Local Professionalism Panel Report for June 15, 2025
Chief Judge of Circuit: Diana L. Moreland
Name of Submitter: Mary Ann Floyd, General Counsel, 12th Judicial Circuit
Date: 05/30/2025 - sent early due to Chief Judge absence on 06/15/2025
*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:
- 1. The date of the referral;
- 2. The circuit in which the issue arose;
- 3. A short summary detailing the substance of the referral;
- 4. The relationship of the respondent to the person submitting the referral;
- 5. Whether or not the respondent voluntarily participated in the process;
- 6. The resolution, if any, of the referral; and
- 7. 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, failure to appear, improper representation.
- 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; the last meeting was on November 12, 2024, via Zoom videoconference.
- 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 of 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: January 27, 2025
Circuit in which issue arose: 12th
Short Summary detailing the substance of the referral
Unprofessional conduct; other (failure to comply with trial order; failure to appear; misuse of Judicial Automated Calendaring System)
The relationship of the respondent to the person submitting the referral.
Person submitting referral is general magistrate; respondent appeared in cases before the general magistrate.
Whether or not the respondent voluntarily participated in the process.
After a lengthy delay, respondent did send a response to the panel.
The resolution, if any, of the referral;*
Letter of advice sent to Respondent from panel. No further action.
Whether there were previous referrals against the respondent
No
Date of Referral: February 3, 2025
Circuit in which issue arose: 12th
Short Summary detailing the substance of the referral
Honesty, integrity, candor; offensive personality; unprofessional conduct rude and dismissive via text.
The relationship of the respondent to the person submitting the referral.
Respondent was attorney of record for petitioner’s ex-wife in a post dissolution matter.
Whether or not the respondent voluntarily participated in the process.
After a lengthy delay, respondent did send a response to the panel.
The resolution, if any, of the referral;*
Letter of advice sent to Respondent from panel. No further action.
Whether there were previous referrals against the respondent
Yes, January 27, 2025 entry above – same respondent.
Date of Referral: March 7, 2025
Circuit in which issue arose: 12th
Short Summary detailing the substance of the referral
Respondent attorney failed to appear for hearings in one case; no communication with opposing counsel and failure to appear for hearings in another case.
The relationship of the respondent to the person submitting the referral.
Person submitting referral is judge; respondent appeared in cases before the judge.
Whether or not the respondent voluntarily participated in the process.
Respondent sent brief response, refused to meet with panel in person.
The resolution, if any, of the referral;*
Referred to ACAP.
Whether there were previous referrals against the respondent
No
Date of Referral: April 21, 2025
Circuit in which issue arose: 12th
Short Summary detailing the substance of the referral
Appearance of Impropriety; bullying or badgering; rude; discourteous, unprofessional
The relationship of the respondent to the person submitting the referral.
Person submitting referral is pro se in pending foreclosure; respondent is opposing counsel.
Whether or not the respondent voluntarily participated in the process.
Yes.
The resolution, if any, of the referral;*
No resolution yet.
Whether there were previous referrals against the respondent
No
Date of Referral: May 1, 2025
Circuit in which issue arose: 12th
Short Summary detailing the substance of the referral
Unprofessional conduct; conduct causing unnecessary delays; failure to appear at hearings; failure to comply with discovery orders; excessively late to court; failure to meet court deadline; inappropriate courtroom attire; disrespectful to judge.
The relationship of the respondent to the person submitting the referral.
Person submitting referral is judge; respondent appeared in cases before the judge.
Whether or not the respondent voluntarily participated in the process.
Contact with Respondent is in process.
The resolution, if any, of the referral;*
No resolution yet.
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.
The relationship of the respondent to the person submitting the referral.
Respondent was attorney of record for complainant’s ex-husband in post-dissolution proceedings (co-counsel with another attorney – one complaint was filed, covering both attorneys).
Whether or not the respondent voluntarily participated in the process.
Contact with Respondent is in process.
The resolution, if any, of the referral;*
No resolution yet.
Whether there were previous referrals against the respondent
No previous referrals.
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.
The relationship of the respondent to the person submitting the referral.
Respondent was attorney of record for complainant’s ex-husband in post-dissolution proceedings (co-counsel with another attorney – one complaint was filed, covering both attorneys).
Whether or not the respondent voluntarily participated in the process.
Contact with Respondent is in process.
The resolution, if any, of the referral;*
No resolution yet.
Whether there were previous referrals against the respondent
No previous referrals.
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.
The relationship of the respondent to the person submitting the referral.
Complainant is an Assistant State Attorney; Respondent is defense counsel in a case being prosecuted by an Assistant State Attorney who reports to complainant as supervisor.
Whether or not the respondent voluntarily participated in the process.
Contact with Respondent is in process.
The resolution, if any, of the referral;*
No resolution yet.
Whether there were previous referrals against the respondent
No previous referrals.
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) 496-0871 |
| Joseph Polzak |
City Attorney
City of Sarasota |
joe.polzak@sarasotaFL.gov |
111 S. Orange Ave., 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 |
| Albert “A.J.” Stickley |
Albert Stickley, Esq. |
AJ@stickleylaw.com |
737 S. Indiana Ave., Englewood, FL 34223 |
(941) 474-5506 |
| 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 |
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.