William Locantro, Robert Romanoff… Stiffing Partners, Stiffing Lawyers.
LERK 03/01/2021 03:32 P~ NYSCEF DOC. NO. 414 INDEX NO. 654118/2015 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 03/01/2021 SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK: COMMERCIAL DIVISION PART IAS MOTION 3EFM — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — -x JOSEPH RUTIGLIANO, Plaintiff, — v — WILLIAM LOCANTRO, ROBERT ROMANOFF, EDM ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS, INC., BRAVO SALES GROUP, INC., JOHN DOES 1THROUGH10, ABC CORPORATIONS 1THROUGH10, Defendants. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — -x ABSOLUTE ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING OF NY INC., WILLIAM LOCANTRO, ROBERT ROMANOFF Plaintiffs, -againstJOSEPH RUTIGLIANO, Defendant. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — x HON. JOEL M. COHEN: INDEX NO. 654118/2015 MOTION DATE N/A, N/A MOTION SEQ. NO. 010 011 DECISION+ ORDER ON MOTION DECISION/ORDER Index №654425/2017 (Action #1) The following e-filed documents, listed by NYSCEF document number (Motion 010) 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 385, 386, 387, 388, 389, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397,400,401, 402,408,410 were read on this motion for ATTORNEY WITHDRAWAL The following e-filed documents, listed by NYSCEF document number (Motion 011) 403, 404, 405, 406, 407,409,411 were read on this motion to SEAL In Motion Sequence Number 10, Levitt LLP (“Levitt”) seeks to withdraw as counsel for William Locantro, Robert Romanoff, and EDM Electrical Contractors, Inc. (“EDM”) (collectively, the “Defendants”). Levitt, through one of its attorneys, Irene Tenedios, Esq., seeks to terminate its representation due to the death of EDM’s President (see NYSCEF Doc. №374 654118/2015 RUTIGLIANO, JOSEPH vs. LOCANTRO, WILLIAM Motion №01 O 011 1 of 4 Page 1 of4 [FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 03/01/2021 03:32 P~ NYSCEF DOC. NO. 414 INDEX NO. 654118/2015 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 03/01/2021 [“Tenedios December Affidavit”] at iii! 6–8), and Defendants’ failure to pay Levitt’s invoices (see NYSCEF Doc. №400 [“Tenedios January Affidavit”] at iii! 13 -18). An attorney may withdraw as counsel upon a showing of good and sufficient cause and reasonable notice (NY CPLR § 321 :2). Further, an attorney may withdraw from representation where the client “deliberately disregards an agreement or obligation to the lawyer as to expenses or fees” (NYCRR 1.16 [c][5]; see also Weiss v Spitzer, 26 AD3d 675 [1st Dept 2007] [permitting attorney to withdraw where client was almost $4,000 in arears]; Winters v Winters, 25 AD3d 601, 601 [2d Dept 2006] [holding that an attorney may withdraw where the client “refuses to pay reasonable legal fees”]). The Court concludes that Levitt has made a sufficient showing of entitlement to withdraw as counsel for Defendants and its motion is Granted. In Motion Sequence Number 11, Levitt seeks to seal certain documents submitted in support of its Motion to Withdraw as Counsel to Defendants. Levitt bases its motion on N.Y. Rule 1.16( e ), seeking to avoid any prejudice to its now-former clients by redacting certain reasoning for its Motion to Withdraw (non-payment of fees). The Appellate Division has emphasized that “there is a broad presumption that the public is entitled to access to judicial proceedings and court records” (Mosallem v Berenson, 76 AD3d 345, 348 [1st Dept 2010]). “Since the right [of public access to court proceedings] is of constitutional dimension, any order denying access must be narrowly tailored to serve compelling objectives, such as a need for secrecy that outweighs the public’s right to access” (Danco Labs., Ltd. v Chemical Works of Gedeon Richter, Ltd., 274 AD2d 1, 6 [1st Dept 2000] [emphasis added]; see also, e.g. Gryphon Dom. VL LLC v APP Intern. Fin. Co., B. V, 28 AD3d 322, 324 [1st Dept 2006]). 