Florida Battleground Exposed

December 21, 2006

By Taffy Rice (View author info)
Copyright Taffy Rice

Will officer of the court ever be held accountable? There are signs the effort is gaining steam. Perhaps the courtrooms across America, are in the process of being returned TO the people, instead of just the backrooms for the BAR.

The Florida Bar is the official agency of the Supreme Court of Florida, The Florida Bar and its Department of Lawyer Regulation are charged with administering a statewide disciplinary system to enforce Supreme Court rules of professional conduct for the 80,000-plus lawyers admitted to practice law in Florida.

The December 6, 2006 the Florida Bar, the state's guardian for the integrity of the legal profession, announced today that the Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders suspended 13, disbarred nine, reprimanded seven and placed six attorneys on probation.

On December 19, 2006, The Florida Bar, announced that the Florida Supreme Court suspended seven, disbarred three, reprimanded four and placed five attorneys on probation

FLORIDA SUPREME COURT DECIPLINES ATTORNEYS - DECEMBER 19, 2006

Omar Javier Arcia, 123 S.W. 164 Ave., Pembroke Pines, reinstated and placed on probation for three years, effective immediately, following a Nov. 17 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1995) Arcia had been suspended since 2003 for committing a criminal act that reflected adversely on his honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer, and participated in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation. (Case No. SC06-1024)

Alan Lowell Arons, 21346 Saint Andrews Blvd., No.145, Boca Raton, disbarred from practicing law in Florida, effective retroactive to April 13, 2004, following a Nov. 30 order. (Admitted to practice: 1977) Arons intentionally misappropriated clients' trust funds, exhibiting a pattern of misconduct, multiple offenses and bad faith obstruction of the disciplinary proceeding. (Case Nos. SC04-601, SC06-184 and SC06-759)

Brian Merl Beauchamp, 759 S.W. Federal Highway, Suite 315, Stuart, reprimanded and placed on probation for one year, following a Nov. 16 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1990) Beauchamp failed to abide by a client's decisions concerning the objectives of representation, failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client, failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and engaged in conduct in connection with the practice of law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice. (Case No. SC06-2160)

Michael William Bond, 1845 Monte Vista St., Fort Myers, disbarred from practicing of law in Florida, effective 30 days from a Nov. 2 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1998) Bond failed to provide competent representation for a client, intentionally solicited, encouraged and assisted a client in conduct he knew was criminal or fraudulent, represented a client when his independent judgment was materially limited by his own interests, used information about a client's desperate financial circumstance to secure an advantage in a property transaction without her consent, committed criminal acts and was involved in dishonest, fraudulent and deceitful conduct. (Case No. SC06-186)

Sarino R. Costanzo, 10659 N.E. Quaybridge Court., Miami, suspended from practicing law in Florida, effective Nov. 12, and shall remain suspended until further order of the court, following a Nov. 14 order. (Admitted to practice: 1950) Costanzo failed to comply with a grievance committee subpoena for trust account records. (Case No. SC06-880)

Regina Elizabeth Glossick Cox, 1755 Magnolia Ave., Winter Park, reprimanded and placed on probation for three years, effective retroactive to May 4, following a Nov. 22 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1999) Cox failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client, failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information, failed to explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions, engaged in conduct in connection with the practice of law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice and failed to respond, in writing, to an official inquiry by bar counsel. (Case No. SC06-964)

Mary Lynn Desjarlais, 2750 Stickney Point Road Suite, 201, Sarasota, reprimanded and ordered to attend Ethics School, following a Nov. 9 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1982) Desjarlais had a conflict of interest in representing a client, causing a limitation on her independent professional judgment. (Case No. SC06-1342)

Neil A. Katims, 1372 Wasdale Ave., Elk Grove Village, Ill., suspended from practicing law in Florida indefinitely, without leave to petition for reinstatement, effective immediately, following a Nov. 16 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1981) Katims failed to provide competent representation for a client, and violated a rule prohibiting an attorney from entering into an agreement for or charging or collecting an illegal, prohibited or clearly excessive fee or cost. (SC05-2325)

