Court Opinion

ID: 4355029
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-12-28 18:01:03.250077+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:36:50.935276
License: Public Domain

NOT PRECENTIAL

                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                            FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                                 _____________

                                      No. 17-3282
                                     _____________

                              IN RE: FRANCIS MALOFIY,
                                       Appellant

                             __________________________

                     On Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
                             (E.D. Pa. No. 2-14-mc-00139)

                           District Judge: Lawrence F. Stengel
                            __________________________

                      Submitted Under Third Circuit L.A.R. 34.1(a)
                                  October 30, 2018
                           ___________________________

             Before: CHAGARES, BIBAS, and VANASKIE, Circuit Judges

                                (Filed: December 28, 2018)
                                      _____________

                                        OPINION *
                                      ____________

VANASKIE, Circuit Judge

       *
         This disposition is not an opinion of the full Court and pursuant to I.O.P. 5.7
does not constitute binding precedent.
       Attorney Francis Malofiy appeals an Order of the District Court for the Eastern

District of Pennsylvania denying his petition for reinstatement to practice law in that

Court. We will affirm.

                                              I.

       Because we write primarily for the benefit of the parties, we recite only those facts

necessary for the disposition of this appeal. Following a three-month-and-one-day

suspension from the practice of law in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania arising out of

litigation misconduct, Malofiy filed a petition for reinstatement. 1

           The petition was assigned to a three-judge panel for recommendation, and a

reinstatement hearing was held. At the hearing, Malofiy presented numerous witnesses,

who testified regarding his competency in the law, his contrition for the sanctioned

conduct, and his efforts to learn from the experience. (App. 23-27). To that end, Malofiy

also testified as to how his suspension brought about introspection and, ultimately,

reformation. In particular, Malofiy stated that he understood that he needed to be more

clear about his role when dealing with unrepresented parties and has learned how to

behave more professionally in depositions. (App. 23-24).

       1
         The facts giving rise to Malofiy’s suspension in the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania are thoroughly set forth in In re Malofiy, 653 F. App’x 148 (3d Cir. 2016)
(“Malofiy I”). In brief, Malofiy was found to have violated Pennsylvania Rules of
Professional Conduct 4.1(a) (a lawyer “shall not knowingly . . . make a false statement of
material fact or law to a third person”); 4.3 (establishing rules of conduct in dealing with
an unrepresented person); 8.4(c) (prohibiting “conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit
or misrepresentation”; and 8.4(d) (same for “conduct that is prejudicial to the
administration of justice”). Id. at 152-53, 155.
                                              2
      After the hearing, the panel concluded that the record, including Malofiy’s

testimony, demonstrated both that he lacked genuine remorse for his past litigation

misconduct and unprofessional behavior and that he continued to act in this manner even

after he was suspended. In support of these conclusions, the panel relied in part upon

Central District of California District Court Judge R. Gary Klausner’s opinion in

Skidmore v. Led Zeppelin, No. CV 15–03462 RGK (AGRx), 2016 WL 6674985, at *4

(C.D. Cal. Apr. 8, 2016), vacated and remanded on other grounds by Skidmore v. Led

Zeppelin, 905 F.3d 1116 (9th Cir. 2018), which admonished Malofiy and his co-counsel

for making improper comments to the jury and the media during a trial held while

Malofiy was suspended. 2 As a result, the panel concluded, Malofiy did not meet his

burden in showing that reinstatement was warranted. 3

      The panel issued a Report and Recommendation (“R&R”) that Malofiy’s

reinstatement petition be denied. The District Court overruled Malofiy’s objections,

      2
         We note that, during the pendency of his suspension in the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania, Malofiy continued to be admitted to practice before the Ninth Circuit
Court of Appeals and the United States Tax Court. (App. 516-17).
      3
          Pursuant to E.D. Pa. Local Rule of Civil Procedure 83.6, a petitioner must:

              demonstrat[e] by clear and convincing evidence that [he] has
              the moral qualifications, competency and learning in the law
              required for admission to practice law before this court and that
              the petitioner’s resumption of the practice of law will not be
              detrimental to the integrity and standing of the bar or to the
              administration of justice, or subversive to the public interest.

E.D. Pa. Local Civil R. 83.6, Rule VII(C).

                                             3
adopted the R&R, and denied Malofiy’s petition for reinstatement. Malofiy timely

appealed.

                                            II.

       “The District Court has the inherent authority to set requirements for admission to

its bar and to discipline attorneys who appear before it. We have jurisdiction to review

the final order of the District Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review district

courts’ decisions regarding the regulation of attorneys who appear before them for abuse

of discretion.” In re Surrick, 338 F.3d 224, 229 (3d Cir. 2003). Where the exercise of

such discretion turns on factual findings, we review those findings for clear error. See

Fed. R. Civ. P. 52(a)(6). “Our review of the District Court’s interpretation of legal

precepts is plenary.” Surrick, 338 F.3d at 229 (citation omitted).

