Florida Supreme Court disciplines 7 attorneys — one for capitol riot, other for sex battery
The Florida Supreme Court recently disciplined seven attorneys — disbarring one, revoking the licenses of three, suspending two and reprimanding one. Court orders are not final until time expires for the disciplined attorney to file a rehearing motion.
The attorneys represent law practices from across the state. Disbarred lawyers may not reapply for admission for five years and are required to undergo a rigorous background check, as well as retake the Bar exam. Attorneys suspended for 91 days and longer must demonstrate rehabilitation in order to regain their law licenses.
Disciplinary revocation is tantamount to disbarment.
Palm Beach
Guillermo Jose Farinas, suspended for 91 days. Admitted to practice in 1979, Farinas filed a frivolous appeal. As a sanction, the appellate court awarded the attorney’s fees and costs to the opposing party.
Lakeland
Curtis Barryl Lee, public reprimand and ordered to attend Ethics School. Admitted to practice in 1991, Lee was ordered by a senior district judge to show cause for failing to comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11(b). The court entered an order on March 3 stating that Lee failed to be reasonably diligent when making representations to the court that were not supported by the evidence in the record regarding a motion for a new trial. Lee was sanctioned by receiving a written admonishment posted on the website of the Middle District of Florida.
Jacksonville
Reginald Luster, disbarred. Admitted to practice in 1988, Luster was accused of practicing law while suspended in several complaints. He was contacting insurance companies to settle claims for “clients.” Luster’s bank records also indicated he was receiving settlement monies while suspended.
St. Petersburg
Joshua Theodore Mosley, suspended for 10 days. Admitted to practice in 2012, Mosley pled nolo contendere to reckless driving (reduced from DUI first offense). The court withheld adjudication and placed Mosley on probation for 364 days and fined him $1,551. Mosley successfully completed all conditions of his probation.
Later, Mosley pled nolo contendere to driving under the influence with property damage, a first-degree misdemeanor; refusal to submit to DUI test after license suspension, a first-degree misdemeanor; and violation of driver’s license restrictions, a second-degree misdemeanor. Mosley was adjudicated guilty on the three counts, and the state dismissed the remaining counts.
Mosley was sentenced to a total of 30 days in jail, with credit for time served in the rehabilitation program he completed and was placed on probation for 364 days with special conditions.
Palm Harbor
Michael Gary Stepakoff, disciplinary revocation with leave to seek readmission after five years. Admitted to practice in 1990, Stepakoff plead guilty to a misdemeanor offense for participating in the demonstration and entry into the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 6, 2021. On Jan. 20, 2023, he was sentenced to probation for a term of 12 months and ordered to pay fines and restitution.
Tampa
Dennis Joseph Szafran, disciplinary revocation with leave to seek readmission after five years. Admitted to practice in 2015, Szafran abruptly closed his law firm, DJS Law Group, in October. At the time of closure, Szafran had about 800 clients. The way he closed his firm resulted in him abandoning both his practice and his clients.
Szafran failed to take reasonable steps to communicate with his clients or take proper steps to ensure their interests were protected. After the closure of his firm and prior to filing the petition for disciplinary revocation, Szafran had over 60 pending disciplinary matters involving various allegations, including failure to communicate with clients, excessive fees and failure to represent clients diligently and competently.
Ocala
Jason Dale Volkman, permanent disciplinary revocation. Admitted to practice in 2000, Volkman pled nolo contendere to one count of sexual battery on a person 12-18 years by a person in familial custodial authority, a first-degree felony; 20 counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child, second-degree felonies; 20 counts of possession of child pornography (10 or more Images), second-degree felonies; one count of delivery of opiates, a second-degree felony; two counts of video voyeurism, third-degree felonies; and one count of contributing to the delinquency or dependency of a minor, a first-degree misdemeanor.
The court sentenced Volkman to 30 years in the Florida Department of Corrections followed by five years of sex offender probation on count 1; 15 years in the Florida Department of Corrections on counts 2-42; five years in the Florida Department of Corrections on counts 43-44; and 364 days in the Marion County Jail in count 45.
The sentences are to run concurrently.
The petitioner was credited with 496 days of time served. He was further designated a sexual predator pursuant to Florida Statute 775.21. The court ordered that he shall have no victim contact, submit a DNA sample, pay a $100 fine, mandatory court costs, and $150 to the Office of the State Attorney for the cost of the prosecution.
The Florida Supreme Court, The Florida Bar and its Department of Lawyer Regulation administer a statewide disciplinary system to enforce Supreme Court rules of professional conduct for the more than 110,000 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.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida Bar: Supreme Court disciplines lawyers from Palm Beach, Tampa
