The Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders suspended 12 attorneys, reprimanded eight others, disbarred three, accepted the resignation of two, and enjoined one from the practice of law. None was from Northeast Florida. Court orders are not final until time expires to file a rehearing motion and, if filed, determined. The filing of such a motion does not alter the effective date of the discipline.
The following lawyers are disciplined:
• Thomas E. Blaine, Punta Gorda, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 91 days, effective 30 days following a Jan. 17. court order. Upon reinstatement, Blaine is further placed on probation for two years. Blaine violated several rules regulating trust accounts. Among his rule violations, Blaine failed to hold in trust, separate from his own property, funds and property of clients or third persons that were in his possession in connection with representation.
• Gerald John D’Ambrosio, Boca Raton, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 90 days, effective 30 days following a Jan. 17 court order. D’Ambrosio violated Bar rules regulating trust accounts, engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, and disobeyed specific directions issued to him by a judge in open court.
• Tara Anne Demetriades, Oyster Bay N.Y., suspended from practicing law in Florida for 90 days, effective 30 days following a Jan. 3 court order. In June 2001, Demetriades was arrested for possession of cocaine, possession of cannabis and driving with a suspended license.
• Timothy Kaye Douglas, Flagler Beach, disbarred from practicing law in Florida, effective immediately following a Jan. 17 court order. Douglas failed to refund $6,000 in loan disbursement funds to a title company from his trust account. He also failed to respond to Bar inquiries regarding his conduct.
• Levi England, Hollywood, resigned in lieu of disciplinary proceedings, with leave to seek readmission after five years, effective immediately following a Jan. 17 court order. Allegations against England include failing to comply with a subpoena, having an inappropriate relationship with a client and neglecting a client matter.
• Anthony Meehan Genova, Miami Shores, suspended automatically from practicing law in Florida, effective 30 days following a Jan. 10 court order. Genova knowingly and fraudulently made a material false statement and declaration during a bankruptcy case.
• Hilario Gonzalez II, Miami, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 18 months, effective retroactive to Oct. 27, 2000, following a Jan. 3 court order. In May 2000, Gonzalez pleaded guilty to one charge of unlawful compensation/reward for official behavior.
• J. Blayne Jennings, Springfield, Va., reprimanded for professional misconduct following a Jan. 17 court order. Jennings failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit a client to make informed decisions regarding representation. He also assisted a person who was not a member of the Bar in the performance of activity that constituted the unlicensed practice of law.
• Gabe Kaimowitz, Gainesville, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a Jan. 3 court order. Kaimowitz is guilty of making a statement he knew to be false or with reckless disregard as to its truth or falsity concerning the integrity of a judge.
• Arthur Joel Levine, Miami, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 45 days, effective May 1, following a Jan. 17 court order. Upon reinstatement, Levine is placed on probation for one year. While representing a defendant in a civil case, Levine failed to maintain contact with the client, to file any pleadings or respond to any pleadings on behalf of the client and to advise the client of any pending motions or the entry of a Final Summary Judgment, which awarded the plaintiff a total of $43,936.50.
• Jerrold Martin Levy, Boca Raton, suspended automatically from practicing law in Florida, effective 30 days following a Jan. 18 court order. In December 2001, Levy was convicted guilty of criminal felony charges.
• Ronald Scott Lowy, Miami Beach, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 90 days, effective retroactive to Oct. 5, 2000, following a Nov. 8 court order. Due to impairment caused by a substance abuse problem, Lowy failed to diligently pursue the representation of clients and did not properly communicate with his clients or respond to clients’ inquiries. Lowy is currently a member in good standing of The Florida Bar.
• Michael Laurence McKinnon Jr., Fort Pierce, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a Jan. 17 court order. In unrelated matters, McKinnon violated several rules regulating The Florida Bar. In one case, McKinnon entered into an improper contingent fee agreement. In a separate matter, McKinnon violated rules regulating trust accounts.
• Robert Wayne Morrison, Orlando, suspended from practicing law in Florida for six months, effective 30 days following a Jan. 17 court order. Upon reinstatement, Morrison is placed on probation for three years. Morrison was arrested on more than one occasion. The criminal charges against him include possession of cocaine, resisting an officer with violence and false imprisonment and battery.
• Kathleen Ann Paparella, West Palm Beach, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a Jan. 17 court order. While representing the personal representatives in an estate case, Paparella threatened to present criminal charges solely to obtain an advantage in the civil case.
• Thomas Edward Pryor Jr., Orlando, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a Jan. 17 court order. Pryor is further placed on probation for two years. While representing defendant in a civil suit, Pryor failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing the client, to keep the client reasonably informed, and to promptly comply with reasonable requests for information. Pryor also failed to respond to Bar inquiries about his conduct.
• Joshua Egan Reynolds, Sarasota, suspended from practicing law in Florida for two years, effective 30 days following a Jan. 17 court order. Upon reinstatement, Reynolds is placed on probation for one year. In two unrelated matters, Reynolds failed to keep a client reasonably informed and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information. Upon termination of representation, Reynolds also failed to take steps to the extent reasonably practicable to protect his clients’ interests.
• Joseph Marcelo Rodriguez, Miami, suspended from practicing law in Florida for three years, effective retroactive to Feb. 16, 2001, following a Jan. 3 court order. In May 2000, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful compensation/reward for official behavior, a third degree felony.
• Lawrence C. Stewart Jr., Winter Haven, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 60 days, effective 30 days following a Jan. 3 court order. Stewart failed to file a notice of employment with The Florida Bar prior to hiring a former attorney who resigned from the practice of law in lieu of discipline. Stewart also allowed the former attorney to have direct client contact and assisted him in the performance of activities that constituted the unlicensed practice of law.
• Anthony Joseph Titone, Ft. Lauderdale, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 90 days, effective retroactive to Sept. 30, following a Jan. 3 court order. Titone pleaded guilty to a felony, the interstate transportation of lottery tickets.
• Stanley Craig Wakefield, Kissimmee, suspended from practicing law in Florida for six months, effective 30 days following a Jan. 17 court order. Upon reinstatement, Wakefield is placed on probation for three years. Wakefield failed to maintain minimum trust accounting records, to follow minimum trust accounting procedures, and to make reasonable efforts to ensure that the conduct of a nonlawyer he had direct supervisory authority over was compatible with his professional obligations.