654118/2015 RUTIGLIANO, JOSEPH vs. LOCANTRO, WILLIAM Motion №01 O 011 2 of 4 Page 2 of 4 [FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 03/01/2021 03:32 P~ NYSCEF DOC. NO. 414 INDEX NO. 654118/2015 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 03/01/2021 The desire to prevent the dissemination of information, that might be embarrassing to a party or might damage a party’s reputation, is not sufficient grounds for sealing (see Matter of Benkert, 288 AD2d 147, 147 [1st Dept 2001]). Here, having reviewed Levitt’s submissions, the Court determines that there are no sufficient reasons to seal the documents filed in support of Levitt’s Motion to Withdraw as Counsel to Defendants, apart from the redacted descriptions of legal work done in Levitt’s invoices (NYSCEF Doc. Nos. 401, 407). Levitt’s Motion to Seal is Granted in Part, allowing the redaction of task descriptions in Levitt’s invoices, and is otherwise Denied. Accordingly, it is therefore: ORDERED that the motion of Levitt to be relieved as counsel for Defendants in this action is Granted, subject to the following conditions; it is further ORDERED that Levitt is to comply with its obligations under Rule 1.16( d) of the Rules of Professional Conduct, as applicable to the facts presented, to “take steps, to the extent reasonably practicable, to avoid foreseeable prejudice to the rights of the clients, including giving reasonable notice to the clients, allowing time for employment of other counsel, delivering to the clients all papers and property to which the clients are entitled, promptly refunding any part of a fee paid in advance that has not been earned and complying with applicable laws and rules”; it is further ORDERED that, Levitt shall promptly serve a copy of this order upon Defendants by email, and, if practicable, by hard copy at their last known home and business addresses by certified mail, return receipt requested; it is further ORDERED that EDM shall appoint substitute counsel by March 31, 2021; it is further 654118/2015 RUTIGLIANO, JOSEPH vs. LOCANTRO, WILLIAM Motion №01 O 011 3 of 4 Page 3 of 4 !FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 03/01/2021 03: 32 PMI NYSCEF DOC. NO. 414 INDEX NO. 654118/2015 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 03/01/2021 ORDERED that Defendants William Locantro and Robert Romanoff either appoint substitute counsel or advise the Court of their intention to proceed in this matter pro se, on or before March 31, 2021; it is further ORDERED that no further proceedings may be taken against Defendants without leave of Court in this matter until March 31, 2021; it is further ORDERED that Levitt’s Motion to Seal is Granted in Part and Denied in Part. The descriptions of the legal tasks performed in Levitt’s Invoices, NYSCEF Doc. Nos. 401 and 407 will remain redacted; it is further ORDERED that Levitt shall file on NYSCEF the unredacted and unsealed versions of NYSCEF Doc. Nos. 400 and 401 within one week of this Order; it is further ORDERED that nothing in this Order shall be construed as authorizing the sealing or redactions of any documents or evidence to be offered at trial; and it is ORDERED that all parties are to appear for a Status Conference, via teleconference (dial-in number to be provided by Plaintiff to Defendants and the Court) on April 6, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. This constitutes the decision and order of the Court. 3/1/2021 DATE CHECK ONE: ~ CASE DISPOSED GRANTED D DENIED SETTLE ORDER INCLUDES TRANSFER/REASSIGN APPLICATION: CHECK IF APPROPRIATE: 654118/2015 RUTIGLIANO, JOSEPH vs. LOCANTRO, WILLIAM Motion №010 011 4 of 4 JOEL M. COHEN, J.S.C.
William Locantro former owner of Carnegie Childs which escaped indictment, former owner of MichaelMarketing which escaped indictment, is at it again. Locantro stiffed his latest partner and is now being sued; Locantro stiffed his former lawyer and the lawyer has now bailed. This “Avid Art Collector” doesn’t seem to have the money for lawyers, or at least does not want to give any money that is owed to the law firm.
This begs the question… is Paramount Custom Homes a fraud as well? Locantro’s track record is not so great, he seems to always be in law suits. Former partner Fred Mossimo (a convicted felon)said “Locantro is impossible to get along with”. Russ Rossi Pres. of MichaelMarketing had to have his rich Jewish wife (who loves anal sex, by the way) put up hush money to try to conclude a fraudulent deal that went array and almost landed Rossi and Locantro in jail.
Locantro who is originally from Ozone Park, NY, has not left his street ways and is constantly scheming new ways to screw people.