Stephen Glenn Martin, P.O. Box 731858, Ormond Beach, disbarred from practicing law in Florida, effective immediately, following a Nov. 9 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1996) Martin failed to take the steps reasonably practicable to protect a client's interests upon the termination of representation, engaged in conduct in connection with practicing law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice and failed to respond, in writing, to an official inquiry by bar counsel. (Case No. SC06-1179)

Alexis Summer Moore, P.O. Box 310365, Miami, suspended from practicing law in Florida, following a Nov. 28 court order and shall remain suspended until further notice of the court. (Admitted to practice: 1998). Moore appears to be causing great public harm by the misappropriation and/or diversion of funds entrusted to her. (Case No. SC06-2255).

Mark Orr, 6608 Hulda Drive, Fort Pierce, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 30 days, effective 30 days from a Nov. 22 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1975) Orr, who was adjudicated guilty of reckless driving, committed a criminal act that reflects adversely on his honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer. (Case No. SC06-1756)

Maria Teresa Rodriguez, 1311 Miller Road, Suite 112, Coral Gables, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 30 days, effective 30 days from a Nov. 2 court order, and then placed on 24 months probation. (Admitted to practice: 1992) Rodriguez violated rules regulating trust accounts, engaged in misconduct and minor misconduct, failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client, failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and failed to respond in writing to an official inquiry. (Case No. SC06-130)

John Chandler Ross, 1493 Doral Road, Orlando, placed on probation for three years, effective immediately, following a Nov. 30 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1983) Ross failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client, failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and failed to explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding representation. (Case No. SC06-431)

Ronald Frank Smith, 8293 86th Ave., Largo, reprimanded, following a Nov. 9 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1985) Smith failed to disclose a material fact to a third person. (Case No. SC06-2123)

Basem Soliman, 732 Duart Drive, Orange Park, suspended from practicing law in Florida, effective retroactive 30 days from Nov. 17, following a Nov. 21 order. (Admitted to practice: 1994) Soliman was adjudged guilty of two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation, second-degree felonies, and failed to report his felony conviction to The Florida Bar. (Case No. SC06-2228)

Donald Alan Tobkin, P.O. Box 220990, Hollywood, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 91 days, effective retroactive Oct. 30, following a Nov. 1 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1988) Tobkin unlawfully obstructed another party's access to evidence, knowingly disobeying an obligation under the rules of a tribunal, made a frivolous discovery request or failed to comply with a legally proper discovery request and engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice. (Case No. SC04-1493)


FLORIDA SUPREME COURT DECIPLINES ATTORNEYS 12/07/06

Roy A. Alterman, 2115 Palm Bay Road N.E., Palm Bay, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 10 days, effective Nov. 17, following an Oct. 5 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1990) Alterman failed to act with reasonable diligence in representing a client and engaged in conduct in connection with the practice of law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice. (Case Nos. SC05-1839 & SC06-32)

Antonio R. Arnao, P.O. Box 1128, Largo, reprimanded for professional misconduct, following an Oct. 12 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1988) Arnao did not act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client. (Case No. SC06-1971)

J. Rod Cameron, 5089 Highway 90, Pace, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 90 days retroactive to July 6, the date of his felony suspension, following an Oct. 5 court order. Additionally, upon reinstatement, Cameron will be placed on probation for three years. (Admitted to practice: 1996) Cameron engaged in misconduct and minor misconduct as well as criminal misconduct. In April, he pled guilty, with adjudication withheld, to purchasing a controlled substance, a second-degree felony, and he was adjudicated guilty of a first-degree misdemeanor, possession of drug paraphernalia. (Case No. SC06-1434)

Peter James Correnti, P.O. Box 699, Sorrento, reprimanded following an Oct. 5 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1990) Correnti engaged in conduct in connection with the practice of law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice, failed to respond, in writing, to an official inquiry by bar counsel and committed an act that is unlawful or contrary to honesty and justice. (Case No. SC06-1424)

