TALLAHASSEE (Florida Record) – Fort Lauderdale attorney Vincent Joseph Pravato has been voluntarily disbarred following an April 19 Florida Supreme Court after he pleaded guilty to his part in an insurance patient brokering scheme for which he was arrested in September, according to a recent announcement by The Florida Bar.
The state Supreme Court granted Pravato's uncontested petition for a disciplinary revocation, tantamount to disbarment, with leave to seek readmission after five years.
Pravato was suspended late last year, which meant his disbarment was effective immediately, according to the court's two-page order, which required Pravato to pay approximately $1,360 in costs.
"Disciplinary matters pending against Pravato pertained to criminal proceedings," the state bar said in its May 29 announcement of the discipline and the Supreme Court's order. "Pravato pleaded guilty in court to one third-degree felony count of communications fraud, patient brokering and unlawful use of two-way communication device."
In Florida, court orders are not final until after time to file a rehearing motion expires. Attorneys disbarred in the state may not reapply for admission for five years and even then they must pass through an extensive process that includes a rigorous background check and retaking the bar exam.
Filing such a motion would not alter the effective date of the Pravato's disbarment.
Pravato, executive marketing director at The Law Firm of Wolf & Pravato, was admitted to the bar in Florida July 1996, according to his profile at the state bar website. No prior discipline before the state bar is listed on Pravato's state bar profile.
Pravato was suspended in December following his guilty plea to the felony counts and his sentencing to five years of reporting probation, according to the state bar's announcement in January. As part a plea agreement, Pravato must complete 250 hours of community service and pay more than $16,000 in restitution.
Pravato was one of several South Florida personal injury attorneys arrested in September for allegedly participating in the broad insurance fraud scheme. Also arrested were Steven Earnest 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.