Thanks to the HALT eJournal, I just learned the fascinating story of
Wisconsin, and he’s been in practice since 1971, with no prior disciplinary
record.
In June 2002, Hausmann pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges for taking 
kickbacks of $77,000 from a local chiropractor — that was 20% of the fees
that were charged for medical services to over 200 of Hausmann’s uninsured
clients, who were never told of the referral arrangement. (The plea was
conditional, allowing him to appeal the denial of a motion to dismiss.)
“tinyredcheck” Hausmann would have the chiropractor write checks to
third parties, including a charity whose bank account
Hausmann controlled (and which used some of the funds
for landscaping at Hausmann’s residence). One of the
charities named Hausmann its “attorney of the year” in
August 2003. [many more details on the skullduggery --
how the scheme was structured and where the money
prison at Oxford. Hausmann told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal that “I
expect to pay my penalty and come back and be the most caring and
empathetic lawyer in history.”
the thief
is just as he is…
hazy moon
Despite all of the above, until August 2005, the Wisconsin Bar would
inform anyone who inquired that Charles J. Hausmann was an “attorney
in good standing.” He continued his practice, using brochures that urge
injured persons to “Find a lawyer and law firm they can really trust.”
You see, the Office of Lawyer Regulation never bothered to file a complaint
against Hausmann until January 15, 2004, and Wisconsin’s Supreme Court
didn’t issue its opinion in the matter until July of this year, ordering a one-year
filed July 19, 2005).
The Office of Lawyer Regulation [OLR] argued that Charles
Hausmann deserved a two-year suspension, as he failed
to admit to any harm to his 200 clients or conflict of
interest. The Referee was very impressed with Hausmann’s
charitable service — calling it ”far above anything I have ever
seen before” – and recommended a one-year suspension.
Pointing to his restitution and long record of community
service and lack of prior discipline, Hausmann wanted 5
months. He refused to call the payments kickbacks, but
did concede it was an “ill-conceived plan.”
Delayed?”, Aug. 29, 2005), believe that Hausmann’s discipline came far
too late and is far too lenient. I agree with Blonder and the OLR.
harvest moon–
wherever you are
someone’s annoyed
There are a few other interesting wrinkles to this story:
A constant, public critic of the lax disciplinary
p/i lawyer and competitor of Hausmann. Hupy
warning the public about Hausmann.
to keep its name, despite the suspension.
of good lawyers under that trade name that is
now fully branded. They should be permitted
the use of their corporate identity.”
Lawyer Hausmann conceived and sponsored
on a building he owns in Milwaukee’s now-
ascending West End, where he grew up.
Although his professional death won’t be for
500 years, like the Phoenix, I bet Hausman
is planning to emulate the mythic bird
Does this guy deserve a break? What did Hausmann as a fiduciary owe to
his clients? Notice of the arrangement with Dr. Rise? Passing on the
discounts to benefit the clients? What did the Wisconsin Office of Lawyer
Regulation owe to the public? An immediate, temporary suspension once
the guilty plea was entered (as Carolyn Elefant suggests in a Comment)?
Once Hausmann lost his appeal?
whether lawyers should be held to higher standards than hotel
concierges, who he claims regularly take kickbacks from restaurants
to which they steer business. (Until Walter mentioned that I thought
a 60-day sentence was insufficient for Hausmann, I hadn’t given his
jailtime any thought. Sixty days of “soft time” isn’t really very much,
is it? The question of white collar prison sentences is much in the
news lately, and I shall leave the topic to the experts, e.g., here, here
aiming their butts
at the moon…
rice field geese
