Originally Posted - December 19, 2006

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TALLAHASSEE---Three more Florida attorneys have been disbarred, seven suspended, four reprimanded and five attorneys placed on probation by The Florida Bar.

As an official agency of the Supreme Court of Florida, The Florida Bar and its Department of Lawyer Regulation are charged with administering a statewide disciplinary system to enforce Supreme Court rules of professional conduct for the 80,000-plus lawyers admitted to practice law in Florida.

The following lawyers are disciplined. 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]:

Omar Javier Arcia, 123 S.W. 164 Ave., Pembroke Pines, reinstated and placed on probation for three years, effective immediately, following a Nov. 17 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1995) Arcia had been suspended since 2003 for committing a criminal act that reflected adversely on his honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer, and participated in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.

Alan Lowell Arons, 21346 Saint Andrews Blvd., No.145, Boca Raton, disbarred from practicing law in Florida, effective retroactive to April 13, 2004, following a Nov. 30 order. (Admitted to practice: 1977) Arons intentionally misappropriated clients' trust funds, exhibiting a pattern of misconduct, multiple offenses and bad faith obstruction of the disciplinary proceeding.

Brian Merl Beauchamp, 759 S.W. Federal Highway, Suite 315, Stuart, reprimanded and placed on probation for one year, following a Nov. 16 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1990) Beauchamp failed to abide by a client's decisions concerning the objectives of representation, failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client, failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and engaged in conduct in connection with the practice of law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice.

Michael William Bond, 1845 Monte Vista St., Fort Myers, disbarred from practicing of law in Florida, effective 30 days from a Nov. 2 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1998) Bond failed to provide competent representation for a client, intentionally solicited, encouraged and assisted a client in conduct he knew was criminal or fraudulent, represented a client when his independent judgment was materially limited by his own interests, used information about a client's desperate financial circumstance to secure an advantage in a property transaction without her consent, committed criminal acts and was involved in dishonest, fraudulent and deceitful conduct.

Sarino R. Costanzo, 10659 N.E. Quaybridge Court., Miami, suspended from practicing law in Florida, effective Nov. 12, and shall remain suspended until further order of the court, following a Nov. 14 order. (Admitted to practice: 1950) Costanzo failed to comply with a grievance committee subpoena for trust account records.

Regina Elizabeth Glossick Cox, 1755 Magnolia Ave., Winter Park, reprimanded and placed on probation for three years, effective retroactive to May 4, following a Nov. 22 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1999) Cox failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client, failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information, failed to explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions, engaged in conduct in connection with the practice of law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice and failed to respond, in writing, to an official inquiry by bar counsel.

Mary Lynn Desjarlais, 2750 Stickney Point Road Suite, 201, Sarasota, reprimanded and ordered to attend Ethics School, following a Nov. 9 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1982) Desjarlais had a conflict of interest in representing a client, causing a limitation on her independent professional judgment.

Neil A. Katims, 1372 Wasdale Ave., Elk Grove Village, Ill., suspended from practicing law in Florida indefinitely, without leave to petition for reinstatement, effective immediately, following a Nov. 16 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1981) Katims failed to provide competent representation for a client, and violated a rule prohibiting an attorney from entering into an agreement for or charging or collecting an illegal, prohibited or clearly excessive fee or cost.

Stephen Glenn Martin, P.O. Box 731858, Ormond Beach, disbarred from practicing law in Florida, effective immediately, following a Nov. 9 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1996) Martin failed to take the steps reasonably practicable to protect a client's interests upon the termination of representation, engaged in conduct in connection with practicing law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice and failed to respond, in writing, to an official inquiry by bar counsel.

Alexis Summer Moore, P.O. Box 310365, Miami, suspended from practicing law in Florida, following a Nov. 28 court order and shall remain suspended until further notice of the court. (Admitted to practice: 1998). Moore appears to be causing great public harm by the misappropriation and/or diversion of funds entrusted to her.

Mark Orr, 6608 Hulda Drive, Fort Pierce, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 30 days, effective 30 days from a Nov. 22 court order. ( Admitted to practice: 1975) Orr, who was adjudicated guilty of reckless driving, committed a criminal act that reflects adversely on his honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer.

Maria Teresa Rodriguez, 1311 Miller Road, Suite 112, Coral Gables, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 30 days, effective 30 days from a Nov. 2 court order, and then placed on 24 months probation. ( Admitted to practice: 1992) Rodriguez violated rules regulating trust accounts, engaged in misconduct and minor misconduct, failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client, failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and failed to respond in writing to an official inquiry.

John Chandler Ross, 1493 Doral Road, Orlando, placed on probation for three years, effective immediately, following a Nov. 30 court order. ( Admitted to practice: 1983) Ross failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client, failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and failed to explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding representation.

Ronald Frank Smith, 8293 86th Ave., Largo, reprimanded, following a Nov. 9 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1985) Smith failed to disclose a material fact to a third person.

Basem Soliman, 732 Duart Drive, Orange Park, suspended from practicing law in Florida, effective retroactive 30 days from Nov. 17, following a Nov. 21 order. (Admitted to practice: 1994) Soliman was adjudged guilty of two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation, second-degree felonies, and failed to report his felony conviction to The Florida Bar.

Donald Alan Tobkin, P.O. Box 220990, Hollywood, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 91 days, effective retroactive Oct. 30, following a Nov. 1 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1988) Tobkin unlawfully obstructed another party's access to evidence, knowingly disobeying an obligation under the rules of a tribunal, made a frivolous discovery request or failed to comply with a legally proper discovery request and engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice.

© 2006 North Country Gazette