The Issue Whether Petitioner's application for licensure should be denied based upon his prior disciplinary history by the Florida Bar and failure to provide proof of satisfaction of resulting cost judgments against him, as indicated in the Notice of Denial issued by Respondent on February 12, 2016.
Findings Of Fact DFS is the state agency responsible for licensing and regulation of insurance in Florida pursuant to chapter 626, Florida Statutes. On September 4, 2015, Petitioner, Jeffrey A. Norkin, applied for licensure as a life, including health and variable annuity, insurance agent. On February 12, 2016, DFS issued a Notice of Denial with respect to Petitioner's application based upon Petitioner's disciplinary history with the Florida Bar ("Bar") and his failure to pay amounts assessed in his suspension and disbarment proceedings. Petitioner's Background Petitioner graduated from the University of Miami Law School in 1992 and was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1993. Prior to attending law school, Petitioner worked for several months as a life insurance agent and for a commodities broker. Until his suspension from the practice of law on October 31, 2013, Petitioner maintained a successful general litigation practice in Broward County, Florida, handling commercial disputes and civil rights matters, including the representation of victims in police brutality cases. Petitioner's Disciplinary History as an Attorney Petitioner's 2003 Reprimand On April 20, 1999, in the case of Greenberg v. Hunter, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida, Case No. 4:99cv45 WS, Judge William Stafford issued a Contempt Order against Petitioner for, among other things, falsely accusing opposing counsel of improperly interrupting a deposition to coach his client. Judge Stafford noted: I have observed . . . [Petitioner] is constantly accusatory in tone and by choice of words. He has been consistently disrespectful to the court, to the lawyers, to the parties, to the witnesses. He has accused counsel of spoliation of the evidence, of illegal conduct, of unprofessional behavior, of lying. He has demeaned the justice system, law enforcement, and his own profession, and my profession. He has refused to accept the court's rulings. He has constantly argued about rulings once I've made them. . . . He has called not just one attorney incompetent, but almost every attorney that has appeared here either as a witness or as counsel of record, and even his own client's prior counsel . . . . He has berated the court. . . . The Fla. Bar v. Norkin, 132 So. 3d 77, 88 (Fla. 2013). Judge Stafford banned Petitioner from practicing in the Northern District for a year. As a result, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida instituted a disciplinary action pursuant to the Rules Governing Attorney Discipline, Local Rules for the Southern District of Florida, Rule V(B). The matter was ultimately referred to the Bar for prosecution and on September 24, 2003, the Florida Supreme Court in SC02-854,2/ in its capacity as the Bar Disciplinary Board, disciplined Petitioner for "disrespectful, accusatory, argumentative, and rude behavior," by issuing a public reprimand, entering judgment for the recovery of costs against Petitioner in the amount of $930.00, and instructed him to attend 30 hours of continuing legal education. The Fla. Bar v. Norkin, 132 So. 3rd at 87 (citing The Fla. Bar v. Norkin, 858 So. 2d 332 (Fla. 2003)(unpublished table decision). Petitioner's 2013 Suspension Petitioner represented David Beem in a commercial litigation dispute, Gary Ferguson, individually, and derivatively on behalf of Floors to Doors, Inc. v. David Beem and Floors to Doors, Inc., Circuit Court Case Number: 07-34790 CA 20, in the Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in and for Miami- Dade County ("Ferguson v. Beem"), which began in 2007. The litigation was very contentious and opposing counsel representing Ferguson, Gary Brooks, initiated a grievance against Petitioner, which resulted in the Bar complaint filed against Petitioner in July 2011. On October 31, 2013, in The Florida Bar v. Norkin, supra, the Florida Supreme Court, again in its capacity as the Bar Disciplinary Board, suspended Petitioner's license to practice law for 24 months, issued him a public reprimand, placed him on probation for 18 months upon reinstatement of his license, assessed costs against him in the amount of $7,970.53, and assessed administrative fees against him in the amount of $1,250.00 for engaging in unprofessional conduct in the Ferguson v. Beem litigation. Petitioner was cited for violating the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar 4-3.5(c), 4-8.2(a), 4-8.4(a), and 4-8.4(d),3/ for disrupting several court hearings by yelling at judges and exhibiting disrespectful conduct, falsely accusing a senior judge of criminal conduct to berate him into withdrawing his request for a fee, and engaging in "relentless unethical and unprofessional" efforts to denigrate and humiliate opposing counsel. The court adopted the referee's findings of fact and recommendations as to guilt, because they were supported by competent, substantial evidence, including witness testimony, exhibits, and transcripts from the Ferguson v. Beem litigation. However, the court disapproved the referee's recommended sanction of a 90-day suspension and, instead, imposed a two-year suspension. The Court held: Competent, zealous representation is required when working on a case for a client. There are proper types of behavior and methods to utilize when aggressively representing a client. Screaming at judges and opposing counsel, and personally attacking opposing counsel by disparaging him and attempting to humiliate him, are not among the types of acceptable conduct but are entirely unacceptable. One can be professional and aggressive without being obnoxious. Attorneys should focus on the substance of their cases, treating judges and opposing counsel with civility, rather than trying to prevail by being insolent toward judges and purposefully offensive toward opposing counsel. This Court has been discussing professionalism and civility for years. We do not tolerate unprofessional and discourteous