Case Title: Florida Board of Bar Examiners Re: J.A.B.

Citation: 

Docket Number: SC95-855

State: florida

Court: Florida Supreme Court

Date: 2000-06-29T00:00:00Z

Document:
Supreme 
Court 
of 
Florida
 
____________
No. SC95855
____________
FLORIDA BOARD OF BAR EXAMINERS RE:  J.A.B.
[June 29, 2000]
PER CURIAM.
Petitioner J.A.B. asks this Court to review the recommendations of the
Florida Board of Bar Examiners.  We have jurisdiction.  Art. V, § 15, Fla. Const.
J.A.B. filed an application for admission to The Florida Bar on May 21, 1997. 
On September 1, 1998, the Florida Board of Bar Examiners filed formal
specifications against him alleging several items of misconduct.  Specification 1(A)
alleged that J.A.B. failed to timely and fully pay court-ordered child support for his
daughter.  Specifications 1(B) and 1(C) alleged that he also failed to maintain health
insurance for his daughter and life insurance for her benefit as required by the court
order.  Specification 2 alleged several instances of financial irresponsibility on
J.A.B.’s part since his bankruptcy in September of 1990.   Specification 2(A)
-2-
alleged that J.A.B. had a default judgment entered against him which remained
unsatisfied as of his investigative hearing in April 1998.  Specification 2(B) alleged
that J.A.B. issued a worthless check in May of 1994 and attended a diversion
program to avoid criminal prosecution.  Specification 2(C) alleged that J.A.B.
defaulted on a student loan in January of 1995 and subsequently satisfied the debt
on January 31, 1996.  Specification 2(D) alleged that J.A.B. incurred an
unnecessary and inordinate expense by voluntarily participating in a foreign study
program in the summer of 1995.  Specification 2(E) alleged that J.A.B. was
delinquent in an account for a health club membership begun in October 1995 and,
as of December 1997, owed approximately $850.  Specification 2(F) alleged that
from 1995 to August 1997, J.A.B. did not maintain a checking account due to past
problems with writing worthless checks and that he failed to maintain proper
records for his current checking account opened in August 1997, as evidenced by a
negative balance during October 1997.  Specification 2(G) alleged that J.A.B.
incurred an extravagant expense for transportation by currently leasing a Mazda
Miata for $340 per month. Specification 3 alleged that an answer on J.A.B.’s law
school application, which failed to disclose a 1989 charge of simple assault and a
1994 charge of passing a worthless check , was false and misleading. 
After the formal hearing, the Board found Specification 1(A)  proven, but did
-3-
not find a specific amount of child support owed.  The Board also found  1(B) and
1(C) proven and found that, at the time of the hearing, J.A.B. was still not in
compliance with the life insurance requirement of the child support order.  The
Board found all portions of Specification 2 proven, and further found that J.A.B. has
continued to handle his checking account in an irresponsible manner as evidenced
by additional worthless checks written as recently as one month prior to his formal
hearing.  As to Specification 3, the Board found that J.A.B.’s  response on the
application was false and that the charges should have been disclosed but that the
evidence was insufficient to establish any intentional concealment on J.A.B.’s part.
The Board found Specifications 1 and 2 each individually disqualifying and found
Specification 3 proven but not disqualifying.  Additionally, the Board found that
J.A.B.’s misrepresentations and lack of candor in his answer to the specifications
and during his formal hearing testimony were further grounds for disqualification. 
Accordingly, the Board recommended that J.A.B. not be admitted to The Florida
Bar at this time.  
I.  The Board’s Findings of Fact.         
The only issue raised by J.A.B. as to the Board’s findings of fact relates to 
Specification 1(A).  J.A.B.  admits that he failed to fully comply with the child
support order but contends that the Board erroneously relied on  the testimony of his
-4-
ex-wife to find that he owed back child support payments.  We disagree.  
 As to this issue, the Board heard testimony from  J.A.B., three witnesses
who testified for J.A.B. regarding alleged cash child support payments made by him,
and J.A.B’s ex-wife.  In the findings of fact with regard to specification 1(A), the
Board painstakingly recounted this testimony and carefully explained its evaluation
of the credibility of these various witnesses.  Despite being practicing attorneys,
none of J.A.B.’s witnesses offered any written documentation, and their credibility
