Opinion ID: 2330404
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: the florida proceedings

Text: Respondent executed a Conditional Guilty Plea and Consent Judgment in which he admitted that he violated Florida Bar Rules (Florida Rule(s)) 3-4.2 [1] (violation of Florida Rules of Professional Conduct), 4-3.1 [2] (the frivolous bringing or defending of a proceeding), and 4-8.4(d) [3] (conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice). Conditional Guilty Plea and Consent Judgment, The Fla. Bar v. Fuller, No. SC05-2324, slip op. at 2 (Fla. July 12, 2006). Specifically, Respondent admitted that he failed to perform an adequate pre-suit investigation before filing 13 complaints under the Americans with Disabilities Act that erroneously alleged his client was a quadriplegic. Id. at 3. The allegation was mistakenly inserted by a secretary using a template. In one of the cases, Respondent discovered the mistake when he met the client at a deposition; three days later, he faxed a letter with a proposed stipulation to opposing counsel, offering to take a voluntary dismissal. Id. Respondent delayed almost two months thereafter, however, before filing the motion for voluntary dismissal, because of opposing counsel's outstanding claim for fees and costs. Id. In a sanctions order, Respondent was ordered to pay attorney's fees and costs in the amount of $43,323.90, and a Special Master was assigned to supervise Respondent and his practice for one year, at Respondent's expense. Id. at 2-3. Respondent also sent letters to opposing counsel in the other cases notifying them that the client was not suffering from quadriplegia. Id. at 4. Respondent consented to an admonishment by the Florida Court in the Conditional Guilty Plea and Consent Judgment and to payment of the Florida Bar's costs. Consent Judgment, Fuller, slip op. at 4. On July 12, 2006, the Report of the Referee approving the Conditional Guilty Plea and Consent Judgment was filed with the Florida Court. On August 31, 2006, the Florida Court entered an unpublished order of admonishment in which it approved the uncontested referee's report and entered judgment for recovery of costs in the amount of $3,125.12. See Order, In re Fuller, No. SC05-2324 (Fla. Aug. 31, 2006).