North Country Gazette



The Florida Bar: Double Standards Or Just Schiavo Bias?

Posted on Saturday, 11 of October , 2008 at 11:26 am

COMMENTARY

© By June Maxam

Apparently The Florida Bar operates by double standards.

Michael M. Tobin, a principal in the law firm Rothman and Tobin of Miami, has been suspended from practicing law for 90 days because he failed to file the required annual guardianship report in a probate case. On at least three separate occasions, Tobin was found in contempt of court and assessed a fine because of his failure to comply.

Then there was the matter of Pinellas County Court Judge George W. Greer, Michael Schiavo and Schiavo’s attorney George Felos in the guardianship case of Terri Schiavo.

Throughout the Schiavo case when Michael Schiavo failed to file the requisite guardianship reports on time, failed to appear for depositions, failed to comply with so much of Florida Statutes 744 in relation to guardianship, Greer refused to place him in contempt. Greer consistently violated the law and the Constitution in the Schiavo case, allowing prohibited hearsay testimony, withholding natural food and water, refusing to allow medical testing.

When Michael Schiavo says he told his attorney Felos on the eve of the March 18, 2005, that he had reconsidered and wanted to “give up his fight” to kill his ward by removing her feeding tube, Michael writes that Felos refused to honor his decision and “persuaded him not to” allow Terri to live. That’s a violation of legal ethics. So where was The Florida Bar then?

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Category: Constitution, Consumers, Courts, Disabled, Elder Care, Family, Florida, Government, Health, Opinion, Schiavo

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