MONROE - A Monroe lawyer has been reprimanded by the Supreme Court of Wisconsin for providing false information about serving papers in a divorce case.
Roger Merry, according to a decision filed by the Supreme Court of Wisconsin Office of Lawyer Regulation Aug. 12, represented a man in a divorce case that was filed in Green County Circuit Court on Sept. 21. On Sept. 24 he went to serve divorce papers to the man's wife. He went to the woman's workplace. He saw three of her co-workers at the business but didn't see the woman. The co-workers told him the woman was not at work. He then gave the divorce papers to one of co-workers and asked that the papers be given to the woman.
Merry later filed a court affidavit of service in which he falsely stated he "personally hand served a true and correct copy of the Summons and Petition for divorce" to the woman and said the papers were served at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 24.
Merry violated the rules of professional conduct by making the false statement, offering evidence which he knew to be false and "engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation."
The court document states that Merry has been disciplined before.
In 1990 he was privately reprimanded for engaging in a conflict of interest; in 1993 he was publicly reprimanded for conflict of interest; in 1994 he was privately reprimanded for failing to properly communicate with a client; and in 1999 he was publicly reprimanded for a conflict of interest.
Merry was not available for comment this morning.
Roger Merry, according to a decision filed by the Supreme Court of Wisconsin Office of Lawyer Regulation Aug. 12, represented a man in a divorce case that was filed in Green County Circuit Court on Sept. 21. On Sept. 24 he went to serve divorce papers to the man's wife. He went to the woman's workplace. He saw three of her co-workers at the business but didn't see the woman. The co-workers told him the woman was not at work. He then gave the divorce papers to one of co-workers and asked that the papers be given to the woman.
Merry later filed a court affidavit of service in which he falsely stated he "personally hand served a true and correct copy of the Summons and Petition for divorce" to the woman and said the papers were served at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 24.
Merry violated the rules of professional conduct by making the false statement, offering evidence which he knew to be false and "engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation."
The court document states that Merry has been disciplined before.
In 1990 he was privately reprimanded for engaging in a conflict of interest; in 1993 he was publicly reprimanded for conflict of interest; in 1994 he was privately reprimanded for failing to properly communicate with a client; and in 1999 he was publicly reprimanded for a conflict of interest.
Merry was not available for comment this morning.