Supreme Court of Florida

In an attorney's disciplinary proceedings, arising from forgery and fraudulent recording of a lease agreement and agreement for sale between the attorney and property owners, a referee's recommendation of a ninety-day suspension is approved in part and disapproved in part where: 1) referee's finding of fact, recommendations of guilt, and award of costs are affirmed; 2) referee's reliance on Standard 7.0 is disapproved and instead Standard 5.0 should be applied; and 3) referee's recommendation of a ninety-day suspension is unsupported, as after considering the factual findings, the totality of misconduct, case law, and the Standards, disbarment is the appropriate sanction.

Appellate Information

• Decided 08/26/2010
• Published 08/26/2010

Judges

• Per Curiam

Court

• Supreme Court of Florida

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• John F. Harkness, Jr., Lois Beryl Lepp