Opinion ID: 1700407
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: count 3c

Text: From 1965 to 1970, Burton Loebl, a North Miami Beach attorney was counsel for the Estate of Robert T. David. Sometime prior to July, 1972, Loebl turned the file over to another attorney, ending his participation in the case. In July, 1972, a petition for determination of Loebl's attorney's fees was filed and the matter was set for hearing before County Court Judge Leroy H. Moe. The petition involved $10,000 of final fees for Loebl's work on behalf of the estate. At about this time, McCain was campaigning for the Supreme Court and was supported in that effort by Loebl. The hearing on attorney's fees was continued several times because of the court's workload but was finally set for hearing on November 2, 1972. An attorney retained by Loebl filed a motion for continuance, and hearing on that motion was set for October 30, 1972. Both Loebl and McCain agreed that in late October, following the 1972 election, they had a conversation about the David Estate in which was pending Loebl's petition for attorney's fees. On October 28, 1972, McCain, knowing that Judge Moe would be hearing all matters on the Estate of David, and aware that a hearing was scheduled on Loebl's claim for fees, contacted Judge Moe by telephone. During that conversation McCain made clear to Judge Moe that Loebl was a personal friend and political supporter. Judge Moe specifically recalled that McCain told him that any help he could give Loebl would be appreciated. McCain claims that he made the telephone call to Judge Moe because Loebl feared unfair treatment in Broward County since he was Jewish and practiced in Miami Beach. Loebl testified that he had no such fear and did not ask McCain to make the call. As to the David Estate matter, the Referee found: I find that McCain, while serving as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Florida, intentionally and corruptly attempted to tamper with and influence the results of a motion pending before Judge Moe in this case. This act was committed with the corrupt motive of doing a favor for Loebl as reward for his political support of McCain. I find that this violation of the ethics of our profession was so gross that it bears upon McCain's current fitness to practice law.