A panel of appellate judges has disbarred a Dutchess County lawyer for misappropriating client funds.
The Second Appellate Division ruled on June 20 that Brian T. Schmidt, of Pawling, engaged in professional misconduct in multiple real estate transactions.
The lawyers grievance committee for courts in the five-county region brought the charges against Schmidt last year, “based upon uncontroverted evidence of [his] professional misconduct.”
When Schmidt did not respond to subpoenas to testify under oath or produce records, the grievance committee asked the court to find him in default and to disbar him.
Five appellate judges deemed that the grievance committee had established the charges and immediately suspended Schmidt from the practice of law.
The ruling provides no details about Schmidt’s misdeeds or say how much money was misappropriated.
Schmidt got his law degree from Villanova School of Law and has practiced since 2001. His law office was in his home in Pawling.
He petitioned for personal bankruptcy protection seven times from 2011 to 2022.
The bankruptcies indicate that his law firm was struggling financially. Reports show that he made $34,000 in 2015, $36,000 in 2016, $7,000 in the first seven months of 2017, $19 in 2020, $22,300 in 2021, and $34.45 in the first four months of 2022.
Schmidt did not reply to an email asking for comment on the disbarment.
