In The Matter Of Donna R. Hagedor

725 N.W.2d 397 (2000)

Facts

Hagedorn (D) was accused of neglecting the legal affairs of three clients and mismanaging funds in trust for them. In the first instance, D did not tell a couple that pre-placement investigation was required and that D had not arranged for the investigation. D also did not arrange for post-placement supervision. When the child was born, D did not prepare or file a petition for adoption but did get the mother’s consent to release the child to the couple. The couple paid $3000 for medical expenses, but D failed to forward the bills to the couple’s employer for consideration of payment. D did guarantee the payment of the bills, but the hospital had to sue D to recover expenses. By the time the child was one-year-old, D had still not filed a petition for adoption and even when the couple went to her office and signed it, it was not filed. D then lied and told them the birth mother’s parental rights had been terminated. Another year passed with more lies, and eventually, the couple filed D.