In the Matter of Joseph Molina Flynn, Esq.

Supreme Court

No. 2025-307-M.P.

In the Matter of Joseph Molina :
Flynn, Esq. :

ORDER

On October 6, 2025, the Court’s Chief Disciplinary Counsel filed an

Emergency Petition for Immediate Interim Suspension and for the Appointment of

Disciplinary Counsel as Special Master pursuant to Article III, Rule 5(b)(6) of the

Supreme Court Rules of Disciplinary Procedure, seeking to suspend the respondent,

Joseph Molina Flynn’s, license to practice law in the State of Rhode Island on a

temporary basis.

After consideration of the Emergency Petition and respondent’s response

thereto, the Court issued an order dated October 7, 2025, suspending respondent

from the practice of law in this state on a temporary basis, effective immediately and

until further order of this Court.

Chief Disciplinary Counsel’s Emergency Petition and respondent’s response

thereto were further considered by the full Court at our conference on October 9,

2025.

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After the Court’s consideration, it is hereby ordered:

1. On or about May 12, 2025, Chief Disciplinary Counsel filed a Petition

for Discipline against respondent involving twelve (12) former clients alleging,

inter alia, that respondent took legal fees from clients, performed little or no

services, neglected client files, misappropriated client funds, co-mingled client

funds, was uncooperative with the reasonable requests of Disciplinary Counsel

during the investigation into the disciplinary complaints, and made

misrepresentations to Disciplinary Counsel. Disciplinary Counsel requested that

respondent provide assurances that he was safeguarding funds paid to him by his

clients. The respondent has not complied with Disciplinary Counsel’s repeated

request for assurances that respondent is properly safeguarding his clients’ funds.

2. In continued furtherance of protecting the public and maintaining the

integrity of the legal profession, respondent’s suspension from the practice of law in

this state on an emergency temporary basis remains in full force and effect, until

further order of this Court.

3. The Court fully recognizes respondent’s presumption of innocence in

any pending criminal investigation.

4. Effective immediately and until further order of this Court, Chief

Disciplinary Counsel remains appointed as temporary Special Master and is hereby

authorized to take possession of respondent’s client files to inventory same and to

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take whatever steps deemed necessary to protect the clients’ interests, including but

not limited to returning the files to the clients or new counsel of each client’s choice.

Chief Disciplinary Counsel as temporary Special Master is hereby authorized to

have full, unfettered access to respondent’s law office and files in order to carry out

her duties, and respondent is ordered to fully cooperate in providing her and her

agents with this access.

5. The respondent is further ordered to fully cooperate with Chief

Disciplinary Counsel as temporary Special Master in transferring his client files and

accounts.

6. The respondent shall also comply with the mandate of Article III, Rule

15 within ten (10) days of the date of this Order.

7. Regarding respondent’s banking accounts, Chief Disciplinary Counsel

as Special Master continues to be given sole and exclusive access to the following

accounts heretofore controlled by respondent, either solely or jointly: business and

operating accounts; trust accounts, including special trust accounts; clients’

accounts; estate accounts; and, any and all other accounts related to respondent’s law

practice that he uses presently or has in the past utilized for the deposit and

maintenance of fiduciary and/or clients’ funds and fee advances. The foregoing list

of accounts shall also include any accounts where respondent serves as an agent,

special agent, trustee, personal representative, executor, power of attorney, or

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custodian. The Special Master shall have sole control over these above-described

accounts, to the exclusion of respondent and his agents, until further order of this

Court. By this Order, the Court prohibits respondent or any of his agents from

withdrawing or transferring funds from the aforementioned accounts.

8. Disciplinary Counsel shall file a status report with the Court within

thirty (30) days of the date of this Order.

9. Should respondent fail to fully cooperate with the requirements set forth

above, his failure to comply shall be brought back before this Court for further

proceedings.

Entered as an Order of this Court this 16
___day
th
of October 2025.

By Order,

/s/ Meredith A. Benoit
Clerk

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
SUPREME COURT – CLERK’S OFFICE
Licht Judicial Complex
250 Benefit Street
Providence, RI 02903

ORDER COVER SHEET

Title of Case In the Matter of Joseph Molina Flynn, Esq.

Case Number No. 2025-307-M.P.

Date Order Filed October 16, 2025

Suttell, C.J., Goldberg, Robinson, Lynch Prata, and
Justices
Long, JJ.

Source of Appeal N/A

Judicial Officer from Lower Court N/A

For Petitioner:

Kimberly Brissette Brown, Esq.
Attorney(s) on Appeal Office of Disciplinary Counsel
For Respondent:

Holly Rao, Esq.

SU-CMS-02B (revised November 2022)