Mandarin attorney Kevin Robbie was suspended by the Florida Bar effective 30 days from an Oct. 5 court order for one year. Robbie failed to competently and diligently represent a client, failed to inform a client about the status of representation, and failed to respond, in writing, to an official inquiry by Bar counsel.
The Florida Bar announced that the Florida Supreme Court also suspended four attorneys, disbarred eight, reprimanded six, and placed five attorneys on probation.
• Vincent J. Whibbs, Jr., Pensacola, disbarred for five years from the practice of law in Florida, effective 30 days from an Oct. 19 court order. Whibbs engaged in misconduct and criminal misconduct. He converted and misappropriated client trust funds over a period of several years and used client funds to fund his personal investments.
• Peter James Correnti, Sorrento, reprimanded following an Oct. 5 court order. Correnti engaged in conduct in connection with the practice of law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice, failed to respond, in writing, to an official inquiry by Bar counsel and committed an act that is unlawful or contrary to honesty and justice.
• Sarino R. Costanzo, Miami, disbarred from practicing law in Florida, effective 30 days from an Oct. 19 court order. Costanzo violated several rules for the holding and handling of trust account funds.
• William Lance Gerlin, Tallahassee, reprimanded and placed on 18 months probation for professional misconduct, following an Oct. 26 order. Gerlin violated rules related to communicating with and keeping clients properly informed.
• Justin Edward Gould, Miami Beach, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 90 days, effective 30 days from an Oct. 12 order, and directed to complete ethics school. Gould violated rules of professional practice by failing to adequately communicate with clients and keep them apprized of the status of their cases as well as diligently and competently representing them.
• Cathy Lynn Harrison, Tampa, suspended from practicing law in Florida for one year immediately for professional misconduct, following an Oct. 5 court order. Harrison failed to adequately communicate with clients, was not diligent in representing them and displayed conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice.
• Joseph Francis Keeley III, Boca Raton, disbarred from practicing law in Florida, effective 30 days from an Oct. 9 court order. Keeley did not act with diligence and promptness in representing a client and failed to promptly deliver the real estate sale proceeds held in trust to an estate.
• Knovack Gramby Jones, Hialeah, permanently disbarred from practicing law in Florida, effective immediately, following an Oct. 12 court order. Jones continued to engage in the practice of law after the Florida Supreme Court on Sept. 30, 2004, ordered her not to accept any new clients.
• John Shields Locke, Winter Park, disbarred effective immediately, following an Oct. 12 court order. Locke engaged in conduct that is unlawful or contrary to honesty and justice; failed to competently represent a client; engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation; and engaged in conduct in the practice of law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice.
• Thomas Anthony Maiello, Tampa, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 30 days, effective 30 days from an Oct. 5 court order, and then placed on probation for two years. Maiello failed to keep a client reasonably informed as to the status of a matter, failed to promptly comply with reasonable requests for information, and failed to respond in writing to an official inquiry.
• J. William Masters II, Orlando, reprimanded and placed on probation for one year, effective immediately, following an Oct. 26 court order. Masters 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, failed to 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 representation.
• Dean Fredrick Mosley, Orlando, reprimanded and placed on probation for two years, following an Oct. 5 court order. Mosley was negligent in dealing with client property, and engaged in conduct that is a violation of a duty owed as a professional and causes injury or potential injury to a client, the public, or the legal system.
• Stephen Hill Nelson, Miami, disbarred permanently from practicing law in Florida, effective immediately following an Oct. 26 court order. Nelson engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation and received client trust funds that he failed to preserve and/or disburse.
• Harley Rosenthal, Plantation, disbarred retroactive to July 17, following an Oct. 26 court order. Rosenthal committed an act that is unlawful and contrary to honesty and justice, violated Florida Bar rules regulating trust accounts, failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter, failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client, failed to respond to an official inquiry by Bar counsel or disciplinary agency, and engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.
• Diana Kilpatrick Simpson, Ocala, reprimanded and placed on probation for three years, following an Oct. 12 court order. Simpson failed to provide a client with competent representation, 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 representation.
• James L. Slater, Palm Harbor, reprimanded, following an Oct. 12 court order. Slater 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.
• Stanley Craig Wakefield, Kissimmee, disbarred from the practice of law in Florida, effective immediately, following an Oct. 19 court order. Wakefield committed a criminal act that reflects adversely on his honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer, and engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.