Office of Lawyer Regulation v. Lisa A. Webber Hicks
Annotate this Case
Download PDF
2013 WI 9 SUPREME COURT CASE NO.: COMPLETE TITLE: OF WISCONSIN 2012AP1947-D In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings Against Lisa A. Webber Hicks, Attorney At Law: Office of Lawyer Regulation, Complainant, v. Lisa A. Webber Hicks, Respondent. DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST WEBBER HICKS OPINION FILED: SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS: ORAL ARGUMENT: SOURCE OF APPEAL: COURT: COUNTY: JUDGE: JUSTICES: CONCURRED: DISSENTED: NOT PARTICIPATING: ATTORNEYS: January 23, 2013 2013 WI 9 NOTICE This opinion is subject to further editing and modification. The final version will appear in the bound volume of the official reports. No. 2012AP1947-D STATE OF WISCONSIN : IN SUPREME COURT In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings Against Lisa A. Webber Hicks, Attorney At Law: Office of Lawyer Regulation, FILED Complainant, JAN 23, 2013 v. Diane M. Fremgen Clerk of Supreme Court Lisa A. Webber Hicks, Respondent. ATTORNEY disciplinary proceeding. Attorney publicly reprimanded. ¶1 PER CURIAM. The Office Lawyer Regulation (OLR) has filed a complaint and motion pursuant to SCR 22.221 asking this 1 SCR 22.22 provides, in part: Reciprocal discipline. (1) An attorney on whom public discipline for misconduct or a license suspension for medical incapacity has been imposed by another jurisdiction shall promptly notify the director of the matter. Failure to furnish the notice within 20 days of the effective date of the order or judgment of the other jurisdiction constitutes misconduct. No. 2012AP1947-D court to impose reciprocal discipline against Attorney Lisa A. Webber Hicks identical to the public censure imposed by (2) Upon the receipt of a certified copy of a judgment or order of another jurisdiction imposing discipline for misconduct or a license suspension for medical incapacity of an attorney admitted to the practice of law or engaged in the practice of law in this state, the director may file a complaint in the supreme court containing all of the following: (a) A certified copy of the judgment or order from the other jurisdiction. (b) A motion requesting an order directing the attorney to inform the supreme court in writing within 20 days of any claim of the attorney predicated on the grounds set forth in sub. (3) that the imposition of the identical discipline or license suspension by the supreme court would be unwarranted and the factual basis for the claim. (3) The supreme court shall impose the identical discipline or license suspension unless one or more of the following is present: (a) The procedure in the other jurisdiction was so lacking in notice or opportunity to be heard as to constitute a deprivation of due process. (b) There was such an infirmity of proof establishing the misconduct or medical incapacity that the supreme court could not accept as final the conclusion in respect to the misconduct or medical incapacity. (c) The misconduct justifies different discipline in this state. substantially (4) Except as provided in sub. (3), a final adjudication in another jurisdiction that an attorney has engaged in misconduct or has a medical incapacity shall be conclusive evidence of the attorney's misconduct or medical incapacity for purposes of a proceeding under this rule. 2 the No. 2012AP1947-D Supreme Court of Tennessee. The OLR's complaint further alleges that failed Attorney Webber Hicks to notify the OLR of the public censure in Tennessee within 20 days of the effective date of its imposition, contrary to SCR 22.22(1). ¶2 On November 14, 2012, in response to the OLR's motion, this court issued an amended order directing Attorney Webber Hicks to show cause in writing by December 4, 2012, why the imposition Supreme of Court discipline of reciprocal Tennessee would to be that imposed unwarranted. by the Attorney Webber Hicks failed to respond to either the OLR's complaint or the order to show cause. ¶3 Attorney Webber Hicks was admitted to practice law in Wisconsin in 1991. State Bar complaint of Her most recent address furnished to the Wisconsin alleges that is in Chicago, on information Illinois. and The belief, the OLR's most recent address Attorney Webber Hicks provided to the Supreme Court of Tennessee was Oliver Springs, Tennessee. Attorney Webber Hicks was admitted to practice law in Tennessee in 1997 and practiced under the names Lisa Anne Temple and Lisa Anne Webber.2 ¶4 Attorney Webber Hicks' Wisconsin law license was suspended in June of 1994 for failure to comply with continuing legal education (CLE) requirements and failure to pay State Bar 2 There is a minor discrepancy by the OLR and the pleadings in the Tennessee regarding the spelling middle name. We use the spelling in 3 between the complaint filed disciplinary proceedings in of Attorney Webber Hicks' the Tennessee pleadings. No. dues. Her reasons. Wisconsin license remains 2012AP1947-D suspended for those Attorney Webber Hicks' Wisconsin law license is also suspended for disciplinary reasons. This court imposed a four- year suspension and a public reprimand as reciprocal discipline to that imposed by the Supreme Court of Tennessee in a separate proceeding. Hicks, In 2012 WI re Disciplinary 101, 343 Wis. Proceedings 2d 411, Against 816 N.W.2d [Webber] 316. The professional misconduct in that case consisted of practicing law in Tennessee while her Tennessee law license was suspended; signing her law partner's name on a settlement document without his permission; failure to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee's requests for information regarding her practice during suspension; making incorrect disbursements from client trust funds to her former law firm for unapproved fees; disbursing money from the firm's operating account to cover an improper disbursement; and delaying making disbursements to clients for several months. ¶5 In the instant matter, on May 25, 2012, the Supreme Court of Tennessee publicly censured Attorney Webber Hicks for agreeing to represent a client in a divorce while her license was suspended; not informing the client of her suspension; not filing divorce the divorce; decree; misrepresenting failing to that communicate she with had the obtained client; a and failing to return fees to the client after agreeing to do so. ¶6 "shall Supreme Court Rule 22.22(3) provides that this court impose the identical discipline or license suspension unless . . . [t]he procedure in the other jurisdiction was so 4 No. 2012AP1947-D lacking in notice or opportunity to be heard as to constitute a deprivation of due process;" "[t]here was such an infirmity of proof establishing the misconduct . . . that the supreme court could not accept as final the conclusion in respect to the misconduct . . .;" or "[t]he misconduct justifies substantially different discipline in this state." Attorney Webber Hicks failed to respond to the order to show cause and has not alleged that any of these three exceptions exist. Accordingly, we conclude that the imposition of reciprocal discipline against her is warranted. ¶7 IT IS ORDERED that Lisa A. Webber Hicks is publicly reprimanded as reciprocal discipline Supreme Court of Tennessee. practice law in to that imposed by the Lisa A. Webber Hicks' license to Wisconsin remains administrative and disciplinary reasons. 5 suspended for both No. 1 2012AP1947-D
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.
