| ► Attorney Douglas Stratton of Miami Beach; ethical dwarf |
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Attorney Douglas Stratton of Miami Beach; ethical dwarf
The state of Florida presented Douglas David Stratton with a law license in 1977 after he graduated from the University of Florida Law School.
The State Bar of Florida found David guilty of the following misconduct.
In early 2009, David’s firm expanded its practice into the area of debt negotiation assistance and hired an experienced lawyer to expand the practice. David’s firm then hired a back office provider to set up web sites, advertising, data base management, maintenance of financial records and other services for his firm.
Subsequently, David’s firm opened an office in New Jersey, hired additional attorneys and retained local counsel in several other states in order to service clients with debt negotiation matters outside of Florida.
In addition, the back office provider acted as a lawyer referral service on behalf of David’s firm; however, it did not meet any of the requirements necessary to qualify as a legitimate referral services under the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar, a fact well known to David.
Approximately 7,000 clients from around the nation hired David’s firm. As a result, David’s firm collected fees which were generated through the advertising and solicitation of client that was not in compliance with the Florida Bar Rules.
In addition to knowingly violating the solicitation rules aforementioned, Bar investigators discovered that David’s firm was illegally engaged in fee sharing with the back office provider.
As a consequence of his misconduct, the enablers for Attorney Misfits sitting on the Florida Supreme Court punished Brett by gifting him with a complimentary 180-day suspension of his law license.
As we speak (ca. December 2012) David practices with Stratton & Feinstein, P.A. at 407 Lincoln Road in Miami Beach, Florida.
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