Supreme Court Censures Sheridan Attorney

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Supreme Court issued a public censure to Sheridan lawyer Nicholas T. Haderlie.  Mr. Haderlie had a single-vehicle accident while driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in substantial damage to a fence.  Haderlie left the scene of the accident and returned to his house.  When law enforcement personnel arrived at his house, Mr. Haderlie refused to cooperate and a physical altercation ensued as the peace officers attempted to place Mr. Haderlie under arrest. Haderlie’s blood alcohol was later determined to be .27.  He was charged with DWUI, leaving the scene of an accident, and interference with a peace officer.

Mr. Haderlie promptly self-reported to State Bar disciplinary authorities and his employer. Mr. Haderlie pleaded guilty to DWUI and to interference with a peace officer, both misdemeanors. He was sentenced to thirty days in jail, two years’ probation (the first year supervised) and ordered to pay $11,730.07 in restitution for the damage to the fence. Mr. Haderlie has been fully compliant with his judgment and sentence. Mr. Haderlie also voluntarily sought treatment and entered into a two-year monitoring agreement with Wyoming Professional Assistance Program to monitor his sobriety, at his sole expense.

In approving Mr. Haderlie’s stipulated motion for a public censure, the Board of Professional Responsibility considered the nature of Mr. Haderlie’s misconduct, which violated his duty to maintain personal integrity, and also considered applicable aggravating and mitigating factors. Aggravating factors included the presence of two misdemeanor offenses to which he pleaded guilty. Mitigating factors included the absence of a prior disciplinary record; timely good faith effort to make restitution or to rectify consequences of misconduct; full and free disclosure to Bar Counsel and a cooperative attitude toward proceedings; recovery from alcohol dependency as demonstrated by a meaningful and sustained period of successful rehabilitation; imposition of other penalties and sanctions; and remorse.

The Board of Professional Responsibility submitted a report and recommendation for a public censure of Mr. Haderlie to the Wyoming Supreme Court.  In accepting the Board’s recommendation and issuing an Order of Public Censure, the Court ordered Mr. Haderlie to pay an administrative fee of $500 and costs of $50 to the Wyoming State Bar.

Order of Public Censure

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