Disciplinary actions.

The Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders disciplined 31 attorneys, disbarring 12 and suspending 15. Some attorneys received more than one form of discipline. One attorney was placed on probation; four attorneys were publicly reprimanded; and two attorneys were ordered to pay restitution.

Court orders are not final until time expires to file a rehearing motion and, if filed, determined. The filing of such a motion does not alter the effective date of the discipline. Disbarred lawyers may not reapply for admission for five years. They are required to go through an extensive process that rejects many who apply. It includes a rigorous background check and retaking the bar exam. Historically, fewer than 5 percent of disbarred lawyers seek readmission.

The following lawyers are disciplined:

Julio Antonio Nolla-Amado, 6856 W. Flagler St., Floor 2, Miami, publicly reprimanded and placed on probation for one year, following a November 18, 2011, court order. (Admitted to practice: 1986) A Bar review revealed problems with Nolla-Amado's trust account records, which resulted after his nonlawyer employee was granted signatory authority over his trust account. Nolla-Amado failed to supervise the nonlawyer employee, enabling her to make improper use of the trust account. In addition, Nolla-Amado failed to follow minimum trust accounting requirements by failing to reconcile his trust account on a monthly basis and failing to maintain complete client ledger cards, among other things. (Case No. SC11-2112)

Sebastian John Balliro, 101 N.E. 3rd Ave. Suite 1500, Ft. Lauderdale, suspended until further order, following a September 7, 2011, court order. (Admitted to practice: 1998) According to a petition for emergency suspension, Balliro appeared to be causing great public harm by misappropriating trust funds or property. On two separate occasions, Balliro withdrew money from his law firm's trust account without the consent or knowledge of his law partner--$96,000 and $130,000. He also failed to maintain certain trust accounting records and follow mandatory trust accounting procedures. (Case No. SC11-866)

Kevin Jay Byrne, 1451 W. Cypress Creek Road, Suite 300, Ft. Lauderdale, permanently disbarred effective immediately, following a December 14, 2011, court order. (Admitted to practice: 2001). Byrne was found in contempt for failure to respond to comply with the terms of his June 23, 2011, disbarment. Byrne did not submit to the Bar a sworn affidavit listing the names and addresses of all persons and entities to which he gave notice of his disbarment. (Case Nos. SC11-1716)

John Patrick Clement, 500 Marbella Circle, North Palm Beach, disbarred effective immediately, following a December 20, 2011, court order. (Admitted to practice: 1999) Clement was found in contempt for failing to comply with the terms of his 2008 suspension and subsequent probation. While on probation, Clement was convicted of DUI and leaving the scene of an accident. (Case No. SC11-962)

Richard Timothy Cotter, 6100 Estero Blvd., P.O. Box 6868, Ft. Myers, permanently disbarred effective immediately, following an October 7, 2011, court order. (Admitted to practice: 1976) Cotter was found in contempt for failure to comply with the terms of a January 2011 disbarment order. Cotter did not submit to the Bar a required list of persons/entities to which he gave notice of his disbarment. (SC11963)

Russell Flynn Crump, 4404 N.W. 36th Ave., Suite B, Gainesville, suspended until further order, effective 30 days from an October 14, 2011, court order...