Title: The Florida Bar v. Rolle
Citation: 661 So. 2d 296
Docket Number: 83979
State: Florida
Issuer: Florida Supreme Court
Date: October 12, 1995

661 So. 2d 296 (1995)
THE FLORIDA BAR, Complainant,
v.
Leon ROLLE, Respondent.
No. 83979.

Supreme Court of Florida.
October 12, 1995.
*297 John F. Harkness, Jr., Executive Director and John T. Berry, Staff Counsel, Tallahassee; and Pamela Pride-Chavies, Bar Counsel, Miami, for Complainant.
Leon Rolle, pro se, Miami, for Respondent.
PER CURIAM.
We have for review the complaint of The Florida Bar ("the Bar") and the referee's report regarding alleged ethical breaches by Leon Rolle. We have jurisdiction. Art. V, § 15, Fla. Const. We approve the report.
After the Bar filed a complaint charging Rolle with neglecting client business, Rolle failed to appear for the final hearing set for October 17, 1994. When the referee reset the final hearing for December 5, 1994, Rolle again failed to appear. Rolle eventually did appear for a final hearing on December 13, 1994.
The referee made the following findings of fact concerning Rolle's conduct:
Based on the above facts, the referee made the following recommendation as to guilt:
Before recommending discipline, the referee took into account Rolle's prior record:
Based on the foregoing, the referee made the following recommendation as to discipline:
Rolle does not contest the referee's findings of fact or recommendation of guilt, but rather claims that the recommended discipline is too harsh when compared to other cases. We disagree and find the recommended discipline appropriate in light of the fact that a private reprimand has failed to deter Rolle from engaging in this misconduct in the past and he is presently being suspended for ninety-one days in another case before this Court for neglecting client business. See Florida Bar v. Rolle, 661 So. 2d 301 (Fla. 1995).
Florida Bar v. Bern, 425 So. 2d 526, 528 (Fla. 1982) (citations omitted).
Leon Rolle is hereby suspended from the practice of law in Florida for six months, which term is to run concurrently with the ninety-one day suspension in Florida Bar v. Rolle, 661 So. 2d 301 (Fla. 1995). The suspension *299 will be effective thirty days from the filing of this opinion so that Rolle can close out his practice and protect the interests of existing clients. If Rolle notifies this Court in writing that he is no longer practicing and does not need the thirty days to protect existing clients, this Court will enter an order making the suspension effective immediately. Rolle shall accept no new business from the date this opinion is filed until the suspension is completed. Judgment for costs in the amount of $1,218.15 is entered in favor of The Florida Bar against Leon Rolle, for which sum let execution issue.
It is so ordered.
GRIMES, C.J., and OVERTON, SHAW, KOGAN, HARDING, WELLS and ANSTEAD, JJ., concur.