Opinion
SC20-1298
09-13-2022
THE FLORIDA BAR Petitioner(s) v. CHRISTINE BOWIN, ETC. Respondent(s)
NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION AND, IF FILED, DETERMINED.
Lower Tribunal No(s).: 20193055(18A); 20203007(18A)
The uncontested report of the referee is approved, and Respondent, Christine Bowin, a/k/a Christine-Blair Bowin, individually, and d/b/a Florida Virtual Paralegals, LLC, a Florida Limited Liability Company; d/b/a Bowin Bankruptcy Services; and d/b/a Launch Title, LLC, a Florida Limited Liability Company, as well as any employees or persons acting in concert with Respondent, are permanently and perpetually enjoined from engaging in the acts specified in the report of referee and from otherwise engaging in the unlicensed practice of law in the State of Florida.
Judgment is entered for Mary Jo Chisler in the amount of $1,880.00, and Elizabeth Wolfel in the amount of $1,565.00, for restitution from Christine Bowin, a/k/a Christine-Blair Bowin, individually, and d/b/a Florida Virtual Paralegals, LLC, a Florida Limited Liability Company; d/b/a Bowin Bankruptcy Services; and d/b/a Launch Title, LLC, a Florida Limited Liability Company, for which sum let execution issue. Respondent shall pay the restitution under the terms and conditions set forth in the report of referee. Respondent shall send the restitution payments to the UPL Department of The Florida Bar, made payable to Mary Jo Chisler and Elizabeth Wolfel, respectively. Restitution shall be made within ninety days. Restitution payments shall be made before payment of costs. The Florida Bar may initiate contempt proceedings or collection actions in accordance with the applicable rules for failure to pay restitution. The Florida Bar shall provide the complainants with a copy of this order. Nothing in this order shall preclude the complainants from seeking further relief through civil proceedings.
Judgment is also entered for The Florida Bar, 651 East Jefferson Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2300, for recovery of costs from Christine Bowin, a/k/a Christine-Blair Bowin, individually, and d/b/a Florida Virtual Paralegals, LLC, a Florida Limited Liability Company; d/b/a Bowin Bankruptcy Services; and d/b/a Launch Title, LLC, a Florida Limited Liability Company in the amount of $2,201.30, for which sum let execution issue.
Respondent is further ordered to pay a monetary penalty of $2,000.00, which is equal to $1,000.00 per incident of unlicensed practice of law. See R. Regulating Fla. Bar 10-7.1(d). Respondent shall send the penalty payment to the UPL Department of The Florida Bar, made payable to the Supreme Court of Florida. The penalty payment shall be made after the payment of restitution and costs.
MUÑIZ, C.J., and CANADY, POLSTON, LABARGA, COURIEL, and GROSSHANS, JJ., concur.
FRANCIS, J., did not participate.
HON. VICTORIA L. GRIFFIN, JUDGE