21.11 and In re Disciplinary Proceedings Against Eisenberg, 96 Wis. 2d 342, 291 N.W.2d 565 (1980). This court directed that the referee proceed under the new provisions applicable to reinstatement petitions, SCR 22.29 to 22.33. The referee held a public hearing and subsequently on August 27, 2001, filed her report recommending that Webster's petition for reinstatement be denied. 2 No. Webster had not complied with the 98-0677-D requirements of SCR 22.26(1)(a)2 in that he failed to notify all clients whose funds he held in trust of his suspension; further, the referee determined that Webster had not complied with the requirements of SCR 22.26(2)3 in that he had practiced law during the term of his suspension. had not In addition, the referee concluded that Webster demonstrated by clear, satisfactory, and convincing evidence that he had the moral character to practice law in this state and that his resumption of the practice of law would not be detrimental to the administration of justice or subversive of the public interest; and finally, the referee concluded that Webster had not demonstrated that he had met the requirements 2 SCR 22.26(1)(a) provides: (1) On or before the effective date of license suspension or revocation, an attorney whose license is suspended or revoked shall do all of the following: (a) Notify by certified mail all clients being represented in pending matters of the suspension or revocation and of the attorney's consequent inability to act as an attorney following the effective date of the suspension or revocation. 3 SCR 22.26(2) provides: (2) 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. 3 No. for reinstatement. recommended that SCR 22.31(1).4 Webster's petition Accordingly, for the reinstatement license to practice law in this state be denied. 98-0677-D referee of The referee wrote: Considered individually, some of petitioner's transgressions are relatively minor and would not lead to the recommendation I am making. However, when viewed as a whole, they evince the continuation of a long-standing pattern a pattern demonstrating a lack of appreciation for and understanding of basic legal principles as well as the rules governing an attorney whose license has been suspended. Put another way, petitioner's conduct demonstrates his willingness to "play fast and loose" with the rules and to "cut corners" when petitioner deems it suitable to his purpose. Moreover, when confronted with claims of inappropriate conduct, petitioner's response has largely been to either blame that conduct on someone or something other than himself, or to denominate it as a mere, and minor, error of judgment that could be made by anyone. . . . . If only one or even two of these transgressions was at issue, I, like the referee in Eisenberg and the District 5 Committee, could very well have a different recommendation to submit to the court. However, this is a case where the whole is greater than the sum of 4 SCR 22.31(1) provides: (1) The petitioner has the burden of demonstrating by clear, satisfactory and convincing evidence that the petitioner has the moral character to practice law in Wisconsin, that the petitioner's resumption of the practice of law will not be detrimental to the administration of justice or subversive of the public interest, and that the petitioner has complied fully with the terms of the order of suspension or revocation and with the requirements of SCR 22.26. 4 his No. 98-0677-D its parts, and given this whole, I am compelled to recommend that reinstatement be denied. ¶3 After a referee's review factual of findings the are record not we conclude clearly that the erroneous. In addition, we agree with the referee and conclude that Webster has not satisfied his burden under SCR 22.31 to demonstrate by clear, satisfactory, and convincing evidence that he has the moral character to practice law in this state, that his resumption of the practice of law would not be detrimental to the administration of justice or subversive of the public interest, and that he has complied fully with the terms of his suspension and the requirements of SCR 22.26. We believe that Webster's activities during his suspension demonstrate that he either failed to comprehend what was expected of him in order to obtain reinstatement or that he knew full well what was required but chose to, as the referee described it, "'play fast and loose' with the rules [and] to 'cut corners' when [he] deem[ed] it suitable to his purpose." The former raises serious question about Webster's competence to resume the practice of law in this state and the latter raises just as serious question about his fitness to practice law. In either case we conclude that Webster has not met his burden under SCR 22.31 and, accordingly, we deny his petition for reinstatement. ¶4 Because we find that the referee's findings are not clearly erroneous alone support reinstatement, and that our we need any one denial of not discuss 5 of the findings Webster's in detail standing petition all of for the No. referee's extensive findings in this matter. 