TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Supreme Court disbarred Coral Gables attorney Francisco Jose Aguero on June 28 over misappropriation allegations.
Aguero was accused of taking clients' money but not properly representing them. In another complaint, Aguero was accused of collecting property taxes as a closing agent, but not forwarding them on to the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector.
The state Supreme Court ordered Aguero to pay restitution of more than $136,000 to former clients.
The Florida Bar said Aguero failed to appear at a case management or final hearing.
In its two-page order, the high court approved the uncontested amended referee's report filed in the matter before disbarring Aguero. The attorney was already suspended, so his disbarment was effective immediately.
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 Aguero's disbarment.
Attorneys disbarred in the state generally may not re-apply for admission for five years and even then they must pass through an extensive process that includes a rigorous background check and retaking the bar exam.
Aguero was admitted to the bar in Florida on March 31, 2000, according to his profile at the state bar website. Aguero had no prior discipline before the state bar before he was suspended twice last year, according to the referee's report and his state bar profile.
Aguero was suspended following a Dec. 21 Florida Supreme Court order over alleged irregularities in his client trust accounts. The month prior, Aguero was held in contempt and suspended pending his full reply in writing to the official state bar inquiry following a Nov. 3 Florida Supreme Court order.