DENVER -
A state judicial office has filed a petition to immediately suspend a Colorado lawyer who has failed to show up in court to defend clients and is part of an active criminal investigation.
The Colorado Supreme Court Office of Attorney Regulation says Francis Pignatelli committed fraud when applying for the Colorado bar in 2006 by failing to disclose that he was subject of a federal criminal investigation in Ohio and was likely to face charges.
Attorney regulators also feared Pignatelli was an "immediate threat" to his clients in Colorado.
FOX 31 has learned that Pignatelli turned informant on many of his clients in Ohio before moving to Denver.
"It is in fact outrageous. All involved in the criminal justice system and citizens themselves should be outraged by it," legal analyst Dan Recht told FOX 31.
Clients say Pignatelli quit returning their calls shortly after news of the Ohio investigation broke.
State attorney regulators say Pignatelli had a "substantial practice" in Denver and, if the order of suspension is approved, all clients should contact the state Office of Attorney Regulation at 303-866-6444.
Mr. Pignatelli will be served with the petition and if a show cause order is issued by Judge Lucero he will have 10 days within which to respond.
The Colorado Supreme Court Office of Attorney Regulation says Francis Pignatelli committed fraud when applying for the Colorado bar in 2006 by failing to disclose that he was subject of a federal criminal investigation in Ohio and was likely to face charges.
Attorney regulators also feared Pignatelli was an "immediate threat" to his clients in Colorado.
FOX 31 has learned that Pignatelli turned informant on many of his clients in Ohio before moving to Denver.
"It is in fact outrageous. All involved in the criminal justice system and citizens themselves should be outraged by it," legal analyst Dan Recht told FOX 31.
Clients say Pignatelli quit returning their calls shortly after news of the Ohio investigation broke.
State attorney regulators say Pignatelli had a "substantial practice" in Denver and, if the order of suspension is approved, all clients should contact the state Office of Attorney Regulation at 303-866-6444.
Mr. Pignatelli will be served with the petition and if a show cause order is issued by Judge Lucero he will have 10 days within which to respond.
