Twelve Connecticut attorneys were disciplined for ethics charges, according to the latest roundup of attorney discipline cases.

The sanctions included suspensions, reprimands, presentments, and discipline with conditions, according to the Statewide Grievance Committee's February report, released Tuesday.

Here's a look at the attorneys, listed alphabetically, whose ethics charges led to discipline or court actions. The Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel prosecuted the cases.

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Michael Alexander

Hamden attorney Michael Alexander was reprimanded for failing to cooperate with an audit of his Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts, or IOLTA.

In Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel v. Alexander, Judge James Abrams ordered the attorney to submit to an audit of his Bank of America IOLTA account each month for the 2020 calendar year. Alexander's two other IOLTA accounts were closed Feb. 19.

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Sean Barrett

Stratford attorney Sean Barrett was suspended from the practice of law for three months, beginning Feb. 18, for his role in representing former client Sharon Service-Corso in the dissolution of her marriage.

Assistant Chief Disciplinary Counsel Marie-Louise Villar charged Barrett with, among other things, not forwarding Service-Corso's final divorce decree to her, and not advising her of her rights to appeal.

Barrett also agreed to pay Service-Corso $2,500 in restitution.

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Frank Cannatelli

Wallingford attorney Frank Cannatelli was suspended from the practice of law for one year, effective Feb. 15, for misuse of his IOLTA account.

In Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel v. Cannatelli, Judge James Abrams wrote that Cannatelli used his IOLTA account to "pay personal expenses."

The Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel alleged, among other things, that Cannatelli paid personal bills and expenses directly from his IOLTA account. It also alleged the attorney failed to maintain accurate IOLTA records, including a general ledger, client ledgers, billing statements and copies of disbursements.

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David Chomick

Glastonbury attorney David Chomick was suspended from the practice of law for nine months, effective Feb. 11, for how he handled the representation of two clients.

Chomick represented Nancy Teti in a wrongful termination case. According to the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel, the attorney took no action in the case for the seven months he represented the client. Chomick, the office said, failed to consult with Teti on her case, and failed to respond to her telephone calls.

Chomick also represented Ashley Monahan in a separate dissolution of marriage action. According to disciplinary prosecutors, he received an initial $1,500 for his services, but failed to communicate with Monahan about her case, and did not to respond to her telephone calls and text messages.

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Paul Cramer

Fairfield solo practitioner Paul Cramer faces a presentment for his representation of Laurie Boczar in an employment termination case.

The reviewing committee of the Statewide Grievance Committee found Cramer engaged in unethical conduct, and that he failed to "exercise reasonable diligence and promptness in representing the complainant." Cramer, the committee said, didn't respond to repeated requests for updates on the case, and did not inform Boczar that the court had denied a request for an extension in her case.

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Tracey Hardman

Middletown attorney Tracey Hardman is on interim suspension. She is the subject of three pending grievance proceedings with probable cause findings against the attorney, accused of violating several Rules of Professional Conduct.

Among the allegations, according to the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel, are claims that Hardman misrepresented the status of a complainant's wrongful-death lawsuit, because she had indicated the lawsuit has been filed when it had not been. Hardman also failed to turn over a file to a client on request, according to the ethics charges.

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Syed Hassan

Bloomfield attorney Syed Hassan faces a presentment related to his actions when notified that his Bank of America IOLTA account was selected for a random audit.

Pleadings in Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel v. Hassan allege the attorney was granted several extensions to correct deficiencies related to that audit, but didn't do so, prompting the ethics case.

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Stephen Hryniewicz

Middletown attorney Stephen Hryniewicz is on interim suspension related to a pending grievance in Defeo v. Hryniewicz. The Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel alleged the attorney didn't provide client Anna Defeo with competent representation in a case involving a wrongful death lawsuit.

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Brian Kaligian

Milford attorney Brian Kaligian has been ordered to take three credit hours of continuing legal education in legal ethics, after his representation of client Thomas Westbrook. The order also requires him to pay a $1,000 in restitution to Westbrook.

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Herbert Mendelsohn

New Haven attorney Herbert Mendelsohn was reprimanded with conditions for failing to cooperate with a random audit of his Peoples United Bank IOLTA account.

Mendelsohn must now have quarterly audits of the account, from March 1, 2020, through Feb. 28, 2021.

In addition, the attorney is required to take three credit hours of continuing legal education in IOLTA account management.

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Laurence Parnoff

Bridgeport attorney Laurence Parnoff is facing a presentment relating to his handling of a workers' compensation claim against Bridgeport Hospital.

The reviewing committee of the Statewide Grievance Committee found the attorney violated the Rules of Professional Conduct related to fees and safekeeping property.

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Louis Rubano

Wallingford attorney Louis Rubano has been suspended from practicing law for nine months, beginning Feb. 1, for his role in preparing two settlement statements for clients.

Rubano negotiated down medical expenses, and would sometimes reduce his attorney fees in connection with settlements in personal injury litigation, Superior Court Judge Brian Fischer found.

The attorney was obligated to notify the state Department of Administrative Services of any reduction of expenses and fees deducted from a settlement, before the settlement was finalized, the judge ruled. But the judge found Rubano didn't tell the department until after the settlements were finalized.

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