Case Title: Board of Attorneys Professional Responsibility v. Theodore F. Mazza

Citation: 2002 WI 36

Docket Number: 1983AP000843-D

State: wisconsin

Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court

Date: 2002-04-26T00:00:00Z

Document:
2002 WI 36 
 
 
 
SUPREME COURT OF WISCONSIN 
 
 
 
 
 
CASE NO.: 
76-0476-D & 83-0843-D 
 
 
COMPLETE TITLE: 
 
 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings 
Against Theodore F. Mazza, Attorney at Law: 
 
Board of Attorneys Professional Responsibility, 
n/k/a Office of Lawyer Regulation,  
 
Complainant, 
 
v. 
Theodore F. Mazza,  
 
Respondent. 
 
 
 
 
REINSTATEMENT OF MAZZA 
 
 
OPINION FILED: 
April 26, 2002   
SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS: 
        
ORAL ARGUMENT: 
        
 
 
SOURCE OF APPEAL: 
 
 
COURT: 
        
 
COUNTY: 
        
 
JUDGE: 
        
 
 
 
JUSTICES: 
 
 
CONCURRED: 
        
 
DISSENTED: 
        
 
NOT PARTICIPATING:         
 
 
 
ATTORNEYS: 
 
      
 
 
2002 WI 36 
NOTICE 
This opinion is subject to further 
editing and modification.  The final 
version will appear in the bound 
volume of the official reports.   
No.  76-0476-D & 83-0843-D  
 
STATE OF WISCONSIN  
 
 
   : 
IN SUPREME COURT 
 
 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings 
Against Theodore F. Mazza, Attorney at  
Law: 
 
Board of Attorneys Professional  
Responsibility, n/k/a Office of Lawyer  
Regulation,  
 
          Complainant, 
 
     v. 
 
Theodore F. Mazza,  
 
          Respondent. 
 
FILED 
 
APR 26, 2002  
 
Cornelia G. Clark 
Clerk of Supreme Court 
 
 
 
 
 
PETITION for reinstatement.  Reinstatement granted upon 
conditions.   
 
¶1 
PER CURIAM.   We review the recommendation of the 
referee that Theodore F. Mazza's license to practice law in 
Wisconsin be reinstated upon certain conditions.  The Office of 
No. 
76-0476-D & 83-0843-D   
 
2 
 
Lawyer Regulation (OLR)1 and the Board of Bar Examiners (BBE) 
join in that recommendation. 
¶2 
We 
adopt 
the 
referee's 
findings 
of 
fact 
and 
conclusions of law and agree with his recommendation that 
Theodore F. Mazza's license to practice law be reinstated.  As 
conditions of Mr. Mazza's reinstatement, he shall be required to 
participate in counseling for a period of six months and shall 
be required to submit to a quarterly audit of his client trust 
account, at his own expense, for a period of two years.  In 
addition, he shall be required to pay the costs of the 
reinstatement proceeding. 
¶3 
Theodore Mazza was admitted to practice law in 
Wisconsin in 1965 and was engaged in private practice in 
Waukesha county until 1977.  In 1978 Mr. Mazza's license to 
practice law was suspended indefinitely after this court found 
he had engaged in professional misconduct, including abusing the 
attorney-client relationship, misusing his trust account, and 
neglecting the work of clients and failing to respond to their 
telephone calls.  See Disciplinary Proceedings Against Mazza, 82 
Wis. 2d 598, 262 N.W.2d 767 (1978).   
                                                 
1 Effective 
October 
1, 
2000, 
Wisconsin's 
attorney 
disciplinary process underwent a substantial restructuring.  The 
name of the body responsible for investigating and prosecuting 
cases involving attorney misconduct was changed to the Office of 
Lawyer Regulation (OLR) and the supreme court rules applicable 
to the lawyer regulation system were also revised.  Unless 
otherwise stated, references to supreme court rules will be to 
those currently in effect. 
No. 
76-0476-D & 83-0843-D   
 
3 
 
¶4 
In March of 1982 Mr. Mazza was convicted of a criminal 
charge of conspiracy to commit theft, party to a crime, based on 
acts committed prior to the suspension of his license.  A second 
disciplinary action was filed against him based on the criminal 
conduct.  In March of 1984 his license to practice law was 
revoked.  See Disciplinary Proceedings Against Mazza, 117 
Wis. 2d 770, 345 N.W.2d 492 (1984).   
¶5 
On August 14, 2000, Mr. Mazza filed a petition for 
reinstatement of his license under SCR 22.28.2  The case was 
assigned to a referee, pursuant to SCR 22.30.3  The referee, John 
                                                 
