11 South Florida Attorneys Disciplined

The Florida Supreme Court disciplined 23 attorneys, including 11 from South Florida.

By Michael A. Mora

South Florida attorneys have landed in ethical hot water this months. Photo: Michail Petrov/Shutterstock.com

The Florida Supreme Court disciplined 11 South Florida lawyers between March 5 and April 23, including three who were disbarred, according to information released Thursday.

West Palm Beach attorney David Andrew Jaynes has been disbarred for allegedly failing to notify clients, opposing counsel and tribunals of his suspension, after a court held him in contempt.

Ocean Ridge attorney Kip Williams Kootz was disbarred after an arrest for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. He failed to advise the bar of four previous DUIs in Minnesota, according to court documents. A prosecutor learned of the convictions after Kootz had a new DUI arrest in February 2017. A jury later convicted Kootz.

Boca Raton lawyer Craig Barry Sherman agreed to a permanent revocation of his license to practice law following allegations that he misappropriated more than $4 million from a client over three years. The capital was supposed to be used for loans to real estate developers, according to the bar.

A Miami attorney, David Philips, was disbarred after he did not answer an order to show cause. A court found Philips in contempt for continuing to practice law, and continuing to receive funds into his trust account, despite an order revoking his license in February 2019, according to the bar.

Delray Beach attorney Aaron Matthew Cohen was held in contempt and publicly reprimanded for not promptly responding to inquiries from the bar.

Lantana attorney Stafford Nicholas Shealy got a public reprimand and two years of probation. Shealy pleaded guilty in November 2018 to a charge of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and received 24 months of probation.

The Florida Supreme Court suspended the following six lawyers.

Edmar Mauricio Amaya, who was practicing in Miami, was suspended for 30 days following an April 9 court order. The document says he engaged in a sexual relationship with a client. Amaya failed to communicate the substitution of counsel after he realized he could no longer represent his client in a divorce proceeding.

Brian Bechar was suspended for two years. The bar said the Boca Raton lawyer displayed conduct that was “contrary to honesty and justice,” and that he defended proceedings that had no merit.

George William Castrataro has been suspended for 30 days after an April 6 court order. The bar filed a petition for contempt and order to show cause after the Fort Lauderdale attorney did not respond to its inquiries multiple times. Then Castrataro did not respond when the Florida Supreme Court ordered him to show why it should not sanction him. The attorney was held in contempt and his suspension is pending until he fully responds to the bar inquiry.

The Florida Supreme Court suspended Joshua Todd Hill Hauserman for six months, retroactive to Oct. 21, 2019. The West Palm Beach attorney did not adequately supervise a nonlawyer, and did not notify a court that he would not be present for a hearing, the bar said.

The high court also suspended Theodore G. Mastos for 10 days. The Coral Gables attorney failed to inform the court of a potential conflict of interest, and obtain a waiver, when he provided joint representation for two defendants in a single criminal case.

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11 South Florida Attorneys Disciplined