Sarino R. Costanzo, 10659 N.E. Quaybridge Ct., Miami, disbarred from practicing law in Florida, effective 30 days from an Oct. 19 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1950) Costanzo violated several rules for the holding and handling of trust account funds. (Case No. SC06-1541)

William Lance Gerlin, 325 N. Calhoun St., Tallahassee, reprimanded and placed on 18 months probation for professional misconduct, following an Oct. 26 order. (Admitted to practice: 1973) Gerlin violated rules related to communicating with and keeping clients properly informed. (Case No. SC05-1681)

Justin Edward Gould, 4014 Chase Ave., Suite 219, Miami Beach, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 90 days, effective 30 days from an Oct. 12 order, and directed to complete Ethics School. (Admitted to practice: 1996) Gould violated rules of professional practice by failing to adequately communicate with clients and keep them apprized of the status of their cases as well as diligently and competently representing them. (Case No. SC06-889)

Cathy Lynn Harrison, 505 S. 56th St., Tampa, suspended from practicing law in Florida for one year immediately for professional misconduct, following an Oct. 5 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2000) Harrison failed to adequately communicate with clients, was not diligent in representing them and displayed conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice. (Case No. SC06-619)

Norman C. Hartsel, 14 Royal Beach, Johns Island, S.C., disbarred from practicing law in Florida, effective immediately, following an Oct. 12 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1983) Hartsel engaged in misconduct and minor misconduct and a criminal act. Hartsel was found guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division, of the felony of aiding and abetting embezzlement from a union fund. (Case No. SC06-1947)

Joseph Francis Keeley, III, 2424 N. Federal Highway, Suite 314, Boca Raton, disbarred from practicing law in Florida, effective 30 days from an Oct. 9 court order. (Admitted to practice:1972). Keeley did not act with diligence and promptness in representing a client and failed to promptly deliver the real estate sale proceeds held in trust to an estate. (Case no. SC04-48)

Knovack Gramby Jones, P.O.Box 17036, Hialeah, permanently disbarred from practicing law in Florida, effective immediately, following an Oct. 12 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1983) Jones continued to engage in the practice of law after the Florida Supreme Court on Sept. 30, 2004, ordered her not to accept any new clients. (Case No. SC06-285)

James Anthony Konides, 9650 Strickland Road, Suite 103-250, Raleigh, N.C., suspended from the practice of law in Florida for 30 days, effective 30 days from an Oct. 26 court order, for professional misconduct. (Admitted to practice: 1986) Konides collected an excessive fee and knowingly disobeyed a court order. (Case No. SC06-1096)

John Shields Locke, 535 Park Ave. N., Suite 222, Winter Park, disbarred effective immediately, following an Oct. 12 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2000) Locke engaged in conduct that is unlawful or contrary to honesty and justice; failed to competently represent a client; engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation; and engaged in conduct in the practice of law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice. (Case No. SC06-966)

Thomas Anthony Maiello, 2502 Orient Road, Tampa, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 30 days, effective 30 days from an Oct. 5 court order, and then placed on probation for two years. (Admitted to practice: 1995) Maiello failed to keep a client reasonably informed as to the status of a matter, failed to promptly comply with reasonable requests for information and failed to respond in writing to an official inquiry. (Case Nos. SC05-2295 & SC06-696)

Gabriel I. Martin, 501 NE 1st Ave., Suite 200, Miami, suspended from practicing law in Florida until further order of the court, following an Oct. 16 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1999). There is clear, convincing and undeniable evidence that Martin appears to be causing great public harm by assisting a suspended Florida attorney in facilitating a real estate fraud. (Case No. SC06-1932).

