Local Professionalis Panel Report for December 15, 2025
Chief Judge of Circuit: Diana L. Moreland
Name of Submitter: Mary Ann Floyd, General Counsel, 12th Judicial Circuit
Date: 12/11/2025
*Reports must be filed by June 15 and December 15 each year.
SC 2023-0884 - Appendix A
Code for Resolving Professionalism Referrals
3.7 Reporting
- Each LPP must file a written report with the chief judge of its circuit, the Florida Supreme Court, and The Florida Bar identifying all professionalism referrals received against a member of The Florida Bar in June and December of each calendar year.
- The biannual reports must include the following information for each referral for the six
(6) calendar months preceding the month in which the report is due:
- The date of the referral;
- The circuit in which the issue arose;
- A short summary detailing the substance of the referral;
- The relationship of the respondent to the person submitting the referral;
- Whether or not the respondent voluntarily participated in the process;
- The resolution, if any, of the referral; and
- Whether there were previous referrals against the respondent.
- The reports must not include identifying information for the respondent or the party who submitted the referral.
Information for Submitters
- Purpose and Use: This form collects information about your Circuit’s Local Professionalism Panel and its activity for the last six (6) months. This form also asks for updates to the contact information for your Local Professionalism Panel. The information about your Circuit’s Local Professionalism Panel will be used to update the Center’s Local Professionalism Panel contact list, as well as to gauge how each Circuit is carrying out panel activities.
- Reporting Period: Reports must be filed by June 15th and December 15th and include information for the six (6) calendar months preceding the month in which the report is due.
- Where to Submit: Submit this form and any attachments by email to cfp@floridabar.org or by regular mail to:
- The Florida Bar
- Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism
- 651 E. Jefferson Street
- Tallahassee, FL 32399
- Questions: Direct all questions about this form to cfp@floridabar.org.
June Reports should include information from January 1 to June 15.
December Reports should include information from June 16 to December 15.
Local Professionalism Panel Questions
Please complete the information below regarding any activity within your Local Professionalism Panel. Additional pages may be attached as needed.
- Please describe the process by which complaints are addressed. You may attach a link to the complaint form or link to where information is located on your website that advises the consumers, attorneys, and judges how to file a complaint.
- Please describe what types of professionalism issues are seen most often in this Circuit?
- Lack of professionalism, bullying, offensive personality, disrespect to the court.
- What are believed to be the causes of professionalism issues within your Circuit?
- Poor communication; poor education/continuing education on professionalism.
- How often does your Circuit’s Local Professionalism Panel meet?
- Our entire panel meets once a year.
- Please describe any training provided to committee members.
- All panel members have been provided witih the mandatory LPP training posted to The Florida Bar website; given the local Administrative Order; given the Code for Resolving Professionalism Referrals and links to the Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism.
- How is your Circuit’s Local Professionalism Panel promoted?
- On the 12th Judicial Circuit website, in our Circuit's in-house newsletter, at local bar meetings and newsletters; in local bar Continuing Legal Education courses on professionalism.
- Please provide information regarding all complaint intake for the appropriate dates. If filing in June, the information should be from January 1st – June 15th. If filing in December, the information should be from June 16th – December 15th.
Date of Referral: May 27, 2025
Circuit in which issue arose: 12th
Short Summary detailing the substance of the referral
Honesty, integrity, candor; Unprofessional conduct: Other (accusation of attorney giving or allowing false testimony; filing false documents in dissolution of marriage action).
The relationship of the respondent to the person submitting the referral.
Opposing party
Whether or not the respondent voluntarily participated in the process.
Yes.
The resolution, if any, of the referral;*
No action taken; no violation found.
Whether there were previous referrals against the respondent
No
Date of Referral: May 27, 2025
Circuit in which issue arose: 12th
Short Summary detailing the substance of the referral
Honesty, integrity, candor; Unprofessional conduct: Other (accusation of attorney giving or allowing false testimony; filing false documents in dissolution of marriage action).
The relationship of the respondent to the person submitting the referral.
Opposing party
Whether or not the respondent voluntarily participated in the process.
Yes.
The resolution, if any, of the referral;*
No action taken; no violation found.
Whether there were previous referrals against the respondent
No
Date of Referral: May 28, 2025
Circuit in which issue arose: 12th
Short Summary detailing the substance of the referral
Honesty, integrity, candor; Unprofessional conduct (in criminal action, misrepresenting facts to the Court; misrepresenting conversations with or the cooperation of the state attorney to the Court).
The relationship of the respondent to the person submitting the referral.
Opposing attorney
Whether or not the respondent voluntarily participated in the process.
Yes, with counsel.
The resolution, if any, of the referral;*
Letter of advice; requested to attend remedial education class “Professionalism Pitfalls – How to Avoid Miscommunication with Clients, Opposing Counsel, and the Court” available through The Florida Bar.
Whether there were previous referrals against the respondent
No
Date of Referral: June 16, 2025
Circuit in which issue arose: 12th
Short Summary detailing the substance of the referral
Honesty, integrity, candor; Unprofessional conduct. Complaint filed by a member of the public regarding the attorney’s actions at a board of county commission hearing.
The relationship of the respondent to the person submitting the referral.
Member of the public
Whether or not the respondent voluntarily participated in the process.
Yes.
The resolution, if any, of the referral;*
No action taken; no violation found.
