MADISON, Wis. (WSAU) – A Wausau attorney will have his license suspended for 2 months for mishandling a lawsuit.
Ryan Lister was accused of four counts of misconduct involving duties of diligence, communication, termination of representation, and cooperation with the Office of Lawyer Regulation offices for filing a lawsuit against Marathon County. The state Supreme Court upheld that ruling yesterday and fined Lister over $9,000 in court fees and restitution.
In 2001 Jane A. Haskins was cited for OWI first offense and under Lister's advice plead down to a charge of reckless driving. Lister then suggested that Haskins file a lawsuit against the sheriff's department for mistreatment while in the county jail. The suit was filed in 2007 after Haskins paid Lister 500 dollars in legal fees.
When the case was brought to federal court, Lister failed to appear and argue the case, nor did he actually serve the sheriff's department with the lawsuit. Haskin’s lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice for lack of prosecution and Lister was charged with misrepresentation by state officials. Those charges were upheld in yesterday's opinion.
