A Sprinkling Of Florida Bar Discipline Dispositions
High (or low) lights from the most recent disciplinary summaries on the web page of the Florida Bar
Christopher Louis Brady, 770 Sesame St., Englewood, permanently disbarred, effective immediately following a July 11 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2013) In July 2018, Brady was terminated as an associate attorney from Barak Law Group for cause. Afterward, he began holding himself out as the owner of Barak Law Group and contacted opposing counsel on several of the law firm’s cases to advise them to no longer communicate with owner Anthony Barak regarding their cases. On Aug. 12, 2018, Brady and his brother burglarized the Barak Law Group’s office and the firm’s storage unit. Criminal charges still were pending against Brady and his brother at the time the Bar’s case was concluded. Despite an injunction obtained by Barak, Brady continued filing unauthorized papers and pleadings on behalf of clients of Barak Law Group while holding himself out as being affiliated with the law firm. He also represented his brother in an unrelated family law matter and filed at least six documents wherein the signature block showed his affiliation with Barak Law Group in direct violation of the injunction. (Case No. SC19-39)
Lysa Nichole Clifton, 4204 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa, disciplinary revocation with leave to apply for readmission, effective 30 days from a June 27, court order. (Admitted to practice: 2012) Charges pending against Clifton included failure to perform services after being retained in one client matter; direct solicitation of a client in a high-profile criminal case; and pending criminal charges for driving under the influence in one matter and possession of a controlled substance and driving with a suspended license in another matter. (Case No. SC19-781)
Linda Schneider Faingold, 5334 Van Dyke Road, Lutz, reprimanded, effective Aug. 3 following a July 17 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2005) Faingold was also ordered to attend Ethics School. Faingold failed to disclose the death of her estate client to either the court or opposing party before a scheduled mediation. She was unaware of her duty to do so and was of the mistaken belief that under Florida Statute, the putative personal representative could take actions for the benefit of the estate prior to appointment by the court. (Case No. SC19-259)
Jose Maria Herrera, 2350 Coral Way, Suite 201, Miami, disbarred for 10 years, effective 30 days from a July 17 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1986) Herrera raised frivolous claims, made misrepresentations to the court, suborned perjurious testimony and raised false and/or frivolous claims of privilege in order to conceal relevant evidence. His abusive litigation tactics harmed his own client’s interests and caused prejudice to his client. The enhanced disbarment period of 10 years is based on his part in perpetrating a massive fraud upon the courts of South Florida (Case No. SC16-1323)
Scott Brian Kallins, 433 8th Ave. W., Palmetto, suspended for 18 months effective 30 days from a July 18 court order, with probation for a year upon reinstatement. (Admitted to practice: 1985) Kallins and Melton Harry Little represented a plaintiff in a case in June 2015. After the jury returned a verdict for the defendant, they offered tickets to a professional baseball game to the presiding judge, which he accepted. They soon after filed a motion for a new trial. After the judge accepted a second set of tickets to another baseball game, he granted the motion for a new trial. Following formal charges being filed by the Judicial Qualifications Commission in 2016, the judge resigned from the bench. (Case No. SC17-574)
Melton Harry Little, 433 8th Ave. W., Palmetto, suspended for 18 months effective 30 days from a July 18 court order, with probation for a year upon reinstatement. (Admitted to practice: 1986) Little and Scott Brian Kallins represented a plaintiff in a case in June 2015. After the jury returned a verdict for the defendant, they offered tickets to a professional baseball game to the presiding judge, which he accepted. They soon after filed a motion for a new trial. After the judge accepted a second set of tickets to another baseball game, he granted the motion for a new trial. Following formal charges being filed by the Judicial Qualifications Commission in 2016, the judge resigned from the bench. (Case No. SC17-490)
Andrew Spark, 1991 E. State Road 60, No. 1056, Valrico, suspended until further order of the court, effective 30 days from a July 15 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1991) In Feb. 9, 2018, in Hillsborough County, Spark was charged with Introduction of Contraband to a Detention Facility and Soliciting Another to Commit Prostitution. On May 15, he pleaded guilty to the contraband charge and was sentenced to 56 months of probation. Adjudication was withheld. On Feb. 16, 2018, in Pinellas County, Spark was charged with Introduction of Contraband to a Detention Facility and Soliciting Another to Commit Prostitution. He pleaded guilty in February to the contraband charge and was sentenced to five years of probation. Adjudication was withheld. Spark also pleaded guilty to the solicitation charge and was sentenced to 12 months of probation. Adjudication was withheld. (Case No. SC19-1163)
(Mike Frisch)