Case Title: The Florida Bar v. Riccardi

Citation: 304 So. 2d 444

Docket Number: 46178

State: florida

Court: Florida Supreme Court

Date: 1974-12-11T00:00:00Z

Document:
304 So. 2d 444 (1974)
THE FLORIDA BAR, Petitioner,
v.
Edward G. RICCARDI, Respondent.
No. 46178.

Supreme Court of Florida.
December 11, 1974.
*445 William B. Wiley, Asst. Staff Counsel, Tallahassee, Norman K. Schwarz and Leonard Rivkind, Miami Beach, for The Florida Bar, petitioner.
Robert C. Josefsberg, of Pearson & Josefsberg, Miami, for respondent.
PER CURIAM.
The Florida Bar has filed before us a petition requesting an adjudication of contempt and permanent injunction against the respondent for the unauthorized practice of law. A rule to show cause was issued to which a response was filed. Oral argument (not having been requested) is nevertheless deemed unnecessary and, therefore, is dispensed with. So too, the appointment of a referee is unnecessary.
The pertinent point raised in the petitioner's Complaint is contained in paragraph VII which reads as follows:
To this Complaint respondent admits the words and actions as alleged and further admits the validity of petitioner's exhibits B, C and D, but denies that such actions and words on his part constituted unauthorized practice of law. We disagree.
Respondent is a disbarred attorney (The Florida Bar v. Riccardi, Fla. 1972, 264 So.2d 5) and neither at the times alleged in petitioner's Complaint nor at the present is he a member of The Florida Bar.
Based upon a complete and full investigation of the record as a whole, it clearly appears and we so hold that the respondent's conduct constituted the unauthorized practice of law.
Accordingly the respondent is hereby determined and found to be in contempt of this Court and fined the sum of $500.00 together with the costs expended by The Florida Bar in accumulating the evidence herein and presentation of this charge, said expenditures to be itemized by The Florida Bar and submitted to the respondent who is directed to forthwith pay the same. Furthermore, we hereby issue a permanent *446 injunction restraining the respondent from engaging in the acts complained of and from otherwise engaging in the practice of law in the State of Florida until eligible to do so as an authorized attorney.
It is so ordered.
ADKINS, C.J., and ROBERTS, ERVIN, McCAIN and OVERTON, JJ., concur.