US Bankruptcy Court appeals judge issued a ruling sharply critical of Republican US Senate candidate Jack E. Robinson's handling of a case involving a nursing home, accusing Robinson and his cocounsel, Alexander L. Cataldo, of making ''recklessly inaccurate and misleading arguments.''
In the court's ruling, Chief Judge Arthur N. Votolato Jr. also suggested that Robinson may have ''misrepresented'' prior precedents in his arguments before the court.
While no sanctions were meted out, Votolato said the ruling would serve as ''fair warning regarding similar future transgressions'' that could result in fines.
The ruling was issued on Aug. 16 and first reported yesterday on www.masslaw.com, the Web site of the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly newspaper.
Robinson and Cataldo represented Vernard and Lillian Granderson, who owned a bankrupt Dorchester nursing facility, Almedia Rest Home.
According to court papers, the couple were at odds with the court-appointed bankruptcy trustee, who accused Vernard Granderson of improperly putting assets into his wife's name. The attorneys made several attempts to have the trustee, M. Ellen Carpenter, thrown off the case, but their arguments were all rejected by the judge.
In their appeal, Votolato wrote, the two attorneys cited cases that were ''at best misread, and more likely'' misrepresented.
Thomas McCuin, Robinson's campaign manager, said the candidate could not comment on the case ''because of ethical rules within the court system.''
Material from the Associated Press was included in this report.
