Disciplinary actions.

The Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders disciplined 22 attorneys; disbarring eight, suspending five and publicly reprimanding nine. Three attorneys received more than one form of discipline. They were also placed on probation.

Chmari Lael Anderson, P.O. Box 3604, Orlando, to be publicly reprimanded and further, directed to attend ethics school, following a June 19 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2008) Anderson represented a client on criminal charges. After the case resulted in a 30-year term of incarceration, the client asked Anderson to file a notice of appeal. Anderson filed the notice of appeal in an untimely manner, typed the client's name on the signature line without permission, which suggested that it was approved by the client, and failed to disclose his involvement in filing the untimely notice of appeal. Anderson subsequently failed to respond to the court regarding allegations made by the client. (Case No. SC14-1003)

Angela Morton Armstrong, 1155 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor, suspended for 91 days, effective immediately, following a July 31 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2001) Armstrong was hired to represent clients in several instances and failed to follow through. Armstrong failed to respond to the Bar in two cases and did not timely respond in two other cases. Additionally, the grievance committee found probable cause that Armstrong failed to diligently represent and communicate with her clients in four bankruptcy cases, causing one to lose his home. (Case No. SC13-1633) Derek Michael Aronoff, 27 S.E. Ocean Blvd., Stuart, to be publicly reprimanded by publication in the Southern Reporter and further, directed to attend ethics school, following a June 19 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2001) After the death of a client, Aronoff attempted to provide legal services to her family when he was not competent to do so. Instead of advising the family of his late client that he was unsure how to proceed, he attempted to bring a civil action in the name of the decedent, when no probate proceeding was pending. Aronoff mistakenly believed that filing a civil action in the name of the decedent in the wrong county would initiate a probate proceeding. (Case No. SC14-1014)

Francis Wesley Blankner Jr., 217 N.E. Ivanhoe Blvd., Orlando, to be publicly reprimanded following a June 19 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1977) In the fall of 2013, the Fifth District Court of Appeal referred a matter to the Bar to investigate whether Blankner was incompetent and lacked diligence in representing clients before the court dating back to 2011. The court noted instances in which Blankner failed to timely file documents, requested repeated extensions of time to file briefs, failed to respond...