                                          III.

       Malofiy asserts two main arguments on appeal. 4 First, he argues that the panel’s

recommendation improperly punishes him for exercising his right to appeal the District

Court’s initial suspension sentence. Second, Malofiy maintains that the panel’s factual

finding that he committed misconduct in the California trial is “an unambiguous violation

of [his] due process rights[]” because: (1) he was not given notice of the conduct for

       4
          Malofiy also relies upon comments made by the judges on the initial disciplinary
panel which, he asserts, demonstrate bias and are relevant to show that the District Court
has continually violated his due process rights. Because we have already affirmed his
initial suspension, see Malofiy I, 653 F. App’x at 155, and because Malofiy raised the
existence of these comments in his petition for a writ of certiorari, (Supp. App. 397-405),
we will not address those comments here beyond our conclusion that they do not
demonstrate any judicial bias in his reinstatement proceedings.
                                             4
which he was charged; and (2) he was not presented with an opportunity to defend

himself. (Appellant’s Br. at 18 -19). We find these arguments to be without merit.

                                            A.

       Malofiy claims that the panel denied his petition for reinstatement “simply

because [he] exercised his undisputed appellate rights to challenge the imposition of

discipline.” (Appellant’s Br. at 18). In so claiming, he asserts that the evidence he

presented before the District Court, including his own testimony, demonstrates that he

was remorseful and that he understood that his past conduct was unprofessional and

inappropriate.

       Although it is true that the panel considered Malofiy’s appeals as a component of

its reinstatement determination, it relied upon the timing and the arguments he raised in

support of those appeals, not the fact that he appealed per se. (App. 30). For example,

the panel noted that, in Malofiy’s appeal of his suspension to this Court and his

subsequent request for rehearing, he continued to maintain that the evidence was

insufficient to support a finding that he violated the rules. (App. 30; see also Supp. App.

219–20, 253–55, 331–34). Additionally, in his petition for writ of certiorari to the

Supreme Court, Malofiy continued to maintain that the District Court’s conclusion

regarding discipline was incorrect. (Supp. App. 385). In light of these arguments, the

reinstatement panel stated:

              We recognize, of course, that [] Malofiy is entitled to pursue
              his appellate rights. Given his longstanding adherence to the
              legal position that he had done nothing wrong, however, his
              statement a mere month after certiorari was denied that he now

                                             5
              recognizes he should have been more clear with [the
              unrepresented party] is unconvincing.

(App. 30). Given the arguments Malofiy maintained during his various appeals, the

reinstatement panel ultimately concluded that it “d[id] not believe [] Malofiy’s professed

acceptance of responsibility for the misconduct underlying his suspension [to be]

genuine.” (App. 29).

       Credibility determinations are purely factual and we afford “due regard to the trial

court’s opportunity to judge the witnesses’ credibility.” Post v. St. Paul Travelers Ins.

Co., 691 F.3d 500, 515 (3d Cir. 2012) (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 52(a)(6)). We have

recognized that district courts are in the best position to make credibility determinations

and we will therefore defer to them unless they are clearly erroneous. See United States

v. Mallory, 765 F.3d 373, 382 (3d Cir. 2014) (recognizing that trial courts are in the best

position “to assess such questions as witness credibility . . . because these matters turn on

evaluations of demeanor”) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted); see also

Harte-Hanks Commc’ns, Inc. v. Connaughton, 491 U.S. 657, 688 (1989) (noting that

“credibility determinations are reviewed under the clearly-erroneous standard because the

trier of fact has had the ‘opportunity to observe the demeanor of the witnesses’” (quoting

Bose Corp. v. Consumers Union of U.S., Inc., 466 U.S. 485, 499–500 (1984)). Under this

standard, reversal of the District Court’s factual findings is warranted only when “the

reviewing court on the entire evidence is left with the definite and firm conviction that a

mistake has been committed.” United States v. Lowe, 791 F.3d 424, 427 (3d Cir. 2015)

(citation and internal quotation marks omitted). “[I]f the district court’s account of the

                                              6
evidence is plausible in light of the record viewed in its entirety, we will not reverse it

even if, as the trier of fact, we would have weighed the evidence differently.” United

States v. Price, 558 F.3d 270, 277 (3d Cir. 2009) (citation and internal quotation marks

omitted).

       Here, the District Court’s adverse credibility determination was not clearly

erroneous, nor do we agree with Malofiy that the court punished him for exercising his

appellate rights. As is clear from the record and the R&R, the District Court relied upon

the statements contained in Malofiy’s numerous appellate petitions, as well as his

answers to the panel’s questions at the reinstatement hearing, to determine that his

testimony regarding his remorse was not credible. (App. 30, 516-36). Specifically, the

District Court opined that, during questioning, Malofiy “demonstrated considerable

reluctance to admit his conduct had been improper.” (App. 31). The District Court also

ultimately found Malofiy’s statements regarding his acceptance of responsibility, his

professional growth, and his changed behavior to be insincere. (App. 30, 35). After

reviewing the entire record in this matter, we conclude that the District Court’s account is

plausible, and we will therefore defer to its determination that Malofiy’s representations

of remorse and acceptance of responsibility are not credible.

