The state Supreme Court in recent court orders disciplined 26 attorneys, disbarring two, revoking the license of one, suspending 17 and reprimanding six. Three attorneys were placed on probation.
Two practice in Northeast Florida:
• Reginald Luster, 1751 University Blvd. S. in Jacksonville, is suspended for 91 days effective 30 days following a Nov. 19 court order.
Luster settled a personal injury case without advising the complainant, a chiropractor treating Luster’s clients, and failed to protect or otherwise pay the bills for their treatment. After a trust account audit, no violations were found but also no evidence was found that Luster had protected the complainant’s funds.
The clients indicated that they did not inform Luster to not pay the chiropractor and had no knowledge that he was not paid. They provided their closing statements which were originals, and which lacked certain language added by Luster to his copies which he provided to the Bar.
When asked about the discrepancy, Luster acknowledged his mistake and expressed remorse. He did subsequently pay the complainant the money owed to him.
• Mark Alan Marder, 84 Big Island Trail in Ponte Vedra, is suspended for 90 days effective 30 days following a Nov. 12 court order.
Marder received earnest money deposits totaling $30,000 for two real estate contracts on a client’s property in 2006 and 2007. After the sales fell through, Marder took the money as his fees, after which his client filed a complaint with The Florida Bar.
Marder reached an agreement with his client and refunded $17,000. The court also found that Marder improperly requested his client withdraw his Bar complaint as a result of the agreement.
Additionally, Marder failed to properly maintain trust account records and failed to properly follow minimum trust accounting procedures.