Four Attorneys Get The Boot From Legal Profession In Florida For Alleged Real Estate, Trust/Escrow Account-Related Mischief

The Florida Bar, the state's guardian for the integrity of the legal profession, recently issued its periodic "scandal/gossip sheet" in which it announced that the Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders disciplined 19 attorneys, disbarring eight, suspending six and placing two on probation.

Among the 19 disciplined were the following four attorneys who allegedly engaged in certain real estate and trust/escrow account-related hanky panky which got them booted from the legal profession in Florida:

• Jay Charles Floyd, disbarred for five years. 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.

• Daniel Henry Fox, disbarred. 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.

• Richard C. Koskey, disbarred. 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.

• Jorge Enrique Rodriguez, disbarred. Rodriguez failed to preserve and apply funds in connection with real estate transactions.

Source: Supreme Court Disciplines 19 Attotrneys - 10/29/09.

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If a Florida attorney, in the process of giving legal representation, screws you out of money or property through dishonest conduct, go to The Florida Bar's Clients' Security Fund for information on how to put in a claim to get possible reimbursement.

For other states and Canada, see:

• Directory Of Lawyers' Funds For Client Protection (American Bar Association);
• Check the USA Client Protection Funds Map;
• Check the Canada Client Protection Funds Map. EscrowRipOffKappa