Disciplinary actions.

Prepared by The Florida Bar's Public Information and Bar Services Department

The Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders disciplined 29 attorneys; disbarring five, revoking the licenses of two, suspending 21, and placing one on probation. Three attorneys received more than one form of discipline. One was ordered to pay restitution and two were placed on probation.

Angela Morton Armstrong, 1155 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor, suspended until further order, effective 30 days from a January 28 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2001) Armstrong was found in contempt for failing to respond to Bar inquiries regarding two disciplinary cases. She also failed to appear before a grievance committee regarding the cases and failed to inform the committee that she would be unable to attend. (Case No. SC13-1855)

Antonio R. Arnao, 28870 U.S. Highway 19 N., Suite 300, Clearwater, suspended until further order, effective immediately, following a January 27 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1988) Arnao was found in contempt for failing to comply with a grievance committee subpoena for trust records and client files regarding four discipline cases. (Case No. SC13-1916)

Jason Todd Banks, 2023 Cato Court, Indialantic, suspended for 91 days, effective December 31, 2013, following a December 20, 2013, court order. (Admitted to practice: 1998) In October 2011, Banks agreed to relinquish his certification as a Florida Supreme Court certified mediator, without leave to reapply. The Florida Dispute Resolution Center referred the matter to The Florida Bar. Banks admitted to engaging in conduct involving an impermissible conflict of interest and attempting to influence the complainant to dismiss the grievance that he filed with the Dispute Resolution Center. (Case No. SC13-545)

Michael Leroy Bryant, 190 N.E. 189th Ave., Old Town, placed on probation for six months, effective immediately, following a January 13 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1993) In two separate cases, Bryant served as assistant regional conflict counsel, representing criminal defendants and mismanaged the transition from trial to appellate jurisdiction. Bryant's failure to respond to communications from the First District Court of Appeal resulted in delay and wasted judicial resources. (Case No. SC1319)

Marshall Lawrence Cohen, P.O. Box 60292, Ft. Myers, suspended until further order, effective 30 days from a January 30 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1973) According to a petition for emergency suspension, there was a substantial likelihood that Cohen would cause great public harm. Cohen was also a member of the Georgia State Bar. He attempted to practice law in the Middle District of Florida despite being disbarred by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit as a reciprocal discipline for his disbarment from the Georgia State Bar. (Case No. SC14-38)

Yolanda Maria Concepcion, P.O. Box 611505, North Miami, suspended for 91 days, effective 30 days from a December 26, 2013, court order. Further, upon reinstatement, Concepcion is...