Disciplinary actions.

The Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders disciplined 21 attorneys, disbarring six and suspending 13. Some attorneys received more than one form of discipline. Two attorneys were placed on probation; two attorneys were publicly reprimanded.

The following lawyers were disciplined:

Edward Joel Abramson, 7270 N.W 12th St., Suite 580, Miami, suspended for 60 days, effective 30 days from a March 8 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1989) Abramson is further directed to attend a Florida Bar professionalism workshop. Abramson engaged in conduct involving dishonesty. In representing a client in an immigration hearing, Abramson was aware but failed to disclose to the judge a client's prior arrest. (Case No. SC11-1425)

Andrea Ruth Bateman, P.O. Box 104, Winter Park, suspended for 30 days, effective 30 days from a March 19 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1974) Bateman was found in contempt for violating the terms of an October 2009 probation. She failed to submit quarterly trust account CPA reports and also failed to remit the quarterly monitoring fee on several occasions, accumulating arrearages of $700. (Case No. SC11-2323)

Jennifer Aycock Bonifield, 1025 Professional Park Drive, Brandon, suspended until further order, effective 30 days from an April 4 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2002) Bonifield was found in contempt for willfully failing to comply with a subpoena without good cause. The Bar was seeking copies of all Bonifield's trust and operating account records. In July 2009, deposits to Bonifield's escrow account totaled more than $856,000. Since that time, more than $575,000 has been electronically transferred from the account to Bonifield's checking account. Bonifield failed to provide documentation for the transfers. She also failed to appear at the noncompliance hearing before the grievance committee in February. Stephan Tabano has been appointed as inventory attorney. (Case No. SC12-264)

Robert T. Carter, P.O. Box 790, Tullahoma, Tenn., suspended until further order, effective 30 days from a March 20 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1991) Carter, who was licensed to practice law in Tennessee and Florida, pleaded guilty to a felony in the criminal court of Tennessee. Carter misappropriated approximately $59,000 from his former law firm by accepting fees from clients and not reporting them to the firm. (Case No. SC12-518)

Brian Gerard Doherty, 42129 N. Golf Crest Road, Anthem, Ariz., disbarred effective 30 days from a January 17 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1987) Doherty formed a professional relationship with a married couple. He provided legal advice concerning estate planning and also served as...