| ► Attorney Richard Benton of Tallahassee; moronic repeater |
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Attorney Richard Benton of Tallahassee; moronic repeat offender 
The state of Florida presented Richard Edward Benton with a law license in 1976.
The State Bar of Florida found Richard guilty of the following misconduct.
As a consequence of his misconduct, the cheerleaders for Attorney Misfits sitting on the Florida Supreme Court punished Richard by gifting him with a complimentary 40-day suspension of his law license.
Richard’s 1st bite at the Attorney Misfit Apple Tree
Richard was hired by Anjaneyuhu Krothapali as personal representative of the estate of Krishnamurthy Karamcheti, deceased, to represent him and assist in the administration of the estate.
Five month later, Richard filed the necessary petition with the Second Judicial Circuit Court for Leon County, Florida. Thereafter, Richard neglected to advance the probate of the estate, and a Notice of Dismissal for Lack of Prosecution was sent to Richard four months later. Richard took no action in regards to the notice from the court and his client’s probate case was dismissed.
As a consequence of his misconduct, the cheerleaders for Attorney Misfits sitting on the Florida Supreme Court punished Richard by gifting him with a complimentary reprimand.
Richard’s 2nd bite at the Attorney Misfit Apple Tree
Tony Santos hired Richard to represent him in a breach of contract involving the purchase of commercial property. Richard agreed to accept automotive services from Santos in lieu of charging him any attorney fees.
It took Richard almost seventeen (17) months to file a lawsuit on behalf of Santos. Despite repeated contacts from Santos requesting that he schedule a hearing, Richard never did so. Subsequently the trial court entered a Notice of Failure to Prosecute the matter, a copy of which was sent to Richard.
Richard failed to file anything with the trial court or to notify Santos of the court’s notice. Thereafter, Richard refused to take Santos’ repeated call or return messages. Subsequently, Santos discovered on his own initiative that the trial court had entered an order dismissing his lawsuit because Richard’s failure to prosecute the case. Richard made no attempt to notify Santos of either the notice or order dismissing his case.
As a consequence of his misconduct, the cheerleaders for Attorney Misfits sitting on the Florida Supreme Court punished Richard by gifting him with a complimentary 20-day suspension of his law license.
Richard’s 3rd bite at the Attorney Misfit Apple Tree
James Hal Davis hired Richard to represent him in a quiet title action regarding two vacant lots he had purchased at a tax deed sale. Davis initially paid Richard $1,000. After not hearing from Richard for nearly eight (8) months, Davis checked the court web site and found that Richard did not filed a complaint on his behalf. Two months later, Richard finally filed the necessary complaint.
Three months later, Richard sent Davis a letter stating they were “near a point of being able to complete the quiet title action,” however, before proceeding Richard said he needed a $1,059 in advanced costs and an additional $1,000 in fees. Two weeks later, Davis sent Richard the $2,059 he requested. After numerous phone calls to Richard achieved no results, Davis filed a complaint with the Florida Bar.
Due to Richard’s gross negligence and incompetence, the trial court entered an order dismissing Davis’ complaint due to Richard’s failure to prosecute the matter. Davis then sent a letter to Richard demanding return of the $3,059 he had previously paid him.
As a consequence of his misconduct, the cheerleaders for Attorney Misfits sitting on the Florida Supreme Court punished Richard by gifting him with a complimentary 40-day suspension of his law license.
As we speak (ca. November 2012) Richard practices at 1415 Piedmont Drive in Tallahassee, Florida.
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