The Florida Bar – Summary of 2020 Disciplinary Orders (Ranked in order of severity of discipline)

The Florida Bar

Summary of 2020 Disciplinary Orders

(Ranked in order of severity of discipline)

Nicole Blair Dickerson, P.O. Box 26095, Los Angeles, Calif., and 33 E. Robinson St., Suite 113, Orlando, disbarred effective immediately following a November 16 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2015) Dickerson failed to provide a copy of the Supreme Court’s March 5 order of suspension to all active clients, opposing counsel and courts where she was counsel of record, as required, and failed to file with The Florida Bar her required affidavit certifying those notifications. Dickerson communicated with one client after being suspended, and ultimately abandoned her clients without protecting their interests and without refunding any unearned legal fees. Her law office website and LinkedIn profile continued to show she was practicing law. (Case No: SC20-1452)

Oded Chayoun, 633 N.E. 167 St., Suite 1112, North Miami Beach, disbarred with leave to apply for readmission after five years, effective 30 days following an October 27 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2011) Chayoun failed to perform any significant services for a client despite charging an initial fee and also failed to properly communicate with the client. When answering to the Bar, Chayoun submitted several letters with inconsistencies regarding nonpayment for services, demonstrating the falsehood of his representations. (Case No: SC19-484)

Jeffrey Robert Thibault, P.O. Box 341434, Tampa, disbarred and must pay restitution of $3,500 effective immediately following an October 8 court order due to an existing emergency suspension. (Admitted to practice: 2011) Thibault misappropriated at least $20,000 of client funds and neglected legal matters of several clients after receiving retainer fees from them. Thibault also failed to respond to Bar inquiries and failed to meaningfully participate in the disciplinary proceedings. (Case No: SC20-70)

Omer Ors, 8130 Baymeadows Circle West, Suite 303, Jacksonville, disbarred effective immediately following an October 8 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2014) Ors abandoned his practice and his clients. He moved out of the country and failed to respond to official inquiries from the Bar. (Case No: SC20-562)

Esmond Jude Lewis, 3244 Royal Gardens Ave., Ft. Myers, disbarred effective 30 days following an October 1 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2004) Lewis neglected four separate client matters, failed to deposit retainers and costs deposits into his trust account, and failed to promptly return unearned fees and costs to clients. Lewis further failed to maintain the required trust account records and failed to respond in a timely manner to The Florida Bar’s inquiries. (Case Nos: SC18-2115 and SC19-502)

Albert Hessberg III, 80 State St., Albany, NY, disbarred effective immediately following an August 20 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1983) Beginning in 2006, through March 2018, Hessberg defrauded firm clients by misappropriating money entrusted to him as fiduciary and trustee for his clients; misappropriating funds from one client to replenish the account of another client from whom he had previously stolen; billing clients for legal services not rendered; and misappropriating payments for legal services that should have been made to the firm.  In total, Hessberg misappropriated approximately $869,000.  This is a reciprocal discipline action, based on an order from the Supreme Court of New York. (Case No: SC19-2134)

Kenneth Lynn Spears, Jr., 4741 Atlantic Blvd., Suite A2, Jacksonville, disbarred effective immediately following a July 2 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2011) Spears was hired for representation by three separate clients. The clients paid Spears his fee, but then had difficulty communicating with him. After Spears abandoned their cases, they filed complaints with The Florida Bar. Spears was notified of the complaints and was informed that a response was due but failed to respond to the Bar. (Case No: SC19-1765)

Ashley Ann Krapacs, P.O. Box 21665, Ft. Lauderdale, disbarred immediately following a July 8 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2016) The Florida Supreme Court rejected the referee’s recommendation of a two-year suspension for Krapacs and disbarred her. Krapacs had negatively targeted two local attorneys on social media, as well as impugning a circuit court judge and the appellate court. Krapacs has been emergency suspended since February of 2019. (Case No: SC19-277)

Amanda C. Leary, P.O. Box 222, Palatka, disbarred effective immediately following a July 16, court order. (Admitted to practice: 2014) Leary failed to complete legal matters for several clients, failed to communicate with those clients, and failed to respond to the Bar’s investigative inquiries. (Case No: SC19-1965)

Jose Angel Toledo, last known address: 4303 W. Roland St., Tampa, disbarred effective immediately following a May 14 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1999) Toledo abandoned his practice without notice to his clients and without protecting their interests. He ceased all communication with his clients and failed to distribute settlement funds owed to them or third parties. Toledo emptied his client trust account(s), absconded with the funds, and his whereabouts are unknown. (Case No: SC19-1786)

Rafael Angel Castro, 5904 SW 64 Ave., Miami, disbarred effective 30 days from a May 21 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1995) Castro neglected two client matters for several years, sought multiple extensions of time yet repeatedly filed after the deadline and failed to refund fees to clients. (Case No: SC18-1037)

David Drake Sharpe, P.O. Box 4326, Tampa, disbarred effective 30 days following a May 14, court order, (Admitted to practice: 2008) Sharpe engaged in improper delay tactics in a number of cases, a pattern that continued in disciplinary proceedings with his misrepresentations to the court, failure to act with diligence in handling clients’ cases, and his failure to respond to the Bar. (Case No: SC19-145)

Kevin Scott Caldwell, P.O. Box 8716, Fleming Island, disbarred effective immediately following a June 11 court order. (Admitted to practice:  2003) While Caldwell worked at Farah & Farah, the firm discovered that files for a number of cases reflected that they had been “settled” however clients said that they did not authorize and had no knowledge of settlements. Irregularities – including releases and closing statements with forged or copied/pasted signatures — were also found and when confronted with this information, Caldwell lied, claiming that clients had, in fact, given him settlement authority. (Case No: SC19-2007)

Jose Angel Toledo, last known address: 4303 W. Roland St., Tampa, disbarred effective immediately following a May 14 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1999) Toledo abandoned his practice without notice to his clients and without protecting their interests. He ceased all communication with his clients and failed to distribute settlement funds owed to them or third parties. Toledo emptied his client trust account(s), absconded with the funds and his whereabouts are unknown. (Case No: SC19-1786)

Rafael Angel Castro, 5904 SW 64 Ave., Miami, disbarred effective 30 days from a May 21 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1995) Castro neglected two client matters for several years, sought multiple extensions of time yet repeatedly filed after the deadline and failed to refund fees to clients. (Case No: SC18-1037)

David Philips, 100 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 1607, Miami, disbarred effective immediately following a March 27 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1999) Philips failed to answer an order to show cause and the court found him in contempt for continuing to practice law and receiving funds in his trust account despite an order revoking his license on Feb. 25, 2019. (Case No: SC20-77)

Kip William Kootz, 6110 N. Ocean Blvd., Apt. 4, Ocean Ridge, disbarred effective 30 days following an April 2 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1996) On Feb. 9, 2017, Kootz was arrested for DUI-Enhanced because he was operating a motor vehicle with a breath-alcohol content greater than .15 grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath. The prosecutor subsequently discovered that Kootz had been convicted of four prior DUI offenses in Minnesota. On Oct. 23, 2019, a jury found Kootz guilty of DUI-First Offense. Kootz failed to advise The Florida Bar of his prior four DUIs in Minnesota. (Case No: SC19-758)

David Andrew Jaynes, 8311 Waterway Drive, West Palm Beach, disbarred, effective immediately following a March 30 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1982) Jaynes was held in contempt of the court’s order dated April 18, 2019, for failing to notify clients, opposing counsel and tribunals of his suspension. (Case No: SC20-254)

Nathaniel H. Speights, P.O. Box 33152, Washington, D.C., disbarred effective immediately following a Dec. 24 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1976) Speights was held in contempt of the court’s order dated April 18, 2019, for failing to notify clients, opposing counsel and tribunals of his suspension. This is a reciprocal disciplinary action based on the order of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. (Case No. SC19-1890)

Richard Luther Bradford, P.O. Box 6999, Brandon, disbarred, effective immediately following a Dec. 30 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1995) Bradford was held in contempt of the court’s April 11, 2019 order for failing to notify clients, opposing counsel and tribunals of his suspension. (Case No. SC19-1906)

Thomas Anthony Sadaka, 3520 Forest Ridge Lane, Kissimmee, disbarred effective immediately following a Jan. 8 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1992) The court held Sadaka in contempt for failing to notify the courts, opposing counsel and his clients, as required following his suspension. Sadaka also continued to practice law after he was suspended by sending emails and making representations on behalf of clients and failing to timely take down his law firm website and close his virtual office. (Case No. SC 18-58)

Brett Hartley, 533 Seabreeze Blvd., Suite 300, Daytona Beach, disbarred effective immediately following a Jan. 23 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1998) Hartley misappropriated funds from multiple clients and then made intentional misrepresentations to presiding judges in order to conceal what he had done. Hartley also neglected client matters and failed to properly assure that his clients’ interests were protected when he was indefinitely suspended from the practice of law in a previous matter. (Case No. SC18-2069)

