TALLAHASSEE (Florida Record) — Miami attorney Alfredo G. Duran, practicing in Florida for about 50 years, has been voluntarily and permanently disbarred following a Feb. 22 Florida Supreme Court order ahead of pending allegations of misconduct, according to a recent announcement by The Florida Bar.
"Disciplinary matters pending against Duran included misappropriation of client trust funds, commingling and failure to respond to written bar inquiries," the state bar said in its March 27 announcement of the discipline and the Supreme Court's order.
The state high court accepted and granted Duran's uncontested petition for disciplinary revocation without leave to seek readmission, and ordered Duran to pay almost $6,190 in costs, according to the court's order. Duran's disbarment was effective immediately, according to the order.
The state Supreme Court two-page order of disciplinary revocation is tantamount to disbarment. On Florida, court orders are not final until time to file a rehearing motion expires. Filing such a motion would not alter the effective date of the Duran's disbarment.
Attorneys disbarred in the state usually may not reapply for admission for five years. Even then they must pass an extensive process that includes a rigorous background check and retaking the bar exam.
Duran was admitted to the Florida bar Nov. 10, 1967, according to his profile at the state bar website. No prior discipline before the state bar is listed on Duran's state bar profile.
In his petition for permanent disciplinary revocation filed with the court Jan. 11, Duran said he was then 81 and under an emergency suspension following an August Supreme Court order. The high court issued the emergency suspension over allegations of misappropriating client trust funds, commingling and failing to respond to the state bar's written inquiries, according to Duran's petition. The state bar also was investigating allegations that Duran practiced law after he was suspended, according to the petition.