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FLORIDA RECORD

Friday, March 29, 2024

Winter Garden attorney reprimanded for failing to respond to official inquiry

Discipline
Courtroom

TALLAHASSEE (Florida Record) — Winter Garden attorney Andrew C. Hill has been reprimanded and placed on probation following a June 27 Florida Supreme Court order over allegations he delayed cooperation in an disciplinary investigation, according to a recent announcement by The Florida Bar.

"Over an extended period of time, Hill failed to respond, in writing, to three separate bar inquiries," the state bar said in its July 26 announcement of the discipline and the Supreme Court's order. "Subsequently, [Hill] appeared and provided testimony during a sworn statement taken on Feb. 12, 2019."

In its two-page order, the state high court approved the consent judgment reached between Hill and the state bar before publicly reprimanding Hill and placing him on two years' conditional probation. The consent judgment also includes Hill's conditional guilty plea.

"[Hill] is further directed to comply with all other terms and conditions set forth in the consent judgment," the order said. The court also ordered Hill to pay a little more than $1,849 in costs.

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 Hill's reprimand or his probation.

Hill was admitted to the bar in Florida on Oct. 29, 2007, according to his profile at the state bar website. No prior discipline before the state bar is listed on Hill's profile.

During February's hearing, during which Hill testified after failing to respond to inquiries, the grievance committee considered allegations against him but found probable cause only in his failire to failure to timely respond, according to the consent judgment. The consent judgment did not detail the allegations against Hill.

Hill "was experiencing mental health problems during the time that he failed to respond to the bar, and he has agreed to enter into a treatment contract with Florida Lawyers Assistance Inc.," the consent judgment said.

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