TALLAHASSEE (Florida Record) — North Miami Beach attorney Michael L. Wolowitz has been suspended following an July 26 Florida Supreme Court order over allegations he provided poor service to three clients, according to a recent announcement by The Florida Bar.
"Wolowitz accepted fees from three clients but provided insignificant services and inadequately communicated with the clients," the state bar said in its Aug. 29 announcement of the discipline and the Supreme Court's order. "Additionally, he had insufficient fund payments from his trust account and did not respond to repeated inquiries from the bar."
In its amended two-page order, the Supreme Court approved the uncontested referee's report filed in the matter before suspending Wolowitz for one year. The court also ordered Wolowitz to pay a total of $4,500 in restitution to two former clients, in addition to $1,250 in costs.
Wolowitz's suspension was effective 30 days from the date of the court's order to allow him time to close out 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 Wolowitz's suspension.
Wolowitz was admitted to the Florida bar on May 29, 2012, according to his profile at the state bar website. No prior discipline before the state bar is listed on Wolowitz's state bar profile.
Probable cause was found against Wolowitz in the allegations but no formal complaint had been failed, according to the consent judgment reached between Wolowitz and the state bar. The judgment also includes Wolowitz's unconditional guilty plea.
In one of the allegations against him, Wolowitz allegedly was paid $2,500 in October 2016 to pursue a civil claim on a client's behalf, according to the consent judgment.
"Thereafter, [Wolowitz] failed to communicate with [his client], provided no significant services, and failed to respond to [his client's] requests for a refund," the consent judgment said.
Wolowitz also failed to respond to written inquiries from the state bar concerning the grievance subsequently filed by his client, according to the judgment.