The Florida Supreme Court, in recent court orders, suspended seven attorneys, disbarred six, reprimanded three, and accepted the resignation of two attorneys. None are from Northeast Florida.
The following have been disciplined. The 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:
• Dominick Amento, Lake Park, resigned in lieu of disciplinary proceedings, with leave to seek readmission after five years, effective retroactive to Feb. 28, 2002, following a Dec. 18, 2003 court order. At the time of Amento’s resignation, he was under investigation for a criminal conviction for failing to report child abuse.
• Joseph M. Barisic, Miami Beach, suspended by emergency from practicing law in Florida until further court order, effective 30 days following a Jan. 5 court order. A review of Barisic’s bank records revealed that there is clear, convincing and undeniable evidence that he misappropriated hundreds of thousands of dollars of clients’ funds.
• Joseph Nathaniel Baron, Orlando, disbarred from practicing law in Florida, effective immediately following a Dec. 18, 2003 court order. Among several Bar violations, Baron failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client; failed to hold in trust funds belonging to a client that were in his possession in connection with the representation; neglected to comply with The Florida Bar Rules Regulating Trust Accounts; failed to comply with reasonable requests for information; and for failure to explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation.
• Donald Young Bennett, Sarasota, suspended from practicing law in Florida for nine months, effective retroactive to Oct. 3, 2003, following a Jan. 22 court order. Additionally, Bennett must contact Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc. within 30 days from the order. Bennett engaged in the practice of law while he was a delinquent member of the Bar and failed to respond, in writing, to an official inquiry by Bar counsel or a disciplinary agency, when conducting an investigation into his conduct.
• Robert William Boyd, Orlando, resigned in lieu of disciplinary proceedings with leave to seek readmission after five years, effective immediately following a Jan. 22 court order. Boyd pled guilty to felony charges of engaging in a conspiracy to commit securities fraud, mail fraud and wire fraud.
•Thomas William Dickson, Roswell, Ga., reprimanded for professional misconduct following a Dec. 11, 2003 court order. Dickson failed to respond, in writing, to an official inquiry by Bar counsel or a disciplinary agency, when conducting an investigation into his conduct.
• Robert Jay Fenstersheib, Hallandale, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a Dec. 18, 2003 court order. Among several Bar violations, Fenstersheib failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client; neglected to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information; and failed to explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation.
• Steven K. Grover, Naples, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 91 days, effective 30 days following a Jan. 15 court order. Prior to reinstatement, Grover must be evaluated by Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc. Among several Bar violations, Grover failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client; failed to respond, in writing, to an official inquiry by Bar counsel; violated or attempted to violate The Florida Bar Rules of Professional Conduct, knowingly assisted or induced another to do so, or done so through the acts of another; and failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information.
• Bruce Lee Hollander, Hollywood, disbarred from practicing law in Florida for five years, effective retroactive to Nov. 17, 2002, following a Dec. 18, 2003 court order. On or about Nov. 20, 2001, Hollander was convicted, by jury verdict, of one count of conspiracy, five counts of wire fraud, six counts of making false statements, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, felonies, and was sentenced to 51 months in prison.
• Michael Andrew Jones, Englewood, disbarred from practicing law in Florida, effective 30 days following a Jan. 22 court order. Jones was disbarred by the Supreme Court of Georgia on Jan. 13, 2003 for converting the funds of 11 clients. Among several Bar violations, Jones violated or attempted to violate The Florida Bar Rules of Professional Conduct, knowingly assisted or induced another to do so, or through the acts of another; engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation; and engaged in conduct in connection with the practice of law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice.
• Barry Jay Marcus, Plantation, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a Jan. 22 court order. Among several Bar violations, Marcus failed to provide competent representation to a client; failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client; and neglected to explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation.
• Keith Aloysius Martin, Lauderhill, disbarred from practicing law in Florida, effective 30 days following a Jan. 22 court order. Among several Bar violations, Martin neglected to comply with The Florida Bar Rules Regulating Trust Accounts; committed a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer; engaged in conduct in connection with the practice of law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice; failed to provide competent representation to a client; and failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information.
• John Arthur Racin, Port St. Lucie, disbarred from practicing law in Florida, effective 30 days following a Nov. 20, 2003 court order. Among several Bar violations, Racin failed to provide competent representation to a client; failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client; failed to make reasonable efforts to ensure that the law firm in which he was a partner or shareholder had in effect measures giving reasonable assurance that all lawyers therein conform to The Florida Bar Rules of Professional Conduct; and failed to explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation.
• Paul James Schlegel, Ft. Lauderdale, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 30 days, effective 30 days following a Dec. 11, 2003 court order. Additionally, Schlegel must attend The Florida Bar’s Trust Account Workshop. Among several Bar violations, Schlegel failed to comply with The Florida Bar Rules Regulating Trust Accounts and entered into a business transaction with a client or knowingly acquired an ownership, possessory, security or other pecuniary interest adverse to a client.
• Dennis L. Stewart, suspended from practicing law in Florida for three years, effective immediately following a Jan. 8 court order. On or about Sept. 11, 2001, Stewart plead guilty to one count of making a false statement on a HUD-1 settlement statement, a felony, and was sentenced to 33 months in prison.
• Jan Peter Weiss, Boca Raton, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 60 days, effective retroactive to Dec. 19, 2003, following a Jan. 15 court order. Furthermore, Weiss was placed on probation for three years, beginning Dec. 19, 2003. Among several Bar violations, Weiss committed a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer in other respects; engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation; and engaged in conduct in connection with the practice of law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice.
•Robert Michael Zieja, Ft. Lauderdale, disbarred from practicing law in Florida, effective immediately following a Jan. 8 court order. Zieja failed to comply with The Florida Bar Rules Regulating Trust Accounts; counseled a client to engage, or assisted a client, in conduct that he knew or reasonably should have known is criminal or fraudulent; knowingly disobeyed an obligation under the rules of a tribunal except for an open refusal based on an assertion that no valid obligation exists; and failed to respond, in writing, to an official inquiry by Bar counsel or a disciplinary agency, when conducting an investigation into his conduct.