Wyoming Supreme Court censures John Learned for attorney misconduct

WY State Bar Disciplinary

Filed October 25th, 2017

Detected March 18th, 2026

Summary

The Wyoming Supreme Court issued a public censure to Laramie attorney John Learned for lack of diligence and improper fee collection in an estate representation. Learned was ordered to refund fees and pay administrative costs.

View original document View source feed page

What changed

The Wyoming Supreme Court has publicly censured attorney John Learned for professional misconduct. The censure stems from Learned's failure to diligently represent the personal representative of an estate, missing numerous probate deadlines, and improperly charging fees without court approval. As a result, Learned was ordered to refund the fees to the estate and pay $750.00 in administrative fees and $50.00 in costs to the Wyoming State Bar.

This action serves as a binding disciplinary measure for legal professionals in Wyoming. Attorneys must ensure diligent representation, adhere to all statutory deadlines in probate matters, and obtain prior court approval for any fees charged to an estate. Failure to comply with these rules, as demonstrated by Learned's case, can lead to disciplinary actions including censure, fee refunds, and financial penalties.

What to do next

Review adherence to diligence and fee approval requirements in estate representation.
Ensure compliance with all statutory deadlines in probate matters.
Consult Wyoming Rules of Professional Conduct, specifically Rules 1.1, 1.3, and 1.5.

Penalties

Refund of improperly charged fees to the estate, $750.00 administrative fee, and $50.00 in costs to the Wyoming State Bar.

Source document (simplified)

Wyoming Supreme Court Censures Laramie Attorney

October 25, 2017 - Discipline, News Releases CHEYENNE– The Wyoming Supreme Court issued an order of public censure to Laramie attorney John James Learned. The public censure stemmed from Learned’s lack of diligence in representing the personal representative of an estate. Learned missed numerous deadlines set by the Wyoming probate code. Learned also charged and accepted fees from the personal representative without prior approval of the court as required by statute, which resulted in an order requiring Learned to refund those fees to the estate. Learned conceded that his conduct constituted negligent violations of Rules 1.1 (competence), 1.3 (diligence) and 1.5 (fees) of the Wyoming Rules of Professional Conduct. In approving the stipulation of Learned and Bar Counsel for a public censure as the appropriate sanction for Learned’s misconduct, the court ordered Learned to pay an administrative fee in the amount of $750.00 and costs of $50.00 to the Wyoming State Bar.

Share on Social Media