6 South Florida Attorneys Disciplined by Florida Supreme Court
Here's a look at the South Florida ethics cases.
July 01, 2020 at 10:09 AM
3 minute read
The Florida Supreme Court has disciplined 26 attorneys, disbarred two, revoked the license of 12, suspended nine and reprimanded three, The Florida Bar announced.
Six of those attorneys have law practices based in South Florida.
If an attorney has a disciplinary revocation, such as the two in South Florida, it is tantamount to disbarment. And the two South Florida attorneys suspended for 91 days or more must undergo a rigorous process to regain their law licenses, including proving rehabilitation.
Here's a look at the South Florida ethics cases.
George William Castrataro, of the Law Offices of George Castrataro in Fort Lauderdale, had a disciplinary revocation with leave to apply for readmission. Castrataro filed his petition for disciplinary revocation after allegations he misappropriated client funds, according to the bar.
Bonne Zell Scheflin, an estate planning lawyer at the Scheflin Law Group in Davie, had a disciplinary revocation with leave to seek readmission after five years. After an 18-month suspension on Sept. 15, 2019, a complaint alleged client funds were missing, and that Scheflin failed to withdraw from a pending case.
Also, Scheflin was in contact with clients after she was suspended, and did not provide the bar with requested bank records, according to court filings.
Coral Gables attorney Scot Strems, of the Strems Law Firm, was issued an emergency suspension. The Florida Bar alleged Strems committed in-court abuse of the judicial process to the detriment of clients, opposing parties, the judiciary and the public. A referee will make a recommendation to the court for discipline and entitlement to funds in Strems' frozen trust account.
Herbert Erving Walker III, a Miami Beach lawyer at the Law Offices of Herbert Erving Walker III, has been suspended for one year. The Florida Bar alleged Walker created a conflict of interest by representing two clients in a criminal action, where one client was allegedly an accessory after the fact to murder allegedly committed by the other.
James M. Potts Sr., a partner at Potts Legacy Law Group in Fort Lauderdale, has been suspended for 60 days, and will be on probation for two years with special conditions. The Florida Supreme Court found a pattern of misconduct and multiple offenses after Potts sent unprofessional and disparaging emails and text messages when a homeowner's association did not provide banking records of a treasurer accused of misusing funds.
Mary Catherine Bonner, of Mary Catherine Bonner P.A. in Fort Lauderdale, was suspended for 30 days. The Florida Bar stated Bonner did not respond to its inquires and to a Florida Supreme Court's order to show cause.
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