The Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders suspended six attorneys, reprimanded eight, including one from Northeast Florida, and accepted the resignation of four others. Stephanie Diane Staples of Palatka was reprimanded for professional misconduct following a Sept. 30 court order. Staples was also placed on probation for three years. Among several Bar violations, Staples failed to provide competent representation to a client; failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client; and entered into an agreement for, charged, or collected an illegal, prohibited or clearly excessive fee.
The other lawyers disciplined are:
• Lori Elizabeth Ager, Tallahassee, suspended from practicing law in Florida, effective 30 days following a Sept. 21 court order. On July 13, Ager plead no contest to two counts of manslaughter by driving under the influence and was sentenced to five years of adjudication followed by 10 years probation.
• Howard I. Alabaster, Coral Springs, resigned in lieu of disciplinary proceedings, with leave to seek readmission after five years, effective retroactive to June 10, 2002. At the time of Alabaster’s resignation, a case was pending at the Supreme Court level against him for alleged contempt, precipitated by his misrepresentation of himself as an attorney and a member in good standing after his suspension, and by his misrepresentations of fact to the referee during the course of his reinstatement proceedings.
• Karel Herman Baarslag, Sarasota, resigned in lieu of disciplinary proceedings, with leave to seek readmission after three years, effective 30 days following a Sept. 15 court order. At the time of Baarslag’s resignation, he was under investigation for two cases that were pending at the Grievance Committee level.
• Ann Bitterman, Coconut Grove, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 91 days, effective immediately following a Sept. 23 court order. Bitterman is further placed on probation for three years. Among several Bar violations, Bitterman violated or attempted to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct; engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation; and knowingly disobeyed an obligation under the rules of a tribunal.
• Suzanne Consagra, Orlando, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 60 days, effective 30 days following a Sept. 15 court order. Upon reinstatement, Consagra is further placed on probation for three years. Among several Bar violations, Consagra failed to maintain minimum trust accounting records; failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client; and failed to respond, in writing, to an official inquiry by Bar counsel or disciplinary agency when conducting an investigation into her conduct.
• David Deutsch, Miami, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a Sept. 30 court order. Deutsch shall attend The Florida Bar’s Advertising Workshop prior to petitioning for reinstatement. Deutsch made prohibited statements and information about himself or his services; revealed the nature of a legal problem on the outside of a brochure; and failed to pay the required late filing fee for an advertisement.
• Nadege Elliott, Cape Coral, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 75 days, effective Sept. 29, following a Sept. 15 court order. Upon reinstatement, Elliott is further placed on probation for one year. Among several Bar violations, Elliott violated or attempted to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct, knowingly assisted or induced another to do so, or did so through the acts of another; engaged in conduct in connection with the practice of law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice; and knowingly disobeyed an obligation under the rules of a tribunal.
Godwin James Essien, Oviedo, resigned in lieu of disciplinary history, with leave to seek readmission after five years, effective immediately following a Sept. 2 court order. At the time of Essien’s resignation, he had several cases pending at the Supreme Court and investigative level.
• Knovack Gramby Jones, Hialeah, resigned in lieu of disciplinary proceedings, without leave to seek readmission, effective 30 days following a Sept. 30 court order. At the time of Jones’ resignation, she was under investigation for a complaint involving alleged misuse of trust funds.
• Mario Joseph Louis, Miami, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a Sept. 15 court order. Louis is further placed on probation for one year. On Jan. 17, 2002, Louis plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge and was ordered to complete nine months probation and 100 hours of community service.
• Cecile Angela Martin, Miami, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a Sept. 15 court order. Among several Bar violations, Martin failed to provide competent representation to a client; neglected to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client; and failed to respond, in writing, to an official inquiry by Bar counsel or a disciplinary agency, when conducting an investigation into her conduct.
• Michael M. O’Brien, Orlando, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a Sept. 23 court order. O’Brien is further placed on probation for three years. Among several Bar violations, O’Brien failed to comply with the Rules Regulating Trust Accounts; failed, at least annually, to prepare a detailed listing identifying the balance of the unexpended trust money held for each client or matter; and failed to perform minimum trust accounting procedures.
• Guillermo Enrique Pena, Miami, suspended from practicing law in Florida for one year, effective retroactive to Nov. 24, 2003. Pena failed to comply with the Rules Regulating Trust Accounts; 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.
• Scott Goodman Ryals, Ft. Pierce, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a Sept. 15 court order. Ryals is further placed on probation, not to exceed one year requiring restitution. Among several Bar violations, Ryals 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 promptly comply with reasonable requests for information; and entered into an agreement for, charged, or collected an illegal, prohibited, or clearly excessive fee.
• Jack Schrold, Parkland, suspended from practicing law in Florida for two years, effectively immediately following a Sept. 23 court order. A full restoration of Schrold’s civil rights shall be an express condition of his rehabilitation and reinstatement to practice law in the State of Florida. Among several Bar violations, Schrold violated or attempted to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct, knowingly assisted or induced another to do so, or did so through the acts of another and committed a criminal act that reflects adversely on his honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer in other respects.
• Lee C. Summers, Boca Raton, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a Sept. 23 court order. Summers must attend and satisfactory complete The Florida Bar’s Ethics School. Summers failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client and violated the Rules Regulating Trust Accounts.
• Clifford Martin Travis, Inverness, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a Sept. 23 court order. Travis is further placed on probation for two years. Travis failed to act with reasonable diligence an promptness in representing a client; failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and failed to promptly comply with reasonable requests for information; and failed to respond, in writing, to an official inquiry by Bar
counsel or a disciplinary
agency, when conducting an investigation into his conduct.