The Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders disbarred eight attorneys among disciplinary actions.
None were from Northeast
Florida.
The following lawyers were disciplined:
• Ofer Moshe Amir, Hallandale, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a July 3 court order. Because of an illness, Amir failed to communicate with a client and to properly terminate his representation of the client.
• David Arthur Barnes, Belfair, Wash., suspended from practicing law in Florida for six months, effective immediately following a July 11 court order. On Oct. 9, 1999, Barnes was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and possession of an open container. On April 11, 2000, he was charged with aggravated stalking. Barnes also failed to respond in writing to a Bar inquiry into his conduct.
• Ronald Edward Burgess, Red Bank, N.J., disbarred from practicing law in Florida. Burgess was disbarred by the Supreme Court of New Jersey in February 2001 for misappropriating estate funds.
• James Aaron Cassidy, West Palm Beach, disbarred from practicing law in Florida. While representing two clients in unrelated dissolution of marriage cases, Cassidy accepted a fee and then took no significant action on behalf of the clients
• Jeffrey Evan Cosnow, Palm Harbor, disbarred from practicing law in Florida. Cosnow violated rules regulating The Florida Bar during his representation of four unrelated clients. In one matter, Cosnow was hired to represent a client in a medical malpractice action and failed to name a defendant in the suit as the client believed Cosnow had done. Cosnow repeatedly addressed the client in a derogatory manner and refused to explain items on the periodic billings that were sent to the client. Cosnow also violated trust account rules.
• John Andreas Darlson, Stuart, resigned in lieu of disciplinary proceedings, with leave to seek readmission after five years, effective 30 days following a June 20 court order. Darlson allegedly misappropriated funds from his trust account and failed to properly maintain trust account records.
• Berek P. Don, North Bergen, N.J., disbarred from practicing law in Florida. Don was convicted in April 2001 of the felony crimes of Fraud and Swindles, Attempt to Evade or Defeat Tax and Conspiracy to Defraud the United States Federal Campaign Contribution Fund, by a United States district judge for the District of New Jersey.
• Kurt M. Frim, Boca Raton, disbarred from practicing law in Florida. Frim failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client.
• Ira Russell Gordon, Miami, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 90 days, effective 30 days following a July 3 court order. Gordon engaged in the practice of law in numerous cases while he was delinquent in either CLER and/or dues. Gordon also failed to provide competent representation to a client, to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client, and to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter.
• James Manuel Heptner, Tampa, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 91 days, effective 30 days following a July 3 court order. Heptner failed to respond, in writing, to a Bar inquiry regarding his conduct.
• Stephen Michael Maher, Fort Myers, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a June 20 court order. Maher violated several rules regulating trust accounts.
• Charles R. Morgenstein, Boca Raton, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a June 27 court order. Morgenstein failed to provide competent representation to a client, to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client, to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information, and to make reasonable efforts as a supervisor to ensure that a nonlawyer’s conduct is compatible with the professional obligations of a lawyer.
• Mark Orr, Fort Pierce, suspended from practicing law in Florida for ten days, effective 30 days following a July 3 court order. Orr is further placed on probation for one year. Orr violated rules regulating The Florida Bar in unrelated matters.
• Ricardo Luis Sanchez Jr., Miami, suspended from practicing law in Florida for one year, effective 60 days following a June 27 court order. Sanchez failed to comply with trust accounting rules. He also failed to provide competent representation to a client, to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client, and to explain a matter to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter.
• Steven Taylor Scott, Virginia Gardens, disbarred from practicing law in Florida, effective immediately following a June 13 court order. Scott continued to hold himself out as an attorney, dispense legal advice, draft pleadings, meet with clients, and accept legal fees after the Florida Supreme Court ordered him to cease the practice of law.
• Alexander Marc Siegel, Ft. Lauderdale, suspended from practicing law in Florida. Siegel has not met the requirements of a Florida Supreme Court order dated May 31, 2001, which obligated him to make restitution to a former client within six months.
• Arthur James Springer, Tampa, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a July 11 court order. Springer failed to provide competent representation to a client and to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client.
• Lawrence J. Stein, Miami, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a July 3 court order. Stein failed to provide competent representation to a client, to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client, to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter, and to explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit a client to make informed decisions regarding the representation.
• Mark Harris Swerdloff, West Hartford, Conn., reprimanded for professional misconduct following a July 3 court order. Swerdloff was reprimanded by a Connecticut Statewide Grievance Committee for threatening conduct during a deposition.
• Anne Georges Telasco, Miami Shores, disbarred from practicing law in Florida. Telasco misappropriated client trust funds.
• Sergio Vega, Coral Gables, suspended from practicing law in Florida. Vega misappropriated funds entrusted to him.
• Alan Douglas Williams, Las Vegas, disbarred from practicing law in Florida. He misappropriated client funds on numerous occasions.