Gravesend attorney disbarred for financial violations
When attorneys conduct missteps and errors, there are many disciplinary actions that may be taken against them. Public censure and brief suspension from the practice of law are the most common actions taken against attorneys. When serious violates occur, the harshest discipline of all handed down: disbarment. This was the case for former Brooklyn attorney Gerard Tanella.
Tanella, admitted to the New York State Bar in 2003, was accused of neglecting client matters and writing bad checks from his personal and business checking accounts. Seven client complaints were filed against Tanella dating back to 2008, resulting in 26 charges of misconduct filed by the Grievance Committee.
In a number of the complaints, it was alleged that Tanella mishandled monies entrusted to him by clients. The rules of ethics that govern the actions of attorneys require that attorneys have separate accounts: one for client funds and another for business operating expenses.