TALLAHASSEE — Jacksonville attorney Robert Patrick Selzer faces a three-year suspension following an Oct. 18 Florida Supreme Court order over allegations stemming from a single client matter, according to a recent announcement by The Florida Bar.
Selzer also has been ordered to pay $40,000 in restitution to one client, in addition to about $3,767 in costs, according to the state Supreme Court's two-page order.
"Selzer represented a client in criminal matters, including driving under the influence and public intoxication," the state bar said in its Oct. 31 announcement of the discipline and the Supreme Court's order. "Because of the client's severe alcoholism and significant memory impairments, Selzer convinced her to pay him $109,000 in a 15-month period for work such as driving, grocery shopping and helping her with tax matters. Selzer was fee-and CLE-delinquent during some of that time and, therefore, ineligible to render legal services."
The high court approved the uncontested referee's report filed before handing down the suspension against Selzer. The suspension will be effective 30 days from the date of the court's order to allow Selzer 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 would not alter the effective date of Selzer's suspension Selzer was admitted to the bar in Florida on Sept. 16, 2004, according to his profile at the state bar website.
Selzer was previously suspended by the state Supreme Court in September 2013 after he agreed to a consent judgment in which he admitted to failures to communicate and to attend a hearing in a divorce matter in which he'd been hired. The client in that matter ultimately complained to the state bar, was informed that Selzer was delinquent and ineligible to practice law and the client had to retain and pay another attorney to represent her, according to the consent judgment.