Opinion ID: 5127070
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Referee’s Recommendation as to Guilt.

Text: To begin, the referee’s findings of fact are neither in dispute nor lacking in evidentiary support. We therefore approve them without further comment. The Bar challenges the referee’s recommendation of no guilt as to Bar Rule 4-8.4(d), contending that the referee’s own findings, as well as the record, support a contrary conclusion. The Court must consider whether the referee’s recommendation that James be found not guilty of violating Bar Rule 4-8.4(d) is supported. This Court has repeatedly stated that the referee’s factual findings must be sufficient under the applicable -7- rules to support the recommendations regarding guilt. See Fla. Bar v. Shoureas, 913 So. 2d 554, 557-58 (Fla. 2005); Fla. Bar v. Spear, 887 So. 2d 1242, 1245 (Fla. 2004). The party challenging the referee’s finding of fact and recommendations as to guilt has the burden to demonstrate “that there is no evidence in the record to support those findings or that the record evidence clearly contradicts the conclusions.” Fla. Bar v. Germain, 957 So. 2d 613, 620 (Fla. 2007). Bar Rule 4-8.4(d) states, “A lawyer shall not . . . engage in conduct in connection with the practice of law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice . . . .” R. Regulating Fla. Bar 4-8.4(d). This Court has determined that dishonesty in connection with the practice of law is prejudicial to the administration of justice. See Fla. Bar v. Feinberg, 760 So. 2d 933, 938 (Fla. 2000). Here, the referee specifically found that James’s response that he was just responding to his daughter when in fact texts were being sent to Gray was misleading and a matter contrary to honesty. He also found that James misrepresented to Villaverde that he had concluded the text messaging when in fact he had not. The referee further found that James’s texts to Gray while she was being -8- questioned, telling her what to say, how to answer, to avoid providing certain information, to remember a deposition but not discuss certain checks, and to not give an absolute answer were dishonest. James’s dishonesty is clear from the record, and we find him guilty of violating Bar Rule 4-8.4(d).