Geoffrey Regan was arraigned in Newport District Court on Friday and released on $20,000 personal recognizance.  He did not enter a plea to three counts of unlawful appropriation over $1,000.

The Rhode Island State Police said they received a complaint from the chief disciplinary counsel for the state court system.  They said Regan consented to disbarment.

An Ethics Primer:

Fiduciary (from reference.com):

fi-du-ci-ar-y

Fiduciary, in law, a person who is obliged to discharge faithfully a responsibility of trust toward another. Among the common fiduciary relationships are guardian to ward, parent to child, lawyer to client, corporate director to corporation, trustee to trust, and business partner to business partner.  In discharging a trust, the fiduciary must be absolutely open and fair.

I guess Mr. Regan missed fiduciary day at law school.

Providence lawyer Robert Natal, who is being investigated for mishandling clients’ money has voluntarily agreed to be disbarred.

The high court in December indefinitely suspended Robert D. Natal’s license to practice law. There is approximately $710,000.00 in missing money, according to the court’s disciplinary counsel.   The first domino fell from a bounced real estate proceeds check.  The check, in the amount of $286,076.00 not only bounced, but the escrow account was overdrawn by almost $94,000.00.

Eventually Mr. Natal paid off this debt and others by not paying off three other mortgages that had closed through his office.  Authorities say Natal had taken the $710,000.00 for his personal use.

Nice way to end a 22 year career.