THE FLORIDA BAR, COMPLAINANT,
v.
GEORGE A. ROUTH, RESPONDENT
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The Florida Bar brought a disciplinary proceeding against attorney George A. Routh for three felony convictions, filing a false affidavit in judicial proceedings, and alleged incapacity. The Florida Supreme Court suspended Routh for three years and required him to pass the Florida bar examination as a condition of reinstatement, rejecting both the Bar's request for disbarment and Routh's argument that post-misconduct rehabilitation should be considered in the disciplinary proceeding.
The Court suspended Routh for three years commencing March 15, 1977, and required him to successfully complete all three parts of the Florida bar examination as a condition of reinstatement. The Court rejected both disbarment and the claim that post-misconduct rehabilitation evidence was relevant in the disciplinary proceeding, holding that rehabilitation is relevant only in separate reinstatement proceedings under the applicable rules.
[1] An attorney's felony convictions arising from a single criminal episode can constitute violations of professional responsibility rules.
[2] Filing a false affidavit in a judicial proceeding, without a legal basis for the assertions made, violates professional conduct rules.
Previewing 2 of 6 headnotes on this case. FLexlaw’s editorially structured points of law — every proposition, pinpointed — are reserved for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“Reinstatement is a separate matter governed by article XI, Rule 11.11 of the Integration Rule. Rehabilitation is relevant in such a proceeding but was not relevant to any of the material issues of fact in this disciplinary proceeding.”
Establishes the Court's distinction between rehabilitation evidence in disciplinary versus reinstatement proceedings and the rejection of Routh's argument that post-misconduct rehabilitation should be considered
Previewing 1 of 3 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceRouth, a Florida attorney, pleaded guilty on September 3, 1976, to three felony charges (shooting into an occupied vehicle, aggravated battery, and ag…
The full statement of facts, procedural history, and disposition for this case are member content.
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PER CURIAM.
This attorney-discipline proceeding is before the Court on the complaint of The Florida Bar. We have before us the report of a referee and the petitions of both parties for review thereof. The cause is an original proceeding brought pursuant to the Court’s jurisdiction over the discipline of attorneys. Art. V, § 15, Fla.Const.; Fla. Bar.Integr.Rule, art. XI, Rule 11.09.
The Bar brought the complaint against attorney George A. Routh in three counts. Count One charged him with violating the Florida Bar Integration Rule, article XI, Rule 11.02(2), (3)(a), and (3)(b), and the Code of Professional Responsibility, Disciplinary Rules 1-102(A)(3) and (A)(6) based on three felony convictions which arose out of a single criminal episode. Count Two charged respondent with violating Disciplinary Rules 7-102(A)(2), (A)(5), and (A)(8) in that he filed a false affidavit in a judicial proceeding. Count Three sought to place respondent on the inactive list for incapacity not related to the practice of law pursuant to the Florida Bar Integration Rule, article XI, Rule 11.01(4).
The referee made the following findings and recommendations:
Findings of Fact as to Each Item of Misconduct of which the Respondent is charged:
After considering all the pleadings and evidence before me, pertinent portions of which are commented upon below, I find:
As to Count I
1. The Respondent, George A. Routh is, and at all times hereinafter mentioned was, a member of The Florida Bar, subject to the jurisdiction and disciplinary rules of the Supreme Court of Florida.
2. On May 27, 1976, Respondent was charged by Information filed in the Cir cuit Court for the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida, in and for Pinellas County, with the crimes of shooting into an occupied vehicle, aggravated battery, and aggravated assault. The three charges grew out of a single episode which occurred on May 23, 1976. Said crimes are felonies under the laws of Florida. On September 7, 1976, Counts II and III of the information were amended.
3. On September 3, 1976, Respondent withdrew from a plea of not guilty and entered a plea of guilty to the above charges, as amended.
4. On October 27, 1976, Respondent was adjudicated guilty as charged and sentenced to the custody of the Director of the Department of Offender Rehabilitation. No appeal was taken from the judgment. Respondent has served his sentence and his civil rights have been restored.
As to Count II
5. On May 10, 1976, Respondent, represented the personal representatives of the Estate of Robert E. Lehmann, deceased.
6. On or about May 10, 1976, Respondent, on behalf of such personal representatives, executed a document entitled “Objection to Affidavit of Young J. Simmons As To Amount Due Claude Cloniger and Blanche Cloniger” and an attached Affidavit. In these pleadings Respondent asserted that opposing counsel with knowledge or in a reckless manner, submitted a false affidavit and that Respondent’s affidavit accurately represented the amount owed.