98-0677-D We focus primarily on Webster's activities during the period of his suspension. First, based on the referee's findings, we conclude that Webster continued to practice law during his suspension when he filed and prosecuted foreclosure in the actions circuit as courts trustee of of his this state parents' three revocable inter vivos trust. ¶5 Second, we agree with the referee that the numerous occasions when Webster repeatedly deposited or withdrew monies from his despite IOLTA his trust account, suspension, it reflected was simply an attitude "business as that, usual." Although Webster's activities involving his IOLTA trust account may not, standing alone, constitute the practice of law, they do reveal a certain cynicism or "skating on the edge" style that is inconsistent with what is expected from a suspended lawyer who wants to be reinstated. ¶6 listing And third, himself as we an conclude attorney that in a Webster's local actions phone of directory published before his two-year suspension period had ended and before he had been reinstated, along with his continued use of his law office checks during his imprisonment and suspension, preclude any finding that he has the moral character to practice law and that his reinstatement would not be detrimental to the administration of justice or subversive of public interest. Again we note that although those actions standing alone may not constitute the practice of law, taken in combination they demonstrate Webster's failure to meet his burden to show that he 6 No. 98-0677-D is both competent and fit to resume the practice of law in this state. As the referee aptly observed, this is a case "where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts," and on the whole we are not convinced that Webster should be reinstated at this time. ¶7 Leslie J. Webster was licensed to practice law in Wisconsin in 1979 and has practiced in Ellsworth, Wisconsin, primarily as a sole practitioner under the firm name of Oltman & Webster, Ltd.; Oltman practice had during not the times been material actively to engaged these in the proceedings. Webster was publicly reprimanded in 1990 for undertaking the representation of a client in a matter in which Webster had a conflict of interest by virtue of his intimate relationship with the client's wife. In re Disciplinary Proceedings Against Webster, 154 Wis. 2d 110, 452 N.W.2d 374 (1990). ¶8 license On January 21, 1998, this court suspended Webster's to conviction court. practice and In law two-year re for two prison Disciplinary years sentence following imposed Proceedings his in Against felony federal Webster, 217 Wis. 2d 371, 577 N.W.2d 21 (1998). ¶9 seeking Webster petitioned this court on December 16, 1999, reinstatement and as noted above, the matter was subsequently sent to a referee for a hearing and report. We will discuss certain findings made by the referee that support our conclusion that Webster's reinstatement denied. 7 petition must be No. 98-0677-D FORECLOSURE ACTIONS ¶10 The referee found that between June 1998 and March 2000 Webster filed and prosecuted three foreclosure actions5 as a trustee of a revocable inter vivos trust of which his parents are lifetime beneficiaries and in which he and his sisters are residuary beneficiaries. in Pierce Courts. County, These foreclosure actions were brought Polk County, and Burnett County Circuit In all three actions Webster appeared in a fiduciary capacity representing the legal interest of the trust and/or the trust beneficiaries. The referee found that in those three foreclosure cases Webster subsequently sought and was awarded fees and costs for his services as trustee in prosecuting the foreclosure actions. Webster's fees totaled approximately $4600, and he was awarded costs in addition to those fees. ¶11 The referee further determined that although none of the circuit court judges in the foreclosure actions questioned whether Webster's appearance in a representative or fiduciary capacity as a trustee constituted the practice of law, the circuit court judge in the Polk County action questioned the fee Webster requested calling it " . . . nothing more than a thinlyveiled attempt to obtain fees at the rate normally charged by an attorney practicing this type of law in this area. 5 There commenced as contend that this opinion To allow was an additional foreclosure action which Webster a guardian for his children. The OLR does not now that constituted the practice of law; accordingly, does not discuss that action. 8 No. 98-0677-D this would be a sham with regard to the order previously entered suspending Mr. Webster's right to practice law." ¶12 Subsequently the circuit court in the Polk County case substantially reduced foreclosure action. the fee awarded Webster in that His fees in the other two foreclosure cases were awarded in the amount he requested. ¶13 The referee further found that prior to commencing these foreclosure actions Webster had not asked BAPR whether his conduct would constitute the practice of law. However, in September 1999 a defendant in one of those foreclosure actions contacted the United States attorney's office and Webster's federal supervised release officer questioning whether Webster's activities on behalf of the trust in that foreclosure action constituted practicing law. After that question was raised Webster contacted the district attorney's office in the county where that action was pending and secured an opinion from the district attorney that Webster's activities on behalf of the trust in the proscriptions foreclosure in action did Wis. Stat. § 757.30 not violate (1999-2000) against practicing law without a license.6 6 Wisconsin Stat. § 757.30(2) provides: (2) Every person who appears as agent, representative or attorney, for or on behalf of any other person, or any firm, partnership, association or corporation in any action or proceeding in or before any court of record, court commissioner, or judicial tribunal of the United States, or of any state, or who otherwise, in or out of court, for compensation or pecuniary reward gives professional legal advice not incidental to his or her usual or ordinary business, 9 the No. ¶14 98-0677-D In addition, the referee determined that it was more than 15 months after Webster filed the first of the foreclosure actions, and then only after the question was raised by the United State State's Bar's attorney's Ethics office, Hotline that seeking Webster advice contacted about whether the his activities on behalf of the trust constituted practicing law; the Hotline declined to give advice about whether Webster's activities in the foreclosure cases constituted the practice of law. ¶15 trustee According on contravened behalf the to