Hearing set in Milwaukee attorney’s reinstatement bid

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A reinstatement hearing is scheduled in a Milwaukee lawyer’s second bid to get his law license back.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court in 1997 suspended Robert Malloy’s license for a year for breaking more than a dozen lawyer-ethics rules. The misconduct included failing to properly maintain his trust-account records, co-mingling client money and personal money, and failing to keep clients informed about their cases. The justices also made the reinstatement of his license depend on his agreeing to let his trust account be audited quarterly for two years after his license is reinstated.

Five months after deciding to suspend Malloy’s license, the court tacked on another three months to his year-long suspension. The court noted that Malloy had continued violating lawyer-ethics rules and did not change his practices at his firm although the previous disciplinary proceeding was under way. This time, the misconduct included, among other things, failing to appear in court on behalf of a client, failing to file documents on time and failing to respond to clients’ reasonable requests for information about their cases.

Malloy, who earned his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1992, attempted to get his license reinstated in 2000, but the high court denied his request. He filed another one in December.

The justices appointed the retired judge Dennis Flynn to preside over the case. A public hearing before Flynn is scheduled for 9 a.m. Aug. 28 at Loeb & Herman, 111 E. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 1900, Milwaukee. If needed, the hearing will continue at 9 a.m., Aug. 29.

People interested in speaking either for or against Malloy’s reinstatement may appear at the hearing.

To provide or obtain relevant information, call the Office of Lawyer Regulation retained counsel, Gregg Herman, who can be reached at 414-272-5632 or 111 East Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1900, Milwaukee.

After the hearing, Flynn will make a recommendation, and the Wisconsin Supreme Court will review his findings and issue a final decision in the matter. Follow @erikastrebel