2 SCR 22.28 provides: License reinstatement. 
(1) An attorney suspended from the practice of law for 
nonpayment of state bar dues or failure to comply with 
continuing legal education requirements or the trust 
account certification requirement under SCR 20:1.15(g) 
shall be reinstated pursuant to the rules governing 
the suspension. 
(2) The 
license 
of 
an 
attorney 
suspended 
for 
misconduct 
for 
less 
than 
six 
months 
shall 
be 
reinstated by the supreme court upon the filing of an 
affidavit with the director showing full compliance 
with all the terms and conditions of the order of 
suspension and the director's notification to the 
supreme court of the attorney's full compliance. 
(3) The license of an attorney that is revoked or 
suspended for misconduct for six months or more shall 
be reinstated pursuant to the procedure set forth in 
SCR 22.29 to 22.33 and only by order of the supreme 
court.  
3 SCR 22.30 provides: Reinstatement procedure. 
(1) The clerk of the supreme court shall select a 
referee from the panel provided in SCR 21.08, based on 
availability 
and 
geographic 
proximity 
to 
the 
petitioner's place of residence, and the chief justice 
No. 
76-0476-D & 83-0843-D   
 
4 
 
Schweitzer, held a public hearing on the reinstatement petition.  
Various witnesses testified at the hearing.  Following the 
hearing the referee found that Mr. Mazza had paid the costs of 
the 
two 
disciplinary 
proceedings 
and 
had 
satisfactorily 
addressed the substance abuse problems that contributed to the 
behavior for which he was disciplined in those two cases.   
¶6 
The 
referee 
found 
that 
in 
preparation 
for 
the 
reinstatement hearing, Mr. Mazza underwent a psychological 
assessment administered by Burton S. Silberglitt, Ph.D.  Dr. 
Silberglitt recommended reinstatement on the condition that Mr. 
Mazza continue counseling for at least six additional months.  
The referee found that no evidence was presented at the public 
                                                                                                                                                             
shall appoint the referee to conduct a hearing on the 
petition for reinstatement. In the case of a license 
suspension, the hearing shall not be held prior to the 
expiration of the period of suspension. 
(2) The director shall investigate the eligibility of 
the petitioner for reinstatement and file a response 
with the referee in support of or in opposition to the 
petition. 
(3) At least 30 days prior to the hearing, the 
director shall publish a notice in a newspaper of 
general circulation in any county in which the 
petitioner maintained an office for the practice of 
law prior to suspension or revocation and in the 
county of 
the petitioner's residence 
during the 
suspension 
or 
revocation 
and 
in 
an 
official 
publication of the state bar of Wisconsin. 
(4) The notice under sub. (3) shall contain a brief 
statement of the nature and date of suspension or 
revocation, the matters required to be proved for 
reinstatement, and the date, time and location of the 
hearing on the petition.  
No. 
76-0476-D & 83-0843-D   
 
5 
 
hearing to cast doubt upon Mr. Mazza's present qualifications to 
practice law, and he found that except for completing his 
continuing legal education (CLE) requirements, Mr. Mazza had 
satisfactorily 
addressed 
all 
of 
the 
requirements 
for 
reinstatement contained in SCR 22.29(4).4   
                                                 
4 SCR 22.29(4) provides: 
(4) The petition for reinstatement shall show all of 
the following: 
(a) The petitioner desires to have the petitioner's 
license reinstated. 
(b) The petitioner has not practiced law during the 
period of suspension or revocation. 
(c) The petitioner has complied fully with the terms of 
the order of suspension or revocation and will 
continue to comply with them until the petitioner's 
license is reinstated. 
(d) The 
petitioner 
has 
maintained 
competence 
and 
learning in the law by attendance at identified 
educational activities. 
(e) The petitioner's conduct since the suspension or 
revocation has been exemplary and above reproach. 
(f) The petitioner has a proper understanding of and 
attitude toward the standards that are imposed upon 
members of the bar and will act in conformity with the 
standards. 
(g) The petitioner can safely be recommended to the 
legal profession, the courts and the public as a 
person fit to be consulted by others and to represent 
them and otherwise act in matters of trust and 
confidence and in general to aid in the administration 
of justice as a member of the bar and as an officer of 
the courts. 
(h) The 
petitioner 
has 
fully 
complied 
with 
the 
requirements set forth in SCR 22.26. 
No. 
76-0476-D & 83-0843-D   
 
