The South Dakota Supreme Court issued its punishment for an Avon-based attorney. Scott Swier violated professional rules of conduct, the State Bar Disciplinary Board argued. The court found that Swier violated professional conduct rules by taking cases in conflict with the interests of former clients and failing to ensure the attorneys he employed did not also participate in misconduct. In Thursday’s ruling, the State Supreme Court said Swier ignored what he knew were conflicts and was too slow to take corrective measures and showed no true remorse.
Swier will be suspended from practicing law for one year, effective 30 days after the suspension order.
The suspension will be reduced to six months if Swier pays back $144,000 to a client’s estate and trust. He will need to apply for reinstatement.
Swier also has offices in Sioux Falls, Corsica, Winner, and White Lake and was in the process of opening an office in Wagner and had an office in Sturgis affiliated with a Sturgis law firm.