Whether there were previous referrals against the respondent
No
Date of Referral: August 15, 2025
Circuit in which issue arose: 12th
Short Summary detailing the substance of the referral
Fair play; dilatory tactics (dissolution of marriage case; allegation of wrongdoing in court filings)
The relationship of the respondent to the person submitting the referral.
Opposing party
Whether or not the respondent voluntarily participated in the process.
No, participation not requested by the panel.
The resolution, if any, of the referral;*
No action taken; no violation found.
Whether there were previous referrals against the respondent
No
Date of Referral: September 4, 2025
Circuit in which issue arose: 12th
Short Summary detailing the substance of the referral
Rude, discourteous, disrespectful, disruptive; Unprofessional conduct (would not follow judge’s courtroom instructions; rude and unprofessional behavior towards the Court).
The relationship of the respondent to the person submitting the referral.
Judge
Whether or not the respondent voluntarily participated in the process.
Yes.
The resolution, if any, of the referral;*
Letter of advice; requested to attend remedial education class “Professionalism Pitfalls – How to Avoid Miscommunication with Clients, Opposing Counsel, and the Court;” and review the video “Candor Towards the Tribunal” available through The Florida Bar.
Whether there were previous referrals against the respondent
No
Date of Referral: October 31, 2025
Circuit in which issue arose: 12th
Short Summary detailing the substance of the referral
Bullying or badgering; Honesty, integrity, candor; Offensive personality; rude, discourteous, disrespectful, disruptive; Unprofessional conduct: (accusing probation officer of wrongdoing; exhibiting racial or religious discrimination).
The relationship of the respondent to the person submitting the referral.
Probation officer.
Whether or not the respondent voluntarily participated in the process.
Matter still pending at the time of this report.
The resolution, if any, of the referral;*
Matter still pending at the time of this report.
Whether there were previous referrals against the respondent
No
Date of Referral: December 1, 2025
Circuit in which issue arose: 12th
Short Summary detailing the substance of the referral
Appearance of impropriety; bullying or badgering; honesty, integrity, candor; offensive personality; rude, discourteous, disrespectful, disruptive; uncivil, unruly; unprofessional conduct; used profanity/obscene gestures (allegations of said behavior toward witness/victim advocate).
The relationship of the respondent to the person submitting the referral.
Other interested party
Whether or not the respondent voluntarily participated in the process.
Matter still pending at the time of this report.
The resolution, if any, of the referral;*
Matter still pending at the time of this report.
Whether there were previous referrals against the respondent
No
Date of Referral: December 3, 2025
Circuit in which issue arose: 12th
Short Summary detailing the substance of the referral
Honesty, integrity, candor; Unprofessional conduct; Other (failure to follow court administration rules regarding expert witness fees; failure to pay expert witness).
The relationship of the respondent to the person submitting the referral.
Trial Court Administrator
Whether or not the respondent voluntarily participated in the process.
Matter still pending at the time of this report.
The resolution, if any, of the referral;*
Matter still pending at the time of this report.
Whether there were previous referrals against the respondent
No
8. Please provide the contact information for all current panel members. Please include: name(s), email(s), address(es), and phone number(s), and title if applicable.
| Name |
Title/Firm |
Email |
Address |
Phone Number |
| Mary Hawk, Current Chair |
Shareholder
Becker & Poliakoff |
mhawk@beckerlawyers.com |
1001 3rd Ave. W., Suite 300, Bradenton, FL 34205 |
(941) 957-2994 |
| Steven Chase |
Partner
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick |
schase@shumaker.com |
240 S. Pineapple Ave., Suite 1000, Sarasota, FL 34236 |
(941) 364-2708 |
| Tyler Egbert |
Assistant State Attorney, 12th Judicial Circuit |
tegbert@sao12.org |
1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, FL 34205 |
(941) 747-3077 |
| Anne Hunter |
Assistant Public Defender, 12th Judicial Circuit |
anneeh02@gmail.com |
1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, FL 34205 |
(941) 747-6436 |
| Leslie Loftus |
Partner
Loftus Law |
leslie@loftuslaw.net |
1858 Ringling Blvd., Suite 110, Sarasota, FL 34236 |
(941) 444-7278 |
| Anthony Mowry |
Partner
Berg, Brewer, Kessler & Mowry PLLC |
tony@bkmpllc.com |
1872 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite D, Venice, FL 34293 |
(941) 493-0871 |
| Joseph Polzak |
City Attorney
City of Sarasota |
joe.polzak@sarasotaFL.gov |
111 S. Orange, Suite 202, Sarasota, FL 34236 |
(941) 263-6980 |
| Marisa Powers |
Principal
Blalock Walters, P.A. |
mpowers@blalockwalters.com |
802 11th St. W., Bradenton, FL 34205 |
(941) 748-1000 |
| Laurie Sams |
Partner
Van Winkle & Sams, P.A. |
lauriesams@comcast.net |
3859 Bee Ridge Road, Suite 202, Sarasota, FL 34233 |
(941) 923-0174 |
| Paul Suesy |
Partner
Paul Bennett Suesy, P.A. |
paul@paulseusy.com |
P.O. Box 230, Arcadia, FL 34265 |
(863) 491-7285 |
| Mary Ann Floyd, 12th Circuit Liaison |
General Counsel
12th Judicial Circuit Court |
mfloyd@jud12.flcourts.org |
4004 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice, FL 34293 |
(941) 861-8141 |
The Florida Bar will publish on its website the LPP biannual reports. The Chief Judge, or the Chief Judge’s designee, will publish on the judicial Circuit’s website the LPP biannual reports from that Circuit.