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Clearwater attorney disbarred after abandoning practice and at least three clients

FLORIDA RECORD

Monday, November 25, 2024

Clearwater attorney disbarred after abandoning practice and at least three clients

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Clearwater attorney Tucker Skrocki Boyt has been disbarred following a May 18 Florida Supreme Court judgment after abandoning his practice and failing to communicate with clients in at least three separate cases, leaving one without counsel during a hearing, according to a recent Florida State Bar report.

Boyt was already under an April 2016 suspension, which made his disbarment effective immediately, according to the high court's two-page judgment.

Boyt was suspended in April 2016 after failing to respond to a previous order. Boyt also was ordered at that time to pay the state bar's costs of $1,250.

The Florida State Bar announced Boyt's disbarment and the supreme court's order July 31.

In Florida, court orders are not final until after time to file a rehearing motion expires. Attorneys disbarred in the state may not reapply for admission for five years and then they must pass through an extensive process that includes a rigorous background check and retaking the bar exam.

Boyt was admitted to the bar in Florida on April 29, 2013, according to his profile at the state bar website.

One client allegedly abandoned by Boyt was left without counsel for a scheduled May 20, 2015, hearing, according to the state bar's formal complaint filed with the court. Boyt also allegedly failed to appear at the hearing of another client in a child support case and failed to keep that client reasonably informed or to maintain communications with that client.

Boyt stopped communicating with another client after that client retained him in January 2015 to handle a paternity matter, according to the complaint. The client left voice mail messages and sent emails to Boyt that went unanswered. When the client's mother emailed Boyt inquiring about the status of the case, Boyt "replied in a humiliating, disparaging and physically threatening manner" the complaint said.

Among other state bar correspondence, Boyt was sent notices of assignment of investigating member that required him to contact that investigating member within 10 days, and notices of grievance committee review that afforded him an opportunity to reply in writing about the alleged misconduct. Boyt failed to respond to the state bar's inquiries, according to the complaint.

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