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NEWS MARCH 22, 2021 ¦ 11

of his client, his cousin Mark
Ziemba, in a probate matter.
The one-year suspension is sep-
arate from the 2008 grievance
complaint.
Cannatelli, 66, and an at-
torney for 32 years, appealed
his suspension from the Con-
necticut Superior Court to the
Connecticut Appellate Court.
Cannatelli, who was acting as
his own attorney, argued that
the Superior Court decision
lacked subject-matter jurisdic-
tion. Specifically, Cannatelli said
the court didn’t hold a hearing
on the merits of the present-
ment within 60 says of its filing Building housing the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel in Hartford.
with the court. He also argued Photo: Google

Superior Court Judge James Abrams abused his dis- are right here, as they do have strict rules. I should
cretion by suspending him for one year, effective have known better.”
Feb. 15, 2021. Cannatelli said his immediate reaction to Friday’s
With regard to the holding of a hearing within 60 ruling from the Connecticut Appellate Court was “I
days, the Appellate Court ruling said the 60-day rule was upset.”
“is directory, not mandatory, and that failure to meet “I think they tried to protect the trial judge,” he
its time requirements does not deprive the court of said. “I thought I had a good argument, and I guess
jurisdiction.” A directory requirement is optional, as it blew up in my face.”
opposed to a mandatory one. Still, Cannatelli said he believes the one-year sus-
As it relates to Cannatelli’s claim that Abrams pension is too harsh.
abused his discretion, the Appellate Court wrote: “A “I know that I shouldn’t have done what I did, but
court disciplining an attorney does so not to punish I didn’t have proper training in IOLTA accounts,” he
the attorney, but rather to safeguard the adminis- said. “I admitted to the allegation, and have since
tration of justice and to protect the public from the taken two classes on trust accounts.”
misconduct or unfitness of those who are members Chief Disciplinary Counsel Brian Staines, who
of the legal profession. … Inherent in this process is represented the disciplinary counsel before the Con-
a large degree of judicial discretion.” necticut Appellate Court, didn’t respond to a request
Cannatelli said Monday that he’d file a motion to for comment Monday.
reconsider with the Connecticut Appellate Court, Friday’s ruling from the Connecticut Appellate
and if that falls flat, he will ask the Connecticut Su- Court doesn’t cite the author of the ruling. The judg-
preme Court to hear the matter. es who ruled on the matter were Ingrid Moll, Joan
Cannatelli also acknowledged he made a mistake, Alexander and Jose Suarez.
but said it was an innocent one. ¦

“I didn’t take anyone’s money. I paid my own Robert Storace covers legal trends, lawsuits and
personal bills out of that account, and you are not analysis for the Connecticut Law Tribune. Follow
supposed to do that. But it was my own money, and him on Twitter @RobertSCTLaw or reach him at
no one else’s,” Cannatelli said. “They [disciplinarians] 203-437-5950.

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