Opinion ID: 1822251
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: rodehaver disciplinary proceedings

Text: While the Albano proceeding was pending, the Bar alleged that in connection with his representation of Pamela Rodehaver, Bryant violated rules 4-8.4(b) (lawyer shall not commit criminal act reflecting adversely on lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness), 4-8.4(d) (lawyer shall not engage in conduct prejudicial to administration of justice), and 4-8.4(i) (lawyer shall not engage in sexual conduct with client which exploits lawyer-client relationship). The referee consolidated this proceeding with the Albano proceeding. Rodehaver and Barbara Herndon were arrested in October 1998 for a misdemeanor violation of a municipal ordinance regulating exotic dancers. Herndon was a long-term acquaintance of Bryant, with whom she occasionally engaged in sexual relations. [2] Bryant's normal fee for representing a defendant in such a case was between $500 and $1500. Rodehaver had little or no money, and she suggested that Bryant represent her in exchange for sexual relations. Bryant agreed. Bryant acknowledges that Rodehaver performed oral sex several times during the pendency of the municipal ordinance charge. The municipal ordinance case was concluded to Rodehaver's satisfaction. Shortly after the conclusion of the municipal ordinance charge, Rodehaver was again arrested. This time, she was arrested on several first-degree felony racketeering charges. Authorities suspected that Rodehaver was operating a large prostitution ring, which eventually turned out to only be a few women. While Rodehaver was being held in jail on a $100,000 bond, Bryant was contacted to represent her. Bryant visited Rodehaver in jail and agreed to represent her for $2500. Bryant accepted $750 as part of the payment. Rodehaver did not make any further payment despite Bryant's attempts to collect. There was no sex-for-service discussion with regard to the felony case, and both Bryant and Rodehaver stated that no sexual relations occurred during the felony case. Rodehaver's truck and computer were confiscated by the State. Bryant was able to obtain the return of the truck but not the computer. Rodehaver and her husband increasingly pressured Bryant to obtain the return of the computer. Bryant requested the remainder of his fee be paid so that he could conduct more discovery. [3] As no further payments were made, Bryant arranged a proffer with Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Agent Terrence Mullen. Bryant's strategy was to demonstrate Rodehaver's cooperation, which he hoped would lead the State to reduce the charges or discuss a plea deal. Agent Mullen was not interested in the information Rodehaver had provided him as a proffer. At about this time, Rodehaver contacted FDLE and related her version of her history with Bryant. Rodehaver would later give to FDLE a sworn statement, wherein she indicated that Bryant attempted to pressure her into having sex with him or he would withhold legal services. As Agent Mullen thought that Bryant possibly was extorting Rodehaver, Mullen requested that Rodehaver wear a body microphone so that Mullen could tape a conversation between Bryant and Rodehaver. [4] After that taped conversation, Mullen visited Bryant. Bryant told Mullen that he had engaged in oral sex with Rodehaver and Herndon in exchange for legal services but denied threatening to quit working on the case. Bryant admitted to Mullen that Bryant told Rodehaver: The happier you keep me, the harder I will work. Thereafter, Bryant withdrew from his representation of Rodehaver because of the conflict of interest. The public defender was appointed to represent Rodehaver. The referee concluded that trading sexual favors for legal service was not a per se violation of rule 4-8.4(i) and found Bryant not guilty of violating rule 4-8.4(i). The referee found Bryant violated section 796.07, Florida Statutes (1997), which outlaws prostitution. Accordingly, the referee found Bryant guilty of violating rule 4-8.4(b) (lawyer shall not commit criminal act reflecting adversely on lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness). The referee also found Bryant guilty of violating rule 4-8.4(d) (lawyer shall not engage in conduct prejudicial to administration of justice). The Bar challenges the referee's conclusion that Bryant did not violate rule 4-8.4(i) during his representation of Rodehaver. [5] In concluding there that was no violation, the referee focused on the fact that Rodehaver, being a prostitute, bartered her services for Bryant's legal services. The referee noted that this arrangement was in violation of the criminal law proscribing prostitution but concluded that there needed to be a showing of exploitation to find a rule 4-8.4(i) violation. The referee found as fact that Bryant told Rodehaver, The happier you keep me, the harder I will work. Florida Bar v. Bryant, SC94965 & SC00-801, report of referee at 12 (report filed Nov. 18, 2000). The referee also found that, prior to the commencement of the legal representation, there was no previous relationship between Bryant and Rodehaver. Also relevant is the referee's finding that Bryant and Rodehaver engaged in sexual relations which commenced during the period of legal representation. Bryant testified that he made the happier you keep me, the harder I will work statement to Rodehaver. FDLE Agent Mullen testified that Bryant admitted to Mullen that Bryant made this statement. Further, Bryant testified that he met Rodehaver after she was arrested on the municipal ordinance violation and that he engaged in sexual relations with Rodehaver. The transcript of the Rodehaver-Bryant conversation includes Bryant's request for oral sex from his client. Thus, the referee's findings of fact are supported by competent, substantial evidence. See Vining, 761 So.2d at 1047. The referee discredited Rodehaver's testimony and determined three specific allegations of exploitation were not proven, including claims that Bryant demanded that Rodehaver: (1) perform fellatio upon him in his office instead of fulfilling a voyeuristic role; (2) perform fellatio upon him immediately prior to the final hearing on the misdemeanor charge; and (3) make interest payments in the form of intercourse and oral sex during the felony case. While accepting the referee's findings of fact, we reject the referee's conclusion that Bryant was not in violation of rule 4-8.4(i). We conclude that the referee erred by focusing on Rodehaver being a prostitute and framing the issue as whether, in view of her prostitution, Rodehaver could be exploited by sex; whereas, the correct focus pursuant to the plain language of the rule is whether a lawyer obtained the sexual activity through an exploitation of the lawyer-client relationship. When viewed with this proper focus, it is plain that there was a violation of rule 4-8.4(i). Rodehaver performed these sex acts because she required Bryant's services as a lawyer. Thus, the lawyer-client relationship was exploited, and we find that the record does not contain competent, substantial evidence to support the referee's rejection of a rule 4-8.4(i) violation. Accordingly, we find that Bryant violated rule 4-8.4(i). We approve the referee's determinations not contested by Bryant that Bryant violated ruled 4-8.4(b) and 4-8.4(d).