Judge Disbars Attorney Donald C. McPartland
The state Superior Court issued a three-year disbarment for the attorney on September 24, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Financial Crime
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On September 24, 2026, Judge Patrick J. Carroll III ordered a three-year disbarment for attorney Donald C. McPartland. This ruling follows a history of professional misconduct, including the abandonment of a client case and a separate legal malpractice judgment.
Why it matters
The disbarment reflects the court's commitment to maintaining professional standards after McPartland failed to keep clients informed and disregarded multiple court orders. These actions resulted in significant financial and legal consequences for his former clients.
Judge Patrick J. Carroll III issued the three-year disbarment on September 24, 2026, after McPartland failed to appear at a disciplinary hearing on September 15, 2026. This adds to a prior four-year disbarment from 2025 involving $500,000 in missing funds.
The players
Donald C. McPartland
He is an attorney who has faced multiple disciplinary actions and malpractice lawsuits since beginning his practice in 1998.
Patrick J. Carroll III
He is a judge who issued both the 2025 and 2026 disbarment orders against the attorney.
Joseph Shortall
He is a judge who presided over the legal malpractice lawsuit and awarded $155,497 in damages to a former client.
The details
McPartland failed to represent a client in a personal injury case, leading to a dismissal of the matter and a $155,497 malpractice award granted by Judge Joseph Shortall. The attorney also failed to respond to the subsequent legal malpractice lawsuit or attend mandatory disciplinary hearings.
Timeline
Donald C. McPartland began his legal practice in 1998.
The Statewide Grievance Committee initiated an audit of client funds in 2024.
Judge Carroll issued an initial four-year disbarment in 2025.
McPartland failed to attend a disciplinary hearing on September 15, 2026.
The court issued the current three-year disbarment on September 24, 2026.
Legal Context
The disciplinary action follows a established pattern of accountability under the Connecticut Practice Book's Rules of Professional Conduct. This case highlights how state authorities apply consistent sanctions to address repeated failures to meet minimum ethical obligations.
This disbarment effectively prevents the attorney from practicing law or representing new clients in Waterbury. The proceedings serve as a reminder for individuals involved in legal disputes to verify the current standing of their counsel through the state's public records.
The takeaway
Clients should regularly monitor the status of their legal cases to ensure court deadlines are being met by their counsel. If an attorney fails to communicate or attend hearings, individuals are encouraged to contact the state's grievance committee to report potential misconduct.
Further reading
For additional context on legal ethics, see the Financial Crime section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CT Insider.
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