A 52-year veteran lawyer in Westchester County has been allowed to resign from practicing law, and thereby has been disbarred, after admitting that he can’t defend against misconduct allegations being investigated by an attorney grievance committee that involve, at a minimum, the failure to safeguard client funds.

The attorney, Richard T. Blancato, based in Tarrytown, must also make a restitution payment of $245,000 to a man named Francesco Racanelli or, in lieu of that, reimburse the $245,000 to the state Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection, according to an Appellate Division, Second Department opinion that disbarred Blancato in New York state while accepting his application for resignation. The opinion did not specify who Racanelli is in relation to Blancato, but it appears he is a former client.

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