THE FLORIDA BAR, COMPLAINANT,
v.
JAMES D. MORRISON, RESPONDENT
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The Florida Bar sought approval of a conditional guilty plea by attorney James D. Morrison, who had abandoned his law practice, misappropriated over $100,000 in client funds, and failed to notify clients or courts. The Florida Supreme Court approved the conditional guilty plea and entered a final order disbarring Morrison from the practice of law, requiring full restitution to clients, and imposing costs.
The Court approved the conditional guilty plea and entered a final order disbarring Morrison from the practice of law effective immediately, requiring him to repay all funds lost by clients either directly or through the Clients' Security Fund, waiving confidentiality on all grievance proceedings, and taxing costs of $114.80 against him. The Court further provided that no application for readmission would be entertained until full restitution was made.
[1] A lawyer may be disbarred for abandoning active practice without notice to clients and without accounting for client funds.
[2] A lawyer's conditional guilty plea to a probable cause report filed by a grievance committee may result in disbarment.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“Mr. Morrison has abandoned his active practice of law without notice to clients and without accounting to clients and courts for over $100,000 in funds”
The Grievance Committee's finding of the core disciplinary violations—abandonment of practice and misappropriation of client funds
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceOn February 21, 1978, the Court suspended respondent Morrison from practicing law. The Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee found probable c…
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PER CURIAM.
This matter is before the Court on Petition for Approval of Conditional Guilty Plea and Entry of Final Order of Discipline.
On August 10,1978, The Florida Bar filed its Petition stating:
1. On February 21, 1978, this Court suspended respondent from the practice of law pursuant to Fla.Bar Integr.Rule, art. XI, Rule 11.10(5);
2. On February 13, 1978, the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee “C” filed its report finding probable cause for further disciplinary proceedings against respondent on three separate counts. In the report the committee found that “Mr. Morrison has abandoned his active practice of law without notice to clients and without accounting to clients and courts for over $100,000 in funds;”
3. In respondent’s Conditional Guilty Plea for Consent Judgment, signed by respondent and his attorney, respondent plead guilty to the probable cause report filed by the grievance committee and agreed to the following disciplinary measures:
a. Disbarment from the practice of law;
b. Waiver of confidentiality on all grievance proceedings against him; c. Repayment of all funds lost by clients of respondent, either to them directly or to the Clients’ Security Fund of The Florida Bar;
d. Payment of costs in this matter in the amount of $114.80;
4. On June 15,1978, the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar approved respondent’s conditional guilty plea subject to this Court’s approval.
The Petition for Approval of Conditional Guilty Plea is granted, and Respondent, James D. Morrison, is hereby disciplined by:
1. Disbarment from the practice of law effective immediately;
2. Waiver of confidentiality on all grievance proceedings against him, and
3.Repayment of all funds lost by clients of respondent, either to them directly or to the Clients’ Security Fund of The Florida Bar. No application for readmission will be entertained until full restitution is made.
Costs in the amount of $114.80 are hereby taxed against the Respondent.
It is so ordered.
ENGLAND, C. J., and BOYD, OVER-TON, SUNDBERG and ALDERMAN, JJ., concur.