Opinion ID: 1824918
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: The Marina Securities, Inc. and Marina Trust Services, Inc. Issue

Text: In addition to the incidents above, the referee found that Schramek had engaged in the unauthorized practice of law by appearing as the agent of Marina Securities, Inc., and Marina Trust Services, Inc., in litigation before this Court. In The Fla. Bar v. Marina Securities, Inc., 591 So.2d 185 (Fla. 1991), the Florida Bar had initiated an action against those corporations for the unlicensed practice of law. In an answer filed by Schramek as an agent for the corporations, he explained his direct personal involvement in that case by stating: Marina Trust Services, Inc. (hereinafter Marina Trust) assists clients, as nonlawyers, engaging in limited communications in the completion of legal documents, pursuant to Rule 10-1.1(b) Definition of UPL under the Rules Governing the Unlicensed Practice of Law of the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar. This includes the reasonable elicitation of factual information from clients to complete an application supplied by and for The L.A.W. Clinic, Inc. of St. Petersburg, Florida (hereinafter L.A.W.), under the direction of Daniel E. Schramek. All standard legal documents are prepared exclusively by L.A.W. All fees excepted [sic] from Marina clients are made payable to L.A.W. Marina acts as an agent of L.A.W. under a licensing agreement. (Emphasis added.) In responding to motions filed by the Bar to strike Schramek's answer and disqualify Schramek from appearing in this matter, Schramek asserted that the corporate entities involved as respondents had appointed him as their agent to act in their behalf and that he was entitled to do so under the authority of section 607.011, Florida Statutes, [3] as construed by this Court in West Stuart Acreage, Inc. v. Hannett, 427 So.2d 323 (Fla. 1983). Although we denied the Bar's motions in Marina Securities, we did not do so on the grounds asserted by Schramek. Instead, we allowed Schramek to appear because the answer in that proceeding indicated that Schramek was personally and directly involved in the unauthorized practice of law at issue and because striking the pleadings filed by Schramek would have left no answer or response to the Bar's petition, creating a possible due process issue. Given the nature of an unauthorized practice of law proceeding, we have found it appropriate to give those directly involved in such a proceeding an opportunity to be heard to assure that an individual's due process rights are protected. Interestingly, rather than refuting the unauthorized practice of law charges, Schramek's responsive pleadings in Marina Securities appeared to establish on their face that Schramek was giving legal advice and preparing non-approved forms for customers of the corporate entities involved in that matter. As a result of our denial of the Bar's motions to strike in Marina Securities, Schramek has claimed the right to practice law without limitation and has threatened suits against the judiciary of this state. In doing so, he has stated to judges that judicial immunity does not apply under these circumstances. See Kerr-McGee Refining Corp. v. Dockside Fueling Co., No. 92-61-CL-42 (Fla. 6th Cir.Ct. 1992). The notice filed by Schramek in Kerr-McGee reads as follows: COMES NOW, Daniel E. Schramek, and serves notice to all parties that I am authorized to practice law in the State of Florida, without limitations or restrictions, pursuant to the authorization of the Supreme Court of Florida, authorized May 30, 1991. Special Person Number (SPN), as issued by the Clerk of the Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, is 01089013. The Supreme Court's authorization for me to practice law established my right to represent a corporation before the Supreme Court of Florida. The authorization permits [me], pursuant to Construction of Statute Laws, to represent any person as defined by statute, including individuals. Pursuant to the Constitution of the State of Florida, Article V, Section 15, the Supreme Court of Florida has the exclusive jurisdiction to regulate the admission of persons to the practice of law. Pursuant to Florida Statute 454.23, any person not licensed or otherwise authorized by the Supreme Court of Florida who shall practice law ... shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. Pursuant to Florida Statutes, Volume 1, Title I, Construction of Statutes, Chapter 1, Section 1.01, Definitions, (3) [t]he word person includes individuals, children, firms, associations, joint ventures, partnerships, estates, trusts, business trusts, syndicates, fiduciaries, corporations, and all other groups or combinations. Florida Statute 542.17, further defines person to mean any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, limited partnership, incorporated or unincorporated association, professional association, or other legal, commercial, or governmental entity, including the State of Florida, its departments, agencies, political subdivisions, and units of government. The reason for this Judicial Notice is to clarify the issue of licensed attorneys vs. authorized attorneys. There seems to be a lack of understanding by members of the judiciary, both judges and attorneys on this issue. The Florida Bar has authorization from the Supreme Court to issue licenses for the practice of law and the Supreme court has the exclusive jurisdiction to authorize persons to practice law. Although the Florida Bar has not licensed Daniel E. Schramek to practice law, their licensure is totally irrelevant, since the Florida Supreme Court, having exclusive jurisdiction, has authorized Mr. Schramek to practice law, without limitations or restrictions, in the same capacity as a licensed attorney. If any member of the judiciary needs further clarification of this issue, then I recommend that you contact the Supreme Court of Florida. If you refuse to acknowledge my authorization to practice law before a Court in this state, and deny due process, deny due diligence, deny access to the court, or deny equal protection of the laws, to those I represent, then this is my official notice to you that I will/pursue appropriate civil and/or criminal actions against you for violation of my guaranteed federal and state civil rights and the violation of the guaranteed federal and state civil rights of those I represent. Be [apprised] of the fact that judicial immunity is no longer a protection for those in the judiciary, pursuant to common law, if they willfully and intentionally violate a person's guaranteed civil rights. By our ruling in Marina Securities, we in no way authorized Schramek to practice law in this state. His appearance was allowed in Marina Securities strictly because of his direct involvement in the unauthorized practice of law at issue in that case, and he has grossly misrepresented and misinterpreted our actions in that proceeding. We expressly hold that Daniel E. Schramek is not now, nor has he ever been, authorized to practice law in the state of Florida.