Case Title: The Florida Bar v. Anderson

Citation: 395 So. 2d 551

Docket Number: 59165

State: florida

Court: Florida Supreme Court

Date: 1981-03-05T00:00:00Z

Document:
395 So. 2d 551 (1981)
THE FLORIDA BAR, Complainant,
v.
Nelda M. ANDERSON, Respondent.
No. 59165.

Supreme Court of Florida.
March 5, 1981.
John A. Weiss, Bar Counsel, Tallahassee, James P. Hollaway, Deputy Staff Counsel, Tallahassee and E.C. Deeno Kitchen, Acting Chairman, Second Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee, Tallahassee, for complainant.
Nelda M. Anderson, in pro. per.
Steve M. Watkins, Tallahassee, for respondent.
PER CURIAM.
In this disciplinary proceeding a report of the referee has been filed to which both The Florida Bar and respondent have filed petitions for review under Florida Bar Integration Rule, article XI, Rule 11.09(3)(a).
The referee found that Anderson has misappropriated trust funds of clients, failed to keep adequate trust account records, and issued checks for which sufficient funds were not available. Respondent stipulated to her guilt for these offenses, but offered various mitigating circumstances to alleviate punishment, including her cooperation with the bar's investigation, her repayment of all client losses, a lack of prior disciplinary problems, and her personal, family and law practice circumstances. Evidence was adduced that she was well-regarded, generally, in her community. The referee reported:
Despite the bar's request that we disbar Anderson and Anderson's request that we upset the referee's finding of moral turpitude, we find ample record evidence to support the referee's report and we deem his recommendation to be appropriate under all circumstances, with one exception; we reject the referee's first recommendation that Anderson be required to enroll in an accredited law school. The referee's recommended punishment, with the exception noted, is adopted as the judgment of this Court.
It is so ordered.
SUNDBERG, C.J., and ADKINS, ENGLAND, ALDERMAN and McDONALD, JJ., concur.