Office of Lawyer Regulation v. Mark A. Phillips

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2012 WI 119 SUPREME COURT CASE NO.: COMPLETE TITLE: OF WISCONSIN 2011AP2962-D In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings Against Mark A. Phillips, Attorney at Law: Office of Lawyer Regulation, Complainant, v. Mark A. Phillips, Respondent. DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST PHILLIPS OPINION FILED: SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS: ORAL ARGUMENT: SOURCE OF APPEAL: COURT: COUNTY: JUDGE: JUSTICES: CONCURRED: DISSENTED: NOT PARTICIPATING: ATTORNEYS: November 29, 2012 2012 WI 119 NOTICE This opinion is subject to further editing and modification. The final version will appear in the bound volume of the official reports. No. 2011AP2962-D STATE OF WISCONSIN : IN SUPREME COURT In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings Against Mark A. Phillips, Attorney at Law: Office of Lawyer Regulation, FILED Complainant, NOV 29, 2012 v. Diane M. Fremgen Clerk of Supreme Court Mark A. Phillips, Respondent. ATTORNEY disciplinary proceeding. Attorney publicly reprimanded. ¶1 PER recommendation CURIAM. filed We May review 22, a 2012, referee's concluding report that and Attorney Mark A. Phillips violated the rules of professional conduct in connection with his representation of V.S. The referee recommended this court impose a public reprimand upon Attorney Phillips, order Attorney Phillips to complete a minimum of 20 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) relating to the No. 2011AP2962-D ethical obligations of attorneys, order Attorney Phillips to pay restitution in the amount of $1,050 to the Wisconsin Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection (the Fund), and order Attorney Phillips to pay the full costs of this proceeding, which total $2,878.18 as of June 11, 2012. ¶2 We adopt conclusions of law. Attorney Phillips' reprimand. We the No appeal has been filed. referee's findings of fact and We agree with the referee's conclusion that professional further order misconduct that warrants Attorney a public Phillips make restitution to the Fund as described below, that he pay the full costs of this disciplinary proceeding, and that within 12 months of the date of this order he complete a minimum of 20 hours of CLE relating to the ethical obligations of attorneys. ¶3 Attorney Wisconsin in 1981. twice before. Phillips was admitted to practice law in He has been subject to disciplinary action In 2006 this court suspended Attorney Phillips for one year for misconduct that included improperly obtaining loans from a client, engaging in dishonest conduct, failing to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in his representation of a client, failing to return a client's files promptly, and failing to file timely state income tax returns and to pay taxes that were due. In re Disciplinary Proceedings Against Phillips, 2006 WI 43, 290 Wis. 2d 87, 713 N.W.2d 629. ¶4 In 2007 this court suspended Attorney Phillips' license for three years for committing a criminal act (willful attempted convicted federal and income sentenced) tax evasion, that 3 for reflected which he adversely had been on his No. honesty, trustworthiness, respects. or fitness as a 2011AP2962-D lawyer in other In re Disciplinary Proceedings Against Phillips, 2007 WI 63, 301 Wis. 2d 33, 732 N.W.2d 17. As a result of these previous suspensions, Attorney Phillips' license remains under suspension. ¶5 (OLR) The On December 27, 2011, the Office of Lawyer Regulation filed OLR a two-count alleged that complaint in 2002, against Attorney Attorney Phillips Phillips. charged an unreasonable fee in his representation of V.S. in violation of former SCR 20:1.5(a).1 The OLR further alleged that Attorney 1 Former SCR 20:1.5(a) applies to misconduct committed prior to July 1, 2007. It provided: A lawyer's fee shall be reasonable. The factors to be considered in determining the reasonableness of a fee include the following: (1) the time and labor required, the novelty and difficulty of the questions involved, and the skill requisite to perform the legal service properly; (2) the likelihood, if apparent to the client, that the acceptance of the particular employment will preclude other employment by the lawyer; (3) the fee customarily charged in the locality for similar legal services; (4) the amount involved and the results obtained; (5) the time limitations imposed by the client or by the circumstances; (6) the nature and length relationship with the client; of the professional (7) the experience, reputation, and ability the lawyer or lawyers performing the services; and (8) whether the fee is fixed or contingent. 4 of No. 2011AP2962-D Phillips failed to refund unearned fees after his representation of V.S. ended, in violation of former and current SCR 20:1.16(d).2 ¶6 Dennis J. Flynn was appointed as referee. Attorney Phillips admitted service of the complaint but did not file an answer or otherwise appear. ¶7 The OLR moved for default judgment. On May 22, 2012, the referee filed a report granting the OLR's motion for default judgment and making findings of fact, conclusions of law, and a recommendation for disciplinary sanctions against Attorney Phillips. The referee determined that Attorney Phillips charged an unreasonable fee in violation 2 Former SCR 20:1.16(d) (effective through June 30, 2007) provided: Upon termination of representation, a lawyer shall take steps to the extent reasonably practicable to protect a client's interests, such as giving 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 that has not been earned. The lawyer may retain papers relating to the client to the extent permitted by other law. Current SCR 20:1.16(d) (effective July 1, 2007) provides as follows: Upon termination of representation, a lawyer shall take steps to the extent reasonably practicable to protect a client's interests, such as giving 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. 