Craig Barry Sherman, 2000 Glades Road, Suite 204, Boca Raton, permanent revocation effective immediately following a March 19 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1975) Sherman agreed to a permanent revocation of his license to practice law after allegations arose that he misappropriated nearly $4.18 million from a client over three years. The money was supposed to be used for loans to certain real estate developers. (Case No:SC19-2012)

Gregory Robert Garner, P.O. Box 940005, Maitland, disciplinary revocation with leave to seek readmission after five years effective 30 days following a November 12 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2010) Garner failed to diligently and promptly handle probate matters, failed to maintain adequate client communication and failed to timely respond to the Bar’s investigative inquiries. He also allowed a shortage, which he has since replaced, to develop in his law office trust account. (Case No: SC20-146)

Eric Scott Brumfield, 8724 S.W. 72 St., Suite 91, Miami, disciplinary revocation with leave to seek readmission after five years effective 30 days following an October 8 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2011) Brumfield issued a check representing client settlement funds to a client from his operating account instead of his trust account. The check was returned for insufficient funds. In another matter, Brumfield did not notify his client that an appeal was denied and continued to collect an impermissible monthly fee from the client for two years after the appeal denial. (Case No: SC20-1279)

Johnie Steven Cooper, 119 N. Walnut St., Starke, disciplinary revocation without leave to reapply effective immediately following a September 24 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1991) Cooper misappropriated $53,097.53 of client funds from his trust account and was subsequently criminally charged with grand theft. (Case No: SC20-1122)

Michael Jonathan Braunschweig, 5455 S.W. 8th St., Suite 255, Coral Gables, disciplinary revocation with leave to seek readmission after five years effective immediately following a July 30 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2011) Braunschweig neglected and/or abandoned client matters and failed to communicate and keep clients reasonably informed. Braunschweig had previously been suspended for failing to respond to Bar inquiries. (Case No: SC20-952)

Andrew Dale Ledbetter, 411 N. New River Drive E, Apt. 904, Ft. Lauderdale, disciplinary revocation effective 30 days following a July 23 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2005) The Florida Supreme Court granted Ledbetter’s Petition for Disciplinary Revocation. Ledbetter is awaiting charges to be filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Security and Exchange Commission for his participation in activities that were part of a $322 million unregistered securities offering. (Case No: SC20-783)

Lawrence Joseph Forno, 8981 Shoal Creek Lane, Boynton Beach, disciplinary revocation without leave to seek readmission effective 30 days following a July 2 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1978) Forno pled guilty to one felony count of grand theft in the second degree. Pending Attorney General proceedings allege Forno’s participation in a scheme for the purpose of stealing excess proceeds derived from court-ordered sales of real property. (Case No: SC20-707)

Adrian Gabaldon, P.O. Box 1303, Auburndale, disciplinary revocation with leave to apply for readmission after five years effective 30 days following a July 2 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1971) Despite the conflict of interest, Gabaldon allegedly drafted estate planning documents for an elderly client in which Gabaldon was named as the sole beneficiary and obtained title to the client’s commercial real property. The will was then revoked and the title to the real property was returned to the client. Also, it was alleged that Gabaldon wrote a check drawn upon his law office trust account that was returned due to insufficient funds while he was in the process of closing his law office and associated bank accounts. (Case No: SC20-779)

Jon B. Lindeman, Jr., 1390 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 2201, Coral Gables, disciplinary revocation with leave to apply for readmission after five years effective 30 days from a May 21 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1999) Lindeman was the subject of numerous Bar complaints regarding lack of diligence, lack of communication, excessive fees, and failure to supervise nonlawyer personnel in foreclosure defense, mortgage modification and immigration matters. Further, during the Bar’s investigation, Lindeman failed to respond to numerous official Bar inquiries and subpoenas. (Case No: SC20-311)

Robert Alexander Craven, 3637 4 St. North, Suite 290, Saint Petersburg, disciplinary revocation without leave to apply for readmission effective 30 days from June 18 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1982) Craven failed to inform his client regarding the receipt of funds, which he didn’t receive until he confronted Craven. Craven’s trust account records showed he misappropriated at least $55,211.80 in clients’ funds. (Case No: SC20-487)

Sidney Carter Peterson, Jr., 418 Canal St., New Smyrna Beach, disciplinary revocation without leave to reapply for admission effective 30 days from a June 11 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1980) Peterson admitted to signing pleadings on behalf of the beneficiaries of an estate, without their permission, and which falsely stated that the beneficiaries had received their distributions from the estate and waived their right to an accounting. (Case No: SC20-336)

Martin Miles Werner, 1739 Lake Marion Drive, Apopka, disciplinary revocation without leave to apply for readmission effective immediately as respondent was felony suspended effective Oct. 9, 2019. (Admitted to practice: 1985) On June 18, the Court granted Werner’s uncontested petition without leave to apply for readmission.  Werner filed his petition based upon his two felony convictions for Conspiracy to Defraud the United States (Internal Revenue Service) and Conspiracy to Launder Money. (Case No: SC20-536)

Gary Scott Clendenin, 7419 U.S. Highway 19, New Port Richey, disciplinary revocation effective 30 days from an April 23 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2008) Clendenin entered into two separate convertible debenture bond investments on behalf of two trusts being administered by the firm at which he was partner, without notice or consent. The invested funds were not returned to the trust. Additionally, Clendenin loaned $200,000 to his parents from one trust and forged the trustee’s signature on a document to disburse the funds and misrepresented that the funds would be paid to the beneficiaries. Clendenin did not have the client or trustee’s consent for the transaction. (Case No: SC20-222)

May Wong Chou, 8951 Bonita Beach Road, SE, Suite 525-388, Bonita Springs, disciplinary revocation with leave to apply for readmission in five years effective 30 days from the June 11 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1994) Chou, while handling an immigration matter for a client, permitted her non-attorney legal assistant to manage the client’s property which created a conflict of interest.  Chou failed to supervise the non-attorney who misappropriated client funds from which Chou received benefit. (Case No: SC20-586)

Justin Scott Gaines, P.O. Box 1735, Highland City, disciplinary revocation with leave to seek readmission after five years effective immediately following a June 18 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2001) Gaines engaged in a pattern of misconduct that includes repeatedly neglecting client matters, failing to timely respond to Bar inquiries, engaging in the practice of law while a delinquent member of the Bar, and engaging in criminal conduct. (Case No: SC20-549)

Charles Emil Heim, Jr., 2040 Highway A1A, Suite 201, Indian Harbour Beach, disciplinary revocation with leave to apply for readmission effective 30 days from a June 4 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1978) An audit of Heim’s trust accounts records for 2010-2019 showed they were not in substantial compliance with Bar rules, resulting in shortages. Heim disclosed he was unable to account for funds in excess of $196,000 and could not account for the assets of the trust, despite repeated requests from the Bar, nor did he maintain sufficient records. (Case No: SC20-462)

Matthew Haury Roby, P.O. Box 608, Winter Park, disciplinary revocation with leave to seek readmission after five years effective 30 days from a June 11 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2001) A Florida Bar audit of Roby’s trust account for the period Jan. 1. through Oct. 31, 2019, demonstrated he was not in substantial compliance with Bar rules, resulting in shortages. (Case No: SC20-281)

Bonne Zell Scheflin, 11352 West State Road 84, Davie, disciplinary revocation with leave to seek readmission after five years effective immediately following a June 11 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1989) Subsequent to Scheflin’s 18-month suspension effective Sept. 15, 2019, a complaint alleged funds were missing and that Scheflin failed to withdraw from a pending case. Additionally, after the effective date of his suspension, Scheflin had been in contact with clients. He also failed to provide the Bar with requested bank records. (Case No: SC20-365)

Jonathan Joseph Warrick, 4700 Millenia Blvd., Suite 175, Orlando, disciplinary revocation with leave to seek readmission after five years effective 30 days following a June 18 court order. (Admitted to practice:  2007) Between 2018 and 2019, Warrick accepted legal fees to represent clients and then failed to provide diligent and competent representation, failed to maintain adequate communication, misled some clients about the status of their legal matters and ultimately closed his law office in or around July 2019. A Florida Bar audit showed that Warrick’s trust account was not in substantial compliance with the Bar rules, resulting in shortages. (Case No: SC20-481)

Jon B. Lindeman, Jr., 1390 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 2201, Coral Gables, disciplinary revocation with leave to apply for readmission after five years effective 30 days from a May 21 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1999) Lindeman was the subject of numerous Bar complaints regarding lack of diligence, lack of communication, excessive fees and failure to supervise nonlawyer personnel in foreclosure defense, mortgage modification and immigration matters. Further, during the Bar’s investigation, Lindeman failed to respond to numerous official Bar inquiries and subpoenas. (Case No: SC20-311)

Stacey Dawn Wilson, 7635 Ashley Park Court, Suite 503S, Orlando, disciplinary revocation with leave to seek readmission after five years, effective 30 days from a March 12 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2007) The Florida Bar conducted a compliance audit of Wilson’s trust account for the period of June 1, 2017, through Sept. 30, 2019. The records demonstrated that Wilson was not in substantial compliance with the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, which resulted in shortages in her trust account. (Case No: SC20-1)

