IN RE: Petition for DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST Richard S. STEMPEL (2026)

ORDER

The Director of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility has filed a petition for disciplinary action alleging that respondent Richard S. Stempel has committed professional misconduct warranting public discipline—namely, failing to review a court order, failing to timely conduct discovery, and pursuing claims that did not have a basis in facts supported by admissible evidence. See Minn. R. Prof. Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 3.1, 8.4(d).

Respondent and the Director have entered into a stipulation for discipline. In it, respondent waives his procedural rights pursuant to Rule 14, Rules on Lawyers Professional Responsibility (RLPR), waives his right to answer, and unconditionally admits the allegations of the petition. The parties jointly recommend that the appropriate discipline is a public reprimand.

We have independently reviewed the file and approve the jointly recommended disposition.

Based upon all the files, records, and proceedings herein,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:

1. Respondent Richard S. Stempel is publicly reprimanded.

2. Respondent must pay $900 in costs pursuant to Rule 24(a), RLPR.

Gordon L. Moore, III Associate Justice