behavior. We do not take any pleasure in sanctioning Norkin, but if we are to have an honored and respected profession, we are required to hold ourselves to a higher standard. Norkin has conducted himself in a manner that is the antithesis of what this Court expects from attorneys. By his unprofessional behavior, he has denigrated lawyers in the eyes of the public. Norkin's violations of the Bar rules and unprofessional behavior merit a two-year suspension and a public reprimand. We direct Norkin to appear personally before this Court to receive the public reprimand. His unprofessional conduct is an embarrassment to all members of The Florida Bar. Id. at 93. Petitioner's conduct was considered so outrageous that the court, in footnote 5 stated, "Members of The Florida Bar, law professors, and law students should study the instant case as a glaring example of unprofessional behavior." Id. Petitioner's 2015 Disbarment The Court's opinion required Petitioner to fully comply with Rule Regulating the Florida Bar 3-5.1(h), which requires a suspended attorney to give notice of the suspension to all clients, opposing counsel or co-counsel, and all courts, tribunals, or adjudicative agencies before which the attorney is counsel of record by furnishing them with a copy of the suspension order. The rule also requires the suspended attorney, within 30 days of service of the order, to furnish Bar counsel with a sworn affidavit listing the names and addresses of all persons and entities to which notice was given. On December 31, 2013, the Bar filed a petition for contempt and order to show cause against Petitioner in case number SC13-2480 alleging that despite several notifications of his noncompliance, he had failed to submit the required affidavit to Bar counsel. On January 13, 2014, the Bar filed an amended petition also alleging that Petitioner had engaged in the practice of law after the effective date of the suspension. Petitioner admits ghostwriting numerous pleadings for Mr. Beem after his suspension, both in the Ferguson v. Beem litigation and in In Re: Gary Ferguson, Debtor, United States Bankruptcy Court Case Number 12-22368, in and for the Southern District of Florida ("Ferguson bankruptcy"). In the meantime, the Bar filed, in case number SC11- 1356, a motion for sanctions against Petitioner. The motion alleged that after having been suspended and publicly reprimanded by the Court, Petitioner sent Bar counsel three offensive and threatening e-mails evidencing "complete disregard for the contents of the Court's opinion, as well as the reprimand administered by Justice Polston." The motion also pointed out that Petitioner, through his countenance and physical conduct while the public reprimand was being administered in case number SC11-1356, showed his contempt for the court. The motion urged the court to disbar Petitioner. This motion was referred to the referee in case number SC13-2480 for a hearing and recommendation. On September 3, 2014, the referee filed a report and recommendation on the Bar's petition for contempt and the motion for sanctions. The referee found that based upon Petitioner's own response to the motion for summary judgment and testimony at the hearing, there were no genuine issues of material fact with respect to the allegations concerning Petitioner's failure to comply with Rule Regulating the Florida Bar 3-5.1(h). Similarly, based on Petitioner's response and his own testimony at the hearing, the referee found that there was no genuine issue of fact concerning whether he engaged in the practice of law after the effective date of his suspension. The referee also found that with regard to the Bar's motion for sanctions, Petitioner knowingly or through callous indifference disparaged, threatened, and humiliated Bar counsel, in violation of Rule Regulating the Florida Bar 4-8.4(d). Based on these findings, the referee recommended that Petitioner be found in contempt of the court's suspension order in SC11-1356, and that he be disbarred. The Florida Supreme Court unanimously approved the recommendation, permanently disbarred Petitioner from the practice of law, and entered a judgment against Petitioner for costs in the amount of $3,034.19. See The Fla. Bar v. Norkin, 183 So. 3rd 1018 (Fla. 2015). In support of its decision, the court reasoned: Moreover, given Norkin's continuation of his egregious behavior following his suspension and during the administration of the public reprimand, we conclude that he will not change his pattern of misconduct. Indeed, his filings in the instant case continue to demonstrate his disregard for this Court, his unrepentant attitude, and his intent to continue his defiant and contemptuous conduct that is demeaning to this Court, the Court's processes, and the profession of attorneys as a whole. Such misconduct cannot and will not be tolerated as it sullies the dignity of judicial proceedings and debases the constitutional republic we serve. We conclude that Norkin is not amenable to rehabilitation, and as argued by the Bar, is deserving of permanent disbarment. Id. at 1023. The Application On September 4, 2015, Petitioner began his application for licensure as a resident life, including variable annuity and health, insurance agent. On November 5, 2015, DFS sent Petitioner a deficiency letter asking for, among other things, proof that he "paid all outstanding monies due the Florida Bar for recovery of costs ($7,970.53) and administrative fees ($1,250.00), with reference to . . . Florida Supreme Court Case 11-1356." On November 17, 2015, DFS received a letter from Petitioner indicating that he had not paid the costs or fees assessed against him in the 2013 Action. Petitioner stated "[m]ost of them are nothing more than fabricated costs, invented, and unsupported in any way by the Florida Bar as a revenue producer and as an additional means of harassing me." This submission completed his application. Petitioner admits that to date, the assessments from the suspension and disbarment have not been paid, and he has no intention of paying them. On February 12, 2016, DFS informed Petitioner of its intent to deny his application based on the Bar proceedings against him. DFS did not interview anyone, including