Florida Supreme Court rejects stipulation for reinstatement of suspended lawyer due to her failure to pay restitution and costs.  [Added 2/19/10]

    Lawyer, who had been suspended from the practice of law, and the Florida Bar stipulated to Lawyer's reinstatement.  Apparently the referee approved the stipulation.  On review, however, in an order the Florida Supreme Court disapproved the referee's report and rejected the stipulation.

    Two justices dissented to the Court's decision.  Lawyer apparently had not paid the restitution ordered at the time of her suspension ($1600 to one client and $800 to another), nor paid the costs of more than $4600.  According to the Bar, Lawyer had not paid "due to financial constraints."  Justice Pariente, in her dissent joined by Justice Perry, stated:  "Neither the Bar nor the referee found any evidence of bad faith.  The Bar, after determining the respondent’s financial inability to pay, reimbursed the clients and thus the respondent now owes The Florida Bar Client Security Fund.  The Bar agreed to a payment plan, approved by the Board of Governors and the referee, and the repayment would be a condition of her probation.  I would thus grant the petition for reinstatement and require compliance with the payment plan to be a condition of probation.  If the Court is going to require either full repayment or at least a certain amount to be repaid, even where there are no financial means, we should set forth those requirements in a clearly enunciated rule rather than on an ad hoc basis without prior notice or explanation."  Florida Bar re: Thompson (Fla., No. SC09-263, 2/18/1020).

Florida Supreme Court sanctions disbarred lawyer who submitted numerous filings seeking readmission.  [Added 9/2/09]  --  Florida Board of Bar Examiners re: Anthony Eladio Ramos, 17 So.3d 268 (Fla. 2009).

Florida Supreme Court refuses reinstatement for a lawyer who engaged in the "practice of law" while suspended; definition discussed.  [Added 7/13/09]  --  Florida Bar re: Michael Howard Wolf, 21 So.3d 15 (Fla. 2009).

Florida Supreme Court approves Board of Bar Examiners' decision to cease processing disbarred lawyer's application for readmission.  [Added 2/4/09]  --  Florida Board of Bar Examiners re: Webster, 3 So.3d 1058 (Fla. 2009).

Trial court's order revoking an out-of-state lawyer's pro hac vice admission is reversed  [Added 2/15/08]  --  Brooks v. AMP Services Limited, 979 So.2d 435 (Fla. 4th DCA 2008) (on motion for clarification).

Rejecting Board of Bar Examiners' recommendation, Florida Supreme Court denies readmission to lawyer who had resigned for disciplinary reasons.  [Added 6/17/07]  --  Florida Board of Bar Examiners re: Allan Barry Marks, 959 So.2d 228 (Fla. 2007).

Florida Supreme Court rejects recommendation from Board of Bar Examiners that applicant be conditionally admitted.  [Added 2/5/07]  --  Florida Board of Bar Examiners re: M.B.S., 955 So.2d 504 (Fla. 2007).

Florida Supreme Court rejects Bar Examiners' recommendation to readmit lawyer who resigned for disciplinary reasons; rehabilitation not shown.  Florida Board of Bar Examiners re: Fred C. McMahan, 944 So.2d 335 (Fla. 2006).

Resigned lawyer's failure to rectify "financial irresponsibility" results in denial of readmission.  Florida Board of Bar Examiners re:  Steven A. Papy, Sr., 901 So.2d 870 (Fla. 2005).

Lawyer's conditional bar admission revoked for material misstatements regarding meeting child support obligations; Supreme Court discourages "credit string" conditional admissions.  The Florida Board of Bar Examiners re: Chavez, 894 So.2d 1 (Fla. 2004) (as revised).

Bar applicant's lack of candor results in denial of admission and extended disqualification period.  Florida Board of Bar Examiners re:  O.C.M., 850 So.2d 497 (Fla. 2003).