More Wussy Discipline

By Attorney Gregg Herman
July 1, 2014

There were three disciplinary cases this morning from the Wisconsin SC.  Two of them continue our state’s tradition of wussy discipline.

In Disciplinary Proceedings against Kranitz, the court suspended Attorney Kranitz’s license for two years for a federal felony conviction for conspiracy to commit securities fraud.   According the SC decision:

Attorney Kranitz acknowledged that the federal government would have been able to produce sufficient facts at trial to prove that he had participated in a conspiracy to pay secret kickbacks to a purported investment fund representative in exchange for having the fund pay inflated prices for shares of stock in a corporation, China Wi-Max Communications, Inc. (China Wi-Max), for which Attorney Kranitz served as a director and attorney.  Attorney Kranitz’s involvement in the conspiracy included drafting agreements and invoices that facilitated the stock purchase and attempted to conceal the kickback.

This means that after two years, Mr. Kranitz can petition to have his license restored and practice law once again, albeit as a convicted felon.  There were no – repeat, no – dissents.  Apparently all seven justices feel comfortable with the concept of a convict felon practicing law.

At least there was one dissent in the other case, Disciplinary Matter Against Hudec.  Prior to the current action, Attorney Hudec had been disciplined four – count ’em, four – prior times.  Three were three private reprimands (what happened to the concept of “progressive discipline”?) and one public reprimand.  In today’s case, Attorney Hudec admitted four counts of misconduct.  The parties stipulated (shame on OLR in this instance) to yet another public reprimand.

To her credit, CJ Shirley S. Abrahamson dissenting, finding:  Attorney Hudec has in the past been the subject of three private reprimands and one public reprimand.  A public reprimand in the present case does not comport with the violation of the Code or the concept of progressive discipline.

However, the CJ does not specify what discipline would have been appropriate.

So in two cases, the total count is 13 votes for wussy discipline and one vote for more severe, if unspecified discipline.

Attorney Gregg Herman is a founding partner of Loeb & Herman, LLC in Milwaukee, WI. He practices family law exclusively, and can be reached via e-mail or by calling (414) 272-5632.