The Florida Supreme Court recently disciplined 10 attorneys — revoking the license of two, suspending five, admonishing one and reprimanding two. Court orders are not final until time expires for the disciplined attorney to file a rehearing motion.
The attorneys represent law practices from across the state. Disbarred lawyers may not reapply for admission for five years and are required to undergo a rigorous background check, as well as retake the Bar exam. Attorneys suspended for 91 days and longer must demonstrate that they have been rehabilitated in order to regain their law licenses.
Disciplinary revocation is tantamount to disbarment.
Boca Raton
Alexander Iglesias Brutvan, admonishment and referral to Florida Lawyers Assistance Inc. Admitted to practice in 2015, Brutvan was charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance. Brutvan’s case followed the successful completion of a pretrial intervention agreement with the state of Florida.
Lake Worth
Laitil Ovincy, public reprimand by publication and completion of both The Florida Bar’s Ethics School and Professionalism Workshop. Admitted to practice in 2014, Ovincy neglected cases and failed to properly communicate with his clients in two separate immigration proceedings.
Miami
Emelike Nwosuocha, suspended for one year effective immediately, as Nwosuocha is currently suspended. Admitted to practice in 2008, Nwosuocha was held in contempt for failing to notify clients, opposing counsel and tribunals of his suspension.
St. Augustine
Joseph Lester Boles Jr., disciplinary revocation with leave to apply for readmission in five years. Admitted to practice in 1984, Boles would provide a free will to people over 65 and draft the documents, naming himself as the personal representative or successor trustee to potentially receive fees as part of the estate or trust. Boles also failed to follow the instructions of several testamentary documents while serving as the trustee and is accused of selling a decedent’s home to his daughter for lower than fair market value.
Aventura
Lisa Jacobs, suspended for one year, effective immediately as Jacobs was already suspended. Admitted to practice in 1999, Jacobs was held in contempt for failing to notify clients, opposing counsel and tribunals of her suspension, as well as falling to eliminate all indicia of the appearance of being a lawyer in good standing.
Tallahassee
Erik Russel Fenniman, suspended for 90 days and ordered to attend ethics school and professionalism workshop. Admitted to practice in 2003, Fenniman signed the names of two of his subordinate employees to official agency letters without their knowledge or consent during his tenure as general counsel for the Florida Department of Transportation. One of the employees had already terminated her employment with FDOT several weeks prior to this occurrence.
Jaquetta Johnson, public reprimand and trust account workshop. Admitted to practice in 2014, Johnson provided legal services to a complainant who hired Florida Community Law Center (FCLC) to collect debts owed by debtors. Complainant forwarded several debt collection files between January and November 2020 for a flat fee of $1,650.00 for each debt collection matter that was resolved prior to litigation and costs.
When Johnson received funds on behalf of complainant from debtors, per the retainer agreement, FCLC’s fees were taken out and any remaining balance was sent to complainant. During the representation, complainant and respondent were in dispute about what fees and costs were due and owing.
On Oct. 27, 2020, Johnson sent complainant a check in the amount of $2,681.00, for funds obtained on his behalf. The check bounced due to insufficient funds. FCLC was dissolved in April 2022. FCLC did not have an IOTA trust account registered with the Florida Bar Foundation. As a result, attorneys fees and client funds were commingled.
Belleair Bluffs
Theophilos John Karaphillis, suspended. Admitted to practice in 1988, and following an order to show cause, Karaphillis was held in contempt and suspended until he fully responds in writing to an official Bar inquiry and until further order of the Court. Karaphillis also failed to file a response to the Court’s Order to Show Cause.
Ft. Myers
Guichard St. Surin, disciplinary revocation with leave to apply for readmission in five years. Admitted to practice in 2011, St. Surin is the subject of three pending cases: St. Surin is alleged to have engaged in inappropriate, unwanted sexual behavior and harassment with four employees and a client; he failed to diligently and competently pursue a family law matter; and he self-reported that he had been charged with felony battery which remained pending.
St. Surin pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor battery charge regarding contact with the client. The pending felony charge concerned allegations St. Surin engaged in inappropriate, unwanted sexual behavior with a prospective client.
Maitland
David W. Veliz, Maitland, suspended for 10 days. Admitted to practice in 1990, Veliz prepared a will and other estate planning documents for a longtime family friend. The will impermissibly named Veliz’s mother and sister as beneficiaries and named his mother as the personal representative for the estate.
Veliz failed to recognize that he was prohibited from creating a will for a non-related client naming his relatives as beneficiaries. After the death of the family friend, Veliz’s law partner was hired by Veliz’s mother to represent her in probating the estate.
Veliz’s mother received her personal representative fee even though Veliz failed to comply with a statute regarding the disclosure of compensation for the personal representative. Ultimately, Veliz’s mother and sister were removed as beneficiaries and his mother refunded her personal representative fee to the estate.
Founded in 1949, The Florida Bar serves the legal profession for the protection and benefit of both the public and all Florida lawyers. As one of the nation’s largest mandatory bars, The Florida Bar fosters and upholds a high standard of integrity and competence within Florida’s legal profession as an official arm of the Florida Supreme Court. To learn more, visit FloridaBar.org.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida Supreme Court disciplines lawyers from Lake Worth, Boca Raton
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