6 
 
¶7 
The 
referee 
found 
that 
Mr. 
Mazza 
testified 
convincingly about the circumstances that led to his past 
substance abuse problems and criminal behavior.  The referee 
noted Mr. Mazza has become active in Lawyers Concerned for 
Lawyers and the Lawyers' Assistance Program, has made 100 to 150 
presentations on panels regarding the problems of drug addiction 
and 
chemical 
dependency, 
and 
helped 
found 
Vision 
Unita 
Incorporated, an organization dedicated to helping chemically 
dependent physically disabled persons, particularly in the 
minority communities of Milwaukee's south side.   
¶8 
The referee noted that OLR accepted the favorable 
recommendation of the comprehensive psychological evaluation 
concluded by Dr. Silberglitt.  The referee also noted Dr. 
Silberglitt opined that Mr. Mazza could safely be recommended to 
return to the practice of law; however, the doctor recommended 
that Mr. Mazza continue counseling for at least an additional 
six 
months. 
 
The 
referee 
said 
a 
fair 
reading 
of 
Dr. 
Silberglitt's report showed he was concerned about Mr. Mazza's 
anxiety about returning to the practice of law, and the referee 
                                                                                                                                                             
(j) The petitioner's proposed use of the license if 
reinstated. 
(k) A full description of all of the petitioner's 
business activities during the period of suspension or 
revocation. 
(m) The petitioner has made restitution to or settled 
all 
claims 
of 
persons 
injured 
or 
harmed 
by 
petitioner's misconduct or, if not, the petitioner's 
explanation of the failure or inability to do so. 
No. 
76-0476-D & 83-0843-D   
 
7 
 
interpreted Dr. Silberglitt's recommendation as a requirement 
that Mr. Mazza continue counseling for at least six months 
following his reinstatement to practice. 
¶9 
The referee concluded that the evidence presented by 
Mr. Mazza, by OLR, and by others at the public hearing indicated 
that Mr. Mazza could safely be recommended to the legal 
profession, the courts, the public, and this court, as a person 
fit to be consulted by others and to represent them and 
otherwise act in matters of trust and confidence and in general 
to aid in the administration of justice as a member of the bar 
and an officer of the courts.  The referee thus recommended that 
Mr. Mazza's petition for reinstatement be granted, subject to 
his completion of 90 CLE credits, his continuation in counseling 
for six months following his reinstatement, and his paying the 
costs of the reinstatement proceeding. 
¶10 After the matter had been submitted to this court an 
order to show cause was issued asking Mr. Mazza to show cause 
why, assuming his petition for reinstatement was granted, that 
as a condition of the reinstatement he should not be required, 
for a period of two years, to submit to an audit of his client 
trust account, at his own cost, at least quarterly.  Mr. Mazza 
has informed this court that he has no objection to such a 
requirement. 
¶11 After a review of the record we conclude that Theodore 
F. Mazza has established by clear, satisfactory, and convincing 
evidence 
that 
he 
has 
satisfied 
all 
the 
criteria 
for 
reinstatement.  Accordingly, we adopt the referee's findings of 
No. 
76-0476-D & 83-0843-D   
 
8 
 
fact and conclusions of law and we agree with the referee's 
recommendation that Mr. Mazza's license to practice law in 
Wisconsin be reinstated. 
¶12 IT IS ORDERED that the petition for reinstatement of 
the license of Theodore F. Mazza to practice law in Wisconsin is 
granted, effective the date of this order, upon the condition 
that he complete 90 CLE credits. 
¶13 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, as a condition of 
reinstatement, 
Mr. 
Mazza 
be 
required 
to 
participate 
in 
counseling as recommended in, and to address the issues 
identified in, the report of Dr. Silberglitt, which was made an 
exhibit in this case.  Mr. Mazza is required to authorize his 
counselor to notify OLR of his participation in the required 
counseling and of either the completion of the required six-
month period or his failure to participate as required.  In the 
event OLR receives information that Mr. Mazza has not complied 
with this limitation, OLR may issue an order to show cause why 
Mr. Mazza's license should not be immediately suspended.  Upon 
successful completion of the six-month counseling requirement, 
the 
limitation 
on 
Mr. 
Mazza's 
license 
shall 
terminate 
automatically.   
¶14 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, as a further condition of 
reinstatement, for a period of two years, Theodore F. Mazza 
shall submit to an audit of his client trust account, at his own 
cost, at least quarterly, as required by OLR. 
¶15 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within six months of the 
date of this order Theodore F. Mazza pay to the OLR the costs of 
No. 
76-0476-D & 83-0843-D   
 
9 
 
this proceeding.  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 Theodore F. 
Mazza to practice law in Wisconsin shall be suspended until 
further order of the court.  
No. 
76-0476-D & 83-0843-D   
 
 
 
1