the of the trust in Life holding referee, in Webster's the Science activities foreclosure Church v. as cases Shawano County, 221 Wis. 2d 331, 585 N.W.2d 625 (Ct. App. 1998). The referee noted that the court of appeals in Life Science Church, citing Wis. 2d Jadair Inc. 187, 562 v. United N.W.2d 401 States (1997), Fire and Insurance cases Co., from 209 other jurisdictions, held that trustees may appear in Wisconsin courts without licensed legal counsel only to represent the trustee's own legal interest in his or her individual capacity; a trustee, who is not licensed to practice law, may not, however, represent or renders any legal services for any other person, or any firm, partnership, association or corporation, shall be deemed to be practicing law within the meaning of this section. All subsequent references to the Wisconsin Statutes are to the 1999-2000 version, unless otherwise indicated. 10 No. 98-0677-D the legal interests of the trust or trust beneficiaries in a representative fiduciary capacity Church, 221 Wis. 2d at 334. as trustee. Life Science Furthermore, according to the Life Science Church court, this court in Jadair recognized that nonlawyers who attempt to speak for the legal interests of others are engaged in the unauthorized practice of law. Id. at 333. The referee determined that despite the "crystal clear" holding in Life three Science Church, foreclosure Webster actions on nevertheless behalf of prosecuted the trust the and beneficiaries in his representative fiduciary capacity after his license to practice law had been suspended. ¶16 In testimony before the referee Webster acknowledged that he had not read the Life Science Church case until the spring of 2000 after he had already commenced and prosecuted the foreclosure actions. Webster claimed that he was unaware of the Life Science Church decision when he filed the foreclosure actions because he had cancelled his subscription to the Wisconsin Reports after his license had been suspended and he did not have access to that case while in prison. According to Webster, the research he did on the subject of practicing law while under suspension Disciplinary Proceedings only revealed Against two Eisenberg, cases: 126 In Wis. 2d re 435, 446, 337 N.W.2d 160 (1985), and In re Disciplinary Proceedings Against Eisenberg, Webster believed 96 that Wis. 2d both 342, of 291 those N.W.2d cases 565 (1980). supported his understanding that although he could not represent a corporation while under suspension, there was 11 nothing barring him from No. trust in which he was the 98-0677-D representing a trustee and beneficiary. Webster noted that Wis. Stat. § 757.30 contains no specific reference or prohibition against a fiduciary trustee representing a trust. ¶17 In addition, in his testimony before the referee, Webster claimed that he had relied on the district attorney's opinion that filing the foreclosure cases in a representative capacity as a trustee, did not constitute the practice of law without a license. judges in appearance the Webster foreclosure constituted the also observed actions that none questioned practice of law. of whether And, the his finally, Webster explained that he had not contacted BAPR to obtain an opinion on whether his activities would constitute practicing law, because he did not think that BAPR would give him an opinion on the subject. ¶18 Webster's explanations did not persuade the referee that he had not been practicing law during his suspension. In the first place, according to the referee, Webster could have easily found the Life Science Church decision had he done basic legal research on the issue; the referee thought that his failure to do so cast doubt on Webster's competence as a lawyer. ¶19 Moreover, the referee found that Webster's reliance on the two Eisenberg disciplinary decisions was misplaced because those cases did not address the issue of whether a trustee, who does not have a law license, may appear in courts in this state on behalf of a trust. 12 No. ¶20 Similarly, the referee said that while 98-0677-D Webster may have taken some comfort from the district attorney's favorable opinion, if Webster had conducted his own research, he would have discovered that the district attorney's opinion was clearly wrong in light of Life Science Church. The referee also reasoned that Webster should draw little solace from the fact that none of the judges before whom he appeared in the foreclosure actions questioned whether he was practicing law; according to the referee, it was Webster's responsibility, not someone else's, to make certain that his conduct during the suspension conformed to the rules against practicing law. ¶21 The referee also found it significant that Webster's inquiries into whether his activities on behalf of the trust constituted the practice of law, occurred only after the United States attorney's office and Webster's federal supervised release officer questioned whether he was practicing law. ¶22 On appeal Webster reiterates his argument that by prosecuting the three foreclosure matters as a trustee, he was not practicing law as that term is used in Wis. Stat. § 757.30 and SCR 22.26(2). Webster points out that the words "trust, fiduciary, principal or any other reference to legal actions taken on behalf of a principal" are conspicuously absent from both Wis. Stat. § 757.30 and SCR 22.26(2). According to Webster, had the legislature intended to preclude a trustee from commencing and maintaining legal actions on behalf of a trust without enlisting the services of an attorney, the legislature could have easily so provided in the statute. 