Title: The Florida Bar v. Petia Dimitrova Knowles  (order)
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: SC09-403
State: Florida
Issuer: Florida Supreme Court
Date: April 28, 2011

Supreme Court of Florida 
THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2011 
 
 
CASE NO.:  SC09-403 
 
Lower Tribunal No.:  2009-50,009(17A) 
 
 
THE FLORIDA BAR 
vs. PETIA DIMITROVA KNOWLES 
Complainant(s) 
 
Respondent(s) 
 
 
The Court approves the uncontested referee's report and directs that 
respondent receive a public reprimand.  However, we further direct that the public 
reprimand be administered by the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar at a date 
and time to be determined by the Board.  Respondent is also directed to comply 
with all other terms and conditions of the report. 
 
Judgment is entered for The Florida Bar, 651 East Jefferson Street, 
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2300, for recovery of costs from Petia Dimitrova 
Knowles in the amount of $4,164.99, for which sum let execution issue. 
 
Not final until time expires to file motion for rehearing, and if filed, 
determined. 
 
PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, POLSTON, LABARGA, and PERRY, JJ., concur. 
CANADY, C.J., concurs in part and dissents in part with an opinion. 
 
CANADY, C.J., concurring in part and dissenting in part. 
 
 
I concur in the approval of the referee's recommendation that the respondent 
be found guilty, but I dissent from the sanction imposed by the Court. 
 
In addition to other misconduct, the respondent was guilty of threatening to 
present criminal charges solely to obtain an advantage in a civil matter, conduct 
which is expressly prohibited by Rule Regulating the Florida Bar 4-3.4(g).  Such 
misconduct by its very nature causes harm to the legal system.  The respondent 
was chargeable with knowledge of the rule prohibiting this misconduct.  Florida 
Standard for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions 7.2 provides that "[s]uspension is 
appropriate when a lawyer knowingly engages in conduct that is a violation of a  
CASE NO. SC09-403 
PAGE TWO 
 
 
 
duty owed as a professional and causes injury or potential injury to . . . the legal 
system."  Given all of the relevant circumstances, the misconduct here warrants a 
ninety-day suspension. 
 
 
A True Copy 
Test: 
 
jn 
Served: 
 
KENNETH LAWRENCE MARVIN 
ADRIA E. QUINTELA 
KEVIN P. TYNAN 
PETIA DIMITROVA KNOWLES 
HON. SANDRA BOSSO-PARDO, JUDGE