Jonathan Scott Gunn, 110 SE Sixth St., Suite 1700, Fort Lauderdale, permanent disciplinary revocation effective immediately following a Jan. 23 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1993) Following Gunn’s initial disciplinary revocation effective Nov. 8, 2018, he continued to handle trust funds. As a result, The Bar filed a contempt petition, which led to the current permanent disciplinary revocation. (Case No. SC19-2013)

Jan Douglas Atlas, 157 Winding Meadows Drive, Flat Rock, N.C., disciplinary revocation with leave to seek readmission after five years effective 30 days from a Jan. 16 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1977) Atlas, in connection with the Global Capital investment scheme that affected more than 3,600 investors in 42 states, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of securities fraud. (Case No. SC19-1945)

Richard Edward Benton, 1415 Piedmont Drive E., Suite 4, Tallahassee, disciplinary revocation effective immediately following a June 18 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1976) Complaints filed regarding Benton involves three probate cases in which clients alleged that Benton failed to communicate and failed to diligently handle their legal matters. In one instance, he failed to disburse the client’s inheritance for two years. Benton also failed to respond to the Bar or the grievance committee. (Case No:  SC20-384)

George William Castrataro, 707 NE 3 Ave., Suite 300, Fort Lauderdale, disciplinary revocation with leave to apply for readmission granted effective immediately following a June 25 court order. Castrataro was already suspended as a result of an earlier Order to Show Cause and a Petition for Emergency Suspension. (Admitted to practice: 2006) Castrataro filed his petition for disciplinary revocation based upon misappropriating client funds as alleged in the Bar’s Petition for Emergency Suspension. (Case No: SC20-636)

Anthony Gilbert Bossone, P.O. Box 2194, Palm Harbor, disciplinary revocation with leave to apply for readmission in five years effective immediately following a June 4 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1989) Bossone admitted to creating a false trial order for a client thus defrauding his client and the court. His neglect of the client’s case put it in danger of being dismissed and he failed to adequately communicate with his client. In other cases, Bossone allegedly failed to pay on known settled cases, refused to respond to the status of remaining cases, failed to pay settlement funds, collected fees without taking any action on the client’s behalf and did not diligently represent clients nor reasonably communicate with them.  Bossone failed to respond to the Bar’s inquiries regarding these complaints. (Case No: SC20-258)

Stefan E. McHardy, 15800 Pines Blvd., Suite 300, Pembroke Pines, suspended effective 30 days following a November 2 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1982) The Florida Bar filed its Petition for Contempt and Order to Show Cause on May 8 because McHardy failed to respond to a Florida Bar inquiry. On that same day, the Florida Supreme Court ordered McHardy to show cause by May 26, which he also failed to do. (Case No: SC20-661)

Stephen Michael Jones, 390 N. Orange Ave., Suite 2300, Orlando, emergency suspended effective 30 days following a November 9 court order for existing matters. (Admitted to practice: 2015) On Feb. 20, a client filed a complaint alleging that in 2018 and 2019, Jones received 11 checks totaling $11,001.95 on his behalf, cashed those checks and failed to remit the funds — which represented garnished wages awarded in a final judgment – to the client. In another complaint, a client alleged that Jones received an insurance settlement on his behalf but had not paid his medical bills. Jones has abandoned his law practice, and The Bar has determined that he misappropriated client funds. Jones has failed to respond to any of The Bar’s inquiries. (Case No: SC20-1593)

LeesaAnn Nicole Dodds, 412 E. Madison St., Suite 909, Tampa, suspended effective 30 days following an August 6 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2014) Dodds failed to respond to an official Bar inquiry and the Bar filed a Petition for Contempt and Request for Order to Show Cause with The Florida Supreme Court. The court issued an Order to Show Cause and Dodds failed to respond. (Court Case No: SC20-834)Adrian Shiand Webster-Cooley, 8451 Gate Parkway West, Apt. 723, Jacksonville, suspended indefinitely effective 30 days from an April 16 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2017) Webster-Cooley was held in contempt for failing to respond to official Bar inquiries. (Case No: SC19-1402)

Scot Strems, 2525 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Suite 600, Coral Gables, emergency suspended until further order effective immediately following a June 9 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2007) Strems committed in-court abuse of the judicial process, resulting in great public harm to clients, opposing parties, the judiciary and the public. This matter has been referred to a referee who will make a recommendation to the court as to discipline and entitlement to funds in Strems’ frozen trust account. (Case No: SC20-806)

Mary Catherine Bonner, 1315 South Ocean Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, suspended effective 30 days from a June 22 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1979) Bonner failed to respond both to Florida Bar inquiries and the Supreme Court’s order to show cause. She is suspended until she fully responds in writing to the Bar inquiry, and until further order of the Court. (Case No: SC20-667)

Ronald Louis Nelson, 1247 1 Ave. North, St. Petersburg, suspended, effective 30 days following a March 27 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1994) Nelson failed to respond to The Florida Bar’s request for trust account records after The Bar received a notice of insufficient funds for his trust account. Nelson was held in contempt and suspended until further court order for his failure to respond to an official Bar inquiry. (Case No: SC19-2045)

Mark Edward Tietig, 6065 S. Tropical Trail, Merritt Island, suspended effective immediately following an April 2 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1997) Tietig was found in contempt for noncompliance after failing to respond in writing to The Florida Bar’s investigative inquiry related to a complaint filed by a client. (Case No: SC20-247)

Omer Ors, 8130 Baymeadows Circle W., Suite 303, Jacksonville, suspended indefinitely effective 30 days following a March 26 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2014) Ors failed to respond to The Florida Bar’s attempts to reach him to obtain a response to pending matters. The Bar filed its petition for order to show cause and contempt. Ors was found in non-compliance for failing to respond to official Bar inquiries (Case No: SC20-122)

David Preston Gilbert, 13575 58 St. North, Suite 200, Clearwater, suspended effective 30 days following an April 7 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2010) Gilbert filed a response to the Court’s Order to Show Cause of why he should not be held in contempt of court for failing to respond to an official Bar inquiry one day late. As a result, the court struck Gilbert’s response and required him to file a response that complied with the rules of appellate procedure by March 5, but he did not do that. The Bar noted in its reply to Gilbert’s response that he admitted receipt of The Bar’s written investigative inquiries. (Case No: SC20-191)

George William Castrataro, 707 N.E. 3 Ave., Suite 300, Fort Lauderdale, suspended effective 30 days following an April 6 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2006) Castrataro failed to respond to The Florida Bar multiple times prompting the Bar to file its Petition for Contempt and Order to Show Cause. On Feb. 20, the Florida Supreme Court ordered Castrataro to show cause by March 6. He failed to file a response and was subsequently held in contempt and suspended until he has fully responded in writing to an official Bar inquiry, and until further order of the court. (Case No: SC20-249)

Jeffrey Robert Thibault, P.O. Box 342434, Tampa, suspended effective 30 days following a Feb. 10 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2011) Thibault misappropriated client funds, failed to communicate and act with reasonable diligence, and failed to respond to The Florida Bar.

Mark S. Scott, 600 Coral Way, FL 12, Miami, suspended until further notice effective 30 days from a Feb. 3 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1998) On Nov. 21, 2019, at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, a jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict against Womack on two felony counts, conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to commit bank fraud. (Case No. SC20-160)

Amie Katherine Dilla, 3219 Audubon Ct., Tarpon Springs, suspended until further order of the court effective March 1. (Admitted to practice: 2010) Dilla failed to respond to an official bar inquiry so the Bar filed a Petition for Contempt and Order to Show Cause with the Supreme Court of Florida. The court issued an Order to Show Cause to Dilla, but she failed to respond. (Case No. SC19-1827)

Anthony Gilbert Bossone, P.O. Box 2194, Palm Harbor, suspended until further order of the court effective 30 days from a Feb. 12 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1989) Bossone failed to respond to an official Bar inquiry so the Bar filed a Petition for Contempt and Order to Show Cause with the Supreme Court of Florida. The court issued an Order to Show Cause to Bossone, but he failed to respond. (Case No. SC19-1827)

Kevin Scott Caldwell, P.O. Box 8716, Fleming Island, suspended indefinitely effective 30 days following a Dec. 30 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2003) Caldwell failed to respond to The Florida Bar regarding several complaints filed against him. The Supreme Court held Caldwell in contempt in addition to his suspension. (Case No. SC19-1831)Steven Allen Smilack, 3300 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 301, West Palm Beach, suspended for three years effective 30 days following an October 28 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1997) In a civil matter, Smilack made misrepresentations under oath regarding his entitlement to legal fees. (Case No: SC18-445)