                                              B.

       Malofiy also alleges that the District Court violated his due process rights and

committed reversible error by finding that he engaged in misconduct during trial as co-

counsel for plaintiff in the matter of Skidmore v. Led Zeppelin. 2016 WL 6674985, at *4.

In that case, Judge Klausner, ruling on a motion for sanctions and attorneys’ fees filed by

                                              7
the defense, admonished plaintiff’s counsel for “a litany of tasteless courtroom antics and

litigation misconduct.” 5 Id. In particular, Judge Klausner rebuked plaintiff’s counsel for

one particular incident that occurred when one them instructed a witness to show his

hands to the jury so they could see that they were “clean” in an attempt to rebut opposing

counsel’s defense of “unclean hands.” Id. And Malofiy later admitted during his

reinstatement hearing that he was the attorney who did that. (See App. 523 at 69:8–15).

Judge Klausner cited this particular incident of misconduct as “[p]erhaps most

emblematic of [Malofiy’s] cavalier attitude.” Skidmore, 2016 WL 6674985, at *4.

       Moreover, when the District Court questioned Malofiy about that and indicated

that it had consulted Judge Klausner’s opinion, Malofiy denied that there were any

additional occurrences of misconduct that might appear in the trial transcript. (See App.

527-28). However, after requesting and reviewing the transcript, the District Court noted

that there were other instances in which Malofiy engaged in inappropriate and

unprofessional conduct during the trial. (App. 32 n.12, 33 ns. 13-15). Malofiy contends

that these factual findings by the District Court violate his due process rights because he

was not provided notice of these “new charges of misconduct” or given “an opportunity .

. . to defend himself.” (Appellant’s Br. at 34).

       5
         Malofiy points out that Judge Klausner’s opinion denying the Defendants’
request for attorneys’ fees was vacated by the Ninth Circuit. See Skidmore for Randy
Craig Wolfe Trust v. Led Zepplin, 905 F.3d 1116, 1136 (9th Cir. 2018). We note that the
Ninth Circuit vacated the order in light of its decision to remand the case for a new trial
and did so without prejudice to the Defendants’ ability to renew their motion should they
prevail on remand. Id.
                                              8
       Here, we agree with the District Court that Malofiy’s due process arguments are

unpersuasive. First, the R&R makes clear that Malofiy was not incurring “new charges”

in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, but, rather, that the District Court considered the

inappropriate behavior evidenced in the trial transcript to be relevant to the reinstatement

determination. Second, during his reinstatement hearing, the District Court specifically

questioned Malofiy about his behavior during the Skidmore trial and gave him an

opportunity to explain himself. (See App. 523-529). In other words, Malofiy had ample

opportunity to defend himself, as the panel informed him that it would be requesting the

Skidmore transcript and afforded him the chance to identify and explain any additional

conduct which may be contained therein. Additionally, Malofiy knew he would need to

file a reinstatement petition before he could practice in the Eastern District of

Pennsylvania again, (see App. 516), and that the Skidmore trial commenced during the

period of his disciplinary suspension. As such, the District Court’s consideration of his

antics during the Skidmore trial was not improper.

       “The fundamental requirement of due process is the opportunity to be heard at a

meaningful time and in a meaningful manner.” Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319, 333

(1976) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). Further, “[t]he essence of due

process is the requirement that a person in jeopardy of serious loss (be given) notice of

the case against him and opportunity to meet it.” Id. at 348. (citation and internal

quotation marks omitted). The record illustrates that a hearing was held during which

Malofiy was represented by counsel, able to testify on his own behalf, as well as to

present witnesses. He was also given the opportunity to respond directly to concerns

                                              9
raised by the District Court and he was provided supplemental documentation. Finally,

Malofiy was provided with a written R&R detailing the District Court’s reasons for

denying his reinstatement petition to which he was permitted to file objections. There is

simply nothing in the record from which we can conclude that the District Court’s factual

findings or disposition as it related to Malofiy’s reinstatement petition violated his due

process rights. 6

                                                  IV.

       Because the factual findings of the District Court are free from clear error, we

conclude that the District Court’s discretionary denial of Malofiy’s reinstatement petition

is similarly free from abuse. We will affirm.

       6
          We also briefly address Malofiy’s baseless arguments that the District Court
incorrectly attributed unprofessional conduct to him. Review of the record demonstrates
that, where the District Court attributed improper conduct to Malofiy, Malofiy either
admitted to the conduct at issue or the District Court relied on conduct specifically found
in the Skidmore transcript. (See App. 523, 843-44, 1089-90, 1266-67, 1296-1300, 1453,
1471-73, 1489, 1672, 1744, 1816-22, 1729).
                                             10