Florida Bar Seeks Boot For Young Attorney Who Mishandled $200K In Real Estate Escrow Cash; Legal Representative For Sloppy Lawyer Says 90-Day License Suspension Is Enough

In Miami, Florida, Law360 reports:

• A Miami attorney who mishandled a $200,000 loan held in escrow for a second mortgage on a property asked the Florida Supreme Court to reject the Florida Bar's request for disbarment and instead issue the 90-day suspension recommended by a referee.
  
  Richard Marx, who represents attorney Jose Carlos Marrero, told the court that his client “made errors galore” as a young attorney in mishandling the loan and mortgage in question but did not deserve to be disbarred.
  
  Florida Bar attorney Jennifer Falcone pointed out that the court, in a previous appeal in this case, already determined that Marrero's actions were intentional and deliberate and asked for disbarment or a minimum three-year suspension.
  
  She pointed out that Marrero has made no effort to provide restitution and has not cooperated with the Florida Bar.
  
  “The Florida Bar is asking this court to enforce prior case law and hold the respondent to the same standard you've held others,” Falcone said.
  
  The Supreme Court has already found Marrero guilty of four violations of a rule barring misconduct involving dishonesty, fraud or deceit and of another regarding money entrusted to an attorney for a specific purpose.
  

For more, see Miami Atty Faces Disbarment Over Mishandled Escrow Funds (may require subscription; if no subscription, try here, then click the appropriate link for the story).