Appellate Division: Second Judicial Department

M206772

E/ct

RANDALL T. ENG, P.J.

WILLIAM F. MASTRO

REINALDO E. RIVERA

MARK C. DILLON

JOHN M. LEVENTHAL, JJ.

2003-02563 In the Matter of Arnold I. Willence, a disbarred attorney. (Attorney Registration No. 1036235)

DECISION & ORDER ON MOTION FOR REINSTATEMENT

Motion by Arnold I. Willence for reinstatement to the Bar as an attorney and counselor-at-law. Mr. Willence was admitted to the Bar at a term of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the Second Judicial Department on April 25, 1973. By opinion and order of this Court dated June 30, 2003, Mr. Willence was disbarred upon his resignation and his name was stricken from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law, effective immediately. By decision and order on motion of this Court dated May 14, 2014, Mr. Willence's first motion for reinstatement was denied with leave to renew, upon proper papers, including (1) proof that he had obtained a passing score on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (see 22 NYCRR 691.11[c][2]), (2) an affidavit of compliance pursuant to 22 NYCRR 691.10(f) for filing nunc pro tunc, (3) copies of federal tax returns for the years 2005 through 2009, (4) an update on the status of a New York State tax lien filed against his professional corporation in the amount of $13,000, and (5) proof of "full restitution to the owners of the property or the clients in question" as referenced in paragraph 10 of the affidavit supporting his motion for reinstatement. By decision and order on motion of this Court dated December 12, 2014, Mr. Willence's second motion for reinstatement motion was held in abeyance and the matter was referred to the Committee on Character and Fitness to investigate and report on his current character and general fitness to practice law, including but not limited to, the underlying misconduct and his candor with respect to his disbarment.

Upon the papers filed in support of the motion and the papers filed in relation thereto, and upon the report of the Committee on Character and Fitness and the exhibits annexed thereto, it is

ORDERED that the motion is denied.

We find that Arnold I. Willence does not demonstrate the requisite fitness and character to practice law.

ENG, P.J., MASTRO, RIVERA, DILLON and LEVENTHAL, JJ., concur.

ENTER:

Aprilanne Agostino

Clerk of the Court