The Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders suspended 15 attorneys, disbarred one, reprimanded two, and extended the probation of one. None were from Northeast Florida. The following lawyers are disciplined:
• Damon Evan Amedeo, Palm Beach, suspended from practicing law in Florida, effective 30 days from July 22 following an Aug. 1 court order. Amedeo was
charged with distributing cocaine to a person under the age of 21, a felony, and was sentenced to 216 months in prison.
• Bradford Jon Beilly, Ft. Lauderdale, reprimanded for professional misconduct, following an Aug. 21 court order. Beilly entered a business transaction with a client;
failed to provide competent representation to a client; and used information relating to the representation of a former client.
• Rendell Frederick Brown, West Palm Beach, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 91 days, effective 30 days following an Aug. 21 court order. Upon his reinstatement, Brown shall commence serving a two-year probation. Brown failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client; failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter; neglected to explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation; charged or collected excessive fees; and failed to respond, in writing, to official inquiry by Bar counsel while conducting an investigation into his conduct.
• Virginia B. Chosed, Miami, probation extended until Aug. 1, 2004, following an Aug. 18 court order. Chosed failed to comply with her rehabilitation contract with Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc. which was a condition of her court ordered probation in Case no. SC03-646.
• Mark Charles Dabold, Orlando, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 91 days, effective 30 days following an Aug. 28 court order. Dabold failed to provide competent representation to a client; failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client; failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter; and failed to explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation.
• Mitchell Denker, Summerfield, suspended from practicing law in Florida, effective 30 days from Aug. 5 following an Aug. 14 court order. On July 14, Denker was adjudicated guilty in Vermont on two counts of transporting monetary instruments and perjury, both felonies. Denker was sentenced to serve five months in prison.
• Michael Wilson Dugger, Tallahassee, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 10 days, effective 30 days following an Aug. 21 court order. Dugger failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client and failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter.
• Jose L. DelCastillo-Salamanca, Hartford, Conn., suspended from practicing law in Florida for 10 days, effective 30 days following an Aug. 21 court order. DelCastillo-Salamanca failed to competently and diligently represent a client and failed to respond to the Bar during its investigation into his conduct.
• Steven K. Grover, Naples, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 10 days, effective 30 days following an Aug. 21 court order. Grover failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client; violated or attempted to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct; engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation; and failed to respond, in writing, to official inquiry by Bar counsel while conducting an investigation into his conduct.
• Jordan B. Harlem, Miami, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 91 days, effective 30 days following an Aug. 28 court order. Harlem failed to designate an official Bar name, mailing address, and business telephone number; failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter; charged or collected excessive fees; and failed to respond, in writing, to official inquiry by Bar counsel while conducting an investigation into his conduct.
• Shawn M. Jordan, Opa Locka, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 91 days, effective 30 days following an Aug. 21 court order. Jordan failed to respond, in
writing, to official inquiry by Bar counsel while conducting an investigation into his conduct.
• Jeffrey David Knowlton, Melbourne, disbarred from practicing law in Florida, effective immediately following an Aug. 21 court order. Among several Bar violations, Knowlton failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client; failed to respond, in writing, to official Bar counsel while conducting an investigation into his conduct; engaged in conduct in connection with the practice of law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice; and failed to take reasonable steps to protect a client’s interests upon misrepresentation.
• Terrence Leon Laster, Dallas, suspended by emergency from practicing law in Florida until further court order, effective 30 days following an Aug. 19 court order. A reconstruction of Laster’s trust accounts revealed a large shortage and failed to provide a current address and business telephone number to The Florida Bar.
• Joey Dean Oquist, St. Petersburg, suspended from practicing law in Florida for seven days, effective 30 days following an Aug. 21 court order. Oquist failed to keep
a client reasonably informed and failed to supervise a subordinate.
• L. Byron Reid, P.O. Box 607, Panama City, suspended from practicing law in Florida for three years, effective immediately following an Aug. 21 court order. Reid violated several Bar rules including involvement in misconduct, minor misconduct, and criminal misconduct; knowingly made a false statement to The Florida Bar; misrepresentation; and conduct prejudicial to the administration of
justice.
• Reydel Santos, Yazoo City, suspended from practicing law in Florida, effective 30 days following an Aug. 14 court order. Santos was adjudicated guilty in the United
States District Court for the Southern District of Florida on Nov. 3, 2000, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, both felonies. Santos was sentenced to serve 121 months in prison.
• Billy Michael Thomas, Melbourne, reprimanded for professional misconduct, following an Aug. 21 court order. Thomas failed to respond, in writing, to official inquiry by Bar counsel while conducting an investigation into his conduct.
• Henry Thompson, Miami, suspended from the practice of law for 10 days, effective 30 days following an Aug. 21 court order. Among several Bar violations, Thompson filed nonmeritorious claims and contentions; failed to conduct fairness to opposing party and counsel; and engaged in conduct in connection with the practice of law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice.
• Alexander Zouzoulas, Winter Park, suspended from practicing law in Florida for six months, effective retroactive to Jan. 4 following an Aug. 21 court order. Zouzoulas is further placed on probation for three years. Zouzoulas failed to comply with probationary terms in Case no. SC02-2042. Among terms of his probation, Zouloulas must contact Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc.