THE FLORIDA BAR, COMPLAINANT
v.
BRINLY S. CARTER, RESPONDENT

Fla. | 1983-03-17
No. 61281
ALDERMAN, C.J., and ADKINS, BOYD, OVERTON and EHRLICH, JJ., concur.
429 So. 2d 3 Florida Supreme Court (1983) Caution
Cited by 4 cases

AI-generated. These summaries, headnotes, and key points are machine-generated and may contain errors or omissions. Always verify against the full opinion text below. Not legal advice.

Synopsis

The Florida Supreme Court reviewed a disciplinary case against attorney Brinly S. Carter for misconduct involving failure to maintain complete client records during a garage sale and failure to promptly deliver client funds. The Court found Carter guilty of violating professional responsibility rules but imposed a lighter sanction of public reprimand and probation rather than suspension, recognizing the technical nature of some violations and mitigating circumstances.


Holding

The Court found Carter guilty of violating Disciplinary Rule 9-102(B)(3) for failure to maintain complete records of client property but reversed the finding on the Integration Rule violation for Count I. The Court upheld the violations in both counts but imposed a public reprimand and one year's probation rather than the four-month suspension recommended by the referee.


Headnotes

[1] A lawyer violates disciplinary rules by failing to maintain complete records of a client's property, such as by conducting a sale of personal belongings without an invent…

[2] A lawyer violates disciplinary rules by failing to promptly deliver client funds to which the client is entitled, even when there are disagreements with the client.

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Key Quotes

“Count I charged respondent with failure to maintain complete records of property of a client when he held a private garage-type sale of a client's miscellaneous personal belongings. Prior to the sale, no inventory of the items of personalty was prepared.”

Establishes the factual basis for the first disciplinary violation regarding inadequate record-keeping

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Facts & Procedural History

Carter held a garage sale of a client's personal property without preparing an inventory beforehand and without giving receipts to buyers or maintaini…

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Opinion of the Court
PER CURIAM.

[*4] PER CURIAM.

This disciplinary proceeding is before the Court on complaint of The Florida Bar, the report of the referee, and respondent’s petition for review. We have jurisdiction. Art. V, § 15, Fla.Const.; Fla.Bar Integr. Rule, art. XI, Rule 11.09.

The two-count complaint of The Florida Bar alleged violations of several disciplinary rules as well as portions of the Integration Rule. Count I charged respondent with failure to maintain complete records of property of a client when he held a private garage-type sale of a client’s miscellaneous personal belongings. Prior to the sale, no inventory of the items of personalty was prepared. During the course of the sale, the amounts received for only some of the items were noted on paper but no receipts were given to the buyers. Count II charged Carter with failure to promptly deliver to a client funds in the possession of the lawyer which the client is entitled to receive. As attorney for the personal representative of an estate with whom he was experiencing disagreement, respondent failed to pay over $64.52 to each of four heirs for a period of several months despite several requests.

The referee found respondent guilty of both counts in the complaint. As to Count I, the referee found Carter guilty of violating Florida Bar Code of Professional Responsibility, Disciplinary Rule 9-102(B)(3) and Rule 11.02(4) of article XI of the Integration Rule of The Florida Bar. As to Count II, the referee found Carter guilty of violating Disciplinary Rule 9~102(B)(4) and Rule 11.02(4) of the Integration Rule. The referee recommended that respondent be suspended from the practice of law for four months with proof of rehabilitation required. Costs in the amount of $1,163.13 were also assessed against the respondent.

Carter has petitioned for review on two points: the issue of respondent’s guilt on Count I and the referee’s recommended discipline. He does not contest the referee’s findings, conclusions, or recommendations as to Count II.

We conclude that the referee’s findings on Count I are supported by competent and substantial evidence. The Florida Bar v. Baron, 392 So. 2d 1318 (Fla.1981); The Florida Bar v. Hirsch, 359 So. 2d 856 (Fla.1978). We find respondent guilty of violating Disciplinary Rule 9-102(B)(3), failure to maintain complete records of property of a client. However, we think the referee was in error in finding guilt on Rule 11.02(4) of the Integration Rule. That seption does not apply to the circumstances of this case.

The referee recommended a four-month suspension. This Court has recently publicly reprimanded Carter, The Florida Bar v. Carter, 410 So. 2d 920 (Fla.1982), and ordinarily a finding of guilt on additional charges would warrant a heavier and more substantial penalty. But the activities complained of in this case do not fall within the category of cumulative misconduct since the instant misconduct occurred prior to our decision in the previous case. The prior discipline could not, therefore, have deterred his conduct in this case. In addition, although we find violations of the charges alleged in Counts I and II, they were either violations in a technical sense only (Count I) or violations surrounded by mitigating and extenuating circumstances (Count II). It is the duty of this Court to be fair to the respondent as well as just to the public. State ex rel. Florida Bar v. Murrell, 74 So. 2d 221 (Fla.1954). We therefore hold that the discipline warranted under the facts in this case is a public reprimand together with one year’s probation.

Accordingly, it is the order of this Court that the respondent, Brinly S. Carter, be publicly reprimanded in a personal appearance before the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar. He shall also be placed on probation for one year from the date of this opinion. Costs in the amount of $1,163.13 are assessed against respondent.

It is so ordered.

ALDERMAN, C.J., and ADKINS, BOYD, OVERTON and EHRLICH, JJ., concur.


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Citator

Cited By

  • THE Florida BAR v. Dunagan, 565 So. 2d 1327 (Fla. 1990)
    …Case No. 73,629. . We note that respondent had received a public reprimand in The Honda Bar v. Dunagan, 509 So. 2d 291 (Fla.1987), but we do not consider it to be prior misconduct in aggravation of punishment pursuant to The Florida Bar v. Carter, 429 So. 2d 3, 4 (Fla.1983).…
  • THE Florida BAR v. Brinly S. Carter, 502 So. 2d 904 (Fla. 1987)
    …)(4) and (6) and article XI, Rule 11.02(3)(a) of the Integration Rule of The Florida Bar. Noting that Carter has twice received a public reprimand for prior misconduct, The Florida Bar v. Carter, 410 So. 2d 920 (Fla.1982); The Florida Bar v. Carter, 429 So. 2d 3 (Fla.1983), the referee recommended that Carter be suspended from the practice of law for a period of three months and thereafter until he shall prove his rehabilitation as provided in Rule 11.10(4). Florida Bar Integration Rule 11.10(4) provides in…

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