Felix Anthony Felicier, P.O. Box 772705, Orlando, suspended for three years effective 30 days following a November 12 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2006) Felicier failed to maintain adequate trust accounting records and failed to adequately follow required trust accounting procedures resulting in a shortage in the trust account. He made disbursements to his clients in two contingency fee matters without having a signed closing statement and improperly shared fees with a nonlawyer. In addition, Felicier and his wife, Jaminette De Jesús-Felicier failed to diligently represent a criminal defendant resulting in the trial judge issuing an order removing them as attorneys of record. The trial court’s order set forth factual findings of Felicier’s multiple failures to appear for hearings, his failure to appear for trial on Feb. 4, 2019, and Felicier and his wife’s failure to appear for a trial on Aug. 19, 2019. (Case No: SC20-1110)

Adrian Shiand Webster-Cooley, 8451 Gate Parkway West, Suite 723, Jacksonville, suspended for three years followed by a one-year probation and must pay restitution, effective nunc pro tunc to May 18, 2020, following a July 30 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2017) Webster-Cooley joined with nonlawyers through “The Criminal Defense League,” which solicited clients nationwide via the internet for mostly criminal matters. Nonlawyers handled all aspects of cases, harming clients, and clients had trouble communicating with employees. The Criminal Defense League listed Webster-Cooley as managing attorney though he had no actual involvement in any of the cases. He also created Criminal Defense League Processing, Inc., solely for the purpose of receiving client funds and transmitting that money to the nonlawyers. (Case No: SC20-561)

Michael Joseph Gabor, 1636 Arrowhead Trail, Neptune Beach, suspended for three years effective nunc pro tunc to January 18, 2020 following an August 6 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2009) Gabor pleaded no contest to one count of felony aggravated battery (causing great bodily harm) after a domestic altercation in his home. Gabor also failed to notify the Bar of his felony arrest and charges. (Case No: SC19-2112)

Randall Albert Werre, P.O. Box 387, Milton, suspended for three years effective immediately following a July 22 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1984) Werre was held in contempt of the Court’s orders dated September 12, 2019, and December 4, 2019, for failing to notify clients, opposing counsel and tribunals of his suspension. (Case No: SC20-829)Rita Horwitz Altman, 215 S. Olive Ave., Suite 200, West Palm Beach, suspended for three years effective 30 days following a May 7 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1992) Altman was suspended for three years for failing to respond to The Florida Bar and making misrepresentations to the Bar and the Supreme Court. Altman had previously been disciplined four times for misconduct. (Case No. SC18-724)

Herbert Walter Fiss Jr., 341 S. Plant Ave., Tampa, suspended for three years effective 30 days from March 12 (Admitted to Practice: 1991) Fiss engaged in unprofessional behavior towards opposing counsel, witnesses and his client while representing the client in a probate adversary matter. Throughout the representation, Fiss billed and collected fees from his client in violation of the trust accounting rules. Further, while representing his client in the probate matter, Fiss engaged in a conflict of interest when he asked for, and received, two loans from his client, totaling $1,550,000.00. (Case No. SC19-527)

Sabrina Starr Spradley, 207 Tropic Isle Drive, Apt. 107, Delray Beach, suspended for three years effective immediately following a Feb. 11 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2009) Spradley was held in contempt of the court’s orders dated March 28, 2018, and April 25, 2019, for failing to notify clients, opposing counsel and tribunals of her suspension. Spradley also failed to comply with the conditions of her suspension including, paying restitution and contacting Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc., for an evaluation. (Case No. SC19-1954)

Roger S. Rathbun, 9380 NW 13^th St., Plantation, suspended for three years‑ effective 30 days from a Jan. 9 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2000) Rathbun sent multiple taunting and harassing e-mails to opposing counsel and another co-counsel while a Bar complaint was pending. These retaliatory e-mails were sent over a period of weeks to intimidate and for the purpose of interfering in the Bar process. The court disapproved the referee’s recommendation of a one-year suspension and suspended Rathbun for three years. (Case No. SC19-370)

Steven Anthony Pellingra, 14802 Par Club Circle, Tampa, suspended for two years effective immediately due to respondent’s existing emergency suspension. (Admitted to practice: 2004) Pellingra misappropriated client funds as a result of his negligent trust accounting practices and record keeping. (Case No: SC19-1043)

Robert Louis Thirston II, 19211 Panama City Beach Parkway, Suite 220, Panama City Beach, suspended for two years retroactive to Oct. 6, 2019 and ordered to attend ethics school by a March 26 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2008) In three consolidated cases, Thirston failed to maintain trust accounting records and procedures, commingled funds, failed to respond to a subpoena to provide trust accounting records to The Florida Bar, and failed to respond to The Bar. (Case Nos: SC19-923, SC19-1562, SC19-2128)

Brian Becher, 1875 N.W. Corporate Blvd., Suite 100, Boca Raton, suspended for two years effective 30 days following an April 6 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1999) Becher engaged in conduct contrary to honesty and justice and defended proceedings that were frivolous and without merit. He knowingly made false statements of fact to a tribunal and engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice in connection with filing numerous motions to quash service of process on behalf of the registered agent of multiple companies who was knowingly evading service of process in foreclosure cases. (Case No: SC18-99)

Nicole Blair Dickerson, 111 North Orange Ave., Suite 800, Orlando, two-year suspension effective 30 days from a March 5 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2015) Dickerson was disrespectful and unprofessional in multiple cases before multiple courts, failed to diligently and competently represent clients, was late or failed to appear in court on behalf of clients, and failed to communicate adequately with clients. She was also convicted of resisting an officer without violence, a first-degree misdemeanor. Additionally, Dickerson engaged in an impermissible conflict of interest by representing two individuals in different criminal cases who had conflicting interests. (Case Nos. SC19-616 and SC19-1678)

Scott Richard Dinin, 4200 N.W. 7 Ave., Miami, suspended for 18 months effective 30 days following a July 2 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1996) Dinin filed frivolous claims for damages under the Florida Civil Rights Act on behalf of a hearing-impaired client without exhausting administrative remedies. Dinin brought 26 similar ADA cases in the Southern District against gas station owners for their failure to provide closed captions or a similar capability to permit the hearing impaired to understand the entertainment and news content programming at gas pumps pursuant to the Florida Civil Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Dinin charged excessive fees in those cases and split them with his nonlawyer client. To justify his billing rate, Dinin misrepresented his legal qualifications to the court. (Case No: SC20-884)

Alka R. Sharma, 330 Clematis St., Suite 209, West Palm Beach, suspended for 18 months effective 30 days from a Jan. 16 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2005) Sharma was hired to represent complainants in a homeowner’s claim that was previously denied by their insurance carrier. Sharma failed to file a complaint but then told her clients she had. Sharma gave false “updates” for several years, eventually informing the clients they won a favorable judgment and showing them a final judgment purportedly entered in their case. After Sharma informed the clients that she was meeting with a company that was willing to buy their judgment for a reduced rate, thus avoiding the appellate process, they discovered that the final judgment had been forged. (Case No. SC19-1113)

James Bennett Coulter III, 1402 Highway A1A, Suite A, Satellite Beach, suspended for one year followed by a two-year period of probation effective 30 days following a May 28 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2005) Coulter failed to maintain his law office trust account in substantial minimum compliance with required rules. He failed to adequately supervise his non-attorney staff and an independent contractor who maintained his financial records and, as a result, payments for operating and/or personal expenses were made from the trust account. On two occasions during the audit period, client trust funds were deposited in error into the operating account. No clients complained and Coulter deposited personal funds into the trust account to correct the shortages. (Case No: SC20-700)

Erica Helene Kobloth, 5613 Pacific Blvd., Apt. 3307, Boca Raton, suspended for one year effective immediately following a November 2 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2012) Kobloth was held in contempt of the Supreme Court’s order dated Dec. 13, 2019, for failing to notify clients, opposing counsel and tribunals of her prior suspension. (Case No: SC20-1018)

Kevin Keenan Chase, 709 Laurel Way, Casselberry, suspended for one year, effective immediately following a November 12 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1994) On November 13, 2017, Chase was involved in two motor vehicle accidents resulting in property damage and left the scenes of the accidents. Charges filed pertaining to both accidents were dismissed. After being arrested for a separate incident on June 22, 2018, Chase was adjudicated guilty of driving under the influence and failed to comply with a court order. (Case No: SC20-1575)

Douglas Alan Lopp, 19420 Sandy Springs Circle, Lutz, suspended for one year effective immediately following a September 30 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1995) Lopp was held in contempt of a court order dated November 15, 2019, for failing to notify clients, opposing counsel and tribunals of his suspension as required. (Case No: SC20-1026)

Kevin E. Paul, PO Box 938, St. Petersburg, suspended for one year effective 30 days from an August 6 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2006) While representing Roberta Kaplan in multiple foreclosure litigation cases, Paul filed numerous motions to quash service of process, challenging the validity of the plaintiffs’ attempts to serve Kaplan. Paul did not independently investigate to determine the validity of service or if his client was evading service. Kaplan never executed any document in Paul’s presence and Paul took no step to verify the authenticity of her signature. His actions caused significant and unjust delays in litigation. (Case No: SC20-1045)