13 No. ¶23 98-0677-D Furthermore, Webster maintains on appeal that despite the referee's description of the holding in Life Science Church as "crystal clear," Webster believed it was not especially when applied to a trustee of an inter vivos trust. Webster contrasts his actions as trustee of the inter vivos trust with the actions of the trustees in the Life Science Church case. notes that he actually held title to the Here Webster property, was authorized by the trust to prosecute legal actions on behalf of the trust, and had been appointed by the settlers of the trust to safeguard their asserts and to hold, manage, and distribute them. According to Webster, in bringing the three foreclosure actions as trustee on behalf of the trust, he was simply fulfilling his duties as trustee; he was not practicing law. ¶24 We are not convinced. attempts to draw between a involved in Life Science Church The trustee distinction of case, a church, and a Webster like trustee that of an inter vivos trust, is not as persuasive as Webster would have it. In any event, had Webster simply read the Life Science Church case or this court's decision in Jadair both of which were issued before Webster filed the first foreclosure action on behalf of the trust he would have been put on notice that his activities on behalf of the trust could be construed as practicing law. ¶25 Recently in In re Disciplinary Proceedings Against Hyndman, 2002 WI 6, 249 Wis. 2d 650, 638 N.W.2d 293, this court discussed the prohibition in SCR 22.26(2) against a suspended or revoked attorney practicing law. 14 Hyndman recognized that if No. certain acts would not constitute practicing law 98-0677-D for a non- lawyer, then those same acts would not constitute practicing law for a person whose license to practice law had been revoked or suspended. trustee In view of the holding in Life Science Church that a must appear in Wisconsin courts with licensed legal counsel unless the trustee is acting solely in an individual capacity, it is apparent that Webster's activities as trustee on behalf of the trust in the three foreclosure actions could not have been performed by a non-lawyer. The trustee in Life Science Church could not file a notice of appeal on behalf of the trust; similarly, Webster as trustee of the inter vivos trust could not commence and prosecute the foreclosure actions on behalf of the trust and beneficiaries. When Webster acted on behalf of the trust by filing and prosecuting the foreclosure actions he was practicing law. We believe that the referee correctly determined that Webster's activities constituted the practice of law. At the very least, he should have checked with BAPR before he filed the foreclosure actions. The referee's determination that Webster was practicing law when he commenced and prosecuted the foreclosure actions is not clearly erroneous. OFFICE CHECKS ¶26 The referee determined that prior to his suspension, Webster had maintained a business checking account at a local bank under the name of "Oltman & Webster, Ltd., Attorneys at Law." That account remained open after his suspension and between June of 1998 and May of 1999 more than 300 checks were drawn on that account. 15 No. ¶27 In his testimony before the district 98-0677-D professional responsibility committee, and again before the referee, Webster asserted that his legal assistant wrote all the office checks. He claimed that he was "surprised" that she continued to use that account after his suspension and imprisonment. Furthermore, he pointed out the "Attorneys at Law" designation on the checks was in small print. And, Webster noted that he had derived no benefit from the continued use of these checks while under suspension. ¶28 Again explanations. the referee was not persuaded by Webster's The referee said that Webster should not have held himself out as an attorney by using those checks even if he derived no legal business from their use; moreover, the referee found Webster's willingness to blame his legal assistant for this oversight to be unacceptable. According to the referee, it was Webster's responsibility to ensure that he complied with the rules governing referee one recognized whose that license although had this been suspended. infraction, The standing alone, would not be "terribly serious," it evinced a less than scrupulous attitude on Webster's part toward compliance with the rules governing reinstatement. ¶29 of this On appeal Webster emphasizes the referee's description infraction Furthermore, he as disputes blaming his assistant. not the being referee's "terribly belief that serious." he was According to Webster, he had instructed his assistant to remove all indicia of law practice including scraping the words "Law Office" off the window of his office. 16 No. 98-0677-D He suggests that his assistant might have continued to pay the bills with the office checks because it simply escaped her notice and did not occur to her to order new office checks. Webster insists that he was unaware that the checks were used during his suspension and again he points out that he derived no legal business from the use of those checks. ¶30 We too are not persuaded by Webster's arguments. We note that these checks were used not only while Webster was in prison, but also after he had been released from prison. At that point, if not earlier, he should have been overseeing the use of the checks in his office. ¶31 Moreover, Wis. Stat. § 757.30(3) provides that every person " . . . who in any other manner represents himself or herself either verbally or in writing, directly or indirectly, as authorized to practice law in this state, shall be deemed to be purporting to be licensed to practice law as an attorney within the meaning of this section." checks with the designation We think that using office "Attorneys at Law" imprinted on them even if in small print is a representation to the public that the drawer of the check is a lawyer or law office. The referee's findings in this respect are not clearly erroneous. These acts by Webster plus his placing the phone directory advertisement listing his law office before his suspension ended (discussed below) reflect a