J. William Masters, II, 2901 Curry Ford Road, Suite 207, Orlando, reprimanded and placed on probation for one year, effective immediately, following an Oct. 26 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1973) Masters failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client, failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter, failed to promptly comply with reasonable requests for information, and failed to explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding representation. (Case No. SC06-884)

Gregory A. Meeks, II, 37 N. Orange Ave., Suite 500, Orlando, suspended from the practice of law in Florida for 91 days, effective 30 days from an Oct. 25 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2001) Meeks failed to abide by a client's discussions concerning the objectives of representation, failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client and engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation. (Case No. SC06-289)

Dean Fredrick Mosley, 20 N. Orange Ave., Suite 807, Orlando, reprimanded and placed on probation for two years, following an Oct. 5 court order. (Admitted to practice :1985) Mosley was negligent in dealing with client property, and engaged in conduct that is a violation of a duty owed as a professional and causes injury or potential injury to a client, the public or the legal system. (Case No. SC06-956)

Stephen Hill Nelson, 1200 Brickell Ave. Suite 515, Miami, disbarred permanently from practicing law in Florida, effective immediately following an Oct. 26 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1976) Nelson engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation and received client trust funds that he failed to preserve and/or disburse. (Case No. SC06-2034)

Kevin Scott Robbie, 3025 Haley Lane, Jacksonville, suspended from the practice of law in Florida for one year, effective 30 days from an Oct. 5 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1996) Robbie failed to competently and diligently represent a client, failed to an inform a client about the status of representation and failed to respond, in writing, to an official inquiry by bar counsel. (Case No. SC06-883)

Harley Rosenthal, 1124 N.W. 111th Ave., Plantation, disbarred retroactive to July 17, following an Oct. 26 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1997) Rosenthal committed an act that is unlawful and contrary to honesty and justice, violated Florida Bar rules regulating trust accounts, failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter, failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client, failed to respond to an official inquiry by bar counsel or disciplinary agency and engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation. (Case No. SC06-1499)

Ramon Sarmiento, 6937 Bay Drive, Apt. 509, Miami Beach, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 30 days, effective Dec. 1, following an Oct. 26 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2003) Sarmiento was arrested on March 18, 2006, for possession of a controlled substance. (Case No. SC06-1999)

Diana Kilpatrick Simpson, P.O. Box 4714, Ocala, reprimanded and placed on probation for three years, following an Oct. 12 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1983) Simpson failed to provide a client with competent representation, failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and failed to explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding representation. (Case No. SC06-1969)

James L. Slater, 36370 U.S. Highway 19 N., Palm Harbor, reprimanded, following an Oct. 12 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1981) Slater failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client, failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and failed to explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation. (Case No. SC06-1970)

Michael Gary Stepakoff, 8370 W. Hillsborough Ave., Suite 208, Tampa, suspended from the practice of law in Florida for six months, effective 30 days from an Oct. 26 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1990) Stepakoff committed an act that is unlawful or contrary to honesty and justice, failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client, failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter, charged an excessive fee or cost and engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation. (Case No. SC06-762)

Ovide Val, 1065 N.E. 125th St., Suite 102, Miami, suspended from the practice of law in Florida for 10 days, effective 30 days from an Oct. 26 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2000) Val failed to provide a client with competent representation, failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client, failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter, failed to promptly comply with reasonable requests for information and collected an excessive fee. (Case No. SC06-1433)

Valerie M. Velella, 609 NW 8th St., Dania Beach, suspended from practicing law in Florida effective Oct. 20, following an Oct. 23 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1994) Velella failed and refused to respond to The Florida Bar's investigative inquiries and to produce the records compelled by the grievance committee subpoenas served to her on June 22, and, therefore, poses a significant risk of public harm. (Case No. SC06-1426)

Stanley Craig Wakefield, 2409 Brookside Ave., Kissimmee, disbarred from the practice of law in Florida, effective immediately, following an Oct. 19 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1981) Wakefield committed a criminal act that reflects adversely on his honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer, and engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation. (Case No. SC06-1498)

Vincent J. Whibbs, Jr., 1801 E. Jackson St., Pensacola, disbarred for five years from the practice of law in Florida, effective 30 days from an Oct. 19 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1968) Whibbs engaged in misconduct and criminal misconduct. He converted and misappropriated client trust funds over a period of several years and used client funds to fund his personal investments. (Case No. SC06-1917)