Opinion
SC2024-0875
06-20-2024
Florida Board of Bar Examiners re: L. D. B.
Upon consideration of the Report and Recommendation filed by the Florida Board of Bar Examiners, it is ordered that the Board's recommendation is approved by the Court and L.D.B. shall be admitted to The Florida Bar subject to the following conditions:
1. The Applicant's license to practice law shall be placed on probation for a period of four years.
2. During the period of probation, the Applicant shall:
(a) abstain from the consumption of alcoholic beverages;
(b) abstain from the use of controlled substances except as prescribed by a duly licensed medical physician and approved by Florida Lawyers Assistance (FLA);
(c) participate actively in the program offered by FLA during the entire probationary period by complying with the rehabilitation contract with that organization executed on April 30, 2024, and by extending the contract to cover the entire period of probation if necessary;
(d) participate actively in Alcoholics/Narcotics Anonymous by attending, at least, weekly meetings at such frequency as required by FLA; practice AA/NA principles in all of her affairs; and carry the AA/NA message to other substance dependent individuals;
(e) attend attorney support meetings at least monthly, or at such greater frequency as required by FLA;
(f) submit to and pay for a minimum of eight (8) random urine drug/alcohol screens annually, as well as any other hair, blood, sweat, or other substance screening tests determined to be appropriate by FLA; and
(g) continue to consult with Dr. Harvey Chitiva, or other licensed mental health provider, at least, quarterly or more frequently as her mental health provider deems necessary;
(h) follow promptly, diligently, and completely all instructions by her mental health provider, including the taking of any medication in the recommended manner as may be prescribed by her mental health provider;
(i) have her mental health provider submit quarterly reports to The Florida Bar during the entire probationary period. These reports shall confirm the Applicant's consultations for the preceding quarter and shall advise The Florida Bar of the Applicant's continuing ability to engage in the active practice of law;
(j) obtain an agreement from her mental health provider stating that the mental health provider will immediately notify The Florida Bar if the Applicant misses a scheduled appointment without prior rescheduling; and,
(k) submit quarterly sworn statements to The Florida Bar by March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 during the entire probationary period attesting to her compliance with the conditions set
forth in 2 (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), and (j) above.
3. The Florida Bar shall monitor the conditions set forth in the Consent Agreement. To the extent that The Florida Bar or its designated monitoring agency requires that the applicant pay any monitoring costs, the applicant agrees to pay such costs.
4. To monitor effectively the provisions in this agreement, the Applicant shall reside within Florida during the entire period of probation. Any business or pleasure trips outside Florida that exceed ten days shall occur only with the advance approval of The Florida Bar. If the Applicant relocates outside Florida during the probationary period for any reason, the Applicant shall surrender her license to practice law in Florida and if the Applicant fails to do so, the Supreme Court of Florida shall terminate her license.
5. The Applicant shall immediately inform The Florida Bar of any criminal arrest or prosecution or the filing of any grievance or complaint related to the Applicant's practice of law.
6. If the Applicant's license is surrendered or terminated during the probationary period, the Applicant shall resume the practice of law in the State of Florida only upon full compliance with the rules and regulations governing admission to The Florida Bar.
7. A failure to observe the conditions of the probation or a finding of probable cause by The Florida Bar as to conduct of the Applicant committed during the period of probation may terminate the probation and subject the Applicant to all available grievance procedures and disciplinary sanctions including disbarment under the Rules of Discipline. Upon receiving notice of a violation of the Court's order of conditional admission, The Florida Bar may immediately petition the Court for an order of suspension. The Applicant shall have ten days to file a response. If no response is timely filed by the Applicant, then the Court shall issue an order suspending the Applicant. If a response is filed, the matter shall be disposed of as the Court directs. Unless terminated by the Court, an order of suspension shall remain in effect until final disposition of the grievance procedures commenced by The Florida Bar against the Applicant.
8. If circumstances so warrant it, the Applicant and The Florida Bar may stipulate to an extension of the period of probation or The Florida Bar may petition the Court for such an extension with a final decision to be made by the Court.
9. By executing this Agreement, the Applicant acknowledges that an uninterrupted period of documented sobriety for a minimum period of time must be established prior to admission to The Florida Bar on an unconditional basis. Should the period of probation be extended pursuant to either paragraph 7 or 8 above, the Applicant, therefore, further agrees that such extension shall be for a minimum of three up to five years.
10. The Applicant specifically consents to and authorizes the release of any and all materials in the Applicant's file to The Florida Bar that the Bar may request from the Board to enable the Bar to fulfill its responsibilities under this Consent Agreement.
MUÑIZ, C.J., and CANADY, LABARGA, COURIEL, GROSSHANS, FRANCIS, and SASSO, JJ., concur.