Case Name: THE FLORIDA BAR, Complainant, v. N. Alfred WINN, Respondent
Court: Florida Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1968-03-20
Citations: 208 So. 2d 809
Docket Number: No. 36450
Parties: THE FLORIDA BAR, Complainant, v. N. Alfred WINN, Respondent.
Judges: CALDWELL, C. J., and THORNAL and ADAMS, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 208
Pages: 809–814

Head Matter:
THE FLORIDA BAR, Complainant, v. N. Alfred WINN, Respondent.
No. 36450.
Supreme Court of Florida.
March 20, 1968.
Rehearing Denied April 30, 1968.
Alan C. Sundberg, St. Petersburg, for The Florida Bar, complainant.
George N. Meros, of Meros & Wilkinson, St. Petersburg, for respondent.

Opinion:
DREW, Justice.
This case is before the Court for review of the judgment entered by the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar on June 7, 1967, the pertinent portions of which are as follows:
"The Complaint against respondent was set forth in two separate counts. Count I dealt with his representation of a Mrs. Hickman in connection with divorce proceedings, incompetency proceedings, minor criminal charges and a personal injury case. The evidence is disputed concerning the propriety of the fees charged this client. The evidence is undisputed that the respondent continued his representation of this client without advising the courts of her adjudication of incompetence. The Complaint alleged that respondent charged his client an exorbitant or extortionate fee in the amount of $3500 for representing her in a divorce proceeding. During that time the client was living with her parents and her earnings were $14.26 per week as a beautician trainee. Respondent undertook extensive litigation on behalf of the client which was alleged to be unproductive and ill-considered.
"Count II charges the respondent with extracting an extortionate fee from his client, Evelyn Giese. It was alleged that the respondent entered into a written contingent fee contract providing for the payment of a 50% contingent fee to be computed upon the full value of any property which he would be instrumental in recovering from her husband. Although preliminary work was done in the defense of this divorce case, the plaintiff-husband died before the case came to trial. The parties homestead of the net value of $8000 passed to Mrs. Giese by right of survivorship. Respondent then billed his client for $2000 representing 50% of the value of the husband's estate which she received upon his death. Payment of said $2000 fee was secured by a note and mortgage upon the property which was executed by the client and delivered to the respondent.
"After trial on the merits, the referee recommended that respondent be found not guilty upon Count I because his conduct therein did not clearly violate the canons of ethics. With respect to Count II, the referee recommended that the respondent be found guilty, that he pay costs and be placed upon probation for an appropriate period of time.
"After consideration, the Board of Governors concurred in the finding of not guilty upon Count I of the Complaint. It concurred in the referee's finding of guilt upon Count II. It further found that said contingent fee contract was illegal and extortionate. The Board directed that respondent be suspended from the practice of law for six months and thereafter until he shall make restitution to his client, Giese, of $2,000 and until he shall pay the costs of these proceedings in the amount of $1,245.22."
We have heard oral argument and have reviewed the record in this proceeding. Our examination of the record in this cause reveals that the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar was in error in its finding that the referee exonerated the respondent from guilt as to Count I of the complaint. No such finding appears from the record in this cause.
We are, nevertheless, generally in accord with the Board's judgment but are of the view that the recommendation that the respondent be required to make restitution of an attorney's fee of $2,000 is unauthorized. An exorbitant or extortion-ary attorney's fee is properly the subject of inquiry in a disciplinary proceeding and, if established, will support an appropriate disciplinary order. The rule (11.02 [4], Article XI, Integration Rule, Florida Bar) provides "controversies as to the amount of the fees are not grounds for disciplinary proceedings unless the amount demanded is extortionate or the demand is fraudulent." This rule contemplates that a member of The Bar may be properly disciplined for such condemned conduct. Disciplinary proceedings are essentially a function of the Court instituted in the public interest and designed to preserve the purity of The Bar. No private rights except those of the accused attorney are involved. Application of Harper, Fla., 84 So.2d 700, 54 A.L.R.2d 1272. "A judgment in such proceedings does not affect the rights of any injured person to maintain a civil action against the attorney nor prevent the public authorities from the institution of criminal proceedings if justified by the nature of the charges." Application of Harper, supra. Again, in Application of Harper, supra, this Court quoted with approval the following statement from In re Keenan, 287 Mass. 577, 192 N.E. 65, 68, 96 A.L.R. 679, text 682, 683. "It [disciplinary proceedings] does not afford redress for a private grievance. It is an act undertaken and carried forward solely for the public welfare." This does not mean that where monies entrusted to an attorney are converted to his own use, the repayment of such sums may not be made a condition of reinstatement. The rule (11.02 [4], Article XI, Integration Rule) specifically provides the circumstances and conditions under which the conversion of funds may be the subject of a requirement for repayment. Controversies, however, concerning the reasonableness of fees charged to and paid by clients are matters which by the very nature of the controversy should be left to the civil courts in proper proceedings for determination. What may be a reasonable fee in one area of the State may be unreasonable in another and this Court can take judicial knowledge of the fact that the opinions of reputable lawyers concerning what constitutes a reasonable fee in any given situation often are as far apart as the poles. Accordingly,
It is ordered that the respondent be suspended from the practice of law for a period of six months from the effective date of this judgment. The Florida Bar shall have and recover from respondent the costs of these proceedings in the amount of $1,245.22, for which let execution issue.
It is so ordered.
CALDWELL, C. J., and THORNAL and ADAMS, JJ., concur.
ERVIN, J., dissents with Opinion.