The Florida Bar, the state’s guardian for the integrity of the legal profession, announced today that the Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders suspended 10 attorneys.
As an official agency of the Supreme Court of Florida, The Florida Bar and its Department of Lawyer Regulation are charged with the administration of a statewide disciplinary system to enforce Supreme Court rules of professional conduct of the 76,000-plus lawyers admitted to practice law in Florida.
The following lawyers are disciplined [Please note that 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]:
Alan Lowell Arons, 1701 W. Hillsboro Blvd., Ste. 303, Deerfield Beach, suspended from practicing law in Florida for three years, effective retroactive to April 13, 2004, following a June 20 court order. Upon reinstatement, Arons is further placed on probation for three years. Arons failed to comply with the Rules Regulating Trust Accounts.
Franklin M. Boykoff, 54 Wheeler Ave., Pleasantville, N.Y., suspended from practicing law in Florida effective 30 days following an Aug. 5 court order. On April 8, 2002, Boykoff was charged with several counts of criminal activity generally related to tax evasion and was sentenced to 57 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
Richard A. Colegrove Jr., P.O. Box 726, Sanford, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 10 days, effective June 29, following a June 23 court order. Colegrove is further placed on probation for one year. Colegrove 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 and failed to promptly comply with reasonable requests for information.
Kevin Poston Cox, 201 N. Church Ave., Mulberry, suspended from practicing law in Florida for one year, effective June 1, following a May 5 court order. Among several Bar violations, Cox engaged in conduct in connection with the practice of law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice; engaged in sexual conduct with a client that exploits the lawyer-client relationship; and represented a client when his exercise of independent professional judgment in the representation of that client could have been materially limited by his own interest.
Edwin Glenn Drake, 222 S. U.S. Hwy 1, Ste. 208, Tequesta, suspended from practicing law in Florida on an emergency basis, effective 30 days following an Aug. 23 court order. There is clear and convincing evidence that Drake is causing great public harm by misappropriating client funds and property and abandoning his law practice.
Stanley Hyman, P.O. Box 480458, Delray Beach, suspended from practicing law in Florida, effective 30 days following a June 13 court order. On May 11, Hyman was adjudicated guilty on two counts of exploitation of an elderly person and was sentenced to 10 years probation, ordered to pay restitution and forfeit his license to practice law in the State of Florida.
Gregory A. Kaiser, 5736 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 90 days, effective 30 days following a June 16 court order. Among several Bar violations, Kaiser failed to comply with the Rules Regulating Trust Accounts; engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation; and made or permitted to be made a false, misleading, deceptive, or unfair communication about himself or his services.
Paul Anthony Levine, 1110 Brickell Ave., Floor 7, Miami, suspended from practicing law in Florida for one year, effective retroactive to Aug. 10, 2004, following a June 23 court order. Upon reinstatement, Levine is further placed on probation for three years. On or about June 30, 2004, Levine pled guilty to one count of Aggravated Stalking and was sentenced to four years probation.
David Edward Olson, 4762 U.S. Hwy. 19, New Port Richey, suspended from practicing law in Florida on an emergency basis, effective 30 days following an Aug. 23 court order. A review of Olson’s trust account revealed there is clear and convincing evidence that Olson appears to be causing great public harm.
Alan Barton Seif, 18100 W. Dixie Hwy, Ste. 202, Miami, suspended from practicing law in Florida for three years, effective 30 days following a July 7 court order. Additionally, Seif shall contact Florida Lawyer’s Assistance, Inc. for an evaluation within 15 days. Among several Bar violations, Seif engaged in misconduct and minor misconduct; committed a criminal act that reflects adversely on his honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer in other respects; and failed to respond, in writing, to an official inquiry by Bar counsel or disciplinary agency, when conducting an investigation into his conduct.