Contempt And Reciprocal Discipline

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court imposed reciprocal discipline based on a Florida sanction.

The respondent was also admitted to practice in the State of Florida. On October 20, 2016, the Supreme Court of Florida suspended the respondent from practice for 91 days, effective immediately, for neglect of two matters. In those matters, one civil and one criminal, the respondent agreed to represent a client and accepted a fee, and then failed to take any action on the matter, failed to adequately communicate with the clients, and failed to refund the fees. The respondent also failed to cooperate with the Florida Bar’s investigation and did not appear at the Florida disciplinary hearing.

The respondent then failed to comply with the terms of the October 2016 Florida suspension order. On March 8, 2017, the Supreme Court of Florida issued an order suspending the respondent for one year for contempt of the 2016 order; effective immediately

Here

On June 23, 2017, the Court (Lowy, J.) entered an order suspending the respondent for one year, effective immediately upon entry of the order. The respondent’s reinstatement in Massachusetts is conditioned on her reinstatement to the practice of law in the State of Florida and her compliance with the November 17, 2015 judgment of administrative suspension.

Notably, the Florida Supreme Court recently suspended the attorney for three years.  (Mike Frisch)