was diminished by their equivocating and uncertain recollection of material matters. 
As to J.A.B., the Board noted that he was shown to be untruthful or less than candid
as to several representations he made during his formal hearing.  In addition,
although not specifically mentioned by the Board, J.A.B. agreed at his investigative
hearing to provide documentation of his child support payments, but at the formal
hearing he was able to produce only four canceled checks, five money orders, and
copies of a few receipts. One of the checks was for $1000, but J.A.B. failed to
clarify that the amount included only $200 towards child support.  J.A.B. also gave
varying explanations for his lack of documentation.   As to J.A.B.’s ex-wife, the
Board noted she testified that she compiled her information from records that she
has maintained and even J.A.B. agreed that she was “a meticulous individual.” The
Board further stated that upon comparing her accounting of child support payments
-5-
with receipts furnished by J.A.B., the accuracy of some of her information could be
verified. 
Clearly J.A.B.’s challenge to the Board’s findings is simply a question of
credibility, which is a question the Board was in the best position to answer and did
very thoughtfully answer.  Accordingly, we conclude that the Board's finding that
J.A.B. owed back child support is supported by competent substantial evidence and
must be affirmed.  See Florida Bd. of Bar Examiners re G.J.G., 709 So.2d 1377,
1379-80 (Fla. 1998)(deferring to Board’s findings based upon credibility of
witnesses); Florida Bd. of Bar Examiners re M.R.I., 623 So.2d 1178, 1180 (Fla.
1993) (upholding finding as supported by competent substantial evidence where
issue turned on credibility of witnesses).   
II.  The Board’s Recommendation as to Admission.
We agree with the Board’s recommendation and find that the proven
instances of  J.A.B.’s misconduct are sufficient in the aggregate to support denial of
admission to the bar at this time.  J.A.B.’s violation of the child support order, not
only by failing to fully pay the child support owed but also by failing to obtain the
required insurance coverage, shows a lack of respect for the rights of his daughter,
the rights of his ex-wife, and a further lack of respect for the law and for the court
order itself.  Cf. Florida Bd. of Bar Examiners re M.A.R., 755 So. 2d 89 (Fla.
-6-
2000); Florida Bd. of Bar Examiners re E.R.M., 630 So. 2d 1046 (Fla. 1994).  We
refuse to overturn the findings supported by substantial evidence and order that this
individual be granted the privilege of a position which demands respect for the law
and judicial institutions when by conduct he has rejected such responsibility.  
In addition, J.A.B.’s conduct with regard to his finances as alleged and
proven  in Specification 2 raises very serious doubts as to his respect for the rights
of others and for the law.  He has ignored a default judgment entered against him,
and this judgment remained unsatisfied as of his investigative hearing in April 1998. 
He obligated himself  to pay  for a health club membership which he admits he
could not afford, and he voluntarily participated in a foreign study program instead
of working during available time, while at the same time failing to comply with the
child support order.  He issued a worthless check in May of 1994 and continued to
issue two other worthless checks, even after graduating from law school and
securing permanent employment.  Each of these instances of financial
irresponsibility standing alone may have been subject to reasonable explanation; 
however, we find that when considered together and with his violation of the court-
ordered child support obligations, these events show a total lack of respect for the
rights of others and a total lack of respect for the legal system, which is absolutely
inconsistent with the character and fitness qualities required of those seeking to be
-7-
afforded the highest position of  trust and confidence  recognized by our system of
law.  Accordingly, we approve the Board’s recommendation that J.A.B. not be
admitted to The Florida Bar at this time.
It is so ordered.
HARDING, C.J., and SHAW, WELLS, ANSTEAD, PARIENTE, LEWIS and
QUINCE, JJ., concur.
NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION, AND IF
FILED, DETERMINED.
Original Proceeding - Florida Board of Bar Examiners
Franklin R. Harrison, Chair, Kathryn E. Ressel, Executive Director, and Thomas A.
Pobjecky, General Counsel, Florida Board of Bar Examiners, Tallahassee, Florida,
for Petitioner
Manuel Alvarez, Miami, Florida,
for Respondent