TALLAHASSEE — Jeffrey Allen Harrington, an attorney practicing in West Palm Beach, recently received a public reprimand from the Florida Supreme Court.
The order was given due to the attorney’s alleged negligence in two client matters, which included failing to file court documents on time.
The formal complaint filed with the Florida Bar details two accounts. The first is a case handled in November 2012 when Harrington was hired to represent a man in his bankruptcy filing. The attorney was paid an agreed-upon flat fee of $1,850 for his services, and once he received the fee he filed a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Petition for the client. However, the bankruptcy court returned the petition due to a lack of necessary documents. The court gave Harrington until Dec. 6, 2012, to file the missing documents, according to court records.
The attorney allegedly failed to “adequately communicate” the need for the documents with his client and filed the documents four days late, along with a reinstatement motion. Harrington then requested additional funds from the client, which he refused to pay. The client then filed an order for Harrington to pay back his fee, which was granted by the courts.
In December 2010, Harrington was hired to represent a couple in their foreclosure case. At the time, the attorney had employed a non-attorney associate who communicated with the clients and their tenant about the dispute and who allegedly provided legal advice without holding a license to do so. In addition to failing to supervise the employee, Harrington’s firm also accepted nearly $2,000 in escrow fees, which it transferred without the authorization of either party involved, court documents state.
As a result of these two matters, Harrington will receive a public reprimand in a media publication.
Harrington is a graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law and was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2008. He has no prior record of discipline.