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	New York Court of Appeals Upholds Suspension of Lawyer Representing Alleged Victims of Sex Abuse John Aretakis Has Represented Alleged Victims of Abuse by Priests By Renee K. Gadoua The Post-Standard February 6, 2009 http://www.syracuse.com/poststandard/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-0/123391425763230.xml&coll=1 John Aretakis, the lawyer who is representing the alleged sexual abuse victims of a Syracuse diocesan priest, has been suspended from practicing law for a year. He was originally suspended in December but appealed. The state Court of Appeals denied the appeal Jan. 22. Aretakis said while suspended he cannot work or represent himself as a lawyer. Aretakis, who had been the lawyer for the family of the alleged victims of the Rev. John W. Broderick, said he is now the family spokesman. Broderick is scheduled to go on trial Monday in Montgomery County on charges he sexually abused three brothers under age 11. He was arrested in February 2008 and was originally accused of engaging in inappropriate sexual contact with four children ages 5 to 11. The Post-Standard does not identify victims of sexual abuse. Broderick was ordained in the Syracuse Diocese in 1989. An appellate court panel unanimously upheld professional misconduct charges against Aretakis made by the Committee on Professional Standards. He is accused of engaging in "undignified and discourteous conduct degrading to the court." The court said, "We find that this record clearly shows that respondent has repeatedly crossed the line separating zealous advocacy from professional misconduct." Aretakis, who practices in Albany and New York City, has handled numerous cases accusing priests of sexual abuse, including the Broderick case and one other in the Syracuse Diocese. He has had an especially contentious relationship with the Albany Diocese, where he says he has 100 clients. Aretakis said the discipline targets him for challenging the church. "They come after me for ethical charges when I'm getting rid of pedophiles," he said. Renee K. Gadoua can be reached at rgadoua@syracuse.com or 470-2203.
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