State Bar Bags Four More For Alleged Client Trust Account Ripoffs

In St. Augustine, Florida, Historic City News reports:

• Karen Y. Kirksey reported to Historic City News that in recent court orders through April 12, 2011, the Florida Supreme Court disciplined 16 attorneys — disbarring three, suspending ten and issuing public reprimands to three.

According to the story, the following four attorneys have been disciplined for allegedly ripping off clients by pocketing their cash sitting in a clients' trust account for their own personal use:

• Richard Lawrence Brown, 4440 P.G.A. Blvd., Suite 600, Palm Beach Gardens, suspended until further order, following an April 7 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1993) According to a petition for emergency suspension, Brown appeared to be causing great public harm by misappropriating client funds. An audit revealed that Brown converted at least $21,850 from his trust account and used it for personal and business purposes;
• Theodore Ross Dempster, 801 Brickell Ave., Ph-1, Miami, disbarred for seven years, effective immediately, following a March 16 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1976) An audit revealed that Dempster misappropriated client funds to satisfy personal and business obligations, in a manner similar to a Ponzi scheme. Dempster has been found guilty of violations including: misrepresentation, and engaging in dishonest, fraudulent and deceitful conduct. The auditor found numerous trust account violations and a failure to produce all the required bank records requested in the Bar’s subpoena.;
• Clint Johnson, 250 N. Orange Ave., Suite 550, Orlando, suspended until further order, following an April 11 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2003) According to an emergency suspension order, Johnson appeared to be causing great public harm by misappropriating trust funds for personal use;
• R. Patrick Mirk, P.O. Box 18201, Tampa, disbarred following an April 7 court order. Mirk misappropriated more than $31,000 in client funds held in his trust account.

Source: Supreme Court disciplines 16 attorneys.