News Summary
The Florida Supreme Court has disciplined 22 attorneys, including three disbarments and 11 suspensions. Among those affected are two from Jacksonville facing varying penalties, reinforcing the court’s commitment to legal integrity.
Jacksonville, Florida – The Florida Supreme Court has announced disciplinary actions against 22 attorneys as of June 27, 2023, with a total of 18 attorneys facing penalties. The disciplinary measures include three disbarments, one license revocation, 11 suspensions, and three reprimands. This recent action demonstrates the court’s commitment to upholding the integrity of the legal profession in the state.
Among the attorneys disciplined, two practice in Jacksonville. Kenneth L. Williams, residing at 8646 Tristan Drive, received a public reprimand after willfully disobeying a court order to proceed to a jury trial, with the decision becoming effective immediately following a May 29 court order. Jennifer Ann Zarka, living at 7144 Madrid Ave., was handed a one-year suspension and will be on probation for four years upon her reinstatement due to violations committed in Texas, effective 30 days after a June 5 court order.
This latest round of disciplinary actions follows a previous announcement from the Florida Supreme Court regarding the discipline of 13 attorneys, where two were disbarred, three had their licenses revoked, six were suspended, and two received reprimands. The repeated enforcement of disciplinary measures reiterates the importance of ethical practices among legal practitioners.
For attorneys who face disbarment, the path back to reinstatement involves a rigorous process. Disbarred individuals must wait five years before being eligible to reapply. This period is accompanied by a stringent background check and the requirement to retake the Bar examination. Similarly, attorneys suspended for 91 days or longer must demonstrate evidence of rehabilitation to regain their licenses.
Disciplinary revocation is treated with the same severity as disbarment, indicating a serious breach of professional standards. Several notable cases from the most recent disciplinary actions include:
- Taylor Wayne Casey received an interim felony suspension following convictions of resisting an officer with violence.
- Kenneth Clark Steel III was publicly reprimanded for missing the statute of limitations on a client’s civil tort case.
- Jerry D. Haynes was suspended for 30 months for failing to diligently represent clients in patent matters.
- Alexis Trischa-Day Benjamin faced a six-month suspension for neglecting a client’s case while already suspended.
- Danielle Justine Butler was suspended for 30 days after issuing an incorrect invoice and pleading no contest to obstruction of justice.
- Pamela Therese Calderon faced disciplinary revocation due to the misappropriation of over $47,171 in client funds.
- Barry Robert Gainsburg had a disciplinary revocation granted with the option to seek readmission after five years following a felony conviction.
- Bruce Jacobs was permanently disbarred for employing bad-faith litigation tactics in foreclosure defense, which compounded previous disciplinary actions.
- T. Lorraine Johns received a 10-day suspension for neglecting two client matters.
- Natalie Renee Jones was disbarred for misusing client trust account funds, totaling $37,000, and failing to satisfy payments to medical providers as promised.
- Walker J. Smith IV received a reprimand and was required to complete Ethics School for improperly executing a fee contract prior to admission to the Bar.
- David H. Stoller was publicly reprimanded and needed to complete a record-keeping analysis and continuing education due to a lack of diligence in immigration cases.
- James Lawrence Torres received a disciplinary revocation but retains the right to apply for readmission after five years due to trust account violations.
The Florida Supreme Court’s ongoing efforts to impose discipline on attorneys reflect a proactive stance in maintaining the accountability and ethical standards expected within the legal community. These actions serve not only as punitive measures but also as a reminder to all practicing attorneys in the state to adhere to the highest standards of professionalism.
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HERE Resources
Florida Supreme Court Disciplinary Actions Against Attorneys
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Additional Resources
- Jax Daily Record: Two Jacksonville Lawyers Disciplined
- Palm Beach Post: Florida Bar Report
- Jax Daily Record: Two Jacksonville Attorneys Disciplined
- Law.com: 6 Lawyers Disciplined by Florida High Court
- Wikipedia: Lawyer Discipline
Author: STAFF HERE JACKSONVILLE WRITER
JACKSONVILLE STAFF WRITER The JACKSONVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREJacksonville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Jacksonville, Duval County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Riverside Arts Market, and World of Nations Celebration. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and JAXUSA Partnership, plus leading businesses in logistics, healthcare, and entertainment that power the local economy such as CSX Corporation, Baptist Health, and VyStar Credit Union. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
