December 1, 2024 Disciplinary Actions
The Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders disciplined six attorneys, revoking the license of two, suspending three and reprimanding one.
Illeana Maria Almeida, 100 SE 6th St, Ft. Lauderdale, public reprimand and referral to Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc., effective immediately following a November 14 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1993) Almeida failed to provide diligent representation and reasonable client communication in regard to three separate matters. (Case No. SC2024-0546)
Nina Tamar Beltran, PO Box 140652, Dallas, TX, disciplinary revocation with leave to apply for readmission effective 30 days following a November 14 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2012) On June 12, 2024, Beltran plead guilty to one count of tampering with a corpse, in violation of 17.09(C) of the Texas Penal Code, a second-degree felony. Beltran was sentenced to eight years in prison. (Case No. SC24-1430)
Maria C. Delgadillo, PO Box 451023, Miami, suspended for 18 months effective 30 days following a July 18, 2024, court order, which was amended October 28, 2024. (Admitted to practice: 2000) In a three-count complaint, Delgadillo was found to have made misrepresentations to the court and opposing counsel in order to obtain a continuance from a hearing. She also disregarded multiple court orders regarding the payment of fees and costs and neglected client matters. (Case No. SC2023-1429)
Hee Bum Michael Kim, Guiljutaek 3 Ste 302, 22 Samhaksa-Ro 1-Gil, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, suspended for 91 days effective 30 days following a November 7 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2014) This is a reciprocal discipline based on discipline in Ontario, Canada. Kim failed to cooperate with the Law Society of Ontario’s investigations in two disciplinary matters by failing to provide prompt and complete responses to requests for information and documents. In September 2021, The Law Society Tribunal suspended Kim indefinitely until he complies with the requests for information. To date, Kim remains suspended in Ontario. Kim must be reinstated in Ontario before he can petition for reinstatement in Florida. (Case No. SC23-1282)
Leroy G. Lee, PO Box 370420, Miami, suspended for 90 days effective immediately following an October 2 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1997) Lee was found guilty of neglecting his client’s case, failing to communicate with him, and charging an excessive fee. (Case No. SC24-1398)
Jason A. Penrod, 122 E Tillman Ave, Lake Wales, disciplinary revocation without leave to reapply for readmission effective 30 days following a November 14 court order. Penrod shall accept no new clients from the date of the court’s order. (Admitted to practice: 2003) Penrod tendered a petition for disciplinary revocation based on allegations that he misappropriated funds from a living trust and two trusts in which he was the trustee. (Case No. SC2024-1164)
The Florida Supreme Court, The Florida Bar and its Division of Lawyer Regulation are charged with administering a statewide disciplinary system to enforce Supreme Court rules of professional conduct for the more than 112,000 members of The Florida Bar. Key discipline case files that are public record are posted to attorneys’ individual online Florida Bar profiles. To view discipline documents, follow these steps. Information on the discipline system and how to file a complaint are available at www.floridabar.org/attorneydiscipline.
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. Disbarred lawyers may not re-apply for admission for five years. They are required to go through an extensive process that includes a rigorous background check and retaking the Bar exam. Attorneys suspended for periods of 91 days and longer must undergo a rigorous process to regain their law licenses including proving rehabilitation. Disciplinary revocation is tantamount to disbarment.