On Thursday, May 29, 2025, the Supreme Court of Wyoming issued an order suspending Laramie attorney Vaughn H. Neubauer from practicing law for 30 days, with the suspension stayed pending successful completion of a six-month probation period. The decision stems from Neubauer’s failure to meet filing deadlines in two separate client cases, violating Rule 1.3 of the Wyoming Rules of Professional Conduct, which requires lawyers to act with diligence and promptness.
The case is entitled “Board of Professional Responsibility, Wyoming State Bar v. Vaughn H. Neubauer,” with case no. D-25-0003.
Neubauer faced disciplinary action following complaints filed in 2024. The first complaint, filed by former client Jack Crawford on May 30, 2024, related to Neubauer’s representation in a 2022 appeal in Albany County’s Second Judicial District. Crawford paid Neubauer a flat fee of $18,000 and incurred $3,113.50 in transcript costs. Neubauer filed a motion to stay proceedings and a notice of appeal in November 2022, but missed the April 10, 2023, deadline for submitting the appellant’s brief due to a scheduling error.
Neubauer acknowledged full responsibility, citing a distraction from a concurrent jury trial. His subsequent requests for a one-week extension and reinstatement of the appeal were denied by the Wyoming Supreme Court, resulting in the appeal’s dismissal. Neubauer later refunded $14,000.00 of Mr. Crawford’s fee. On October 26, 2024, Respondent refunded the remaining portion of Mr. Crawford’s fee, his out-of-pocket costs of $3113.50, and an additional sum of money.
The second complaint, filed by Melissa Schmelzle on October 15, 2024, concerned Neubauer’s representation of her son, Joseph Nielsen, in a post-conviction relief petition due December 1, 2023. Schmelzle paid $7,000 of Neubauer’s $10,000 fee. Neubauer’s legal assistant attempted to email the petition to the Campbell County District Court Clerk but sent it to an incorrect email address, receiving an immediate delivery failure notice. The assistant also mailed the petition, but it was not received by the deadline. The missed filing could not be remedied, and Neubauer refunded Schmelzle’s $7,000.
The Board of Professional Responsibility reviewed the cases in a videoconference on April 14, 2025, with Neubauer admitting to negligence in both instances. The board found that his actions caused serious injury to his clients. Aggravating factors included Neubauer’s substantial legal experience and the occurrence of multiple offenses. Mitigating factors included his lack of dishonest motive, full cooperation with the disciplinary process, timely restitution efforts, and expressed remorse.
Neubauer’s probation, effective June 2, 2025, includes conditions to improve his office management. He must submit monthly compliance reports to the Office of Bar Counsel, review a self-audit checklist from the Wyoming State Bar, reorganize case files, implement a new calendaring system with multiple deadline reminders, develop detailed office policies, and complete six hours of continuing legal education in law office or time management. He must also avoid further violations of professional conduct rules. Failure to comply may result in the activation of the 30-day suspension.
The Disposition states:
“It is, therefore, ADJUDGED AND ORDERED that the Board of Professional Responsibility’s Report and Recommendation for 30-Day Suspension Stayed Upon Successful Completion of 6 Months’ Probation, which is attached hereto and incorporated herein, shall be, and the same hereby is, approved, confirmed, and adopted by this Court.”
According to Avvo.com, Mr. Neubauer is a criminal defense attorney in Laramie, Wyoming. He attended the University of Wyoming College of Law, graduating in 2000. He acquired his law license in Wyoming in 2001.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
