On Friday, September 20, 2024, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court for Suffolk County reinstated attorney Robert J. Catalano to the Massachusetts Bar after a lengthy reinstatement process.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Robert J. Catalano,” with case no. BD-1995-035.
Catalano was originally admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1977 but was suspended in 1995 for three years due to violating court orders related to client funds. He was later disbarred in 1999 for misconduct such as converting client’s funds and making false representations.
Since his disbarment in 1999, Catalano held jobs outside the legal profession and obtained permission in 2017 to work as a paralegal. For several years, he worked as a paralegal for attorneys John Zajac and John Pavlos, who both testified in support of his petition for reinstatement.
At that hearing, the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers recommended that Catalano’s petition for reinstatement be allowed, subject to certain conditions. They found that Catalano had demonstrated the requisite moral reform and rehabilitation to resume practice after presenting evidence of making full restitution, taking responsibility for his past misconduct, expressing remorse, and making progress through nine years of counseling.
In line with the Board’s recommendation, the Supreme Judicial Court judgment of reinstatement on September 20, 2024, allowed Catalano to resume practice but imposed conditions such as continuing counseling for one year, a two-year mentoring agreement, and participating in a lawyers support group for at least one year.
According to the filing, Mr. Catalano acquired his law license in Massachusetts in 1977.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
