TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — In recent disciplinary actions, the Florida Supreme Court handed down judgments against ten attorneys found guilty of various professional misconducts, which were announced in a news release by the Florida Bar in March.
Four of these legal professionals were disbarred, two saw their licenses revoked, another three were handed suspensions, and one received a reprimand. These actions followed investigations that confirmed breaches of legal and ethical standards required in the state.
Among the disbarred, Maurice DeShawn Hinton of Fort Lauderdale faced a two-year suspension before his ultimate disbarment. He was found guilty of neglecting his client’s cases and a failure to maintain communication. His misconduct included engaging in a personal relationship with a client during which he compromised his professional responsibilities. After the relationship ended, he abandoned the client’s legal matters and also practiced law while being delinquent in his Florida Bar membership fees and continuing legal education.
Another striking case was that of Thomas Arthur Chandler from Sarasota, who was disbarred after he pleaded no contest to multiple charges of driving under the influence, marking at least his third such offense. The court’s decision underscored the severity of his actions, taking into account the potential risk posed to public safety.
Tallahassee’s Malik Leigh faced disbarment due to inappropriate communication, including threatening social media posts directed at various defendants, one of which involved the Palm Beach County School District. Leigh also breached several professional rules, failed to obey court orders, and made unfounded accusations of racial bias against a judge.
Charles Wade Price of Winter Springs had his license revoked after misappropriating client funds intended to pay creditors in a bankruptcy case. His misconduct led to additional sanctions including a suspension from practicing before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida, highlighting the repercussions of misusing client funds.
From Knoxville, Tennessee, Hammad Rashid Sheikh was suspended for failing to diligently handle immigration cases despite accepting fees. His inaction depicted a disregard for the essential thoroughness required in legal practice, particularly in such sensitive areas as immigration.
Jeffrey Marc Siskind of Wellington was disbarred after misappropriating substantial amounts of money from two clients, demonstrating a severe breach of trust and a violation of legal ethics.
In another case of suspension, Danielle Renee Watson of Tallahassee was sanctioned for 91 days after making unfounded forgery accusations against an opposing counsel and then ignoring attempts to discuss and rectify the claim.
Lisa Renee Wilcox of Pilot Point, Texas, had her license revoked after engaging in actions conflicting with her client’s interest, such actions severely undermine the fiduciary trust placed in attorneys by their clients.
Lastly, Shayne Jeremiah Epstein of Boca Raton received a public reprimand due to his involvement in a recruiting operation for foreign nationals, during which he failed to disclose a conflict of interest concerning his legal representation.
These disciplinary actions serve as a stark reminder of the legal profession’s rigorous standards and the severe consequences of failing to adhere to them, ensuring that the practice of law in Florida upholds integrity and justice.
Disclaimer: This article was automatically written by software. The individuals, facts, circumstances, and narrative may be inaccurate. Any requests for removal, retraction, or correction of content can be sent to [email protected].