On Monday, February 27, 2023, the Supreme Court of the State of Minnesota ruled on the disciplinary charges filed against Milaca attorney Richard W. Curott alleging professional misconduct.

The case is styled ‘In the Matter of Richard W. Curott ’ and was brought by the Director of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility (OLPR).

The charges cited Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15, 8.1(b), and 8.4(d).

The Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct can be found here.

According to the court filing, the Office of Lawyer’s Professional Responsibility filed a Petition for Disciplinary Action accusing Curott of committing professional misconduct by failing to maintain the trust account book and records, comingling of funds, IOLTA violations, and failing to safe keep client funds. He was further alleged to have engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice.

The petition further alleged that Curott failed to respond and cooperate with multiple investigations of the Director’s Office.

Based on these acts, the Director of the Office of Lawyer’s Professional Responsibility requested the Court to issue an Order imposing appropriate discipline and awarding costs and disbursements in favor of OLPR.

Curott and the Director entered into a Stipulation for Discipline which sets forth Curott’s unconditional admission of all the allegations of the petition except paragraph 33 which was later withdrawn by the Director from the petition.

The parties jointly recommended the imposition of a 90-day suspension upon Curott for his misconduct.

Accordingly, the Court ruled in favor of the parties’ stipulation, approved, and ruled for the 90-day suspension of Curott based upon the latter’s violation of the above-cited rules of professional conduct.

Curott was also ordered to pay costs amounting to $900 under Rule 24, RLPR.

Prior to the suspension, Mr. Richard W. Curott practiced in Milaca, Minnesota. According to his LinkedIn profile, he attended Cornell Law School, graduating in 1979. Curott has been admitted to the Minnesota bar in 1979.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.