The Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders disciplined five attorneys, suspending four and reprimanding one.
Taylor Wayne Casey, P.O. Box 550577, Jacksonville, suspended for 18 months effective nunc pro tunc to September 16, 2025, per a February 5 court order. (Admitted to Practice: 2011) Casey was convicted of Resisting an Officer with Violence, in violation of Fla. Stat. § 843.01, of Trespass, in violation of Fla. Stat. § 810.09, and of Disorderly Intoxication, in violation of Fla. Stat. § 856.011(1).
Marie Delapena, P.O. Box 135184, Clermont, emergency suspended until further order of the court, effective immediately following a February 10 court order, as Delapena is currently suspended. (Admitted to Practice: 2019) Delapena misappropriated clients’ trust funds and made misrepresentations to the underlying tribunal, opposing counsel, her clients, and The Florida Bar. Further, Delapena was placed under emergency suspension in a July 9, 2025, court order, and she is not in substantial compliance with the Rules Regulating Trust Accounts.
James Peter Demetriou, 3208 E. Colonial Dr., 284, Orlando, public reprimand by publication in the Southern Reporter, attendance at the Trust Accounting Workshop, and payment of The Florida Bar’s costs effective immediately following a February 5 court order. (Admitted to Practice: 1982) Demetriou, a sole practitioner, maintained two trust accounts, one located in New York for his representation of clients in New York, and one in Florida for his representation of clients in Florida. Demetriou, however, permitted a Florida client to deposit funds to the trust account maintained for New York clients as a matter of convenience. Demetriou issued a check against the deposit without being aware that the bank placed a hold on the funds. The resulting insufficient funds notice led the Bar to conduct an audit of Demetriou’s Florida trust account. The Bar’s audit revealed that he was not in substantial compliance with the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar.
Joseph Ronald Denman, 15316 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, suspended for 60 days and ordered to complete Professionalism Workshop, effective 30 days following a February 12 court order. (Admitted to Practice: 1990) Denman represented a client in a contested guardianship proceeding regarding the client’s mother. The client’s mother had been deemed incapacitated, including as it related to the client’s mother’s ability to retain or hire counsel. Despite this, Denman allowed the client’s mother to enter into a retainer agreement with him and allowed the client’s mother to sign a conflict waiver. Denman subsequently prepared numerous estate documents on the mother’s behalf. Denman also filed appeals related to this matter that were found to be frivolous.
Tamika L. Jones, 13846 NW 21st St., Pembroke Pines, finding of contempt and suspended until Jones responds to The Florida Bar’s inquiries, effective February 24. (Admitted to Practice: 2006) Jones failed to respond to an official Bar inquiry. Additionally, she failed to respond to an order to show cause entered by the Supreme Court of Florida requiring her response. Based upon her failure to respond, the court, in a January 23 court order, held Jones in contempt and suspended her. Once the suspension takes effect, respondent will remain suspended until she responds to the official Bar inquiry and until further order of the court.
Emelike Nwosuocha, 14265 S.W. 181st Ter., Miami. (Admitted to Practice: 2008) By order dated December 11, 2025, Nwosuocha was held in contempt and suspended from the practice of law for three years and ordered to pay The Florida Bar’s costs in the amount of $1,250. On January 16, 2026, The Florida Bar filed an Amended Notice of Filing Suggestion of Death and Motion to Vacate Suspension Order Entered December 11, 2025. Accordingly, the court vacated its December 11, 2025, order, and dismissed the case.
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16 Lawyers Disciplined By Florida Supreme Court
18 Lawyers Disciplined By Florida Supreme Court
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