Herbert Irving Walker III, 7601 E. Treasure Drive, Apt. 1907, Miami Beach, suspended for one year effective 30 days following a June 4 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1999) Walker created a conflict of interest by representing two clients in a criminal action where one was accessory after the fact to murder committed by the other. Walker accepted a substantial gift from one client, who was neither a relative nor a close personal friend and communicated with the other client he represented. (SC18-1950)

Randall Albert Werre, P.O. Box 387, Milton, suspended for one year effective immediately following a Dec. 4, 2019 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1984) Werre failed to diligently pursue a client’s bankruptcy case by failing to file a notice of appearance, missing the 341 creditors’ meeting, and having no contact with the client or her family lawyer after his initial consultation. In another case regarding a client’s bankruptcy petition relating to garnishment for credit card debt, the client was unable to communicate with Werre for over a year and Werre filed the bankruptcy petition one year late. (Case No. SC18-1445)

Colleen Marie Dunne, 1220 Second St., Key West, suspended for one year effective 30 days from a Jan. 16 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2000) Dunne, a state prosecutor, misrepresented to the court and opposing counsel her knowledge and possession of pertinent statements made by a defendant at the time of his arrest.  The statements were ultimately turned over to the defense well in advance of trial. (Case No. SC18-1880)Tracy Belinda Newmark, 10360 W. State Road 84, Ft. Lauderdale, suspended for six months with one-year probation effective 45 days following an October 2 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1990) Newmark represented the former husband in a family and domestic law matter. She made numerous derogatory remarks on Facebook about opposing counsel and in a client review on AVVO.com. In her posts, Newmark also made misrepresentations regarding the judge’s comments about opposing counsel. In another case, she represented a family in a tenant eviction and cross claim involving black mold. She failed to properly communicate with them, and she did not diligently pursue their case. (Case Nos: SC18-1980 and SC18-1525)

David Stuart Kaufman, 5601 Collins Ave., Apt. 1507, Miami Beach, suspended for six months, effective 30 days following a November 5 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1977) Kaufman used a third-party company to search the public records and contact prospective clients who had a surplus on foreclosure cases and shared fees with the company, while charging an excessive contingent fee. (Case No: SC20-1181)

Alexis Trischa-Day Benjamin, P.O. Box 220025, Hollywood, suspended for six months, effective 30 days following an October 29 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2007) Benjamin neglected clients in two employment discrimination lawsuits and a garnishment case. In each case, there were procedural deficiencies, mistakes in pleadings and/or missed deadlines. She also failed to keep clients adequately informed. (Case No: SC19-2003).

Joshua Todd Hill Hauserman, 1800 Forest Hill Blvd., Suite A2, West Palm Beach, suspended for six months, retroactive to Oct. 21, 2019, by an April 9 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2007) Hauserman failed to adequately supervise a nonlawyer employee, failed to effectively communicate with a client about the status of a matter and failed to notify the court that he would not be present at a court hearing. (Case No: SC20-45)

Edward Juan Lynum, P.O. Box 1078, Wildwood, suspended for 180 days, effective immediately following a March 5 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2005) Lynum made statements that were disparaging and impugned the integrity of the judiciary with reckless disregard to the truth of those statements. He also engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice while acting as attorney ad litem in a dependency case. Lynum also failed to fully participate in the disciplinary proceeding. (Case No: SC19-745)

Aubrey George Rudd, 100 Edgewater Drive, Apt. A, Miami, suspended for 91 days effective Nunc pro tunc to Aug. 1. (Admitted to practice: 1991) During The Bar’s investigation of Rudd’s petition for reinstatement from a suspension imposed in a prior discipline action, it was discovered that Rudd had filed divorce petitions on behalf of two clients following entry of that prior suspension order, but before its effective date, and was further unable to provide proof that he notified two clients, a judge, and opposing counsel of his suspension. Rudd also engaged in acts of misconduct unrelated to the practice of law including failing to accurately update his homestead status and not reporting rental income on his tax returns; both of which were corrected. (Case No: SC20-1567)

Reginald Luster, 1751 University Blvd. S., Suite A, Jacksonville, suspended for 91 days effective 30 days following a November 19 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1988) Luster settled a personal injury case without advising the complainant, a chiropractor treating Luster’s clients, and failed to protect or otherwise pay the bills for their treatment. After a trust account audit, no violations were found but also no evidence that Luster had protected the complainant’s funds. The clients indicated that they did not inform Luster to not pay the complainant and had no knowledge that he was not paid. They provided their closing statements which were originals, and which lacked certain language added by Luster to his copies which he provided to the Bar. When asked about the discrepancy, Luster acknowledged his mistake and expressed remorse. Luster did subsequently pay the complainant the money owed to him. (Case No: SC20-930)

Santiago Asconapé, 5515 S. Park Avenue, Hinsdale, IL, suspended for 91 days and required to undergo a mental evaluation before applying for reinstatement to The Florida Bar effective 30 days following a November 5 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2010) Asconapé was convicted in Florida on a misdemeanor charge of cyberstalking and sentenced to 11 months, 29 days probation without early termination. Respondent was also required by the court order to complete 25 hours of community service, to submit to a mental evaluation and undergo any recommended treatment. Asconapé’s probation was terminated on March 4. (Case No: SC20-557)

Paul K. Silverberg, 1290 Weston Road, Suite 218, Weston, suspended for 91 days effective 30 days following a September 30 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1998) Silverberg made material misrepresentations to the court regarding his availability for hearings and he failed to properly supervise his nonlawyer staff. His actions resulted in undue expense and unnecessary litigation. (Case No: SC18-1216)

Charles Edward Hobbs II, 1469 Market St., Tallahassee, suspended for 91 days effective 30 days following a June 8 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2000) Hobbs was retained in September 2015 to file a post-conviction action. Despite repeated requests over the years from the client, Hobbs failed to file the client’s petition until April 2018, approximately two and half years after being years retained. (Case No:  SC18-1234)

William Jay Motyczka, 5936 N.E. 63 St., Silver Springs, suspended for 91 days effective 30 days from a March 5 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1984) Motyczka prepared a revocable trust to take title to property he and his former girlfriend purchased. The trust named Motyczka as the trustee and the sole beneficiary. Motyczka provided the Bar with a document titled Amendment to Trust, which purportedly named the former girlfriend as a beneficiary entitled to approximately 20 percent interest to the trust property. Motyczka stated that he created both the Trust and the Amendment at or around the same time and in the same location using the same computer. Forensic examinations determined that not to be the case and the Amendment was created at or around the time of the Bar’s investigation. (Case No: SC19-1418)

Stephen Gutierrez, 454 SW 8th St., Miami, suspended for 91 days effective 30 days following a Feb. 26 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2015) Gutierrez represented a client charged with arson. During closing arguments, smoke came out of Gutierrez’s pocket, which disrupted proceedings. Gutierrez said an e-cigarette battery spontaneously combusting in his pocket. An investigation into the alleged conduct was inconclusive. While the arson matter was pending, Gutierrez also filed suit in a related civil matter for the same client who pleaded guilty to the arson charge, admitting he set fire to a vehicle. Thereafter, Gutierrez subsequently filed an amended complaint in the civil case claiming the damage was caused by a vehicle collision. (Case No: SC19-562)Joseph John Mancini, 101 N. U.S. Highway 1, Suite 200, Fort Pierce, suspended for 91 days effective 30 days from a Dec. 24, 2019, court order. (Admitted to practice: 1984) Mancini failed to pursue his client’s employment claim, which was dismissed. Mancini also violated his probation in a previous case. (Case No. SC19-1339)

Bert Edward Moore, P.O. Box 1622, Crestview, 90-day suspension with one-year probation and attend Ethics School and Professionalism Workshop effective 30 days following an October 29 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1981) Moore failed to properly and timely withdraw from his client’s criminal appeal. He remained attorney of record on the criminal appeal for almost two years after the client wanted him to withdraw. (Case No: SC20-535)

Larry Thomas McMillan, 3250 Mary St., Suite 406, Coconut Grove, suspended for 90 days effective 30 days following a November 12 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1994) McMillan made misrepresentations to the bank regarding a credit card dispute. He presented significant mitigation and provided a full refund of the legal fees. (Case No: SC20-1587).

