A Council Bluffs lawyer who got addicted to gambling has lost his bid to get his law license back. The Iowa Supreme Court has permanently revoked Michael G. Reilly’s license to practice law. Reilly got caught putting nearly 100-thousand dollars into his own checking account — money that was supposed to be paid to couple who had won the cash in a lawsuit because their son suffered a serious eye injury. A state grievance commission suspended Reilly’s law license for three years and he appealed that decision.
The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled Reilly’s actions were “particularly reprehensible” and noted that while Reilly was “highly regarded” by lawyers and judges in western Iowa, he embarked on a “downward spiral because of “an uncontrollable gambling habit.” The Supreme Court justices said while they have some sympathy for Reilly’s addiction, he had no right to gamble with his client’s money.