Office of Lawyer Regulation v. Sarah E.K. Laux

Summary

The Wisconsin Supreme Court revoked Sarah E.K. Laux’s license to practice law based on her consensual license-revocation petition. The court found that she committed 23 counts of misconduct involving four client matters, including conversion of client funds, dishonesty, incompetent estate planning, fee and trust-account violations, and failure to cooperate with the Office of Lawyer Regulation. The court also ordered restitution and payment of proceeding costs.

Holdings

1. The court accepted Attorney Laux's petition for consensual license revocation because she acknowledged that she could not successfully defend against the misconduct allegations and the record established extremely serious misconduct.
2. Revocation of Attorney Laux's Wisconsin license to practice law was warranted and was effective as of the date of the order.
3. Attorney Laux was ordered to pay specified restitution to harmed clients and to the Wisconsin Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection, as well as any restitution required by final monetary orders or judgments in related civil or criminal proceedings.
4. Attorney Laux was required to pay the full costs of the proceeding within 60 days, with the specified restitution to be completed before payment of costs.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the court should accept Attorney Laux's petition for consensual revocation of her Wisconsin law license.
2. What discipline and restitution should be imposed for the admitted and uncontested misconduct.
3. Whether Attorney Laux should be ordered to pay the costs of the disciplinary proceeding.

Disposition

other