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23 Florida Attorneys Disciplined |
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Written by North Country Gazette
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Wednesday, 10 May 2006 |
| 23 Florida Attorneys Disciplined | TALLAHASSEE---The Florida Bar, the state's guardian for the integrity of the legal profession, has announced that the Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders has disbarred one, suspended 15, accepted the resignation of seven attorneys.
As an official agency of the Supreme Court of Florida, The Florida Bar and its Department of Lawyer Regulation are charged with the administration of a statewide disciplinary system to enforce Supreme Court rules of professional conduct of the 78,000-plus lawyers admitted to practice law in Florida.
The following lawyers have been disciplined. Court orders are not final until time expires to file a rehearing motion and, if filed, determined. The filing of such a motion does not alter the effective date of the discipline.
Margaret M. Anderson, 1707 20th St., Vero Beach, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a March 9 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1991) Among several Bar violations, Anderson engaged in conduct that was unlawful or contrary to honesty and justice; failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client; and engaged in conduct in connection with the practice of law that was prejudicial to the administration of justice.
Susan Lynn Eberle, 301 E. Pine St., Ste. 150, Orlando, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 30 days, effective 30 days following a March 16 court order. Upon reinstatement, Eberle is further placed on probation for two years. (Admitted to practice: 1985) Eberle failed to explain a matter to the extent necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation and failed to respond, in writing, to an official inquiry by Bar counsel or a disciplinary agency, when conducting an investigation into her conduct.
Raquel Lynn Floyd, P.O. Box 5183, Hialeah, suspended from practicing law in Florida for six months, effective 30 days following a March 16 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1998) Among several Bar violations, Floyd failed to provide a client with competent representation; failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client; and failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter.
Matthew Gentile, 3155 Jackson Ave., Coconut Grove, suspended from practicing law in Florida on an emergency basis, effective 30 days following a March 1 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2000) There is clear and convincing evidence that Gentile appears to be causing great public harm.
Thomas Gordon Hersem, 1421 Court St., Ste. B, Clearwater, suspended from practicing law in Florida for two years, effective 30 days following a March 16 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1977) Harsem engaged in misconduct and minor misconduct; violated or attempted to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct; and violated some of the Rules Regulating Trust Accounts.
Justin I. Hirsch, 3032 Center St., Coconut Grove, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a March 16 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1979) Hirsch practiced law in a jurisdiction where doing so violated the regulation of the legal profession in that jurisdiction and knowingly made a false statement of material fact.
Larry Delton Houston, P.O. Box 208, Belleview, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 10 days, effective 30 days following a Dec. 1, 2005 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1983) Among several Bar violations, Houston failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and failed to promptly comply with reasonable requests for information; failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client; and failed to explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation.
Mark Kevin Koenig, 400 Hibiscus St., Fl. 2, W. Palm Beach, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a March 16 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1986) Among several Bar violations, Koenig failed to provide competent representation to a client; violated or attempted to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct; and engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.
Richard Thomas Kozek Jr., 7548 Bobcat Run, Port St. Lucie, disbarred from practicing law in Florida, effective 30 days following a March 16 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1991) Among several Bar violations, Kozek violated or attempted to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct; committed a criminal act that reflects adversely on his honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer; and failed to respond, in writing, to an official inquiry by Bar counsel or a disciplinary agency, when conducting an investigation into his conduct.
Kenneth T. Lange, 1125 NE 125th St., Ste. 301, N. Miami, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a March 16 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1978) Lange entered into an agreement for, charged, or collected an illegal, prohibited, or clearly excessive fee or cost and represented a private client in connection with a matter in which he participated personally and substantially as a public officer or employee.
Jerry Lee Lovelace, 215 SE 46th St., Cape Coral, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a March 9 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1994) Among several Bar violations, Lovelace failed to provide competent representation to a client; failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client; and failed to respond, in writing, to an official inquiry by Bar counsel or a disciplinary agency, when conducting an investigation into his conduct.
