Saturday, December 12, 2020

Erie Attorney Disbarred After Pleading Guilty to Felony Forgery, Theft Charges

An Erie lawyer has been disbarred after pleading guilty to several felony charges for keeping settlement money from clients.

Robert Barbato Jr., 32, will no longer be able to practice law in the state starting Dec. 17. The order was handed down Tuesday by the Disciplinary Board of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court after Barbato submitted a verified statement of resignation.

Barbato entered the guilty plea to a felony count of forgery and four felony counts of theft Nov. 3. Nine other charges were dropped.

Investigators said Barbato collected settlement-type checks and failed to forward them to his clients.

A total theft of more than $270,000 was reported between January 2014 and Jan. 29, 2020. He was arraigned on the charges in late February.

The Disciplinary Board placed Barbato on temporary suspension in March.

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