5 No. 2011AP2962-D of former SCR 20:l.5(a) when, after accepting $1,500 from V.S.'s parent as an advance legal fee payment against which he was to charge his legal work at $150 per hour, he kept the entire $1,500 after having performed only three hours of legal work. The referee further determined that, by refusing to refund to V.S. or her parent the $1,050 in advance legal fees which he had not earned, Attorney Phillips failed to take steps to protect V.S.'s interests upon termination of representation in violation of former and current SCR 20:1.16(d). The referee also found that the Fund paid V.S.'s parent $1,050 as reimbursement for the money lost due to Attorney Phillips' failure to return the unearned legal fees. ¶8 number In recommending discipline, the referee considered a of reason factors, or including satisfactory billing practices, his failure to appear in factor, the mitigating the absence explanation prior this of for disciplinary noted justifiable Attorney disciplinary referee any Phillips' history, and his proceeding. that As a Attorney Phillips' spouse died during the pendency of the disciplinary proceeding. In the end, the referee agreed with the OLR's request in its complaint and recommended the court impose a public reprimand. The referee further recommended that the court order Attorney Phillips to secure 20 hours of CLE relating to the ethical obligations of attorneys, to pay restitution in the amount of $1,050 to the Fund, and to pay the full costs proceeding, which total $2,878.18 as of June 11, 2012. 6 of this No. ¶9 The matter is now before this referee's report and recommendation. so this matter court 2011AP2962-D to review the No appeal has been filed, is submitted to the not set the court pursuant to SCR 22.17(2).3 ¶10 will they unless We are aside clearly referee's erroneous. In fact re findings Disciplinary Proceedings Against Inglimo, 2007 WI 126, ¶5, 305 Wis. 2d 71, 740 N.W.2d 125. We review conclusions of law de novo. Id. Finally, we determine the appropriate level of discipline given the particular facts of each case, independent of the referee's recommendation, but benefiting from it. In re Disciplinary Proceedings Against Widule, 2003 WI 34, ¶44, 261 Wis. 2d 45, 660 N.W.2d 686. ¶11 We adopt the findings of fact and conclusions of law set forth in the referee's report. referee's recommended sanctions. In addition, we accept the By charging and failing to return $1,050 in unearned legal fees, Attorney Phillips engaged in serious misconduct warranting a public reprimand. deem it appropriate restitution 3 to the to Fund require in the Attorney amount of We also Phillips to make $1,050. We also SCR 22.17(2) provides as follows: If no appeal is filed timely, the supreme court shall review the referee's report; adopt, reject or modify the referee's findings and conclusions or remand the matter to the referee for additional findings; and determine and impose appropriate discipline. The court, on its own motion, may order the parties to file briefs in the matter. 7 No. 2011AP2962-D conclude that requiring Attorney Phillips to participate in CLE relating to protect the Finally, the ethical public because circumstances, we and obligations correct this case further of attorneys Attorney presents determine that would Phillips' no help behavior. extraordinary Attorney Phillips should be required to pay the full costs of this matter. See SCR 22.24(1m) (supreme court's general policy upon a finding of misconduct is to impose all costs upon the respondent attorney). ¶12 IT reprimanded recognizes IS ORDERED for that his Mark that Mark professional A. Phillips' A. Phillips is publicly misconduct. The Wisconsin license law court is currently under suspension. ¶13 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within 12 months of the date of this order Mark A. Phillips shall complete a minimum of 20 hours of continuing legal education relating to the ethical obligations of attorneys. ¶14 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within 60 days of the date of this order Mark A. Phillips shall pay restitution to the Wisconsin Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection in the amount of $1,050. ¶15 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within 60 days of the date of this order, Mark A. Phillips shall pay to the Office of Lawyer Regulation the costs of this proceeding. ¶16 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the restitution specified above is to be completed prior to paying costs to the Office of Lawyer Regulation. 8 No. ¶17 2011AP2962-D IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the director of the Office of Lawyer Regulation shall advise the court if there has not been full compliance with all conditions of this order. 9

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