Ethics Panel Recommends Punishing Attorney for ‘Porn Trolling’

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A state ethics board for lawyers wants a Minneapolis attorney disciplined over so-called "porn trolling" lawsuits.

The Minnesota Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility is asking the state Supreme Court to either disbar or suspend Paul Hansmeier.

Hansmeier built a career suing thousands of people nationwide for downloading Internet porn. He then turned to filing what some call "nuisance lawsuits" against small businesses that allegedly fail to comply with disability access laws.

The Star Tribune reports the disciplinary petition was signed Oct. 28 and made public Monday. In recommending discipline, the ethics board cited numerous legal rulings against Hansmeier characterizing the "porn trolling" suits as "vexation litigation designed to coerce settlement."

Hansmeier has 20 days to answer the allegations. Phone messages left for his attorney were not immediately returned Monday.