Summary
The Supreme Court of Minnesota imposed professional discipline on attorney Richard A. Ohlsen for abandoning a client matter, failing to communicate, failing to disclose court-ordered sanctions, and failing to comply with discovery obligations. The court ordered a public reprimand, two years of supervised probation subject to specified conditions, and payment of $900 in costs.
Topics
Practice areas
Questions Presented
- Whether the stipulated professional misconduct warranted the jointly recommended discipline of a public reprimand, two years of supervised probation, and payment of $900 in costs.
- Whether more severe discipline was warranted after the court ordered the parties to brief the issue.
Holdings
- The recommended discipline was appropriate; Ohlsen was publicly reprimanded, placed on two years of supervised probation subject to the agreed conditions, and ordered to pay $900 in costs.
Key quotations
“IT IS HEREBY ORDERED: that respondent Richard A. Ohlsen is publicly reprimanded and placed on two years of supervised probation subject to the agreed-upon conditions set forth above.” (788)
Factual background
Ohlsen abandoned a client matter, failed to respond to client communications, failed to inform a client about court-ordered sanctions, and failed to comply with discovery requests. His conduct resulted in dismissal of the client's case with prejudice and violated multiple Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct.
Procedural history
The Director filed the disciplinary petition on December 21, 2004. After the parties entered into a stipulation and joint recommendation, the Supreme Court ordered briefing on whether more severe discipline was warranted, heard oral argument, reviewed the record, and adopted the recommended discipline.