In The Matter Of Donna R. Hagedorn

725 N.W.2d 397 (2000)

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Nature of the Case

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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.