TALLAHASSEE —Fort Lauderdale attorney Vincent Joseph Pravato has been suspended until further notice following a Dec. 19 Florida Supreme Court order after his guilty plea to multiple felonies, according to a recent announcement by The Florida Bar.
Pravato's suspension was effective 30 days from the date of the high court's two-page order. The state bar announced the discipline and the Supreme Court's order on Jan. 29.
In Florida, court orders are not final until after the deadline to file a rehearing motion expires. Filing such a motion would not alter the effective date of Pravato's suspension.
Pravato is executive marketing director at The Law Firm of Wolf & Pravato. Pravato was admitted to the bar in Florida on July 19, 1996, according to his profile at the state bar website. Pravato has had no other discipline before the state bar for at least 10 years, according to his profile.
In November, Pravato was one of two South Florida personal injury attorneys to reach a plea agreement over a broad insurance fraud investigation that led to his arrest and that of five other attorneys the previous September. All six were alleged to have participated in an insurance fraud scheme. Also arrested were Steven Slootsky of Boca Raton, Mark Spatz of Davie, Adam Hurtig of Fort Lauderdale, Alexander Kapetan Jr. of Lighthouse Point and Jason Dalley of Lake Worth.
Pravato plead guilty to communications fraud, patient brokering and unlawful use of a two-way communications device, all felonies; and was sentenced to five years of reporting probation, according to the state bar's announcement. As part of his agreement, Pravato must complete 250 hours of community service and pay more than $16,000 in restitution.
Slootsky was the other attorney charged to reach a plea agreement in November, entering a guilty plea to 15 felonies.