TALLAHASSEE (Florida Record) — Fort Lauderdale attorney Marcelo Gomez has been voluntarily disbarred following a June 28 Florida Supreme Court order ahead of a pending disciplinary matter regarding accepting cash from a defendant during an investigation in 2014, according to a recent announcement by The Florida Bar.
"A disciplinary matter pending against Gomez involves him accepting cash from a cooperating defendant who owned a medical clinic that had treated a few of Gomez’s clients," the state bar said in its July 31 announcement of the discipline and the Supreme Court's order.
In its two-page order, the state Supreme Court granted Gomez's five-page uncontested petition for disciplinary revocation, which is tantamount to disbarment, with leave to seek readmission and ordered him to pay a little more than $1,774 in costs. Gomez's disbarment was effective 30 days from the date of the court's order to allow him time to close his practice and protect his existing clients' interests, according to the high court's order.
Florida court orders are not final until time to file a rehearing motion expires. Filing such a motion does not alter the effective date of Gomez's suspension.
Attorneys disbarred in the state generally may not re-apply for admission for five years. Even then they must pass an extensive process that includes a rigorous background check and retaking the bar exam.
Gomez was admitted to the bar in Florida on May 7, 1993, according to his profile at the state bar website. Gomez has no record of prior discipline before the state bar, according to the profile and his petition.
In his petition, Gomez said he "unknowingly" met once with a cooperating defendant, described as "proprietor of a medical clinic that had treated a few" of Gomez's clients, during an investigation in November 2014. "The individual provided [Gomez] with an envelope stating it contained clients' medical reports," the petition said.
"While [Gomez] stated that he believed the envelope given to him contained clients' medical reports, the envelope actually contained cash. [Gomez] at the time did not return the funds or report the incident to law enforcement."
Gomez was never charged with a criminal office and "has repaid the cash received by donating to The Florida Bar Clients' Security Fund," the petition said