The court granted Tampa lawyer David Anthony Fontes’ petition for disciplinary revocation of his license, which is tantamount to disbarment, according to a Florida Bar written statement. He may apply for readmission after five years.
Fontes was suspended last year and then arrested by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for grand theft. He was accused of misappropriating more than $138,000 entrusted to him to pay the debts of a client’s estate.
Fontes subsequently reimbursed the client’s money.
The court also granted Scott V. Boruta’s petition for disciplinary revocation of his license. The Palm Harbor lawyer had two pending complaints of embezzling client funds and criminal theft.
Hillsborough County deputies investigated Boruta last year and arrested him for grand theft, records show.
A conflict of interest led to a four-month suspension for Sarasota lawyer Kenneth D. Doerr. In an estate case, he represented two clients in a matter in which they had adverse interests and wishes. He displayed “a lack of diligence and candor” by not disclosing to each client that he represented the other, according to the Bar statement.
Land O’Lakes lawyer Henry T. Sorenson II was suspended for three years. He failed to properly represent clients who wanted a trial court’s ruling appealed and failed to file the appeal notice. He also fabricated an appellate court opinion indicating the clients won the appeal.
Full Article and Source:
Embezzling client money leads to discipline for Tampa Bay lawyers
Big deal! There's much more misconduct going on by lawyers all across the country.
ReplyDeleteDiscipline? It should lead them directly to the big house for at least 10 years!
ReplyDeleteThese are crimes, not civil matters. And they are being committed by lawyers with such astounding cookbook recipe similarity across the country: collusion, or coincidence?
ReplyDeleteIt's Collusion...and it's crimminal.
DeleteI'm so glad that Florida caught these dishonest lawyers, but there are many others. Especially in the guardianship field. I cannot see how these supposedly intelligent people can live with themselves!
ReplyDeleteThere should be investigations in CA. Five lawyers and a guardian have taken abiut $600, 000 from our loved one's estate all based on fraud and deception. Every legal document was in place protecting the estate but the judge unjustly disregarded the wished and did what they wanted to deplete the estate and rob from the rightful beneficaries. This neefs to be exposed in every state.
ReplyDeleteone of the largest online criminal lawyer’s directories in Tampa to quickly find detailed criminal attorneys and law firms in your area. Tampa Attorneys Directory
ReplyDelete