In re Disciplinary Proceedings Against Malek

452 N.W.2d 794, 154 Wis. 2d 197, 1990 Wisc. LEXIS 106

• Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
• Decided: April 3, 1990
• Docket: No. 89-2227-D
• Status: Published

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

The referee in this disciplinary proceeding, Attorney Charles Van Sickle, recommended that the license of Joseph A. Malek to practice law in Wisconsin be suspended for a period of two years as discipline reciprocal to that imposed on him by the Supreme Court of Illinois on March 29, 1989 for professional misconduct. Attorney Malek resides and practices in LaGrange Park, Illinois and was licensed to practice law in Wisconsin in 1975.

Attorney Malek never personally notified the Board of the two-year license suspension in Illinois; the Illinois disciplinary authorities informed the Board of it but not until July 24, 1989. The referee found that Attorney Malek violated this court's rule, SCR 22.25(1),

* requiring an attorney admitted to practice in Wisconsin to inform the administrator of the Board of Attorneys Professional Responsibility of public discipline imposed by another jurisdiction within 20 days of the effective date of that discipline.

IT IS ORDERED that the license of Joseph A. Malek to practice law in Wisconsin is suspended for a period of two years, commencing the date of this order.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within 60 days of the date of this order Joseph A. Malek pay to the Board of Attorneys Professional Responsibility the costs of this proceeding, provided that if the costs are not paid within the time specified and absent a showing to this court of his inability to pay the costs within that time, the license of Joseph A. Malek to practice law in Wisconsin shall be suspended until further order of the court.

SCR 22.25(1) provides:

Reciprocal discipline. (1) An attorney admitted to practice law in this state, upon being subjected to public discipline or suspended for medical incapacity in another jurisdiction, shall promptly inform the administrator of the action. Failure to furnish the notice within 20 days of the effective date of the order or judgment constitutes misconduct.