7. On June 1,1976, a hearing was held before the Honorable William L. Walker, Circuit Judge in the Circuit Court for the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida, in and for Pinellas County. At the hearing, Respondent admitted not having any legal basis for the calculation set forth in his own Affidavit and failed to state any basis for asserting the falsity of the affidavit of opposing counsel.
8. The actual basis for correct calculation was known to or readily ascertainable by Respondent at the time he filed his pleadings.
9. At the hearing before this Referee, Respondent testified that, if the same situation were to present itself again, he would file an objection to the creditors’ claim.
As to Count III
10. On or about June 15, 1976, and on several dates thereafter, Dr. Jerome Ro-senblum examined Respondent and found that Respondent:
(a) had little regard for rules or for the rights of others.
(b) was unaware of the correctness or wrongness of his acts and had impaired judgment.
(c) was undisciplined.
(d) constituted a threat to society in terms of violating laws.
III. Recommendation as to whether or not the Respondent should be found guilty:
As to each count of the complaint I make the following recommendations as to guilt or innocence:
As to Count I
I recommend that the respondent be found guilty and specifically that he be found guilty of the following violations of The Integration Rules of The Florida Bar and Disciplinary Rules of the Code of Professional Responsibility, to wit:
(a) Rule 11.02(3)(a), The Integration Rule
(b) DR 1-102(A)(3), Code of Professional Responsibility
(c) DR 1-102(A)(6), Code of Professional Responsibility
As to Count II
(a) DR 7-102(A)(l)
As to Count III
This count seeks placement of Respondent on inactive list under Rule 11.01(4) for incapacity not related to misconduct. I recommend that the respondent not be found to be incapable of practicing law because of physical or mental illness, incapacity or other infirmity. In view of the disposition recommended as to Counts I and II, it is believed that Count III is moot. However, if it is not moot, I recommend that respondent not be placed on the inactive list.
IV. Recommendation as to Disciplinary measures to be applied:
I recommend that the Respondent be suspended for a period of thirty-six months beginning November 8, 1976 and thereafter until he shall prove his rehabilitation as provided in Rule 11.10(3). I further recommend that since the suspension has continued for over three years, Respondent be required to satisfactorily pass the Florida bar examination.
The referee erroneously arrived at a suspension date of November 8,1976 by adding eleven days to the date of respondent’s felony conviction pursuant to article XI, Rule 11.07(2) of the Integration Rule. However, respondent timely filed a petition for modification and the suspension was therefore deferred until this Court entered an order on the petition on March 15, 1977. The Florida Bar, Re Routh, No. 50,637 (Fla. March 15, 1977).
The Florida Bar’s petition for review of the referee’s report asserts that respondent should be disbarred.
Respondent’s petition for review argues that he should have been allowed to present evidence of rehabilitation based on his conduct subsequent to the misconduct found in this proceeding. The referee declined to consider such evidence on the ground that rehabilitation is relevant in a reinstatement proceeding but not in a disciplinary proceeding. We agree with the referee. Reinstatement is a separate matter governed by article XI, Rule 11.11 of the Integration Rule. Rehabilitation is relevant in such a proceeding but was not relevant to any of the material issues of fact in this disciplinary proceeding.
We adopt the recommendation of the referee that respondent be suspended for three years, the suspension having commenced on March 15, 1977, and until he proves rehabilitation and successfully completes all three parts of the Florida bar examination. We also assess the costs of this proceeding against respondent in the amount of $379.00.
It is so ordered.
SUNDBERG, C. J., and ADKINS, BOYD, OVERTON, ALDERMAN and MCDONALD, JJ., concur.
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THE Florida BAR v. Routh, 442 So. 2d 213 (Fla. 1983)…he respondent was suspended from the practice of law for three years and the reinstatement was conditioned upon respondent’s proving his rehabilitation and successfully completing all three parts of The Florida Bar examination. Florida Bar v. Routh, 414 So. 2d 1023 (Fla.1982). Respondent has petitioned for reinstatement and the referee has recommended that his petition be granted. We adopt the recommendation. George A. Routh is reinstated as a member in good standing of The Florida Bar without restrictions…