WILLMAR-A petition has been filed with the Minnesota Supreme Court seeking the suspension of Willmar attorney George E. Hulstrand, Jr.
The Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility announced the filing Oct. 4. Its filing date is listed as Aug. 31.
ADVERTISEMENT
The petition alleges misconduct in at least five different cases in the last five years, stating Hulstrand failed to follow through or cooperate in many cases he took on.
Hulstrand has practiced law since 1976.
In 2013, the petition says, Hulstrand could not figure out how to serve divorce papers on an individual living in Mexico, so he stopped working on case after a year.
His client hired new legal counsel, who was able to finalize the divorce within just two months.
ADVERTISEMENT
In 2015, Hulstrand represented a client in a child custody case. The petition alleges there was no progress in seven meetings and nothing filed.
Hulstrand failed to pay back his client for the fees until it was claimed in conciliation court, the petition states.
A 2012 bankruptcy case Hulstrand accepted took over a year to file. He allegedly failed to communicate with his clients in the case, and didn't answer their phone calls or voicemails. The bankruptcy case was eventually dismissed in court because the documents were not timely.
The clients retained a new attorney, after which their bankruptcy was completed within three months. He never refunded the clients their $1,500 fee, the petition states.
ADVERTISEMENT
Other claims in the petition allege failure to cooperate, diligence and failure to show up for court hearings.
The petition was sent to the Minnesota Supreme Court, which will decide any discipline.
