TALLAHASSEE (Florida Record) — Delray Beach attorney Sabrina Starr Spradley has been suspended following an April 28 Florida Supreme Court order, in part, over what she had to say to opposing counsel, according to a recent announcement by The Florida Bar.
"In two separate matters, Spradley made unprofessional, disparaging and threatening statements in emails to an opposing attorney and a judicial assistant," the state bar said in its April 30 announcement of the discipline and the court's order. "In two other matters, Spradley took on legal representation, received payment and provided little or no action in the matters."
In its two-page order, the state high court approved the uncontested referee's report filed in the matter before suspending Spradley for 18 months and ordering her to pay more than $3,600 in restitution, in addition to $1,654 in costs.
Spradley already was suspended, which meant the suspension was effective immediately.
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 Spradley's suspension.
Spradley was admitted to the bar in Florida on Oct. 5, 2009, according to her profile at the state bar website.
Spradley sent two inappropriate emails to opposing counsel in February 2017 about the other attorney's motion to quash filed in a case, according to the consent judgment filed with the court. The consent judgment also includes Spradley's conditional guilty plea.
In one email, Spradley referred to the motion as a "sham" and accused the opposing counsel of wasting the judge's time.
"I am 39 years old," Spradley continued in the email. "I have been licensed to practice law since 2009. I assure you, you will not enjoy being in the same courtroom with me. I have made men who were practicing law since before I was born wish they had not underestimated me."
The suspension is Spradley's second is less than a year. She was indefinitely suspended following a March 2018 Florida Supreme Court order after she failed to respond to a show cause order.