Stressed individuals. Courtesy photo.

 

The Statewide Grievance Committee announced disciplinary action against seven attorneys, including presentment, reprimands and suspensions.

It also reinstated two attorneys, effective immediately: Guarika Anand of Concord, Massachusetts, and Tamara Evanko of Vernon. Anand was suspended for one year for failing to deposit and safeguard funds in an escrow account, while Evanko had failed to cooperate with an audit of her trust account. Evanko had been on interim suspension since July 30.

Here's a look at attorneys whose ethic charges led to disciplinary action.

Richard Aries

The Statewide Grievance Committee made a presentment in the case of South Windsor solo practitioner Richard Aries. The reviewing committee of the grievance committee found that Aries engaged in unethical conduct in connection with the representation of a man in a workers' compensation matter.

The committee found that Aries failed to take any action to get the complainant's bills paid in connection with the workers' compensation settlement agreement. In addition, the committee found that Aries failed to keep his client reasonably informed regarding the status of his case.

The presentment is pending a final decision by the Grievance Committee.

Jeffrey Cedarfield:

The reviewing committee issued a reprimand to Hartford solo practitioner Jeffrey Cedarfield for engaging in unethical conduct in his representation of a client in a bankruptcy matter.

Cedarfield, the committee said, failed to keep his client reasonably informed about the status of her case and failed to return her telephone calls. In addition, the committee said, Cedarfield failed to file his disclosure of compensation document on time, allowing the woman's bankruptcy case to be dismissed. The committee also found that Cedarfield's $1,000 fee was unreasonable “in consideration of the legal service rendered.” The reprimand will remain on Cedarfield's record.

Arik Fetscher:

The Grievance Committee made a presentment in the case of Cos Cob solo practitioner Arik Fetscher, finding he used abusive language toward several court personnel over the dismissal of a lawsuit involving his stepfather.

Its reviewing committee wrote that Fetscher “has no remorse for his actions.”

“He believes that profanity and obscenity are warranted when an attorney believes that an injustice is occurring,” the group wrote. “He would use profanity in the future if he believed it was warranted and that profanity can be effective advocacy.”

The presentment is pending a final decision by the Grievance Committee.

Richard Gordon:

The group made a presentment in the case of Hartford solo practitioner Richard Gordon. Its reviewing committee concluded Gordon failed to provide his client with diligent representation by withdrawing an appeal, without her consent, in a wrongful termination case. The committee found that although Gordon presented a settlement proposal to the state, he never put it in writing and the parties never signed. The presentment is pending a final decision by the Grievance Committee.

Peter McGuinness:

The Statewide Grievance Committee also reprimanded and set conditions for solo Fairfield attorney Peter McGuinness, charged with improper handling of his IOLTA account. IOLTA, or Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts, are pooled trust accounts for holding client funds.

McGuinness, under the rules of the reprimand, must attend in person and at his own expense, one continuing education course in IOLTA account management. The attorney must also comply with monthly audits of his IOLTA account for six months.

Alan Steinmetz:

Acting on actions by the New York and New Jersey State bar associations, where Alan Steinmetz had been disciplined, Connecticut officials suspended Steinmetz from practicing law in the state for one year, effective Oct. 16, 2018.

Steinmetz's ethics cases stem from a New Jersey investigation into allegations the attorney misappropriated escrow funds from a client's real estate transaction.

Michael Stratton:

West Haven attorney Michael Stratton has been placed on interim suspension, effective immediately.

The committee said Stratton failed to cooperate with an audit of his Wells Fargo IOLTA account, in violation of the rules governing attorney ethics.