Petitioner, prior to denying the application. Matt Tamplin, DFS Bureau Chief of Licensing, made the decision to deny Petitioner's application for lack of fitness based on Petitioner's suspension, disbarment, and failure to pay the costs or fees the Bar assessed against him. The position for which Petitioner seeks licensure is one of public trust. Tamplin's rational for the application denial was that "Florida is a very diverse and vulnerable population" and that Petitioner's disciplinary history resulted in "very serious concerns about Mr. Norkin's failure to follow rules under a regulatory authority." Petitioner's Position Petitioner does not dispute his disciplinary record or the fact that the fees assessed are not paid. However, he takes no responsibility for his actions, which resulted in his suspension and disbarment. He claims that every negative allegation against him "has been a total lie." For example, although Petitioner admits that he yelled about Judge Stafford and his rulings in a crowded public restaurant on a lunch break during trial, he speculates that he was disciplined by the federal court for the Northern District of Florida and the Bar in 2003, because he and his client were Jewish, he was "too handsome," "too young," "too loud," or "from New York." Regarding the 2013 suspension, Petitioner contends that he did nothing wrong, he apologized to the judges when he raised his voice, and that his actions towards his opposing counsel were justified because the litigation was "destroying" his client's life. Petitioner asserts he was not fully advised of the charges against him and that he was not under an obligation to disseminate the Florida Supreme Court's order of suspension to all of his opposing counsel and judges before whom he had cases pending because "the decision did not require me to send them the outrageous, false, and defamatory decision." Petitioner fully admits ghostwriting pleadings for Mr. Beem in both the Ferguson v. Beem civil litigation and Ferguson bankruptcy proceedings after his suspension. Petitioner, who was not a party to either litigation, contends this was not the unlicensed practice of law, because he was working to protect his "vested interest" in attorney's fees earned and "to protect my client from having the court be used as a weapon to steal money from him." Petitioner argues he was "the only lawyer in the world" who would help Mr. Beem and that he was not practicing law because he was not collecting fees from Mr. Beem. Petitioner also admits "staring down" each Florida Supreme Court Justice during his public reprimand, but justifies it as his attempt to humanize himself in their eyes. He also believes it was constitutionally protected non-verbal speech and that he did not receive due process because the justices did not ask him to stop staring or recuse themselves. Petitioner explains his threatening communication to Bar counsel: And I wrote an email to my bar counsel who destroyed my life telling her that she did something, I can't remember what it was, and telling her that she was the most despicable lawyer and that's the–-and that I'm going to file a lawsuit against her and to keep an eye out for it. To date, Petitioner has not paid the assessments of the Bar and has no intention of doing so. He claims an inability to pay because of his disbarment and alleges that the imposition of the costs "along with all the other punishment was unconstitutional, and completely unjustified." Petitioner argues there is no correlation between his disciplinary history as a lawyer and his ability to sell life insurance.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is RECOMMENDED that DFS enter a final order denying Petitioner’s application for licensure as a life, including variable annuity and health, insurance agent in Florida. DONE AND ENTERED this 30th day of August, 2016, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. S MARY LI CREASY Administrative Law Judge Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3060 (850) 488-9675 Fax Filing (850) 921-6847 www.doah.state.fl.us Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 30th day of August, 2016.
Findings Of Fact Frank M. Murphy, Respondent, on May 26, 1977, filed a voluntary petition of bankruptcy in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida and was discharged November 4, 1977. At the time of the filing of the Administrative Complaint Respondent's license had lapsed by reason of his failure to renew, but the license was subsequently reinstated and is now current. Since his discharge by the bankruptcy court Respondent has continued doing work under his general contractor's license and no complaints against him have been received by Petitioner. Respondent's creditors whose debts were discharged in the bankruptcy proceedings continue to do business with Respondent on a cash basis. The First City Bank in Gainesville, Florida has, since his discharge in bankruptcy, extended Respondent credit in the amount of $3,000 and the account is current in accordance with the terms of the loan. The billings of the accountant who has done Respondent's account work since his discharge are current. Delores J. Mathys loaned Respondent in excess of $10,000 prior to his charge in bankruptcy and has loaned him additional money subsequent to his discharge. She is currently negotiating with him for the construction of a new home. Keller Building Products has, since Respondent's discharge in bankruptcy, extended Respondent credit to the extent of $5,000 and this account is current. Other suppliers have extended Respondent credit since his discharge and his accounts with them are curent. Subcontractors who have done work on projects for which Respondent is general contractor since his discharge have been paid. Other customers for whom Respondent has done work since his discharge are satisfied with his work and will continue to employ him as their contractor. Exhibit 2, a financial statement dated April 25, 1978 shows Respondent to have a current net worth in excess of $85,000, some $78,000 of which consists of real property owned jointly with his wife. Respondent's reputation in the business community in which he utilizes his certification is good.
