Case Name: THE FLORIDA BAR, Complainant, v. Laurence GOLDEN, Respondent
Court: Florida Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1989-05-25
Citations: 544 So. 2d 1003
Docket Number: No. 72026
Parties: THE FLORIDA BAR, Complainant, v. Laurence GOLDEN, Respondent.
Judges: OVERTON, McDonald, SHAW and KOGAN, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 544
Pages: 1003–1004

Head Matter:
THE FLORIDA BAR, Complainant, v. Laurence GOLDEN, Respondent.
No. 72026.
Supreme Court of Florida.
May 25, 1989.
John F. Harkness, Jr., Executive Director, and John T. Berry, Staff Counsel, Tallahassee, and Jacquelyn P. Needelman, Bar Counsel, Ft. Lauderdale, for complainant.
Edward G. Salantrie, Ft. Lauderdale, for respondent.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
This disciplinary proceeding is before us on complaint of the Florida Bar and the referee's report. The referee recommends finding Golden guilty of conduct involving moral turpitude, engaging in dishonesty, fraud, or misrepresentation, and commission of a felony. The referee also recommends suspending Golden for two years followed by a one-year probation. Golden accepts the referee's recommendations, while the bar seeks disbarment. We have jurisdiction under article V, section 15 of the Florida Constitution. We adopt the referee's findings, but suspend Golden for three years.
This proceeding arises out of a single, isolated incident. Golden deleted one line from a treating physician's report, signed a demand letter pursuant to that report, and mailed both documents to an insurance company. Based on these documents, Golden settled his client's personal injury claim for $3,100 with Golden netting $1,240. A trial court determined Golden guilty of insurance fraud, but withheld ad judication of guilt and placed Golden on three years' probation.
Clearly, conviction of felony charges can warrant disbarment. The Florida Bar v. Hosner, 536 So.2d 188 (Fla.1988) (assisting in preparation of false income tax returns); The Florida Bar v. Haimowitz, 512 So.2d 200 (Fla.1987) (mail fraud). We are influenced, however, by the referee's findings of no aggravating and several mitigating circumstances, including the lack of a prior disciplinary record, full restitution to the insurance company, and significant evidence of remorse. Given the isolated nature of the incident, we feel that disbarment is not appropriate in this case. On the other hand, Golden committed a felony exhibiting dishonesty. The suspension should be more severe than that recommended by the referee.
We hereby suspend Golden for three years effective from the date of his automatic suspension (February 3, 1988), followed by a one-year probationary period. Moreover, Golden must pass the ethics portion of the Florida Bar Exam before reinstatement. Judgment for costs in the amount of $436.65 is hereby entered against Golden, for which sum let execution issue.
It is so ordered.
OVERTON, McDonald, SHAW and KOGAN, JJ., concur.
EHRLICH, C.J., dissents as to discipline with an opinion, in which GRIMES, J., concurs.
BARKETT, J., dissents with an opinion.
The trial judge also ordered Golden not to practice law for three years. We make no comment on the validity of this part of the judge's order because our disposition moots it.