cynical attitude inconsistent with the high ethical standards practice law in this state. we expect from those admitted to Although these actions might not constitute practicing law, we conclude they refute any claim by 17 No. 98-0677-D Webster that he has met his burden under SCR 22.21 to obtain reinstatement. YELLOW PAGES AD ¶32 The referee determined that in late 1999 Webster placed an advertisement for his law office in the Yellow Pages of the local telephone book. That ad appeared in the phonebook distributed early in January of 2000 which was several weeks before the two-year anniversary date of this court's January 21, 1998, suspension order. ¶33 he had At the hearing before the referee Webster claimed that assumed that the order suspending his license for a period of two years would expire at the end of that two-year period on January 21, 2000, and that "automatically reinstated" on that date. he would then be He also said that if a potential client had called in response to the ad prior to the time of his anticipated "automatic" reinstatement, he would have simply referred that person to another attorney. ¶34 The referee was critical of Webster's failure undertake any research concerning the reinstatement rules. to The referee said that by simply reading SCR 22.28(3),7 or by simply 7 Former SCR 22.28(3) provided, in part: (3) An attorney whose license is revoked, suspended for 6 months or more for misconduct, or suspended for medical incapacity shall not resume practice until the license is reinstated by order of the supreme court. A petition for reinstatement from a suspension for a definite term may be filed at any time commencing 3 months prior to the expiration of the suspension period. . . . 18 No. contacting BAPR, Webster would have reinstatement would not be automatic. discovered 98-0677-D that his According to the referee, Webster's explanation that he assumed he would be automatically reinstated was either "wholly disingenuous" himself termed it, "incredibly stupid." or, as Webster The referee wrote: One would think that a lawyer whose license has been suspended and who desires to practice law again would have at least a passing familiarity with the rules governing reinstatement. After all, one's livelihood as an attorney depends upon it. Even if one accepts petitioner's testimony that he truly thought his license would be automatically reinstated, his failure to make certain [of that] demonstrates a basic lack of competence which does not advance his claim that reinstatement would not be detrimental to future clients. In addition, petitioner's willingness to place an ad that he knew would appear in print before January 21, 1998 [sic] is yet another example of his willingness to cut corners when it suits his purpose. ¶35 On appeal Webster concedes that placing the ad was "incredibly stupid"; he claims, however, that it resulted from his failure to understand the amount of time it would take to obtain reinstatement. legal business criticism that from he Again, Webster notes that he derived no the should ad and have he read accepts the the referee's reinstatement rules before placing the ad. Current SCR 22.28(3) provides that "(3) The license of an attorney that is revoked or suspended for misconduct for six months or more shall be reinstated pursuant to the procedures set forth in SCR 22.29 to 22.33 and only by order of the supreme court." 19 No. ¶36 98-0677-D We believe, as OLR maintains, that there is nothing ambiguous about SCR 22.28(3). Neither the former version nor the current version of this reinstatement provision can be read to support a reasonable belief that an attorney whose license to practice law has been suspended for two years would be automatically reinstated at the end of that two-year period. Furthermore, as OLR points out in its brief, Webster's ad in the Yellow Pages identifying him as an attorney was distributed in the January 1, 2000, edition of the Yellow Pages; that was three weeks before Webster himself thought his suspension period would end and his license would be automatically reinstated. ¶37 As discussed above, Webster's check writing and placing the telephone ad reflect a cavalier attitude on his part toward the standards of behavior needed to gain reinstatement. These acts demonstrate that Webster has failed to meet his burden of proof under SCR 22.31(1) to obtain reinstatement of his license. Webster's repeated lapses in judgment reflected by these actions support our decision to deny his reinstatement petition. TRUST ACCOUNT ACTIVITIES ¶38 large The referee made specific findings with respect to the number of deposits or withdrawals account during his suspension. June 2000 Webster's IOLTA in Webster's trust The referee noted that as of trust account remained open; furthermore, between the time of his suspension in January of 1998 and the end of 1998, eight deposits totaling $97,527.01 had been made into that account. In addition, the referee found 20 No. 98-0677-D that at least 30 checks had been written on that account from the time of Webster's suspension to the end of 1998; the balance in the account at the end of 1998 was $8751.32. The referee determined that although the deposits and disbursements into the account had been made by Webster's legal assistant, she had acted under Webster's supervision by telephone while he was in prison. ¶39 In addition, the referee found that after Webster was released from prison, he restated the Articles of Incorporation for Oltman & Webster to provide that the firm offered accounting services rather than legal services. However, according to the referee, Webster maintained his same IOLTA account after that corporate restatement. The referee determined that during 1999, deposits into that account totaled $222,549.47 and disbursements from the account totaled $214,957.44, leaving a balance in Webster's IOLTA account as of June 2000 