Opinion ID: 1101393
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the referee's findings and recommendations

Text: The referee made the following factual findings: Ross represents himself as a real estate investor, in particular a foreclosure buyer. [1] In August 1994, County Collection Services, Inc., obtained a summary judgment of foreclosure against property owned by Roger Quisenberry in Palm Beach County. Ralph Lazar purchased the property at foreclosure sale. Ross was a tenant of Quisenberry's on an unrelated property. The tenancy resulted in a dispute between Ross and Quisenberry. Quisenberry retained attorney Kim St. James to represent him in setting aside the foreclosure sale. St. James filed a motion to set aside the sale which included Quisenberry's affidavit stating that he was out of town during the time the foreclosure sale was finalized and had not received notice. Ross was aware of the affidavit and believed that information contained in it was false. In November 1994, Ross contacted Lazar and told him he had information that would be helpful in refuting Quisenberry's motion and affidavit. Ross requested a one-half interest in the property Lazar had purchased at the foreclosure sale in exchange for the information and documentation he could provide. Subsequently, Ross contacted Lazar's attorney, Steven Newburgh, and repeated his request for a one-half interest in the property in exchange for his information. Newburgh told Ross that the only consideration he would be offered was a check for $7.40 for a witness fee. When Newburgh told Ross that he would be taking Ross's deposition, Ross did not indicate that he would be out of town or on vacation and unavailable for deposition or for the hearing on the motion to set aside the sale. A witness subpoena was issued scheduling Ross's deposition for December 8, 1994. In late November 1994, upon receiving the notice of Ross's deposition, St. James contacted Ross to determine what he knew about the matter and informed Ross that his deposition was scheduled for December 8. Ross told St. James that he had not yet been served with a subpoena and that, in exchange for a fee, [2] he would make himself unavailable for deposition or for service of the subpoena for deposition or both and would be unavailable for trial. Ross admitted that he told St. James he was going on vacation and if her client paid him money he could leave town sooner and stay away longer. Ross testified that he sought the money to settle a claim against Quisenberry on the unrelated property. St. James testified that she believed Ross was soliciting a bribe. Ross contacted St. James again seeking an answer from Quisenberry regarding the payment of money in exchange for his unavailability. St. James rejected Ross's offer. Ross sent several faxes to Newburgh renewing his requests for an interest in the subject property in exchange for his information. Newburgh did not respond. Ross made it appear that he was unavailable for deposition and the hearing. When the process server attempted service on Ross on November 28, 1994, he found a note affixed to Ross's door indicating that Ross was on vacation until December 20. Ross knew that the hearing on Quisenberry's motion to set aside the foreclosure sale was scheduled for December 19. Newburgh filed a motion for continuance based upon Ross's apparent disappearance. Ross did not freely assist in the action until after a complaint was filed with the Bar. The referee recommended finding Ross guilty of violating rule 4-8.4(c), Rules Regulating The Florida Bar (a lawyer shall not engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation). The referee further relied on Standards 5.11(b) and (f), Florida Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions, in recommending that Ross be disbarred.