Pending Public Disciplinary Matters

Fink, Melvin
Respondent’s Counsel: David Sleigh
Disciplinary Counsel: Jon Alexander
Docket Number: PRB Docket No. 2019-012
Status: ASSIGNED TO HEARING PANEL. On February 20, 2019 a Petition of Misconduct was filed. Hearing Panel 3 was assigned on February 27, 2019. On the same day, Respondent’s Counsel filed an Answer with a Request for Stay of the Proceedings. Disciplinary Counsel filed no objection to stay on February 28, 2019. On March 8, Hearing Panel issued an Order requesting information filed in the criminal proceeding and any terms or conditions or release pending trial. On March 8, 2019, Respondent’s Counsel filed the Information and Conditions of Release in State v. Melvin Fink, Docket No. 124-1-19, as ordered by the Hearing Panel. On March 28, 2019 the Hearing Panel filed a Ruling on Request to Stay granting the motion with conditions. On March 29, 2019, Disciplinary Counsel filed a Motion for Reconsideration. The Motion was joined by Respondent. On May 3, 2019, the Hearing Panel issued a ruling on the motion amending the Panel’s March 28, 2019 decision. On September 9, 2021, Disciplinary Counsel filed a Partial Objection to Respondent’s Witness List, a Partial Objection to Respondent’s “Hearing Memo to the Board,” and exhibits not yet admitted into evidence. On December 13, 2022, Disciplinary Counsel filed a Motion to Withdraw. A Notice of Appearance was filed by Disciplinary Counsel Jon Alexander on February 2, 2024. On the same date, Disciplinary Counsel filed a Motion to Lift the Stay with Exhibits. On February 13, 2024, Disciplinary Counsel filed a Motion to Amend Petition of Misconduct with eight exhibits, which included a proposed amended petition. On February 21, 2024, Counsel for the Respondent filed a Motion to Enlarge Time and Notice of Opposition to Disciplinary Counsel's Motion to Lift Stay. On February 26, 2024, Counsel for the Respondent filed an Opposition to Disciplinary Counsel's Motion to Amend Petition. On March 6, 2024, Disciplinary Counsel filed a Reply in further support of his Motion to Lift Stay. On March 11, 2024, Disciplinary Counsel filed a Reply in Further Support of Motion to Amend Petition of Misconduct. On March 27, 2024, the Hearing Panel issued an order in response to Disciplinary Counsel's Motion to Lift Stay, and Counsel for the Respondent's Motion to Enlarge Time. On May 23, 2024, Counsel for the Respondent filed a Notice of Dismissal signed by the Judge re case no. 124-1-19 Bncr. On July 10, 2024, Disciplinary Counsel filed a Renewed Motion to Lift Stay. The Hearing Panel issued an order on the Renewed Motion to Lift Stay on July 31, 2024. On August 20th, 2024, the Parties filed a jointly Proposed Stipulated Scheduling Order. On August 27, 2024, the Hearing Panel signed the proposed scheduling order. On August 29, 2024, the Hearing Panel issued a decision on the motion filed by Disciplinary Counsel to Amend the Petition. On September 10, 2024, Counsel for the Respondent filed a witness list. Disciplinary Counsel filed a witness list on September 13, 2024. On October 10, 2024, a notice for a two-day, in-person Merits Hearing was sent to the parties. The Hearing will be held in the Burlington area on September 29 and 30, 2025. On December 20, 2024, Disciplinary Counsel filed a Discovery Certificate. Counsel for the Respondent filed a Discovery Certificate on January 22, 2025.  On April 14, 2025, the Parties jointly filed a Motion to Extend Deposition and Discovery Deadlines. The Hearing Panel issued an order re the joint motion on April 18, 2025. On April 29, 2025, Disciplinary Counsel filed a Discovery Certificate. An Amended Notice of Merits Hearing, adding the hearing location, was sent to the Parties and the Panel on August 8, 2025. Disciplinary Counsel filed a motion to continue merits hearing on September 8, 2025. On September 9, 2025, Counsel for the respondent filed a Notice of Opposition to Disciplinary Counsel's Motion to Continue Merit's Hearing. On September 10, 2025, the Hearing Panel issued an order granting the Motion to Continue, rescheduling the Merits Hearing to October 30 and 31, 2025. On the same day, the Hearing Panel issued a second order rescheduling the Merits Hearing to November 4 and 5, 2025. A Notice of Hearing was sent to the Parties on September 17, 2025. On October 21, 2025, a Third Amended Notice of Hearing was sent to the Parties rescheduling the two day, in-person Merits Hearing from November to February 3 and 4, 2026. The hearing will be held in person in the Third-Floor courtroom at the Chittenden Superior Court, 175 Main Street, Burlington, Vermont. On January 20, 2026, the Hearing Panel issued an order regarding the Parties compliance with the Scheduling Order. Counsel for the Respondent submitted an exhibit list on January 20, 2026. The Hearing Panel issued an order on January 21, 2026 bifurcating the Merits Hearing Scheduled for February 3rd and 4th, 2026. Disciplinary Counsel submitted Exhibits and a Witness list on January 23, 2026. A motion requesting remote testimony for an out of state witness was also filed by Disciplinary Counsel on January 27, 2026. The Hearing Panel issued an order on February 27, 2026 reiterating a deadline set verbally at the hearing that Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law should be filed on or before March 16. 2026. As requested by the Hearing Panel, both Parties submitted their Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law on March 16, 2026. 

Documentation:

Melone, Thomas
Respondent’s Counsel: Pro Se
Disciplinary Counsel: Michael F. Hanley
Case Number: PRB-120-2025
Status: ASSIGNED to HEARING PANEL 2 - On September 26, 2025, Special Disciplinary Counsel Michael Hanley filed a Petition of Misconduct. He also filed a Motion for additional time and a Motion for Service by Email. Concurrently, the Respondent filed multiple email requests. Hearing Panel 2 was assigned on September 30, 2025 and received all documents. The Hearing Panel issued orders re both motions on October 2, 2025. On the same day, Special Disciplinary Counsel filed two Discovery Certificates, and the respondent filed subpoenas for Disciplinary Counsel and Special Disciplinary Counsel. The Respondent filed a Motion to Extend the Deadline for filing an answer on October 9, 2025. The Hearing Panel issued an order on the motion on the same day. The Respondent filed a second Motion to Extend on October 23, 2025. This was followed by Respondent's Special Motion to Strike filed on October 27, 2025. On October 28, 2025, the Respondent filed a supplement to the Special Motion to Strike. On October 31, 2025, Special Disciplinary Counsel filed an objection to Respondent's Motion to Strike. On November 4, 2025, Special Disciplinary Counsel filed his Objections to Respondent's Motion to Dismiss and a Motion for a More Definite Statement. Hearing Panel orders re Respondent's Special Motion to Strike and Respondent's Motion for Additional Time were issued on November 6, 2025. On November 10, 2025, the Hearing Panel issued an order vacating the order issued on November 6, 2025. On the same afternoon, the respondent issued a Motion for Clarification on the Hearing Panel Order.

Documentation: