Miami attorney Gregg R. Lopez has been suspended three years following a Sept. 25 Florida Supreme Court order that found him in contempt for failing to comply with requirements of previous suspensions that stem from a Florida Bar Association inquiry into his client trust account.
The high court's two-page order in Lopez's most recent suspension, his third in about a year, followed a state bar petition for contempt filed with the court. The state bar's petition alleged that Lopez did not comply with requirements that he notify clients, opposing counsel and tribunals of his suspension and within 30 days provide the state bar with a list of those notified.
The state court also ordered Lopez pay $1,250 in costs. As Lopez already was suspended, the high court's most recent suspension was effective immediately, according to the order. The Florida State Bar announced the discipline and the Florida 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 Lopez's suspension.
Lopez was admitted to the bar in Florida on May 8, 2000, according to his profile at the state bar website.
Lopez's first suspension pending his response to the state bar's inquiry followed a Sept. 29, 2016, Florida Supreme Court order that also held Lopez in contempt. That suspension was effective 30 days from the order's date and carried the requirements that he notify certain others of his suspension and pay $1,250 in costs, according to the order. Lopez had failed to respond to the state bar's inquiry into disbursements from his client trust account in 2010 and 2011, according to information included with the state bar's petition for contempt filed prior to the high court's September 2016 order.
Lopez was suspended again, this time for one year, this past March following a state supreme court order the same month, which also found him in contempt. Since Lopez still was still under the previous suspension, his March suspension was effective immediately and he was required to pay $1,250 in costs, according to the high court's order.