Mark Alan Marder, 84 Big Island Trail, Ponte Vedra, suspended for 90 days effective 30 days following a November 12 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1978) Marder received earnest money deposits totaling $30,000 for two real estate contracts on his client’s property in 2006 and 2007. After the sales fell through, Marder took the funds as his fees. The client filed a complaint. Marder and his client reached an agreement in which Marder refunded $17,000 to his client. Marder improperly requested his client withdraw his Bar complaint as a result of the agreement. Additionally, Marder failed to properly maintain trust account records and failed to properly follow minimum trust accounting procedures. (Case No: SC20-1565)

Lillian Clover, P.O. Box 5305, Titusville, suspended for 90 days with automatic reinstatement to the practice of law effective 30 days following a November 5 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2005) Clover neglected a family law case and failed to tell the client that she would be unable to complete the case due to personal issues. Although Clover found new attorneys to represent other clients, this client’s case was overlooked. The client eventually hired new counsel and Clover provided the client with a full refund. (Case No: SC20-1556)

Peter Arnold Robertson, 5575 A1A South, Suite 116, St. Augustine, suspended for 90 days and required to complete ethics school and a professionalism workshop effective 30 days following an August 6 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1991) Robertson, an attorney and general contractor who owns a construction company, referred clients of his law firm to his construction company without advising them to seek independent counsel and without putting the terms of the business transaction in writing with the clients’ informed consent. Robertson represented a married couple against the seller of a home for failing to disclose mold and water damage. The husband fired Robertson after discovering an impermissible personal relationship had developed between Robertson and his wife. Despite the conflict of interest, and having been fired by the husband, Robertson filed documents with the court on behalf of both clients. (Case No: SC20-1050)

Timothy McCullough, 7463 Conroy Windermere Road, Suite A, Orlando, suspended for 90 days and required to complete a Trust Accounting Workshop effective 30 days from a July 9 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2007) McCullough improperly signed his client’s name to the client’s affidavit and notarized it in his capacity as a Notary Public. McCullough also failed to maintain his law office trust account in substantial minimum compliance with the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar and failed to follow the minimum required trust accounting procedures. No client funds were endangered. (Case No: SC19-1830)

Kunal Manhar Sejpal, 14039 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, suspended for 90 days effective 30 days following a May 14 court order. (Admitted to Practice: 2007) Sejpal failed to competently and diligently represent a client in a condominium dispute and failed to reasonably communicate and consult with the client about how he was going to pursue the client’s objectives. Sejpal was dishonest with the client and made numerous misrepresentations regarding the status of the case. (Case No:SC18-571)

Andrean Rose Eaton, 2020 NE 163 St., Suite 300, North Miami Beach, suspended for 90 days with six-month probation effective 30 days from a March 5 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1995) Eaton was late in responding to the Bar’s requests for information and her trust account records were not compliant with minimum trust accounting requirements, although there was no resulting client harm. Eaton has a prior discipline for similar misconduct. (Case No. SC18-2107)

Janet Peralta Lucente, 8570 Stirling Road., Suite. 102-102, Hollywood, suspended for 90 days effective immediately following a May 13 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1997) Lucente was held in contempt of the Court’s order dated Nov. 15, 2019, for failing to notify clients, opposing counsel and tribunals of her suspension. (Case No: SC20-255)Kunal Manhar Sejpal, 14039 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, suspended for 90 days effective 30 days following a May 14 court order. (Admitted to Practice: 2007) Sejpal failed to competently and diligently represent a client in a condominium dispute and failed to reasonably communicate and consult with the client about how he was going to pursue the client’s objectives. Sejpal was dishonest with the client and made numerous misrepresentations regarding the status of the case. (Case No:SC18-571)

Michael Aizin, 26 Court St., Suite 412, Brooklyn, N.Y., suspended for 90 days effective 30 days following an April 16 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2008) Aizin negligently transferred $75,000 from his trust account to his operating account but meant to transfer only $7,500. The transfer led to a check for his trust account being dishonored. A subsequent audit revealed that he misapplied a prior deposit to his trust account that should have been applied to his operating account. Aizin was found in violation of maintaining trust account standards. This is a reciprocal discipline action, based on an order from the Supreme Court of New York, Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department (Case No: SC19-1943)

Edmar Mauricio Amaya, 175 S.W. 7 St., Suite 2410, Miami, suspended for 90 days effective 30 days following an April 9 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2009) Amaya engaged in a sexual relationship with a client and failed to communicate the substitution of counsel after recognizing he could no longer represent his client in the dissolution proceeding. (Case No: SC20-448)

Catherine Rose Faughnan, 12 Ardsley Road, Binghamton, N.Y., suspended for 90 days effective 30 days from a Jan. 23 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2007) Faughnan agreed to handle a civil matter for a client pro bono.  She was the attorney of record on the case, but became gravely ill, moved back to New York to address her medical issues and abandoned the client without taking adequate steps to protect the client’s interests.  (Case No. SC19-1355)

Lauren Elise Kingry, 1919 Atlantic Blvd., Jacksonville, suspended for 75 days effective 30 days following a March 12 court order, and ordered to pay restitution to three clients and attend ethics school. (Admitted to practice: 2006) After three complaints were filed regarding failed adoptions, Kingry discovered that her employee had been stealing from her. Kingry fired the employee and reported the theft to the State Attorney’s Office. Review of the complaints revealed that the employee had been improperly dealing with respondent’s clients and improperly handling their funds. Kingry failed to properly supervise her employee and her office and thus failed to be apprised of the emerging situations. (Case No: SC19-1930)

Troy Donahue Harris, 3550 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 403, Miami, suspended for 60 days, effective 30 days following a May 21 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1997) Harris neglected a client’s immigration case causing a petition to be deemed abandoned and he also filed petitions that he knew his client was ineligible for relief from. His handling of the case resulted in his client being ordered removed in absentia from the United States. (Case No: SC20-77)

Raymer Francis Maguire, 605 E. Robinson St., Suite 140, Orlando, suspended for 60 days effective 30 days following a March 25 court order and ordered to attend The Florida Bar ethics school. (Admitted to practice: 1979) Maguire engaged in a conflict of interest when he acquired an ownership interest in his client’s property when the property was also the subject of the litigation. (Case No: SC20-205)

James M. Potts, Sr., 1141 SE 2nd Ave., Fort Lauderdale, suspended for 60 days and probation for two years with special conditions effective 30 days following a June 22 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2013) Potts represented residents of a condominium who alleged that the treasurer was misusing the homeowner’s association funds. Potts attempted to get banking records from the treasurer, but when he did not cooperate, Potts sent the treasurer unprofessional and disparaging emails and text messages. The Florida Supreme Court found a pattern of misconduct and multiple offenses. (Case No:  SC19-42)

Steven Jay Kirschner, 1555 Howell Branch Road, Suite C220, Winter Park, 60-day suspension and two-year period of probation, effective 30 days from a Feb. 20 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1985) The bar’s compliance audit of Kirschner’s law office trust account revealed he failed to maintain it in compliance with the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar. Kirschner hired a CPA who brought his trust accounting records into compliance. There were small, short-term shortages but no evidence of misappropriation and no clients lost any funds. (Case No: SC19-1452)

Troy Donahue Harris, 3550 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 403, Miami, suspended for 60 days, effective 30 days following a May 21 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1997) Harris neglected a client’s immigration case causing a petition to be deemed abandoned and he also filed petitions that he knew his client was ineligible for relief from. His handling of the case resulted in his client being ordered removed in absentia from the United States. (Case No: SC20-77)

Jonathan Ari Markhoff, 1835 N.E. Miami Gardens Drive, Suite 143, North Miami Beach, suspended for 45 days effective 30 days following a November 12 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2010) Markhoff entered into a partnership in a company with a non-lawyer who was an expert in the field of Medicaid benefits. The company provided both legal and nonlegal services to a client but there was no separation of those services, and no separate retainers. Markhoff’s fees came from payments made to the company. A non-lawyer employee gave legal advice to the clients to transfer assets to their adult daughter but Markhoff advised same clients to rescind such transfer and enter into service agreements with their daughter instead. (Case No: SC20-1581)

Michael Keith Roberts II, 1680 Emerson St., Jacksonville, suspended for 45 days effective 30 days following a May 7 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2004) In 2012, Roberts was arrested for an alleged criminal violation which the state declined to prosecute and later expunged. Two years later, following a domestic battery call at his address, he attended an anger management course. Later in 2014, he was charged with domestic violence/battery against his then wife and pleaded guilty to simple battery. Roberts was required to attend anger management classes and in the Bar’s case was diverted to Florida Lawyers’ Assistance, Inc., for evaluation which found he did not need treatment or follow-up. After Roberts’ ex-wife filed a complaint in 2017 relating the above history,  Roberts agreed to another evaluation which again found no need for treatment. (Case No: SC20-142)

Jay S. Spechler, 1026 N. Northlake Drive, Hollywood, suspended for 45 days effective immediately following a Feb. 27 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1979) Spechler posted a statement on a courthouse blog toward a judge that could be perceived as threatening. (Case No: SC20-189)

Eric Charles Feasley, 3777 Countryside Rd., Sarasota, suspended for 45 days effective 30 days from a Feb. 20 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2009) Feasley failed to comply with the terms and conditions of his probation, specifically he failed to comply with his Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc. contract. (Case No. SC19-167)

Derek Vaughn Lewis, P.O. Box 1152, Ft. Pierce, suspended for 30 days effective 30 days following a November 12 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1999) Lewis notified a client in a criminal matter he would need to hire appellate counsel for an appeal following a criminal conviction; nonetheless, Lewis filed a notice of appeal on behalf of the client. Despite two motions for extensions of time to file the initial brief, the court dismissed the case for lack of compliance with the court orders extending time. Lewis ceased communication with the client after filing the notice of appeal and subsequent extensions. (Case No: SC20-1572)