of $7876.94. ¶40 his In argument before the referee Webster asserted that continued use of his IOLTA trust account during his suspension was permissible because there was no specific rule requiring an attorney to close his or her trust account during periods of suspension. In addition, Webster asserted that his fiduciary duty to his clients required him to maintain the trust account to safeguard his clients' funds. ¶41 Although the referee acknowledged that there was no rule mandating that a lawyer must close his or her trust account during a period of suspension, 21 the referee noted that SCR No. 22.26(2) explicitly prohibited during the period of suspension. Webster from 98-0677-D practicing law The referee wrote: Logic, alone, would appear to dictate that depositing money into and disbursing monies from a trust account is the practice of law. After all, the money in a trust account are [sic] derived from the practice of law, and the "movement" of money into and from such an account is a necessary part of the practice of law. ¶42 It was even more significant, according to the referee, that the "spirit" of the rule against practicing law during a period of suspension, prohibited any activity during suspension that a person would have regularly engaged in as a licensed practicing attorney. The referee believed that Webster's maintaining and utilizing his trust account was just such an activity. The referee wrote: This is not a situation in which petitioner disbursed or transferred all of the monies in his trust accounts after his suspension and simply left the accounts open with a balance of $0. Nor is it a situation where the monies in the trust accounts at the time of suspension simply remained there with no additions or subtractions. If one of these two situations existed herein, my conclusion might be different. In this case, however, petitioner or petitioner's legal assistant under petitioner's supervision, actively moved money into and out of these accounts. Such activity certainly violates the intent of the prohibition against practicing law during the term of suspension. ¶43 Nor was the referee persuaded by Webster's other proffered explanation for keeping his trust account open i.e., the protection of his clients' funds. The referee pointed out that Webster could have transferred all of the funds in his trust account to another attorney's trust account where they 22 No. would have been equally safe. 98-0677-D Although the referee said that would have required the consent of the client and the other attorney, in view of the fact that Webster had been able to make arrangements to transfer his active client files to other attorneys, the referee thought Webster could have made a similar arrangement to transfer his trust account funds. And, even if he could not, again, the referee said that Webster should have contacted BAPR to ascertain what he should have done with the trust account funds. ¶44 On appeal Webster argues that there is nothing in the prohibition in SCR 22.26 against practicing law while under suspension that would require a suspended attorney to close his or her trust account, nor is there anything in the rule requiring the attorney to disburse all the funds held by the attorney as a trustee. Webster points out that there have been no allegations that he abused his trust account in any way; rather, the only allegation was that the considerable deposit and withdrawal activity in his trust account during his period of suspension violated the "spirit" of SCR 22.26. According to Webster, simply because an attorney has been suspended, that does not relieve that attorney of the fiduciary responsibility the attorney accepted when receiving funds deposit into the attorney's trust accounts. for others for In this respect, Webster notes that the District 5 Professional Responsibility Committee found that it was "appropriate" for him while under suspension to maintain his trust account with respect to monies that were in dispute on matters involving his former clients and 23 No. third-party claimants. be "realistic" to 98-0677-D According to the committee, it would not expect an attorney's trust account although the to be closed upon suspension. ¶45 Webster acknowledged suspended referee also that asserts there attorney must incorrectly was that no close reasoned explicit his that or her simply account constitutes the practice of law. referee requirement trust that a account, the maintaining a trust Webster complains that this "novel proposition" ignores the fact that numerous other individuals and entities such as real estate brokers, title companies, escrow agents, etc., also utilize trust accounts as a regular part of their businesses. According to Webster, a trust account is nothing more than a dedicated bank account into which funds belonging to others are deposited. ¶46 Although Webster concedes that some of the monies he held in his trust account at the time of his suspension had been derived from his practice of law, he maintains that if the mere movement of funds from such an account constituted the practice of law as the referee believed, then an attorney's trust account would always be frozen at the time of suspension; that would mean, Webster argues, that the suspended attorney would thereafter be unable to disburse any funds from that account without violating the rule against practicing law. Webster insists that SCR 22.26 was not intended to prohibit a suspended attorney from engaging in all activities he or she would have regularly engaged in as a licensed practicing attorney; rather, the rule is intended to prohibit 24 a suspended attorney from No. 98-0677-D engaging in activities which require a license to practice law. In this respect, he contends SCR 22.26(2) is not intended to prohibit a suspended attorney from working as an accountant, tax return preparer, real estate broker, title insurance