Case Title: The Florida Bar v. Greenberg

Citation: 534 So. 2d 1142

Docket Number: 69987

State: florida

Court: Florida Supreme Court

Date: 1988-10-20T00:00:00Z

Document:
534 So. 2d 1142 (1988)
THE FLORIDA BAR, Complainant,
v.
Steven M. GREENBERG, Respondent.
No. 69987.

Supreme Court of Florida.
October 20, 1988.
Rehearing Denied January 12, 1989.
John F. Harkness, Jr., Executive Director and John T. Berry, Staff Counsel, Tallahassee, and Randi Klayman Lazarus, Bar Counsel and Kevin Tynan, Co-Bar Counsel, Miami, for complainant.
John A. Weiss, Tallahassee, for respondent.
PER CURIAM.
This proceeding is before the Court on the petition of The Florida Bar and the cross-petition of Steven Greenberg for review of the referee's report in this disciplinary action. The respondent, Steven Greenberg, was convicted of two felony drug offenses in federal court and, as a result, was suspended by this Court. That conduct is the subject of this proceeding. We have jurisdiction. Art. V, § 15, Fla. Const.
The referee made the following findings of fact:
The referee then made the following disciplinary recommendation:
We reject Greenberg's assertion that the discipline should be reduced to suspension. His conduct clearly requires disbarment.
Greenberg was found guilty of criminal acts charged on June 24, 1985, and was suspended by this Court on July 23, 1985. The Bar's complaint and hearing before the referee occurred after the new rules became effective January 1, 1987. Under rule 3-5.1(f), effective January 1, 1987, a disbarred attorney may seek admission to the Bar after five years have expired. We agree with the Bar that, since Greenberg's case was pending subsequent to January 1, 1987, the rules adopted effective that date, including the five-year provision, apply to this case. We do, however, accept the referee's recommendation that the disbarment be effective nunc pro tunc as of the date of our suspension of the respondent.
Accordingly, we adopt the referee's findings of fact, but modify his recommendation to disbar Steven M. Greenberg from the practice of law in Florida effective July 23, 1985. Under the applicable rules, he may reapply for admission to the Bar five years after that date. Judgment for costs in the amount of $881.55 is assessed against Greenberg, for which sum let execution issue.
It is so ordered.
EHRLICH, C.J., and OVERTON, McDONALD, SHAW, BARKETT, GRIMES and KOGAN, JJ., concur.