State Bar Disciplinary Board
 

Statistics
2007
(For January 1, 2007 through
 December 31, 2007)		 Complaints - 118 Action
  1. Procrastination, failure to perform - 20
2. Incompetence - 20
3. Lack of communication - 26
4. Failure to follow instructions - 5
5. Misrepresentation to client - 5
6. Exorbitant fees - 11
7. Failure to account - 7
8. Failure to pay out promptly - 0
9. Failure to deposit in trust account - 0
10. Failure to maintain records - 0
11. Failure to pay expenses contracted for on behalf of client - 0
12. Representation of conflicting interests - 11
13. Harassment - 5
14. Misrepresentation to court - 0
15. Commission of crime - 1
16. Personal conduct unbecoming to Bar - 0
17. ISF - Trust Account - 3
18. Failure to provide file - 1
19. Rude - 2
20. Sales Tax - 0
21. Failure to file certificate of compliance - 6
22. Other - 12
23. Fee Dispute - 1
24. Ex parte communication - 1
25. Scheme to Defraud - 1
 		 Dismissals: 72
Admonition - 25
Private Reprimand - 4
SDCL 16-19-60 Agreement - 1
Suspension -  0
Public Censure - 1
           Robert L. Chavis
Disbarred - 2
           David J. Huss
           Chad W. Swenson
Reinstatement - 1
           Michael P. Ortner
SDCL 16-19-60 Lifted - 1
SDCL 16-19-65 Proceeding - 0
 
2006
(For January 1, 2006 through
 December 31, 2006)		 Complaints - 120 Action
  1. Procrastination, failure to perform - 24
2. Incompetence - 25
3. Lack of communication - 19
4. Failure to follow instructions - 3
5. Misrepresentation to client - 7
6. Exorbitant fees - 8
7. Failure to account - 7
8. Failure to pay out promptly - 0
9. Failure to deposit in trust account - 0
10. Failure to maintain records - 0
11. Failure to pay expenses contracted for on behalf of client - 1
12. Representation of conflicting interests - 13
13. Harassment - 4
14. Misrepresentation to court - 6
15. Commission of crime - 2
16. Personal conduct unbecoming to Bar - 2
17. ISF - Trust Account - 6
18. Failure to provide file - 0
19. Rude - 0
20. Sales Tax - 1
21. Failure to file certificate of compliance - 0
22. Other - 15
23. Trust Account Violation - 2
 		 Dismissals: 81
Admonition - 23
Private Reprimand - 1
SDCL 16-19-60 Agreement - 6
Suspension - 2
           Alice Horneber
           Leisah Bluespruce
Public Censure - 0       
Disbarred - 2
           Christopher C. Moen
           Ryan K. Shultz
Reinstatement - 1
           William J. Janklow
SDCL 16-19-60 Lifted - 2
SDCL 16-19-65 Proceeding - 0
 
2005
(For January 1, 2005 through
 December 31, 2005)		 Complaints - 98 Action
  1. Procrastination, failure to perform - 18
2. Incompetence - 17
3. Lack of communication - 21
4. Failure to follow instructions - 1
5. Misrepresentation to client - 1
6. Exorbitant fees - 10
7. Failure to account - 11
8. Failure to pay out promptly - 0
9. Failure to deposit in trust account - 0
10. Failure to maintain records - 0
11. Failure to pay expenses contracted for on behalf of client - 0
12. Representation of conflicting interests - 12
13. Harassment - 5
14. Misrepresentation to court - 4
15. Commission of crime - 0
16. Personal conduct unbecoming to Bar - 2
17. ISF - Trust Account - 2
18. Failure to provide file - 1
19. Rude - 1
20. Sales Tax - 0
21. Failure to file certificate of compliance - 0
22. Other - 11
23. Sex with client - 1
 		 Dismissals: 68
Admonition - 14
Private Reprimand - 2
SDCL 16-19-60 Agreement - 4
Suspension
           Michael P. Ortner
Public Censure - 1
           Mark Welter
Disbarred - 2
           Verne Thorstenson
           John C. Ogilvie
Reinstatement - 1
           Al Arendt
SDCL 16-19-60 Lifted - 0
SDCL 16-19-65 Proceeding - 0
 
2004
(For January 1, 2004 through
 December 31, 2004)		 Complaints - 81 Action
  1. Procrastination, failure to perform - 11
2. Incompetence - 14
3. Lack of communication - 13
4. Failure to follow instructions - 2
5. Misrepresentation to client - 4
6. Exorbitant fees - 13
7. Failure to account - 9
8. Failure to pay out promptly - 0
9. Failure to deposit in trust account - 0
10. Failure to maintain records - 0
11. Failure to pay expenses contracted for on behalf of client - 0
12. Representation of conflicting interests - 5
13. Harassment - 3
14. Misrepresentation to court - 4
15. Commission of crime - 0
16. Personal conduct unbecoming to Bar - 1
17. ISF - Trust Account - 0
18. Failure to provide file - 2
19. Rude - 3
20. Sales Tax - 0
21. Failure to file certificate of compliance - 0
22. Other - 11
 Dismissals - 46
Admonition - 29
Private Reprimand - 3
SDCL 16-19-60 Agreement - 3
Suspension - 1
         Al Arendt 
Public Censure - 0
Disbarred - 0
Reinstatement - 0 
SDCL 16-19-60 Lifted - 0
SDCL 16-19-65 Proceeding - 0
 
2003
(For January 1, 2003 through
 December 31, 2003)		 Complaints - 92 Action
  1. Procrastination, failure to perform - 17
2. Incompetence - 15
3. Lack of communication - 19
4. Failure to follow instructions - 2
5. Misrepresentation to client - 1
6. Exorbitant fees - 6
7. Failure to account - 7
8. Failure to pay out promptly - 0
9. Failure to deposit in trust account - 1
10. Failure to maintain records - 0
11. Failure to pay expenses contracted for on behalf of client - 0
12. Representation of conflicting interests - 10
13. Harassment - 5
14. Misrepresentation to court - 1
15. Commission of crime - 2
16. Personal conduct unbecoming to Bar - 0
17. ISF - Trust Account - 2
18. Failure to provide file - 1
19. Rude - 2
20. Sales Tax - 3
21. Failure to file certificate of compliance - 13
22. Other - 5
 Dismissals - 45
Admonition - 32
Private Reprimand - 2
SDCL 16-19-60 Agreement - 3
Suspension - 4
         T.J. Schmitz
         William Janklow
          Richard L. Bode
          Jay H. Tapken
Public Censure - 0
Disbarred - 5
          Frederick Osborn
          Chris Carlsen
          Gwen Laprath
          Richard L. Bode
          Jay H. Tapken
Reinstatement - 0
SDCL 16-19-60 Lifted - 0
SDCL 16-19-65 Proceeding - 0