TALLAHASSEE (Florida Record) — Lehigh Acres attorney Vana Renejuste has been disbarred following a March 15 court Florida Supreme Court order over a history of failing her clients, according to a recent announcement by The Florida Bar.
"Renejuste failed to diligently and competently represent clients," the state bar said in its April 30 announcement of the discipline and the state Supreme Court's order. "She often failed to communicate with clients, charged excessive fees and failed to take minimal steps to protect her clients' interests."
In its two-page order, the state high court approved an uncontested referee's report filed in the matter before disbarring Renejuste and ordered her to pay $1,690 in costs. Renejuste did not respond to the complaint and the referee last August granted the state bar's default motion and all allegations against Renejuste were deemed admitted, according to the referee's report.
Renejuste's disbarment was effective 30 days from the court's order to allow her him time to close her practice and protect his existing clients' interests, according to the court's order.
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 Renejuste's disbarment.
Attorneys disbarred in the state may not reapply for admission for five years and then they must pass an extensive process that includes a rigorous background check and retaking the bar exam.
Renejuste was admitted to the bar in Florida on Sept. 21, 2006, according to her profile at the state bar website.
In a previous discipline, Renejuste, then practicing in Fort Meyers, was publicly reprimanded following a July 2014 Supreme Court order after a formal state bar complaint was filed with the court. That complaint alleged Renejuste accepted cases in areas of law in which she had little experience, then improperly handled those cases and collected improper fees. In addition to the reprimand, Renejuste was placed on years' probation and was ordered to attend the state bar's ethics school and to pay $2,500 in restitution.