Office of Lawyer Regulation v. Khaja M. Din

Summary

The Wisconsin Supreme Court reviewed disciplinary proceedings against attorney Khaja M. Din, who pleaded no contest to eight counts of professional misconduct involving four clients. The court publicly reprimanded Din, ordered $14,250 in restitution, and assessed him one-half of the proceeding's costs, totaling $10,003.65.

Holdings

1. The court adopted the referee's factual findings because they were not clearly erroneous and agreed de novo with the referee's conclusions that Din violated the specified supreme court rules.
2. A stipulation by the parties concerning the appropriate disciplinary sanction is not binding on the court; the court may impose whatever sanction it deems appropriate.
3. Din's eight counts of misconduct involving four clients warranted a public reprimand, because a private reprimand would unduly depreciate the seriousness of the offenses.
4. Din was required to pay $14,250 in restitution and one-half of the proceeding's total costs, or $10,003.65.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the referee's findings of fact and conclusions that Din committed eight counts of professional misconduct should be adopted.
2. Whether Din's misconduct warranted a public reprimand rather than the private reprimand jointly recommended by the parties.
3. Whether Din should be ordered to pay $14,250 in restitution and one-half of the proceeding's costs.

Disposition

other