agent, or in any other occupation where, as part of that occupation, the suspended attorney may do work which is also done by an attorney and which may require a trust account. ¶47 In response OLR argues that the deposits and withdrawals from Webster's IOLTA account admittedly all done by Webster's legal assistant but under Webster's telephonic supervision from prison were activities that only an attorney could engage in and therefore constituted the practice of law. Moreover, OLR points out that the referee did not, as Webster contends, find that Webster was required to close his account; rather, the referee viewed the numerous transactions in Webster's trust account as demonstrating his attitude that it was simply "business as usual" despite his suspension. ¶48 We agree with Webster that SCR 22.26(2) is not intended to prohibit a suspended attorney from engaging in any activity he practicing prohibiting or she attorney; a could rather, suspended have engaged that attorney rule from in is as a simply engaging in licensed aimed at activities which require a license to practice law or which are customarily done by law-related personnel such as law clerks, law students, or paralegals. As noted above, in Hyndman, this court said that if acts would not constitute practicing law for a non-lawyer, then those same acts would not constitute practicing law for a 25 No. 98-0677-D lawyer whose license to practice has been revoked or suspended. Webster's activities in transferring funds in and out of his trust accounts, while undoubtedly a component of practicing law, are not necessarily something that could person who has a license to practice law. only be done by a Transferring monies into and out of trust accounts would not normally constitute practicing law for a non-lawyer and therefore it would not constitute practicing law for a suspended lawyer like Webster. ¶49 However, in this case, Webster's transactions involved his IOLTA trust account. We believe IOLTA accounts are sui generis in that only attorneys who are required to participate in the program may have an IOLTA account. See SCR 20:1.15 and SCR 13.048 ¶50 determine Nonetheless, we find it unnecessary in this case to whether Webster's repeated deposits into and disbursals from his IOLTA trust account during his period of suspension constituted practicing law within the proscription in SCR 22.26(2) because Webster has in any event, not met the heavy burden placed on him by SCR 22.31 to obtain reinstatement. The 8 SCR 20:1.15 provides, in pertinent part: "Safekeeping property. (a) A lawyer shall hold in trust, separate from the lawyer's own property, that property of clients and thirdpersons that is in the lawyer's possession in connection with a representation or when acting in a fiduciary capacity . . . ." SCR chapter 13 establishes the "Interest on Trust Accounts Program" (IOLTA) for lawyers. SCR 13.04 provides, in pertinent part: "Attorney participation in the program. (1) An attorney shall participate in the program as provided in SCR 20:1.15 . . . ." 26 No. 98-0677-D referee's findings, which are not clearly erroneous, detailing Webster's activities during his suspension compel the conclusion that he has not met his burden to convince this court to grant his reinstatement petition. ¶51 When Webster filed his petition for reinstatement he submitted the required $200 advance deposit for costs of the reinstatement proceedings. See SCR 22.29(5). The OLR has now filed a Statement of Costs seeking a total of $9121.75 in costs beyond that $200 advance payment ($7224.10 for the costs incurred in the proceedings before the referee and an additional $1897.65 for costs incurred objected to OLR's request on this asserting appeal). that SCR Webster 22.24 has does not specifically provide for costs in reinstatement proceedings; in addition he claims that the imposition of costs in this matter would result in hardship and injustice to him. ¶52 Recently in In re Disciplinary Proceedings Against Penn, 2002 WI 5, 249 Wis. 2d 667, 638 N.W.2d 287, this court rejected the argument that there is no specific provision in SCR chapter 22 reinstatement 22.29(5), authorizing the proceeding. In as well as the imposition Penn we general of costs in a pointed out that SCR provision set out for disciplinary proceedings in SCR 22.11 through SCR 22.24, permit the imposition of costs against a petitioner in a reinstatement proceeding. Despite Webster's claim of inability to pay, under the circumstances of this case including the fact that during his suspension Webster collected significant fees for his representation of the trust in the foreclosure actions, we find 27 No. 98-0677-D it appropriate that Webster pay the full costs (with credit for his $200 advance deposit) of these reinstatement proceedings. See In re Disciplinary Proceedings Against Eisenberg, 122 Wis. 2d 627, 632, 363 N.W.2d 430 (1985). ¶53 IT IS ORDERED the petition of Leslie J. Webster seeking reinstatement of his license to practice law in this state is denied. ¶54 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within nine months of the date of this order, Leslie J. Webster pay to the Office of Lawyer Regulation $9121.75. the costs of this proceeding totaling 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 Leslie J. Webster to practice law in Wisconsin shall remain suspended until further order of the court. ¶55 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that pursuant to SCR 22.33(4)9 Leslie J. Webster may again file a petition for reinstatement nine months after the date of this order denying his petition for reinstatement. ¶56 JON P. WILCOX, J., did not participate. 9 SCR 22.33(4) [formerly SCR 22.28(8)] provides that "(4) If the supreme court denies a petition for reinstatement, the petitioner may again file a petition for reinstatement commencing nine months after the denial." 