In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings Against Marks

2003 WI 114, 665 N.W.2d 836, 265 Wis. 2d 1, 2003 Wisc. LEXIS 617
CourtWisconsin Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 16, 2003
Docket01-2284-D
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 2003 WI 114 (In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings Against Marks) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wisconsin Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings Against Marks, 2003 WI 114, 665 N.W.2d 836, 265 Wis. 2d 1, 2003 Wisc. LEXIS 617 (Wis. 2003).

Opinions

PER CURIAM.

¶ 1. Attorney Marvin E. Marks appeals from the recommendation of the referee that his license to practice law in Wisconsin be suspended for 60 days for having asserted he maintained a lien on settlement proceeds in violation of SCR 20:8.4(c).1 The Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) cross-appeals from the referee's decision to dismiss two claims that were filed against Attorney Marks under the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct.

¶ 2. We determine that a 60-day suspension is appropriate discipline under the facts of this case. We further conclude that the referee erred by dismissing the Michigan disciplinary counts. However, we are of the opinion that remanding this matter would not serve the interests of judicial efficiency. The OLR has indicated that its recommendation with respect to discipline would not change, even if violations of the Michigan rules of disciplinary conduct were established, and there has already been substantial delay in the prosecution of this matter.

[4]*4¶ 3. Attorney Marks was admitted to practice in Wisconsin in 1983. He is also a member of the Michigan State Bar. Approximately 75 percent of his practice is based in Michigan and he maintains his office in Michigan.

¶ 4. In 1992 Marks was issued a private reprimand for violating SCR 20:3.1(a)(1), for commencing an action that was unwarranted under existing law. In June 1994 he received a public reprimand for violating SCR 20:3.4(c), because he failed to pay a $10,000 judgment entered against him in connection with filing the aforementioned frivolous action. In July 1999, while this matter was pending, Marks received another private reprimand for conduct constituting a conflict of interest in violation of SCR 20:1.7(b) and SCR 20:1.9(a).

¶ 5. The facts of this matter are largely undisputed. On October 18, 1996, Donald Koivisto (Mr. Koivisto) retained Marks to represent him in a personal injury action. Mr. Koivisto's wife had just been killed in an automobile accident in Iron County, Wisconsin. His daughter and granddaughter were injured in the accident. The driver of the other vehicle was a Michigan resident.

¶ 6. Mr. Koivisto signed a Percentage Fee Agreement (Fee Agreement) that provided for a contingency fee of 25 percent of the amount recovered unless the matter went to trial, in which case the fee would be 33 and 1/3 percent. Marks explained the fee options and Mr. Koivisto elected a contingency fee arrangement rather than an hourly fee. On October 24, 1996, Mr. Koivisto's daughter signed a similar Fee Agreement on behalf of her minor daughter. Paragraph 5 of both Fee Agreements provided as follows:

If for any reason, the Attorney-Client relationship was to be terminated prior to settlement, compromise, or [5]*5judgment, etc., without good cause on client's behalf, the client hereby agrees to pay attorney for the value of legal services received by the client for attorney on an hourly rate schedule of $100.00 per hour plus expenses. Said fee will he immediately due and payable.

¶ 7. It is undisputed that Marks diligently pursued his clients' cases from October 18 through October 25. He drafted letters, contacted insurers, contacted the district attorney's office and the sheriffs department, met with his clients, and began to prepare pleadings. Mr. Koivisto acknowledges that Marks was diligently pursuing the matter.

¶ 8. However, on October 25, 1996, Mr. Koivisto contacted Attorney Michael Fauerbach and asked Fauerbach to represent him instead. Mr. Koivisto signed a Fee Agreement with Fauerbach, providing for a contingency fee of 30 percent. With Fauerbach present, Mr. Koivisto then called Marks to tell him he was transferring the case to Fauerbach.

¶ 9. A series of phone calls ensued. Marks ásked why Mr. Koivisto was transferring the case and Mr. Koivisto explained that Fauerbach's law firm had more lawyers and an investigator. Fauerbach denies that he solicited the case or that he advised Mr. Koivisto how to respond to Marks' questions.

¶ 10. The same day Marks wrote to Fauerbach, via facsimile, expressing surprise at the transfer of the case and stating that he did not think Fauerbach's law firm could move the case along more quickly.

¶ 11. The next day Marks wrote directly to Mr. Koivisto, expressing surprise, outlining the work he had performed to date, and stating that he hoped to continue working with Mr. Koivisto. He also retained Attorney Roy Polich to represent him because he be[6]*6lieved Fauerbach had improperly and intentionally interfered with the Fee Agreement between Mr. Koivisto and himself.

¶ 12. On October 28 Fauerbach responded to Marks via facsimile. Fauerbach denied soliciting the case and denied making negative comments about Marks or Marks' law firm. He asked Marks to send him the Koivisto file, as well as an itemized statement of the time spent on it.

¶ 13. The same day Attorney Polich wrote to Fauerbach on Marks' behalf, stating that Marks believed Fauerbach had acted unethically and had intentionally interfered with Marks' contract with Mr. Koivisto.

¶ 14. Fauerbach responded to Attorney Polich denying the allegations and attaching an affidavit executed by Mr. Koivisto that averred that the Fauerbach firm had not provided him with the reasons he thought Fauerbach's firm would do a better job on the case. That same day Mr. Koivisto's daughter terminated Marks' representation and transferred her daughter's matter to Fauerbach. She signed a contingency Fee Agreement with Fauerbach on or about November 1, 1996.

¶ 15. On October 31, 1996, Marks submitted an invoice to Mr. Koivisto for $1812.24, detailing the work performed on the matter and stating that the bill was due November 15, 1996. The same day, Matt Zielke, of Frankenmuth Insurance, wrote to Marks explaining that he understood that Fauerbach was now representing the Koivistos. Zielke asked Marks to advise him, in writing, if Marks maintained a lien on any settlement of the Koivisto claims.

¶ 16. On November 6, 1996, Carol Coursey of American National Property & Casualty Company wrote to Marks stating that she understood that Fauer-[7]*7bach was now representing the Koivistos and asking for a letter of withdrawal so she could review it to determine whether Marks had any liens on the settlement of the Koivisto claims.

¶ 17. About this time Fauerbach wrote to Marks requesting Mr. Koivisto's file "for the fourth time" and advising Marks that he was now representing Mr. Koivisto's daughter. This was the first written notice Fauerbach sent regarding this representation. Mr. Koivisto's daughter testified she did not contact Marks personally to tell him she was transferring the case to Fauerbach. In the same letter, Fauerbach advised Marks that Mr. Koivisto had consulted Fauerbach about Marks' invoice, and stated that it was difficult to render advice with respect to the bill without having seen the materials generated in the file.

¶ 18. On November 6,1996, Marks advised Fauer-bach that he required signed releases from Mr. Koivisto and his daughter before he would release the files, as they contained confidential client information. He also indicated that he had not been advised how his lien for his attorney fees would be protected.

¶ 19. The same day Fauerbach sent Marks a facsimile, requesting that Marks deliver the Koivisto files to Fauerbach's office in Ironwood, Wisconsin.

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Bluebook (online)
2003 WI 114, 665 N.W.2d 836, 265 Wis. 2d 1, 2003 Wisc. LEXIS 617, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-the-matter-of-disciplinary-proceedings-against-marks-wis-2003.