Duane Morris partner gets 'letter of advice' after mistaken court filing
A Duane Morris partner criticized by a bankruptcy judge for a mistaken court filing won’t face ethics charges over the episode.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge John Olson of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, had held partner Lida Rodriguez-Taseff accountable for the filing, which wrongly stated that Olson had decided a pending motion in favor of a Duane Morris client. The draft order was supposed to say the judge had agreed to a continuance on the issue. Duane Morris said two paralegals had botched the filing.
The Florida Bar’s grievance committee found no probable cause to pursue charges, the Daily Business Review (sub. req.) reports. It did issue a letter of advice, however, which doesn’t constitute disciplinary action, the story says.
The letter, obtained by the Daily Business Review, cautions that committee’s decision against pursuing charges doesn’t indicate that it condones Rodriguez-Taseff’s conduct in the matter.
“While the committee understands that this incident occurred largely without your knowledge, as an attorney, you are ultimately responsible for supervising the employees who perform work in your office. Simply put, the buck stops with you,” the letter said.
“It is incumbent upon you to establish internal policies and procedures to ensure that nonlawyers in the firm act in manners compatible with your obligations under the Rules of Professional Conduct.”
Olson had initially barred Rodriguez-Taseff from practicing in bankruptcy court for 90 days and ordered her to complete 30 hours of ethics training. He vacated the sanction in September 2015 and commended Rodriguez-Taseff for her contrite attitude. She had taken more ethics class than required, volunteered with legal groups, and met with opposing counsel to try to repair the professional relationship.
