Disciplinary Actions
Prepared by The Florida Bar’s Public Information and Bar Services Department
The Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders disciplined 19 attorneys, disbarring eight, suspending six, and placing two on probation. Some attorneys received more than one form of discipline. Five attorneys were publicly reprimanded. Three were ordered to pay restitution.
The following lawyers are disciplined:
Marni Blayne Belkin, 777 E Atlantic Ave., Suite C2-249, Delray Beach, suspended for three years, effective retroactive to April 22, following an August 13 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1998) In January, Belkin pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of conspiracy to file a false loan application, a felony. (Case No. SC09-720)
Jay Charles Floyd, P.O. Box 840012, St. Augustine, disbarred for five years, effective retroactive to January 23, following a September 3 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1990) Floyd was further ordered to pay restitution totaling more than $76,000 to four clients. Floyd misappropriated client settlement funds and used the money to satisfy his personal financial obligations. (Case No. SC09-182)
Johanne Foster, 11110 W. Oakland Park Blvd., #342, Sunrise, publicly reprimanded following a September 17 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2002) Foster committed conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice. She prepared one deed giving ownership of certain real property to a company and later prepared a warranty deed from that company to a mortgage lender, including additional property which was never owned by the company. (Case No. SC09-838)
Daniel Henry Fox, 2750 N.E. 185th St., Unit 302, Aventura, disbarred effective immediately, following a September 3 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2003) Fox issued trust account checks, which were returned due to insufficient funds; he failed to maintain his trust account and he abandoned his representation of clients in connection with residential real estate loan modifications. (Case No. SC09-1575)
E. Lebron Free, 4773 Berwyn Court, Palm Harbor, publicly reprimanded following a September 17 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1975) Free is further ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,000 to one client and $3,500 to another client. Free accepted retainers to represent clients in separate cases. He did not perform all the work and he neglected to return several calls to clients. (Case No. SC09-643)
Elizabeth Marie Goins, 14733 Huntcliff Park Way, Orlando, suspended for one year, effective 30 days from a September 24 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2002) Upon termination of representation of a client, Goins failed to communicate and return the client’s personal documents. In early 2008, Goins left her practice without notifying the former client. She also failed to notify The Florida Bar of her change of address. In another case, Goins was paid to represent a client but she failed to perform services and she failed to communicate with him. In both instances, Goins neglected to respond to the Bar’s inquiries regarding the matters. (Case SC09-36)
Doreen M. Goldbronn, 687 Alderman Road, #203, Palm Harbor, suspended for six months, effective 30 days from an August 13 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1984) Goldbronn made a misrepresentation to the court. (Case No. SC09-13)
Richard C. Koskey, 2312 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, disbarred effective immediately, following a September 3 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1999) Koskey was the subject of two Bar disciplinary investigations. In one case, Koskey failed to disburse $105,000 to pay off a mortgage and remit $91,000 to his client. In another case, Koskey caused to have a payoff letter prepared which falsely stated the amount due on a mortgage. As a result, he improperly received additional funds from the proceeds of a refinance transaction, causing the first lender to subsequently file a foreclosure action. (Case No. SC09-1415)
William F. Lawless, 201 Tranquility Cove, Apt. 10, Altamonte Springs, suspended for one year, effective 30 days from a September 24 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1980) Lawless was administratively suspended in March 2006 for failing to comply with his continuing legal education requirements. Lawless was not eligible to practice law when he knowingly undertook the representation of his client and the client’s corporation in 2008. (Case No. SC09-227)
James Joseph Moran, 55 Ambassador Drive, Rochester, NY, suspended until further order, following an August 26 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1993) According to the petition for emergency suspension, Moran appeared to be causing great public harm by advancing financial assistance to clients through intermediaries, engaging in deceptive and dishonest conduct to conceal from his clients that he was the source of the loans, failing to report interest earned on the loans on his income tax returns, and failing to disclose to the bankruptcy trustee the existence of the loans. (Case No. SC09-1483)
Jeffrey Edward Reichenbacher, 2333 Brickell Ave., Suite A1, Miami, suspended for 18 months, effective 30 days from an August 13 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1977) Upon reinstatement, Reichenbacher is further placed on probation for three years. Reichenbacher misled The Florida Bar regarding problems with his trust accounts following a theft of funds by an employee. Respondent failed to comply with the Rules Regulating Trust Accounts. A January 2007 trust account audit indicated a shortage of at least $17,000. (Case No. SC09-331)
Jorge Enrique Rodriguez, 12360 S.W. 132nd Court, Suite 215, Miami, disbarred effective immediately, following an August 13 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1983) Rodriguez failed to preserve and apply funds in connection with real estate transactions. (Case No. SC09-1315)
John Michael Rooney, P.O. Box 510400, Punta Gorda, publicly reprimanded following a September 3 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1973) Rooney violated Bar rules by communicating with a person represented by counsel. (Case No. SC08-1733)
Scott Alan Salomon, 5944 Coral Ridge Drive, Coral Springs, permanently disbarred effective immediately, following a September 17 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1992) Salomon is further ordered to pay $222,500 in restitution. Salomon was previously disbarred for five years. In numerous instances, Salomon failed to provide representation to clients after accepting fees from them. Salomon abandoned his clients and ultimately his entire practice. Additionally, Salomon failed to respond to the disciplinary process. (Case No. SC08-1621)
Robert L. Shepherd, 4020 Galt Ocean Drive, Apt. 812, Ft. Lauderdale, disbarred for five years, effective immediately, following an August 27 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1997) Shepherd was found guilty in U.S. District Court of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, a felony, by deceiving the U.S. Probation Office as to the true employment of his co-conspirator, who was being supervised by the probation office. (Case No. SC09-9)
Pamela Joan Steed, P.O. Box 367263, Bonita Springs, publicly reprimanded following a September 3 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1999) Steed is further ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $384 to a client. Steed failed to adequately represent clients. In most instances, she neglected to communicate with clients or The Florida Bar regarding the cases. (Case No. SC09-10)
Thomas Edward Stringer, P.O. Box 7197, Brandon, disbarred for five years, effective immediately, following an October 15 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1974) Stringer used fraudulent means to obtain a mortgage on a home in Hawaii. (Case No. SC09-1451)
Lydia Dempsey Wardell, P.O. Box 5028, Clearwater, publicly reprimanded following an August 13 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1993) Wardell is further placed on probation for three years, effective retroactive to May 15. She was found guilty in court of DUI and leaving the scene of an accident with property damage. (Case No. SC09-846)
Madonna H. Whittaker, P.O. Box 160492, Altamonte Springs, permanently disbarred effective immediately, following a September 17 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1993) In circuit court, Whittaker pleaded no contest to attempted first-degree premeditated murder, a felony. (Case No. SC09-1041)
Court orders are not final until time expires to file a rehearing motion and, if filed, determined. The filing of such a motion does not alter the effective date of the discipline.