Daniel S. Ciener, P.O. Box 540459, Merritt Island, suspended for 30 days and directed to attend Ethics School effective 30 days following a November 20 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1967) Ciener failed to provide his client with competent and diligent representation in a criminal case. Ciener visited his client at the jail only once over a period of 10 months, failed to provide his client with discovery materials, and failed to adequately communicate with his client regarding the preparation of his client’s defense. (Case No: SC20-1571)

Alan Douglas Henderson, 230 Canal Blvd., Suite 3, Ponte Vedra Beach, suspended for 30 days and directed to attend ethics school and a professionalism workshop effective 30 days following a July 31 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1984) Henderson represented a close family friend who had filed a petition for injunction for protection against domestic violence against her husband. Henderson instructed his client to break into a safe containing the husband’s records and after reviewing the confidential medical records, Henderson made copies to use at an upcoming proceeding. (Case No: SC19-517)

Anton Aggrey Gammons, P.O. Box 682048, Orlando, suspended for 30 days effective 30 days following a July 30 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2011) Gammons pleaded no contest to possessing cocaine, 20 grams or less of cannabis, and drug paraphernalia. After Gammons successfully completed Veteran’s Court, the criminal charges were dismissed. (Case No: SC20-1028)

Thomas Edmondson Whigham, Jr., 4310 W. Spruce St., Unit 238, Tampa, suspended for 30 days with probation for the length of his Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc. (FLA) contract and conditions to include active participation in the FLA program by signing a rehabilitation contract, complying with all recommendations by FLA and payment of FLA registration and monitoring fees effective 30 days following a July 2 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2013) Whigham was arrested on June 25, 2018 and charged with driving under the influence with property damage or personal injury and possession of heroin. He was convicted of driving under the influence. Whigham completed a pre-trial diversion drug court program for the possession of heroin, and the charge was dismissed. (Case No: SC20-887)

Andrew Joseph Decker III, 320 White Ave. S.E., Live Oak, suspended for 30 days effective nunc pro tunc to March 2, 2017, following a July 9 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1979) In May 2013, the Judicial Qualifications Commission issued its notice of investigation against Decker. The hearing panel found that Decker mispresented facts during a debate when he was running for circuit judge. The panel also found that Decker violated the Code of Judicial Conduct Canons, Rules of Professional Conduct and Florida Statutes by publicly announcing his affiliation with the Republic Party while addressing the Lafayette County Republican Executive Committee. The panel found Decker guilty of failing to notify opposing counsel in pending litigation that he represented the presiding judge in other litigation and as a result, the judge could not preside over the upcoming trial. (Case No: SC20-139)

Erin Nicole Lockhart, 255 Primera Blvd., Suite 128, Lake Mary, suspended for 30 days with automatic reinstatement and one-year probation effective 30 days from a Dec. 24, 2019, court order. (Admitted to practice: 2005) Between 201 6 and May 31, 2019, Lockhart operated her own law firm and maintained a law office trust account. A Bar audit revealed that Lockhart failed to maintain the required substantial minimum in her firm’s trust account. While there were numerous technical violations, there was no evidence of misappropriation. Lockhart now works at a law firm where she has no trust account maintenance responsibilities. (Case No. SC19-2050)

Robert Gregory Colvin, P.O. Box 3106, Orlando, suspended for 30 days, effective 30 days following a June 4 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1987) Colvin hired a series of temporary assistants who failed to receive sufficient training and supervision. As a result, adequate client communication and diligent handling of legal matters deteriorated. Colvin discovered in 2018 that his long-time assistant had kept client communication from him and had not been following through on tasks promised to clients. Four clients had their cases neglected, including one who missed a statute of limitations deadline because of the failure to properly calendar her case. (Case No: SC20-712)

Kevin Robert Monahan, P.O. Box 2682, Palatka, suspended for 10 days effective 30 days following an October 1 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1982) After being appointed as counsel for the defendants, Monahan failed to appear for court in two separate criminal matters. His clients were unable to have their matters heard and as a result, the trial judge removed Monahan in both cases as appointed counsel. (Case No: SC20-533)

John Andrew Braithwaite, 390 North Orange Ave., Suite 2300, Orlando, suspended for 10 days and ordered to attend Ethics School effective 30 days following a June 25 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2009) Braithwaite obtained a client’s case through improper solicitation and failed to diligently disburse surplus proceeds from his trust account to the client for approximately eight months. Braithwaite also failed to adequately communicate with the client. (Case No: SC20-55)

Theodore G. Mastos, 999 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Suite 500, Coral Gables, suspended for 10 days effective 30 days following an April 9 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1973) Mastos engaged in a joint representation of two defendants in a single criminal case and failed to inform and obtain a waiver of the potential conflict of interest. (Case No: SC20-411)

Howard Hunter Ellzey Jr., 4807 US 19, Suite 202, New Port Richey, public reprimand with a three-year probation effective immediately following a Feb. 20 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2007) Ellzey was arrested for DUI and refusal to submit to testing. He was charged with felony driving under the influence of alcohol, his third offense within 10 years, and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor DUI and misdemeanor refusal to submit to testing and was adjudicated guilty of both charges. Ellzey completed the terms of his criminal probation. (Case No: SC20-173)

Howard Hunter Ellzey, Jr., 4807 U.S. 19, Suite 202, New Port Richey, public reprimand and probation for three years effective immediately following a Feb. 20 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2007) Ellzey was arrested for DUI and refusal to submit to testing. He was charged with felony driving under the influence of alcohol, his third offense within 10 years. Ellzey pled guilty to misdemeanor DUI and misdemeanor refusal to submit to testing and was adjudicated guilty of both charges. Ellzey completed the terms of his criminal probation. (Case No. SC20-173)

Stafford Nicholas Shealy, 1438 Lantana Road, Suite 219, Lantana, public reprimand, and two years’ probation effective 15 days following an April 16 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2000) Shealy pleaded guilty to a DUI charge on Nov. 26, 2018, receiving 24 months of DUI probation. Shealy then reported his DUI conviction to The Florida Bar. (Case No: SC20-498)

Steven Mitchell Dever, P.O. Box 9811, Panama City Beach, public reprimand with one year of probation during which time Dever will attend a Professionalism Workshop, and obtain 15 Continuing Legal Education credits in civil litigation effective immediately following a June 25 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1992) Dever filed nonmeritorious claims, failed to comply with numerous discovery requests and rules, and engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice during the course of civil proceedings. (Case No: SC19-910)

Patrick James Landy, Jr., 997 S. Wickham Road, Melbourne, public reprimand with three years’ probation, effective immediately following a November 12 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2017) Landy entered no contest pleas to two amended charges of misdemeanor stalking, which were related to a previous personal relationship. The court withheld adjudication, placing Landy on probation for one year as to each count to run consecutive, with early termination permitted after one year upon successful completion of all conditions of probation. (Case No: SC20-1578)

Jaminette De Jesús-Felicier, P.O. Box 772705, Orlando, public reprimand with one-year of probation effective immediately following a November 12 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2006) De Jesús-Felicier and her husband, Feliz Anthony Felicier failed to diligently represent a criminal defendant resulting in the trial judge issuing an order removing them as attorneys of record. The trial court’s order set forth factual findings of De Jesús-Felicier and her husband’s failure to appear for the trial on Aug. 19, 2019, her husband’s multiple failures to appear for hearings and his failure to appear for trial on Feb. 4, 2019. (Case No: SC20-1111)

Shirley Linette Bates,1450 Lake Bradford Road, Suite C, Tallahassee, public reprimand effective 30 days following an October 29 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2005) Bates received fees to file a post-conviction action and then contracted with a paralegal to draft the motion. Bates did not respond to client requests for updates or provide a draft of the motion despite repeated requests. The client terminated Bates as her attorney and Bates agreed to issue a partial refund. (Case No: SC20-552)

Christine Marie Humphrey, 601 Brickell Key Drive, Suite 700, Miami, public reprimanded, effective immediately following a November 5 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2004) Humphrey failed to provide all services provided for in a retainer agreement. She was ordered to pay restitution for the unearned fees. In a second matter, Humphrey promised to refund a retainer to a client, but failed to do so. In a third case, Humphrey failed to communicate that 75% of the retainer had been used pursuant to the retainer agreement. However, Humphrey absorbed the bill and the client did not remit any additional fees. (Case No: SC20-1542)

Marla Jayne Rawnsley, 101 N. Woodland Blvd., Suite 301, Deland, public reprimand and required attendance at The Florida Bar’s Trust Accounting Workshop effective immediately following a November 12 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1987) Rawnsley failed to timely notify her client’s prior counsel of the settlement and receipt of funds in trust on the client’s behalf after having been previously notified of prior counsel’s asserted entitlement of fees and costs for his prior representation. (Case No: SC20-1548)

