Opinion
A21-1330
04-07-2022
IN RE Petition for DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST Wendy Alison NORA, a Minnesota Attorney, Registration No. 0165906.
ORDER
Natalie E. Hudson, Associate Justice
Respondent Wendy Nora is admitted to practice in Minnesota and Wisconsin. In May 2019, we indefinitely suspended respondent, with no right to petition for reinstatement for 1 year, after the Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended her for 1 year. In re Nora , 942 N.W.2d 127, 128 (Minn. 2019). Respondent remains suspended in Minnesota.
The Director of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility has filed another petition seeking reciprocal discipline after the Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended respondent for 2 years. See In re Nora (Nora Wis.) , 393 Wis.2d 359, 945 N.W.2d 559, 562 (2020), cert. denied ––– U.S. ––––, 141 S. Ct. 2645, 209 L.Ed.2d 764 (2021). Respondent was suspended for 2 years in Wisconsin for engaging in frivolous litigation intended to harass others and cause delay in two client representations involving foreclosure actions. Id. at 580 ; see also Wis. Sup. Ct. R. 20:3.1(a), 20:3.2, 20:8.4(g). The Wisconsin Supreme Court acknowledged that "the COVID-19 pandemic and the attendant matters that have consumed the court over the last several months have impacted the timing of this decision." Nora Wis. , 945 N.W.2d at 582. As a result, it made the suspension effective as of April 1, 2020, which made the suspension retroactive from the date of the opinion by 105 days. Id. at 559, 583.
Respondent and the Director have entered into a stipulation for discipline. In it, respondent waives her procedural rights under Rule 12(d), Rules on Lawyers Professional Responsibility (RLPR), withdraws her answer, and unconditionally admits the allegations in the petition. The parties jointly recommend that the appropriate discipline is a 2-year suspension, retroactive to April 1, 2020, the date of her 2-year Wisconsin suspension.
We have independently reviewed the file. We agree that imposition of a 2-year suspension is appropriate under Rule 12(d), RLPR. We will give this suspension the same retroactive effect as the Wisconsin Supreme Court. As a result, the suspension will be effective 105 days before the date of this order.
Based upon all the files, records, and proceedings herein,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1. Respondent Wendy Alison Nora is indefinitely suspended from the practice of law, effective 105 days before the date of this order, with no right to petition for reinstatement for 2 years from the effective date of this suspension.
2. Respondent may petition for reinstatement under Rule 18(a)–(d), RLPR. Reinstatement is conditioned on successful completion of the written examination required for admission to the practice of law by the State Board of Law Examiners on the subject of professional responsibility, see Rule 18(e)(2), RLPR, and satisfaction of continuing legal education requirements, see Rule 18(e)(4), RLPR.
3. Respondent shall comply with Rule 26, RLPR (requiring notice of suspension to clients, opposing counsel, and tribunals) and shall pay $900 in costs under Rule 24, RLPR.
ANDERSON, J., took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.