Case Name: THE FLORIDA BAR, Complainant, v. Joseph S. GILLIN, Jr., Respondent
Court: Florida Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1986-03-06
Citations: 484 So. 2d 1218
Docket Number: No. 65651
Parties: THE FLORIDA BAR, Complainant, v. Joseph S. GILLIN, Jr., Respondent.
Judges: BOYD, C.J., and ADKINS, OVERTON, McDONALD and SHAW, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 484
Pages: 1218–1221

Head Matter:
THE FLORIDA BAR, Complainant, v. Joseph S. GILLIN, Jr., Respondent.
No. 65651.
Supreme Court of Florida.
March 6, 1986.
John F. Harkness, Jr., Executive Director and John T. Berry, Staff Counsel, Tallahassee and David G. McGunegle, Bar Counsel, Orlando, for complainant.
Richard T. Earle, Jr. of Earle & Earle, St. Petersburg, for respondent.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
The Florida Bar filed a complaint against Gillin, a member of the bar, alleging that he had violated the Florida Bar Integration Rule, article XI, rule 11.02(3)(a) (act contrary to honesty, justice and good morals) as well as disciplinary rules 1-102(A)(3) (illegal conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, and misrepresentation) and 1-102(A)(6) (conduct adversely reflecting on fitness to practice law). The charges arose from Gillin's mishandling of certain fees which a client paid directly to him. After a hearing, the referee made the following findings of fact.
Gillin represented a client in a divorce for which the client's husband paid Gillin $5,000 in attorneys fees. This amount was placed in the account maintained by the firm in which Gillin was a partner. All fees which firm members collected were to be placed in the account for distribution pursuant to a fee distribution formula. As part of the property settlement, Gillin was to receive $75,000 in two equal installments which he was to forward to the client. At some point after the divorce, Gillin informed the client that she owed him $25,-000 in fees, a claim to which she apparently acquiesced. Gillin then instructed his client that upon receipt of the first $37,500 payment he would pay $20,000 to her. She was then to provide him with a check for $12,250 made payable to Contemporary Cars, Inc., located in Orlando, Florida. Upon receipt of that check, Gillin would then pay to the client the balance of the funds from the first payment. The exchange of monies went as planned. Gillin used the check as a down payment on a 1984 Porsche automobile. The dealership returned all but $1,000 of the down payment so Gillin could place the funds in a certificate of deposit in an account in his own name. Subsequently, Gillin rented a post office box. When he received the second installment of the property settlement in the amount of $37,500, he released $20,000 to the client and told her that he would pay over the balance upon receipt of a check, again made payable to Contemporary Cars, Inc., in the amount of $12,500. Gillin instructed her to send this check to his post office box. These arrangements dissatisfied the client and she began inquiries which culminated in a complaint to the Bar. After the Bar began its investigation, Gillin made restitution to the client, effectively retaining only the $5,000 the husband paid and a $500 retainer that the client had initially paid.
At the disciplinary hearing, Gillin argued that he intended to take title to the car in the firm's name. Testimony by the car salesman supports Gillin's claim that he stated this intention when he tendered the initial deposit for the car. Gillin argues that he believed this action would in some way aid in resolving a dispute he had with the firm regarding the fee distribution formula. Yet Gillin admits his acts were irrational and can offer no explanation as to how his dishonesty would resolve the problem. In his cross-appeal, he urges that the evidence is insufficient to show an intent to steal money from his partners. We find, however, from our review of the record that the evidence is sufficiently clear and convincing to support the referee's conclusion that Gillin did indeed intend to steal the $25,000 from the firm by depriving them of the fee. The referee recommended that Gillin be found guilty and that he be suspended for six months and thereafter until he proves his rehabilitation and pays the cost of these proceedings.
This Court will not tolerate misguided, irrational acts of self-help involving disputes between partners who are members of the Bar. We distinguish this case from a situation where the attorney has at least some basis for believing the law firm's partners have consented to his actions. Compare Florida Bar v. Stalnaker, 485 So.2d 815 (Fla.1986) (Court decreased recommended twelve month suspension to ninety day suspension where president of professional association indicated consent to attorney's actions). In the case at bar, Gil-lin was well aware he was diverting firm funds behind the backs of his partners.
The referee did not recommend a longer suspension or disbarment because of the mitigating factors that the referee found: (1) no party suffered any real damage as a result of respondent's misdeeds; (2) this is the first time since his admission to the Bar in 1974 that Gillin has been referred to the Bar for a disciplinary matter; (3) he has been active in church and civic activities; and (4) he has been active in local Bar functions, including, ironically, the grievance committee.
Therefore, we approve the referee's findings and recommendations. We hereby suspend Joseph S. Gillin, Jr., from the prac tice of law for six months and until he proves rehabilitation, effective thirty days from the date this opinion is filed. Judgment for costs in the amount of $674.03 is hereby entered against Gillin, for which sum let execution issue.
It is so ordered.
BOYD, C.J., and ADKINS, OVERTON, McDONALD and SHAW, JJ., concur.
EHRLICH, J., concurs in part and dissents in part with an opinion.
The referee's report raises some question about the propriety of the fee, but the Bar concedes the issue was not raised in the complaint, apparently through oversight and the question is therefore not a basis for decision here.