Brandon attorney Richard Luther Bradford has been suspended for the second time this year following a Nov. 2 Florida Supreme Court order finding him in contempt for failing to comply with the terms of his prior suspension.
Bradford was suspended for 91 days, effective immediately and effectively overlapping his prior suspension which continues until further court order, according to the state court's two-page order. The high court also ordered Bradford to fully comply with its previous order, to accept no new business until he is reinstated and to pay $1,250 in costs, according to the order.
The Florida State Bar announced the discipline and the Supreme Court's order Nov. 21. In Florida court orders are not final until after time to file a rehearing motion expires. Filing such a motion would not alter the effective date of the Bradford's suspension.
Bradford was admitted to the bar in Florida on Nov. 22, 1995, according to his profile at the state bar website.
Bradford was suspended in May for allegedly failing to respond to a state bar inquiry.
In July the U.S. District Court for South Florida issued its own order of suspension, which indicated Bradford failed to respond to that court's order to show cause why the court should not impose the same discipline. The clerk of that court attempted to serve Bradford via certified mail to his court record address but it was returned stamped "return to sender – not deliverable as addressed – unable to forward," according to the district court's order of suspension.
"Service at the attorney’s Florida Bar address was attempted but no return receipt was received," the order of suspension said.
In late September, the state bar filed with the Florida Supreme Court a petition for contempt, asking the court to direct Bradford to explain why he should not be held in contempt and suspended. As part of his suspension in May, Bradford was required to notifying his existing clients, opposing counsel and tribunals about discipline and to provide a list of all whom he notified, according to the petition. Bradford had not done so by time the petition was filed and the state bar has not been able to contact him, despite repeated efforts to do so, the petition said.