Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A Providence lawyer, who is the subject of an investigation into the mishandling of clients' money, has voluntarily agreed to be disbarred, the state Supreme Court announced Tuesday.

The court in December indefinitely suspended Robert D. Natal license to practice law after initiating a probe into $710,000 in client money that was unaccounted for, according to the court's disciplinary counsel. The complaint was referred to the Rhode Island State Police.

The court announced Tuesday that Natal, with offices at 400 Reservoir Ave., had agreed to be disbarred from the practice.

Disciplinary Counsel David D. Curtin began investigating Natal based on a complaint filed in September on behalf of the estate of Virginia Hoye, who owned real estate at 32 Cedar St., Taunton, Mass. Natal had an escrow company and was the settlement agent for the closing on the sale of the Hoye home.

The estate was due to receive $286,076 from the sale, but a check that Natal gave the seller in that amount bounced. Curtin subpoenaed the bank records and discovered, according to court papers, that at the time Natal presented the settlement check, his account was overdrawn by $93,758.41.

The estate was later made whole with another check but that "it was a situation" where Natal "was robbing Peter to pay Paul," according to Curtin. While Curtin was investigating the situation with the Hoye closing, Natal asked his lawyer to notify America Financial Group, a parent company for First American Title Insurance Co., that "contrary to settlement closing instructions," he had not paid off mortgages in connection with three other real-estate closings. That left the homeowners still on the hook for the mortgages totaling $710,000.

Curtin said that "based upon information and belief," Natal had taken the $710,000 for "his personal use." Natal had been a lawyer in Rhode Island for more than 22 years.

 Tags  lawyer Providence Rhode Island Supreme Court

Comments

toni demaio said:

It is a shame to have to read about lawyers who take their clients monies for their own personal use. Some unethical lawyers think they have a license to steal. In the case of Mr. Natal, who had practiced law for 22 years, his career is over.

Link | June 30, 2009 5:04 PM
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