LexyCorpus case page
CourtListener opinion 4674780
Date unknown · US
- Extracted case name
- pending
- Extracted reporter citation
- 778 N.W.2d 154
- Docket / number
- 2020AP1082-D STATE OF WISCONSIN : IN SUPREME
Machine-draft headnote
Machine-draft public headnote: CourtListener opinion 4674780 is included in the LexyCorpus QDRO sample set as a public CourtListener opinion with relevance to QDRO procedure / domestic relations order issues. The current annotation is conservative: it identifies source provenance, relevance signals, and evidence quotes for attorney/agent retrieval. It is not a Willie-approved legal headnote yet.
Retrieval annotation
Draft retrieval summary: this opinion has QDRO relevance score 5/5, retirement-division score 2/5, and family-law score 5/5. Use the quoted text and full opinion below before relying on the case.
Category: QDRO procedure / domestic relations order issues
Evidence quotes
QDRO“2-20 (electronic copy available at https://compendium.wicourts.gov/app/ raw/002515.html). ¶6 In 2013, Attorney Harris' license was suspended for five months for misconduct consisting of failing to timely file a judgment of divorce and promptly prepare a QDRO; failing to respond to a client's emails and telephone calls; failing to notify a client of his license suspension; failing to consult 3 No. 2020AP1082-D with a client regarding the method and means of pursing the client's claim; failing to advise a client of the dismissal of a case; and failing to respond in a timely fashion to the OLR's written req”
Source and provenance
- Source type
- courtlistener_qdro_opinion_full_text
- Permissions posture
- public
- Generated status
- machine draft public v0
- Review status
- gold label pending
- Jurisdiction metadata
- US
- Deterministic extraction
- reporter: 778 N.W.2d 154 · docket: 2020AP1082-D STATE OF WISCONSIN : IN SUPREME
- Generated at
- May 14, 2026
Related public corpus pages
Deterministic links based on shared title/citation terms and QDRO / retirement / family-law retrieval scores.
Clean opinion text
2021 WI 31 SUPREME COURT OF WISCONSIN CASE NO.: 2020AP1082-D COMPLETE TITLE: In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings Against Benjamin J. Harris, Attorney at Law: Office of Lawyer Regulation, Complainant, v. Benjamin J. Harris, Respondent. DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST HARRIS OPINION FILED: April 6, 2021 SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS: ORAL ARGUMENT: SOURCE OF APPEAL: COURT: COUNTY: JUDGE: JUSTICES: Per Curiam. NOT PARTICIPATING: ATTORNEYS: 2021 WI 31 NOTICE This opinion is subject to further editing and modification. The final version will appear in the bound volume of the official reports. No. 2020AP1082-D STATE OF WISCONSIN : IN SUPREME COURT In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings Against Benjamin J. Harris, Attorney at Law: Office of Lawyer Regulation, FILED Complainant, APR 6, 2021 v. Sheila T. Reiff Clerk of Supreme Court Benjamin J. Harris, Respondent. ATTORNEY disciplinary proceeding. Attorney's license suspended. ¶1 PER CURIAM. We review the report of the referee, the Honorable Jeffrey A. Kremers, which recommends that the court suspend Attorney Benjamin J. Harris' license to practice law in Wisconsin for 60 days and order him to pay the full costs of this disciplinary proceeding, which are $1,616.83 as of February 8, 2021. Prior to the referee issuing his report, Attorney Harris and the Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) entered into a stipulation in which Attorney Harris pled no contest to the four counts of misconduct alleged in the OLR's No. 2020AP1082-D complaint. Since neither party has appealed from the referee's report and recommendation, our review proceeds under Supreme Court Rule (SCR) 22.17(2). ¶2 Upon our independent review, we adopt the referee's findings of fact and conclusions of law with respect to Attorney Harris' misconduct. We agree that the misconduct warrants a 60- day suspension of Attorney Harris' license to practice law in Wisconsin. The OLR did not seek restitution, and we do not order restitution. As is our usual custom, we order Attorney Harris to pay the full costs of this disciplinary proceeding. ¶3 Attorney Harris was admitted to practice law in Wisconsin in 1996 and practices in the Milwaukee area. He has been previously disciplined on five prior occasions. In 2007, he was privately reprimanded for failing to pursue the resolution