Please don’t say it’s the economy…please don’t say it’s the economy…
WPRI Eyewitness News Legal Analyst Lou Pulner said the rise in disciplined lawyers can be traced back to the bad economy. He said a handful of lawyers have been tempted to dip into their clients’ escrow accounts.
Say it ain’t so, Lou. Because a whole lot of us have been tempted to do a lot of things in this poor economy. I sell real estate and we sure have seen some lean times recently. I once got this tip about trafficking stolen refrigerator parts, but I felt it was morally wrong. And because I took an oath promising to act in the best interest of the public in regards to appliance repair. I take these oaths very seriously.
More seriously apparently than the sleazebags like Pasquale Scavitti. Scavitti had taken approx $2.5 million from about 13 real estate settlements, according to Chief Disciplinary Counsel for the Rhode Island Supreme Court David Curtin. This is the biggest dollar figure theft Curtin has seen. Scavitti has admitted his wrongdoing and is remorseful according to his attorney. Scavitti is one of the 10 lawyers disbarred or suspended in 2008. He has been disbarred.
Another one of these attorneys is Benjamin Wyzanksy. Wyzansky acted as a closing attorney for a client who was selling a house and buying another. Wyzansky was supposed to pay off the old mortgage with funds from the new mortgage. However, Curtin said the old mortgage was never paid off and several months later, the homeowner was still receiving bills from both mortgage companies. Splendid.
Once under investigation, Wyzansky abandoned his law office in Pawtucket. He has been suspended from the practice of law.
Where have you gone, Joe Dimaggio?
