Robert Spadoni, former RUSH Oak Park Hospital vice president and chief operating officer, was disbarred on consent by the Supreme Court of Illinois.
Spadoni pleaded guilty to stealing $622,500 from the local hospital and was sentenced to a year and a half in federal prison. As a former attorney, Spadoni has now been expelled from the legal profession. Disbarments are typically the result of unethical or illegal practices. He was licensed to practice law in 1989, according to the September attorney regulation case summaries for the Supreme Court of Illinois.
According to the Illinois State Bar Association, disbarment is not necessarily permanent in Illinois. That means that over time, Spadoni could be reinstated as an attorney through disciplinary hearings and appeals, though it’s unlikely in most cases.
Disbarment is also not automatic in Illinois. Disbarment on consent means that Spadoni voluntarily accepted the “punishment,” according to an Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission spokesperson. When an attorney voluntarily accepts it, they can seek reinstatement after three years of losing their license. Seeking reinstatement can also be an expensive process.
“Generally, in the criminal context, the more severe a crime, particularly those related to the practice of law, the less chance the lawyer has of getting his or her license back,” said Sari Montgomery, a Chicago-based ARDC defense attorney.
U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly also ordered Spadoni to pay the amount he embezzled, $622,500, in restitution to the hospital. Spadoni orchestrated a billing scheme to defraud the hospital. He used the money to pay for restaurant meals, hotel stays and to transfer $225,805 into a 401(k) account.