28 No. 98-0677-D.dtp ¶57 DAVID T. PROSSER, J. Part (dissenting). of the mission of this court is to protect the public from unethical attorneys. We owe no sympathy otherwise betray their clients. to attorneys who steal or These bad apples hurt people who have every right to trust them, and they reflect adversely on the integrity and standing of the bar. I take very seriously this court's duty to promote high ethical standards in the legal profession. ¶58 or the If I thought this case involved injury to the public legal opinion. profession, I would eagerly join However, I see the case differently. molehills of unauthorized practice the court's Never have the been elevated to to practice such heights. ¶59 Attorney Wisconsin 1998. was Webster's suspended for license two years beginning law in January 21, Now, almost four-and-a-half years after the onset of his suspension, Webster is denied reinstatement. He is demonized in the court's opinion and assessed the whopping sum of $9121.75 in costs. ¶60 A careful reading of the court's opinion will reveal the emergence of some potentially troublesome principles of law. The court practice of is largely law while concerned he was with under Webster's suspension. unauthorized It points indignantly to the use of some old office checks carrying the name "Oltman & Webster, Ltd., Attorneys at Law" to pay salaries and other bills during Webster's suspension, as well as the purchase of an ad in the local telephone book in anticipation of 1 No. 98-0677-D.dtp Webster's reinstatement. peccadilloes The court as examples writes The of referee Webster's cautiously that relied on unauthorized "these actions these practice. might not constitute practicing law," majority op. at ¶31, yet it condemns them as unethical. What is the court saying? In the wake of these pronouncements, what rights do partners in a small law firm have when another partner is suspended? Do they have to remove the partner's name from the firm during the partner's period of suspension? Are they forbidden to advertise the name of a firm that includes the name of a suspended partner? ¶61 A comparison of the court's opinion with the material in the record will show that a lot of information favorable to Attorney Webster has been left out. A lot of information that puts his errors in context has been left out. during his suspension, Webster appeared in For instance, four foreclosure actions in behalf of members of his family, always in a capacity other than attorney. Three of these cases are correctly denominated as the unauthorized practice of law based on the Life Science decision. Life Science Church v. Shawano Co., 221 Wis. 2d 331, 585 N.W.2d 625 (Ct. App. 1998). One case involving his children is disregarded as being different. be the one case commenced before the decision It happens to in the Life Science case. ¶62 More than two years ago, 13 members of the District 5 Professional Responsibility La Crosse review to Committee Webster's (Committee) application Certain problems were identified. 2 for met in reinstatement. The Committee followed up No. 98-0677-D.dtp with a careful Ultimately, the investigation Committee and found issued that, in a 19-page several report. respects, Webster "technically engaged in the unauthorized practice of law during the term of his suspension . . . . He did not intentionally violate the terms of his suspension and merely appeared as trustee on behalf of a family trust without knowledge of the Life Science decision." ¶63 The Committee's recommendation states in part: Based on the conclusion that Mr. Webster was engaged in the practice of law, he has not demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence full compliance with the terms of the suspension order and the requirements of SCR 22.26. Therefore, the Committee cannot recommend reinstatement under the standard of SCR 22.28(6). However, like Petition of Eisenberg, the recommendation for denial of reinstatement should be modified on the grounds that the denial may work an unjustifiably harsh result. The Committee is satisfied that Mr. Webster has the moral character to practice law within the standards expected of the bar and the administration of justice. . . . Mr. Webster has paid what the Committee considers to be a most serious penalty for his misconduct, in light of suspensions ordered for misconduct in other cases. As of the present time he has been suspended from the practice of law for 30 months. He will remain suspended until the Board makes it[s] recommendations to the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court ultimately decides the matter. By that time Mr. Webster's suspension could approach or exceed three years and if his petition is denied, he will be precluded from again filing a petition for reinstatement for at least nine months following the denial. See, SCR 22.28(8). In Petition of Eisenberg, the referee felt compelled to recommend a denial of reinstatement because of the petitioner's unauthorized practice of law. However he recommended that the denial might 3 No. 98-0677-D.dtp work [an] "unjustifiably harsh" result by extending the term of the suspension for an inordinate period. The Supreme Court stated: Eisenberg's failure to ascertain beforehand the legal effect of an appearance before the hearing examiner does not excuse his conduct. We feel, however, that a denial of reinstatement of his license to practice law . . . would be too severe. The Committee recommends that the Board and Supreme Court adopt a similar rational[e] in this case. . . . The Board and the court should consider the harshness of this sanction in concluding that the Petition for Reinstatement should be granted. ¶64 I Professional agree with the Responsibility recommendation Committee. In Committee's judgment, I respectfully dissent. 4 of the District deference to 5 the No. 98-0677-D.dtp 1
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