James Wesley Smith III, 9100 Conroy Windermere Road, Suite 200, Windermere, public reprimand and completion of office procedures and record-keeping analysis by and under the direction of The Florida Bar’s Diversion/Discipline Consultation Service effective immediately following a November 12 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2005) Smith failed to competently and diligently handle several clients’ appeals resulting in the Fifth District Court of Appeal issuing orders sanctioning him. (Case No: SC20-1545)

Giancarlo Ricard, P.O. Box 600621, St. Johns, public reprimand effective immediately following a September 17 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2016) Ricard was retained as counsel by two separate clients and then determined that he was unable to complete their civil matters. Ricard also failed to adequately communicate with the clients. He merged his law practice with another law firm, which ultimately took over the representation of these cases. (Case No. SC20-744)

William S. Saliba, 1065 W. Morse Blvd., Suite 101, Winter Park, public reprimand and required to complete ethics school effective 15 days following a July 30 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2015) Saliba engaged in a pattern of misconduct during his association with a business that assists clients in exiting their timeshare contracts. Saliba did not personally meet with the clients, and he had no direct supervision of the employees who communicated with the clients and the timeshare companies. One client filed a Bar complaint alleging that Saliba failed to diligently represent him and failed to provide adequate communication concerning his legal matter. (Case No: SC20-315)

Thomas Neil Fischgrund, 7024 Central Ave., Fl 2, Saint Petersburg, public reprimand with attendance and completion of The Florida Bar’s Trust Accounting Workshop effective immediately following a June 25 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1992) Fischgrund did not clearly explain to his adoption entity clients the distinction between initial non-legal adoption entity services and subsequent legal work, and he allowed his non-attorney executive director to handle all dealings and maintain bookkeeping without adequate supervision. Poor bookkeeping practices found for the adoption entity trust account had been rectified. (Case No: SC19-2118)

Lawrence Paul Cartelli, 400 N. Sinclair Ave., Tavares, public reprimand and required to complete Ethics School, effective 15 days following a May 28 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2002) While representing a client in a divorce case, Cartelli discussed with the client and the client’s girlfriend a dormant charity he created many years before to assist families in need. The client offered to pay monthly rent on the office space, and the client’s girlfriend offered to work toward re-invigorating the charity. Cartelli failed to advise the client of the potential conflict of interest in writing and did not obtain a waiver of any potential conflict of interest. When the client loaned Cartelli money, at Cartelli’s request, Cartelli did not advise him of the potential conflict of interest or to consult an independent attorney. Cartelli also accepted a loan to the charity from a former client whose wife he represented and charitable donations from other clients without written agreements or advising of the need for independent counsel. Cartelli failed to keep adequate financial records for the charity. (Case No: SC20-702)

Danie Victor Alexandre, 3601 S.E. Ocean Blvd., Suite 003, Stuart, public reprimand followed by a two year period of probation conditioned upon completion of Trust Accounting Workshop and hiring a certified public accountant to prepare and file compliant quarterly audit reports with The Florida Bar effective immediately following a July 2 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1991) Alexandre failed to maintain the minimum required trust accounting records and failed to follow the minimum required trust accounting procedures, resulting in a check being accidentally issued against the trust account when insufficient funds were present to honor the check. No client funds were threatened. (Case No: SC20-882)

Thomas Jackson Craft, Jr., P.O. Box 4143, Tequesta, public reprimand followed by a two-year period of probation and ordered to pay restitution of $3,750 to Anthony and Angela Glenn as well as attending The Florida Bar Ethics School effective immediately following a July 16 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1991) Craft was affiliated with an entity that assisted consumers with loan modifications in his capacity as counsel for the consumers. Craft successfully performed his work but failed to fulfill his ethically mandated supervisory responsibilities. (Case No: SC20-896)

Eduardo Enrique Dieppa III, 10689 N. Kendall Drive, Suite 314, Miami, public reprimand effective immediately following a July 2 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2004) Dieppa represented a father and son as plaintiffs in a civil action, where the father was suffering from cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. Dieppa said that the father was available for deposition despite his cognitive impairment, where he had disclosed this fact as a basis for unavailability in an unrelated case. Dieppa also conveyed that both father and son had agreed to settlement terms without discussing it with the father. (Case No: SC20-883)

Joseph Anthony Sorce, 999 Ponce De Leon Blvd., Suite 1020, Coral Gables, public reprimand effective immediately following a July 2 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1994) Sorce commingled personal funds in his trust account by failing to promptly disburse his fees and depositing the proceeds of the sale of his marital home in the trust account. Although Sorce paid personal expenses from the trust account, he used personal funds to do so. There was no evidence of malfeasance and all client funds were properly accounted for and promptly remitted. (Case No: SC20-881)

William DeForest Thompson Jr., 2030 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, public reprimand effective immediately following a May 7 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1988) After a July 15, 2019, order suspending Thompson, he failed to remove all indicia of attorney status from his website and social media platforms, and failed to notify individuals in three cases of his suspension. (Case No: SC19-1820)

Charles A. Esposito, 94 Fulton Place, Palm Coast, public reprimand effective immediately following an April 2 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1992) Esposito represented a client in a criminal case and failed to confirm the nonrefundable fee in writing. Esposito filed a motion to withdraw as counsel and clarified some misrepresentations made by the client to the court revealing information relating to the representation. (Case No: SC20-415)

Aaron Matthew Cohen, 110 Via D Este, Apt. 303, Delray Beach, public reprimand effective immediately following a March 26 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2002) Cohen was held in contempt and publicly reprimanded for failing to timely respond to inquiries of The Florida Bar. (Case No: SC19-2053)

Howard David Friedman, 2413 Tuscarora Trail, Maitland, public reprimand effective 15 days from a March 5 court order. (Admitted to Practice: 1987) During Friedman’s campaign for the Office of State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit, he distributed campaign brochures and made statements that suggested, or specifically stated, that while his opponent Jeffrey Ashton was the state attorney, he wrongfully fired Friedman’s wife, Annette Schultz, after she became ill with cancer. Friedman omitted any reference to the passage of 11 years between Schultz’s cancer diagnosis and her job termination. (Case No: SC19-1422)

José G. Oliveira, 1284 Seburn Road, Apopka, public reprimand and completion of Ethics School effective 15 days following a March 5, court order. (Admitted to practice: 2009) Oliveira engaged in a conflict of interest and failed to provide proper communication to a client regarding a business agreement and foreclosure matter. (Case No: SC20-209)

Veronica Arenas, 6400 N.W. 50 Ave., Ocala, public reprimand and must attend The Florida Bar’s Ethics School, effective immediately following a Feb. 27 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2015) Arenas engaged in a dual role as attorney and certified court interpreter in a second-degree misdemeanor criminal traffic case. Arenas gave isolated and limited legal advice in one other case by explaining the meaning of a legal term to the defendant during his first-degree misdemeanor case. (Case No. SC20-168)

Gerald Brett Berg, 1350 Main St., Suite 1113, Springfield, Mass., public reprimand, effective immediately following a Feb. 13 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1977) Berg represented both the buyer and seller in a real estate transaction in which the seller provided the financing to the buyer.  At closing, the buyer discovered that the terms of the loan substantially favored the seller. Berg acknowledged the conflict and requested the buyer execute a waiver of conflict of interest, which she refused to do. The buyer did not receive the representation that she should have received through independent counsel. This is a reciprocal discipline action based on the order of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers of the Supreme Judicial Court. (SC19-1390)

Henry George Ferro, 108 N. Magnolia Ave., Ocala, public reprimand effective 15 days from a Jan. 16 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1983) By an Aug. 10, 2017, federal court order, Ferro received monetary sanctions for filing frivolous claims on behalf of a client. The court dismissed the complaint Ferro filed as an impermissible shotgun pleading, noting that the assertions were largely vague, conclusory and with unfounded sweeping accusations.  The court also dismissed with prejudice an amended complaint Ferro filed against some defendants based on various immunities. (Case No. SC19-1251)

Sonya Charmaine Davis, 6356 Cypress Gardens Blvd., Winter Haven, admonished, effective immediately following a Feb. 13 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2001) Davis was hired to replace the counsel of record in a client’s pending dissolution of marriage. Davis sent a Joint Motion for Substitution of Counsel to the counsel of record who declined to sign the motion without a hearing. Davis did not begin proceedings to pursue the substitution of counsel for three months, so the client terminated Davis’ representation.  Davis failed to timely respond to the bar’s written inquiries. (Case No: SC19-1447)

Sonya Charmaine Davis, 6356 Cypress Gardens Blvd., Winter Haven, admonished, effective immediately following a Feb. 13 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2001) Davis, who was hired to replace the counsel of record in a client’s pending dissolution of marriage, sent a Joint Motion for Substitution of Counsel to the counsel of record, who declined to sign the motion without a hearing.  After three months, Davis had not followed through, so the client terminated Davis’s representation.  Davis failed to timely respond to The Bar’s written inquiries. (Case No. SC19-1447)