An Edgerton attorney was publicly reprimanded and ordered to pay the costs of his disciplinary hearing after the Wisconsin Supreme Court found he improperly handled two estates in 1999 and 2000.
However, a referee for the Supreme Court said he was sympathetic to Jeffrey Roethe, whom he said had an "insufferable, unreasonable" client, who was involved with both cases. Referee Timothy Vocke said Roethe's "biggest mistake was not getting rid of (the client) quickly," and he noted she waited six years to file the complaint.
The Office of Lawyer Regulation had alleged five ethical violations by Roethe. However, Vocke recommended dismissal of two, saying the lawyer-regulation agency had failed to prove the allegations.
Roethe agreed to be disciplined for twice instructing his assistant to notarize signatures of people who had not signed documents while in her presence and for improperly charging his clients for his services by taking a percentage of an estate sale rather than an hourly fee.
The court said that aside from a 2000 reprimand, Roethe had a "long and honorable career" and was acting in what he believed was the best interest of the estates. He was ordered to pay $24,680.
Source:
Edgerton Attorney is Reprimanded by State Supreme Court
See Also:
State's Supreme Court Reprimands Edgerton Lawyer
9 comments:
Jeffrey Roethe had a "long and honorable career"?
Really?
Why is it that I have a vivid recollection of an incident after my deposition with the court reporter still present that troubles me to this day when Attorney Roethe for no reason, while shuffling some papers, turned every shade of red, then he started pounding the table, spitting and yelling at me?
Does this describe "honorable"?
Or does this descirbe a meltdown?
Or was it a show, theater to impress his staff in the next room, or the court reporter or my attorney?
Would an "honorable" lawyer who lost control due to frustration, then try to at least apologize for his bizarre behavior?
"insufferable, unreasonable" client?
Oh yeah, always the client's fault...
They should disbar him for life.
A reprimand in 2000 is not a long and honorable career!
I am glad he had to pay the fees!
Another bad lawyer - it's getting to be all too common.
aaaaaaaaaaaaaw gee, boo hoo where's my tissue all of this due to an unreasonable client so it's okay to commit fraud? grow up, firm up notonly that Roethe instructs a person who is in his employ to do the dirty work?
"instructing his assistant to notarize signatures of people who had not signed documents while in her presence and for improperly charging his clients for his services by taking a percentage of an estate sale rather than an hourly fee."
why does the supreme court have to go out of their way to make lame boo hoo excuses for shark lawyers who are big boys who go for blood lawyers who make enough money when they are CAUGHT red handed doing bad stuff? this goes to show you who is receiving our complaints people who are sympathetic to the lawyers
The notary thing is very, very common. Happens all the time in the law offices!
well that tells you the worth of notary seal = 0 boy oh boy lawyers are full of dirty tricks arent they we are the suckers the chumps who pay for the dishonest services
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