The Florida State Bar is looking for sanctions in opposition to a associate with a distinguished New Orleans space legislation agency, alleging that she used misleading techniques to solicit purchasers after Hurricane Ian.
The bar on Thursday filed a petition with the Florida Supreme Court docket asking for an emergency suspension of the legislation licensed issued to Jennifer Perez, a associate with Gauthier, Murphy & Houghtaling. The Bar’s pleading states that GM&H parked a truck within the car parking zone of the Riverview Inn, a closed motel in North Fort Meyers, and staffed it with a “non-lawyer” who admitted to investigators that it was “usually misperceived” as belonging to the Federal Emergency Administration Company.
FEMA had been collaborating in an “insurance coverage village” that the Florida Division of Monetary Providers arrange in Fort Meyers and Port Charlotte to help hurricane victims. No attorneys are allowed in these facilities.
“Details about the Louisiana legislation agency was intentionally obscured on respondent’s ‘Cellular Declare Heart’ to create the impression that the truck is a part of FEMA or the state-run insurance coverage village, giving the Louisiana legislation agency the chance to solicit hurricane victims,” the petition says.
The Bar’s petition features a picture of what seems to be a fifth-wheel trailer (though it’s described as a truck) and an connected air-conditioned tent. A sheet of black plastic covers the title of the legislation agency, however doesn’t obscure the agency’s Louisiana phone quantity.
“The Louisiana legislation agency web site intentionally contains the defunct motel tackle to create the impression that it has a bona fide legislation workplace in Florida,” the petition says.
The petition contains affidavits by employees investigators Karen Brown and John Berrena.
Berrena mentioned when he visited the positioning on Oct. 18 he encountered a person who recognized himself as Sergio Alvardo, who just isn’t an legal professional or paralegal. Alvarado informed Berrena that individuals who walked into the tent thought it was a FEMA heart. When requested if there have been any attorneys on website, Alvarado recognized John Houghtaling, a associate within the legislation agency who has an workplace in Metairie, Louisiana, the affidavit says.
Houghtaling could also be greatest identified to readers of the Claims Journal because the legal professional who filed the first-ever lawsuit looking for protection for business-interruption losses attributable to COVID-19. He gained a uncommon appellate court docket victory in favor of his shopper, a New Orleans seafood restaurant.
Berrena mentioned he known as Houghtaling’s workplace and spoke with a paralegal who informed him that Perez was the legislation agency’s Florida legal professional.
In keeping with the legislation agency’s web site, Perez obtained her Juris Physician in 2018 from Loyola College in New Orleans. She admitted to the Florida Bar in Might 2020.
Brown’s affidavit says the GM&H legislation agency’s web site lists the the Riverview Inn as Perez’s tackle. An indication on the door of the motel says it’s “shut.” Brown mentioned the paralegal informed her that Brown works from a digital workplace.
The Bar’s pleading says that Perez violated six Guidelines of Skilled Conduct that require legal professional supervision of any non-lawyer assistants, bar the unlicensed apply of legislation, prohibit the direct solicitation of purchasers and prohibit deceptive statements.
The Bar asks the Supreme Court docket to right away droop Perez’s license, bar her from contracting with any new purchasers, stop disbursing or withdrawing any cash from belief accounts and cease accepting any authorized charges.
Neither Perez nor Houghtaling could possibly be reached for touch upon Friday.
Prime picture: This display shot, taken from the Florida Bar’s petition to droop Jennifer Perez’s legislation license, reveals the truck or trailer that was arrange exterior the Riverview Inn in North Fort Meyers.
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