TALLAHASSEE — Scott Lowell Podvin of the Podvin Law in Miami Beach was suspended from the practice of law after a review of disciplinary actions.
The order was issued by the Florida Supreme Court following a review of findings in an investigation into several disciplinary matters. The majority of the complaints made against the attorney stem from his failure to timely or adequately handle loan modification matters.
The consent judgment released by the courts says that Podvin allegedly failed to process and work on loan modification matters while also failing to keep his clients informed of the status of their cases. The attorney did not actively communicate with his clients in most instances even when contacted multiple times. The consent judgment does not provide detail the complaints by individual clients, nor does it dive into a full description of the charges brought against him.
In another charge, Podvin was accused by a fellow attorney for failing to pay a debt and creating a system to attempt to circumvent payment, according to court records.
Podvin opted out of a hearing and chose to enter a consent judgment with the Florida Bar. The attorney will be suspended for 18 months, during which time he will need to make use of the state’s Lawyer’s Assistance Program.
Podvin had one prior record of discipline. The attorney was publicly reprimanded in August 2015 for complaints of his failure to communicate with clients, according to the Florida Bar. The lapse in communication was allegedly due to a tumultuous time of transition for his firm when he became the target of backlash from terminated employees.
Podvin has been a member of the Florida Bar since his admission in 1994. He is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Law.