Donald Frank Mintmire, 220 Sunrise Ave., Ste. 206, Palm Beach, suspended from practicing law in Florida, effective 30 days following a March 3 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1984) On or about Feb. 8, Mintmire was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment in a federal prison camp for his convictions of obstructing an official proceeding and conspiracy to obstruct justice, both felonies under Federal law.
Barry Steven Mittelberg, 8100 N. University Dr., Ste. 102, Ft. Lauderdale, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 10 days, effective Feb. 17, following a Jan. 26 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1984) Mittelberg violated or attempted to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct and engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.
Joseph Raymond Rowe Jr., 1430 W. Busch Blvd., Ste. D, Tampa, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 30 days, effective 30 days following a March 9 court order. Upon reinstatement, Rowe is further placed on probation for two years. (Admitted to practice: 1991) Among several Bar violations, Rowe failed to provide competent representation to a client; failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client; and failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information.
Jeffrey Alan Schwarz, 16375 NE 18th Ave., Ste. 321, N. Miami Beach, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a March 9 court order. Schwarz is further placed on probation for one year. (Admitted to practice: 1976) Schwarz failed to respond, in writing, to an official inquiry by Bar counsel or a disciplinary agency, when conducting an investigation into his conduct.
Allen Ross Smith, P.O. Box 1032, Winter Haven, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 90 days, effective 30 days following a March 16 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1974) Among several Bar violations, Smith failed to comply with the Rules Regulating Trust Accounts; engaged in conduct in connection with the practice of law that was prejudicial to the administration of justice; and failed to make monthly reconciliations and comparisons.
David M. Sostchin, 419 W. 49th St., Ste. 210, Hialeah, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a March 16 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1978) Sostchin engaged in misconduct and minor misconduct; violated or attempted to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct; and engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.
Linda Thompson, 915 W. Pennisular St., Tampa, suspended from practicing law in Florida for two years, effective 30 days following a March 16 court order. Upon reinstatement, Thompson is further placed on probation for three years. (Admitted to practice: 1989) Thompson failed to act with diligence and promptness in representing a client; engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation; and failed to respond, in writing, to an official inquiry by Bar counsel or a disciplinary agency, when conducting an investigation into her conduct.
Robert Joseph Tieso, 4331 N. Federal Hwy., Ste. 206, Ft. Lauderdale, suspended from practicing law in Florida, effective 30 days following a March 6 court order. Tieso shall remain suspended until he has complied with the Court's Order to Show Cause, issued Jan. 23, and has also certified full compliance with the subpoenas duces tecum served upon him by the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee "D" on Nov. 22, 2005. (Admitted to practice: 1988) Tieso failed to show cause on or before Feb. 7 why he should not be held in contempt of Court and suspended for the reasons set forth in The Florida Bar's petition.
Derek Michael Tyler, P.O Box 821421, Pembroke Pines, suspended from practicing law in Florida, effective 30 days following a March 21 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1998) On or about Nov. 4, 2004, Tyler was charged with one count of Possession of Controlled Substance, a third degree felony. On or about Nov. 21, 2005, Tyler entered a plea of nolo contendere, was adjudicated guilty, and sentenced.
James A. Walker, 7700 N. Kendall Dr., Ste. 404, Miami, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 30 days, effective March 8, following a March 9 court order. Upon reinstatement, Walker is further placed on probation for one year. (Admitted to practice: 1980) Among several Bar violations, Walker failed to provide competent representation to a client; failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client; and failed to explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation.
James Patrick Woods, 1416 E. Concord St., Orlando, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 91 days, effective 30 days following a March 30 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1996) Among several Bar violations, Woods failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client; engaged in criminal misconduct; and failed to explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation.
Stephanie Ann Yelenosky, 7512 Dr. Phillips Blvd., Ste. 50, Orlando, suspended from practicing law in Florida for two years, effective retroactive to July 11, 2005, following a March 9 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1994) Yelenosky entered into an agreement for, charged, or collected an illegal, prohibited, or clearly excessive fee or cost; engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation; and engaged in conduct in connection with the practice of law that was prejudicial to the administration of justice. 5-08-06 |
http://www.northcountrygazette.org/articles/05090623Disciplined.html
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 10 May 2006 )
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