of a debt collection matter; failing to keep a client informed of the status of the debt collection matter; failing to proceed with a landlord matter or file a claim on behalf of his client for one year; and failing to keep a client informed of the status of that matter. Private Reprimand No. 07-04 (electronic copy available at https://compendium.wicourts.gov/ app/raw/001931.html). In 2008, Attorney Harris was publicly reprimanded for misconduct consisting of entering into a land contract with a client without written consent; failing to respond to a motion to amend a complaint and failing to attend the motion hearing; failing to inform his client of the status of the case and respond to the client's request for information; failing to timely act in furtherance of a resolution of a 2 No. 2020AP1082-D client's equalization payment; failing to respond to the client's telephone calls or notify the client of a proposed stipulation and order in an upcoming hearing; and failing to promptly return the client's file to him or successor counsel. Public Reprimand of Benjamin J. Harris, No. 2008-03 (electronic copy available at https://compendium.wicourts.gov/app/ raw/002029.html). ¶4 In 2010, Attorney Harris' license was suspended for 60 days for misconduct consisting of failing to keep a client informed of the status of litigation; failing to attend a damages hearing and a motion hearing; failing to notify the client of the status of the case; failing to notify the client of the dismissal of the appeal; and failing to advise the client of an order granting a motion to enforce a judgment. In re Disciplinary Proceedings Against Harris, 2010 WI 9, 322 Wis. 2d 364, 778 N.W.2d 154. ¶5 In 2012, Attorney Harris was privately reprimanded for failing to have a written fee agreement and depositing a client's unearned advanced fee payment directly into his business account. Private Reprimand No. 2012-20 (electronic copy available at https://compendium.wicourts.gov/app/ raw/002515.html). ¶6 In 2013, Attorney Harris' license was suspended for five months for misconduct consisting of failing to timely file a judgment of divorce and promptly prepare a QDRO; failing to respond to a client's emails and telephone calls; failing to notify a client of his license suspension; failing to consult 3 No. 2020AP1082-D with a client regarding the method and means of pursing the client's claim; failing to advise a client of the dismissal of a case; and failing to respond in a timely fashion to the OLR's written request for information. In re Disciplinary Proceedings Against Harris, 2013 WI 8, 345 Wis. 2d 239, 825 N.W.2d 285. ¶7 On June 25, 2020, the OLR filed a complaint against Attorney Harris alleging four counts of misconduct arising out of two client matters. The first client matter involved Attorney Harris' representation of T.P. Attorney Harris was retained to defend T.P. in three lawsuits. Attorney Harris' conduct in two of those matters formed the basis for the misconduct charged in the OLR's complaint. ¶8 On December 14, 2017, T.P. retained Attorney Harris to defend him and a company he owned and operated in a small claims lawsuit that involved claims of breach of contract and unjust enrichment, initiated by Ramos Drywall, LLC. T.P. had hired Ramos Drywall as a subcontractor on a project, and Ramos Drywall claimed it had not been paid. ¶9 The initial return date for the small claims case was set for December 18, 2017. A small claims publication summons and notice in the case provided that defendants may have the option of filing an answer before the court date to avoid the necessity of a personal appearance on December 18, 2017. On December 14, 2017, Attorney Harris filed an answer and affirmative defenses, but he did not confirm that his filing obviated the need to personally appear on December 18, 2017. Attorney Harris did not personally appear on that date. 4 No. 2020AP1082-D ¶10 On December 18, 2017, a default judgment was entered against T.P. for $2,200 based on Attorney Harris' failure to personally appear. T.P. learned of the entry of default judgment in late December 2017 when he checked Wisconsin Circuit Court Access. He notified Attorney Harris that a default judgment had been entered. ¶11 On January 24 and 31, 2018, T.P. messaged Attorney Harris asking for a response; asking for the case status; expressing his frustration at the lack of communication; and saying he felt Attorney Harris was \blowing me off.\" On