Title: The Florida Bar v. Peterman

State: florida

Issuer: Florida Supreme Court

Document:

306 So. 2d 484 (1975)
THE FLORIDA BAR, Complainant,
v.
Frank W. PETERMAN, Respondent.
No. 46273.

Supreme Court of Florida.
January 8, 1975.
Norman A. Faulkner, Tallahassee, and Kenneth E. Easley, Clearwater, for The Florida Bar, complainant.
Frank W. Peterman, in pro. per.
PER CURIAM.
This disciplinary proceeding by The Florida Bar against Frank W. Peterman is presently before us on complaint of The Florida Bar and Report of the Referee. Pursuant to Rule 11.06(9)(b) of the Integration Rule of The Florida Bar, the Referee's Report and record of the proceedings were duly filed with this Court. No petition for review pursuant to Rule 11.09, Integration Rule, has been filed.
The Florida Bar filed a complaint against Respondent in June, 1974, charging that Respondent has completely failed to carry out a contract of employment, neglected a legal matter entrusted to him and attempted to handle a legal matter without adequate preparation resulting in prejudice to and damage to his clients and has, therefore, violated Disciplinary Rules 6-101(A)(2) and (A)(3) and 7-101(A)(2) and (A)(3) of the Code of Professional Responsibility; that Respondent withdrew from employment without promptly refunding the unearned portion of his fee as ordered by a court in violation of Disciplinary Rule 2-110(A)(3), Code of Professional Responsibility; and that Respondent has refused to keep his clients informed as to the progress of their cases, has refused to answer their telephone calls, has misled his clients, all in violation of Rule 11.02(3)(a) of The Integration Rule of The Florida Bar and Disciplinary Rule 1-102(A)(4) of the Code of Professional Responsibility.
Hearing was held on August 20, 1974, before the Referee, who, after considering all of the pleadings, exhibits and evidence, found as follows:
The Referee recommends that respondent be found guilty as charged in the complaint and specifically that he be found guilty of violations of his oath as an attorney as of Disciplinary Rules 6-101(A)(3), 7-101(A)(2) and (A)(3) and 1-102(A)(4), (A)(5), (A)(6) of the Code of Professional Responsibility.
Relative to the disciplinary measure to be applied, having considered Respondent's personal history and past disciplinary measures, the Referee recommends that Respondent be suspended from the practice of law for a period of three years and thereafter until acceptable proof of rehabilitation is presented to The Florida Bar and that respondent be required to pay the costs of these proceedings.
The findings and recommendations of the Referee are approved, and Respondent is hereby suspended from the practice of law in Florida for a period of three years and thereafter until acceptable proof of rehabilitation is submitted to The Florida Bar and this Court.
Execution is hereby directed to issue for the costs of this proceeding against Respondent in the amount of $609.19.
It is so ordered.
ADKINS, C.J., and ROBERTS, ERVIN, McCAIN and OVERTON, JJ., concur.