The Florida Supreme Court recently suspended four, reprimanded four, disbarred three, and accepted the resignation of one attorney.
None were from North 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 have been disciplined:
Disbarred
Charles David Conway, 813 S. Bay Ave., Beach Haven, N.J., disbarred from practicing law in Florida, effective 30 days following a Dec. 16, 2004 court order. Among several Bar violations, Conway engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation; committed a criminal act that reflects adversely on his honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer in other respects; and made false statements in connection with a disciplinary matter.
Maritza Regalado, 2742 S.W. Eighth St., Ste. 202, Miami, disbarred from practicing law in Florida, effective immediately following a Dec. 16, 2004 court order. Among several Bar violations, Regalado failed to provide competent representation to a client; failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information; and failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client.
Bertram Shapero, 1128 Royal Palm Beach Blvd., #407, West Palm Beach, disbarred from practicing law in Florida, effective 30 days following a Dec. 2, 2004 court order. Among several Bar violations, Shapero engaged in conduct in connection with the practice of law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice; formed a partnership with a non-lawyer; and failed to provide competent representation to a client.
Suspended
Robert Alan Kerr, 1709 Crossvine Court, New Port Richey, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 60 days, effective 30 days following a Dec. 2, 2004 court order. Among several Bar violations, Kerr failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information; failed to explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation; and engaged in conduct in connection with the practice of law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice.
Elliot Stanley Shaw, 712 Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach, suspended from practicing law in Florida on an emergency basis until further court order, effective 30 days following a Dec. 3, 2004 court order. A review of Shaw’s trust account revealed that there is clear and convincing evidence that he is causing great public harm by misappropriating client funds.
Taryn Xenia Temmer, 1106 N. Parsons Ave., Brandon, suspended from practicing law in Florida on an emergency basis until further court order, effective 30 days following a Dec. 6, 2004 court order. Temmer has caused, or likely to cause, immediate and serious harm to her clients and/or the public.
Mary Agnes Webster, 13015 S.W. 89th Place, Miami, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 90 days, effective 30 days following a Dec. 9, 2004 court order. Webster failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information and failed to provide competent representation to a client.
Reprimanded
Neil Jay Buchalter, P.O. Box 5087, Titusville, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a Dec. 16, 2004 court order. Buchalter is further placed on probation for two years. Buchalter failed to preserve a client’s property and failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client.
Ian Gomez, 2037 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a Dec. 16, 2004 court order. Gomez must complete eight hours of Continuing Legal Education in the area of criminal law within the next reporting period. Gomez represented a client in which the representation of that client was directly adverse to the interests of another client.
Cynthia Ann Holloway, 184 Baltic Circle, Tampa, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a Dec. 16, 2004 court order. Holloway 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 engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.
John Deighton Simpson, 4435 Lafayette St., Marianna, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a Dec. 9, 2004 court order. Simpson is further placed on probation for two years, effective immediately following a Dec. 9, 2004 court order. Among several Bar violations, Simpson failed to comply with Rules Regulating Trust Accounts and failed to comply with the responsibilities regarding non-lawyer assistants.
Resigned
Francis Montague Wells, 4911 Park St. N., St. Petersburg, resigned in lieu of disciplinary proceedings, with leave to seek readmission after five years, effective 30 days following an Oct. 14, 2004 court order. At the time of resignation, Wells had a case pending at the Grievance Committee level of investigation.