Connecticut's Statewide Grievance Committee this week reported 10 attorneys faced disciplinary actions, including presentments, reprimands, disbarments and suspensions.

The committee also terminated an interim suspension of one attorney, Paul Vallillo of Prospect, effective March 11. It found Vallillo had an overdraft on his Interest on Lawyers' Trust Account, and had failed to adequately respond to the statewide bar counsel. As part of the agreement that his interim suspension be terminated, Vallillo must complete an audit covering Feb. 1, 2017, to the present. Any misconduct uncovered as part of the audit could result in a new count in the presentment against the attorney.

Here's a look at the attorneys, listed alphabetically, whose ethics charges led to disciplinary action in March.

Stephanie Czap:

The Statewide Grievance Committee made presentments in two separate cases against Czap, an attorney with Enfield-based Supportive Legal Services LLC.

In the first presentment, the committee acted on a complaint by Charles Stone. A probate court appointed Czap voluntary conservator of an estate, taking over as conservator from another attorney. At the time Czap took over the bank account, Stone, who receives monthly Social Security payments of $1,203, had nearly $13,000 in the bank, according to the committee. Stone claimed Czap spent almost all of his money, and said he was never informed of charges and fees that Czap allegedly took before the financial report was filed with the court.

The reviewing committee concluded Czap engaged in unethical conduct while acting as Stone's court-appointed conservator.

In the second presentment, the committee acted on a complaint filed on behalf of mother and daughter Cathy and Christine Schwartz. A probate court had appointed Czap conservator of the Schwartz estate, but the committee said the attorney was “dilatory in paying the complainants' bills.” The reviewing committee found Czap violated several of the Rules of Professional Conduct, which govern attorney ethics.

The presentment is pending a final decision from the Statewide Grievance Committee.

Corey Heiks:

The committee reprimanded Heiks in a case that stemmed from a lawsuit filed on behalf of his client, Robert Salatto, in a criminal matter. Local grievance panels found Heiks violated several Rules of Professional Conduct, including the one pertaining to competence related to his representation of Salatto.

Benjamin Hume:

The committee set conditions for Hume over a missing $15,000 he was holding for client Grace Ping Liu. It ordered Hume to pay Liu $1,000 every month for 15 months over the case stemming from a grievance complaint initiated in November 2016. Hume did not dispute the money belonged to his client and should be returned.

Elizabeth Kopec:

The Statewide Grievance Committee also set conditions for Kopec in connection with a grievance that involved her representation of a client in a real estate matter. As part of those conditions, Kopec is ordered to take continuing legal education courses in legal ethics and real estate law.

Kevin Lynch:

The committee set conditions for Lynch over a complaint filed on behalf of Nicole Sawka involving a pay dispute. It ordered Lynch to pay Sawka $200.

Prescott May:

The Statewide Grievance Committee accepted the resignation of Seymour attorney Prescott May, effective March 21. It found May “committed professional misconduct.”

May acknowledged there was sufficient evidence to prove he violated several Rules of Professional Conduct related to his failure to communicate the basis or rate of fees and expenses to a client in writing. He also said he had a form of dementia and was also resigning for personal and health reasons.

William McCullough:

The committee accepted the resignation of Stamford attorney William McCullough, effective March 6, after finding he had ”committed professional misconduct.”

The matter stemmed from the committee's attempt to audit McCullough's records. Despite several attempts by the group, McCullough said he didn't have the necessary records to complete the audit. In addition, the committee found that McCullough “failed and/or refused to cooperate with the audit in violation of the [Connecticut] Practice Book 2-27(e).”

Thomas Rome:

The ethics case against the Hartford attorney stemmed from a divorce case that led to a one-year suspension. The suspension, though, will be stayed as Rome is put on probation through the court for one year. His probation included provisions that bar him for accepting new clients in Connecticut, or filing any new appearances in any existing cases in the state.

William Scher:

Following the lead of New York, New Jersey and the District of Columbia, Connecticut took reciprocal disciplinary action against the Greenwich attorney, who has been disbarred in these jurisdictions for seven years. Scher is now also disbarred from practicing in Connecticut for seven years, effective March 26.

The case against him stems from the New York bar discipline over the misappropriation of nearly $30,000 of client escrow funds. Court records show Scher admitted he'd deposited the money into a personal bank account to cover personal expenses.

Robert Wynne:

The Statewide Grievance Committee handed down an interim suspension for the Glastonbury attorney who it also disciplined in January.

The latest case stemmed from an overdraft in Wynne's trust account, which had insufficient funds to cover a check for $25,913 presented in November 2017. The following month, the Statewide Grievance Committee requested a written explanation of the incident, but Wynne didn't respond. The committee had suspended Wynne in January for 60 days for failing on numerous occasions to communicate with a former client and her new counsel regarding a medical lien settlement.

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