In re Disciplinary Action Against Hatling

Summary

The Minnesota Supreme Court conditionally reinstated John Allen Hatling to the practice of law effective March 7, 2011, subject to his successful completion of the professional responsibility portion of the state bar examination. The court also placed him on two years of probation, requiring compliance with professional-conduct rules and specified tax-filing and tax-payment obligations.

Holdings

1. Respondent was conditionally reinstated to the practice of law effective March 7, 2011, subject to successful completion of the professional-responsibility portion of the state bar examination.
2. Respondent was placed on probation for two years and required to cooperate with monitoring, comply with the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct, timely file and pay required state and federal taxes, report compliance, and enter into satisfactory payment agreements with the IRS and Minnesota Department of Revenue for unpaid taxes.

Questions Presented

1. Whether respondent should be reinstated to the practice of law after a 45-day suspension despite not yet successfully completing the professional-responsibility portion of the state bar examination.
2. What conditions should govern respondent's reinstatement and probation, including tax-filing, tax-payment, and payment-agreement requirements.

Disposition

other