TALLAHASSEE (Florida Record) — Longtime Boca Raton attorney Byron Gregory Petersen has been suspended three years following a July 5 Florida Supreme Court order regarding allegations he mishandled several married couple's cases, according to a recent announcement by The Florida Bar.
"In handling several cases for a married couple, Petersen intentionally created conflicts of interest," the state bar said in its July 31 announcement of the discipline and the Supreme Court's order. "He neglected cases, he failed to communicate; he lost or misplaced documents the clients were entitled to, and he made misrepresentations to them."
In its 29-page order, the state Supreme Court approved the findings of the referee assigned to the case but rejected the referee's recommendation of a 91-day suspension and handed down the harsher sanction. "Here, in light of the extensive rule violations by Petersen, the number of existing aggravating factors, the lack of mitigation except for the finding of good character and relevant case law, Petersen is suspended from the practice of law for three years," the high court said in its order.
Petersen's suspension will be 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 Petersen's suspension.
Petersen was admitted to the bar in Florida on Nov. 19, 1976, according to his profile at the state bar website.
Petersen had been first retained by the couple in 2005 to represent them "and their various business organizations," the order said. "Petersen devoted a significant portion of his practice to representing" the couple, including one case "that had the potential to be worth millions of dollars", the order said.
Allegations against Petersen stem from three of the couples' cases, and the state high court noted in its order that Peterson and the couple "have very different views of the events" and that the referee found the couple's testimony more credible.