Opinion ID: 1680323
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Factual Findings and Recommendations as to Guilt

Text: The Court's standard of review for evaluating a referee's factual findings and recommendations as to guilt is as follows: This Court's review of such matters is limited, and if a referee's findings of fact and conclusions concerning guilt are supported by competent, substantial evidence in the record, this Court will not reweigh the evidence and substitute its judgment for that of the referee. Fla. Bar v. Rose, 823 So.2d 727, 729 (Fla. 2002). Implicit in this standard is the requirement that the referee's factual findings must be sufficient under the applicable rules to support the recommendations as to guilt. See Fla. Bar v. Spear, 887 So.2d 1242, 1245 (Fla.2004). In the present case, neither party contests the referee's factual findings and neither party contests his recommendations as to guilt with respect to the alleged violations of rules 4-5.3(a), 4-5.3(b), 4-5.3(c), 4-5.4(a), 4-5.4(d), and 4-5.5(b). Our review of the record shows that those findings and recommendations are supported by competent, substantial evidence. We approve the referee's factual findings and we approve his recommendations as to guilt with respect to the alleged violations of rules 4-5.3(a), 4-5.3(b), 4-5.3(c), 4-5.4(a), 4-5.4(d), and 4-5.5(b). As for the alleged violation of rule 4-1.1, Abrams contends that the record fails to support the referee's recommendation that he be found guilty of violating this rule. We disagree. Rule 4-1.1 provides as follows: A lawyer shall provide competent representation to a client. Competent representation requires the legal knowledge, skill, thoroughness, and preparation reasonably necessary for the representation. R. Regulating Fla. Bar 4-1.1. The present record shows that Abrams was listed as the attorney of record on a status extension application submitted by Ziya and was listed as the Managing Attorney on the letterhead of a missive that was used by U.S. Entry in requesting alien labor certification for Ulershperger. The letter was signed, Suzanne J. Akbas For Daniel E. Abrams, Esq. At the hearing below, immigration lawyer Elisa Brasil testified via telephonic deposition that the proper handling of asylum claims requires substantial intake by a lawyer, not a paralegal; her testimony was uncontroverted. In contrast, the present record shows that Abrams had no contact whatsoever with Ulershperger and Ziya but rather relied exclusively on Akbas's analysis of the couple's situation. Abrams has submitted no client files or other evidence showing that he did any work on their behalf. Ultimately, Ziya's and Ulershperger's lawful immigration status lapsed, and they did not discover this until almost a year later, after consulting with another lawyer. By that time, the one-year time period for seeking political asylum had long since expired. (The one-year period expired in November 2000, months after the couple had sought the assistance of U.S. Entry in the spring of 2000.) We approve the referee's recommendation that Abrams be found guilty of violating rule 4-1.1. As for the alleged violation of rule 4-8.4(c), Abrams contends that the record fails to support the referee's recommendation that he be found guilty of violating this rule. We disagree. Rule 4-8.4(c) provides that a lawyer shall not engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation. See R. Regulating Fla. Bar 4-8.4(c). In the present case, the record shows that even though Akbas worked as a paralegal at U.S. Entry, she actually was the person in control of the corporation's day-to-day operations. She met with the clients, conducted the client interviews, and made the decisions as to the appropriate course of action for the clients. Abrams himself visited the U.S. Entry office only several times a month. Akbas testified that she unsuccessfully tried to get Abrams more involved in the company's operations. We conclude that Abrams's role and course of conduct at U.S. Entry were inconsistent with the title Managing Attorney, and the title constituted a clear misrepresentation of his status. We approve the referee's recommendation that Abrams be found guilty of violating rule 4-8.4(c).