TALLAHASSEE (Florida Record) — Longtime Davie attorney Bonne Zell Scheflin faces suspension following an Aug. 15 Florida Supreme Court order and misappropriation committed by her office manager, according to a recent announcement by The Florida Bar.
"During an extended absence because of illness, Scheflin permitted her office manager to run her title company with minimal oversight and supervision," the state bar said in its Aug. 29 announcement of the discipline and the state Supreme Court's order. "The office manager misappropriated more than $400,000 from Scheflin’s trust account."
In its two-page order, state high court approved the consent judgment reached between Sheflin and the state bar and suspended her for 18 months. The consent judgment also includes Scheflin's conditional guilty plea. The court also ordered Sheflin to pay $3,475 in costs.
Scheflin's suspension will be effective 30 days from the date of the court's order to allow her time to close out her practice and protect her 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 Scheflin's suspension.
Scheflin was admitted to the bar in Florida on May 12, 1989, according to her profile at the state bar website. No prior discipline before the state bar is listed on Scheflin's state bar profile.
Scheflin waived her right to have the matter considered by a grievance committee and stipulated to probable cause in the case, according to the consent judgment.
In addition to her suspension, Scheflin agreed to attend the state bar's trust accounting school before filing a petition for reinstatement to practice law in Florida. Sheflin also agreed that after she is reinstated she will undergo an office procedures and record keeping analysis under the supervision of the state bar's diversion and discipline consultation service, according to the judgment.