TALLAHASSEE — Antonios Poulos, an attorney who practiced in Tampa, was recently disbarred as ordered by the Florida Supreme Court after an investigation of complaints in four client matters in which the attorney had either blatantly acted in a conflict of interest or failed to perform legal services.
In the first count, Poulos represented a couple in a foreclosure case beginning in August 2010. He remained the attorney of record for the couple, but in November 2011 he also represented the wife in divorce proceedings against the husband who was still Poulos’ client.
The second count stems from a case from February 2012, when the attorney represented a woman in her claim against USF Federal Credit Union. According to the documents released by the Supreme Court, after submitting the case in both state and federal court, the attorney allegedly failed to perform any further services. The client repeatedly reached out to Poulos but he would allegedly ignore her attempts at contact or provide her with false information.
Both cases were eventually ruled in favor of the defendants.
Poulos represented another woman in May 2013 in a workers' compensation grievance in which he “appeared in administrative proceedings, but failed to initiate any litigation.” The attorney terminated his representation in November 2013 but did not inform his client.
The final matter began in April 2012, when Poulos was hired to represent a woman in an employment discrimination claim. The attorney initiated the case but was not able to mediate a settlement or perform other services. The client fired Poulos in December 2012 but the attorney allegedly did not take the necessary steps to legally withdraw from his case. He also allegedly did not inform his client of motions and judgments made in the case and misrepresented his continued representation to opposing counsel after his role was terminated.
Due to the multiple counts of misconduct and the adverse effect they had on clients, disbarment was recommended and ordered.
Poulos was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2007 after graduating from the St. Thomas University School of Law in 2003. He had two prior instances of discipline, suspensions in October 2015 and April 2016.