The Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders disciplined ten attorneys, disbarring two, suspending six, and reprimanding two.
Jeffrey Barnes, 1515 N. Federal Hwy., Suite 300, Boca Raton (Palm Beach County), suspended for three years effective October 27. (Admitted to Practice: 1988) Barnes was suspended following a September 25 court order regarding reciprocal discipline matters in Tennessee and Colorado; and misconduct in Florida that includes engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, or misrepresentation; impugning qualifications and integrity of a judge, engaging in conduct in connection with the practice of law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice, failing to abide by court orders, neglecting clients, failing to refund unused fees and making disparaging remarks to clients and opposing counsel.
Kendrick James Blackwell, P.O. Box 7196, St. Petersburg (Pinellas County), suspended for 30 days and ordered to attend Ethics School effective 30 days following an August 28 court order. (Admitted to Practice: 1995) While representing the husband in a dissolution matter, Blackwell violated a temporary injunction issued by the court prohibiting Blackwell’s client from any action that would affect the status of the martial assets. After entry of the temporary injunction, Blackwell signed and executed several quitclaim deeds on behalf of his client under his power of attorney, which impacted the status of the marital assets without approval of the former wife or court. Despite being advised by The Florida Bar Ethics Hotline to withdraw on at least two occasions, Blackwell failed to withdraw from the representation.
Todd J. Herman, 1 E. Broward Blvd., Suite 700, Fort Lauderdale (Broward County), disbarred effective immediately following a September 25 court order. (Admitted to Practice: 2010) Herman, failed to account for client funds, failed to deliver client funds to the clients, failed to keep clients reasonably informed about the status of their respective cases, and failed to respond to the official inquiries of the Bar.
Josh A. Howard, 4 W. Las Olas Blvd., Apt. 611, Fort Lauderdale (Broward County), suspended for 91 days and probation with conditions effective one month following an August 28 court order. (Admitted to Practice: 2011) In April 2021, Howard was arrested and charged with Driving Under Influence, Possession of Fentanyl and Possession of Paraphernalia. After successfully completing drug court, the possession counts were dropped. Howard pled no contest to the driving under the influence charge and adjudication was withheld.
Alejandro L. Marriaga, 1802 N. Alafaya Trail, Suite 152, Orlando (Orange County), disbarred effective 30 days following a September 18 court order. (Admitted to Practice: 2006) Marriaga engaged in a course of conduct where he intentionally misdirected funds from real estate closings he handled as the purportedly neutral settlement agent, failed to advise buyers of his significant ties to the seller, Steel X Homes, LLC., and its affiliates, and failed to comply with the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar on lawyer trust accounts. Marriaga deviated from the closing disclosure statements and diverted builder draws to Steel X Homes, its affiliated entities and, in one instance, his own law firm. Because none of the builders received any funds from the closings, none of the four homes were constructed. Marriaga then represented Steel X Homes in the resulting civil litigation despite the conflict of interest.
Marie A. Mattox, 203 N. Gadsden St., Tallahassee (Leon County), public reprimand and participation in DDCS effective immediately following a September 4 court order. (Admitted to Practice: 1988) Mattox was hired for a wrongful termination case that was settled at mediation with an agreement requiring the opposing party to pay $50,000 within 30 days of execution of the agreement to the client. The opposing party failed to pay within the timeframe and subsequently filed for bankruptcy. Mattox did not respond to her client’s requests for updates on both the initial case and the bankruptcy hearings. The debtor filed an objection to the claim filed on the client’s behalf in the bankruptcy. The bankruptcy court adjudicated the claim by the client, and the client was awarded $4,375.93. For eight months after, the client was unable to reach Mattox. Finaly the client executed a settlement statement and received a check for $3,375.93. Due to the lack of sufficient communication to the client, Mattox was found to have violated Rules Regulating The Florida Bar 4-1.4 (Communication).
Paige Sundance Mincieli, 2301 Del Prado Blvd. S., Suite 690, #169, Cape Coral (Lee County), suspended until further order of the court effective one month following a September 29 court order. (Admitted to Practice: 2019) Mincieli failed to respond to multiple official Bar inquiries regarding the investigation of four separate bar matters. Additionally, Mincieli failed to respond to an order to show cause entered by the Supreme Court of Florida requiring her response. Accordingly, the court found her in contempt and issued a suspension order.
Nabil Ibrahim Abu Nahlah, 2822 Pine Tree Dr., Apt. 2, Miami Beach (Miami-Dade County), suspended until further order of the court effective immediately following a September 15 court order. (Admitted to Practice: 2018) Nahlah was charged for major fraud against the United States in the Southern District of Florida and pleaded guilty. Nahlah was released under supervision for a term of three years.
Larry Edward Powers III, 931 N. State Road 434, Suite 1201, Altamonte Springs (Seminole County), suspended from the practice of law until Powers makes a written response to the Bar’s investigative inquiries and until further order of the court, effective 30 days following a September 12 court order. (Admitted to Practice: 2018) Powers was held in contempt by the Supreme Court of Florida for failing to respond to The Florida Bar’s investigative inquiries and for failing to respond to the court’s Order to Show Cause.
Thomas F. Rieger, 300 5th Ave. S., Suite 219, Naples (Collier County), public reprimand effective immediately following a September 4 court order. (Admitted to Practice: 1995) Rieger failed to provide responses to discovery requests and failed to produce documents after two subsequent motions to compel. In the second motion, monetary sanctions also were ordered against Rieger’s client for failing to produce the documents, to which Rieger consented to the entry of. Rieger voluntarily dismissed the case prior to opposing counsel’s motion to strike the pleadings, and he never informed his client of the monetary sanctions, nor did he have permission from the client to dismiss the case. Rieger also did not reduce to writing his contingency fee agreement.
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16 Lawyers Disciplined By Florida Supreme Court
18 Lawyers Disciplined By Florida Supreme Court
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