TALLAHASSEE — Longtime New York attorney Gino Louis Giorgini III faces reciprocal suspension following a Dec. 12 Florida Supreme Court order after he allegedly "made veiled threats" to judges more than a decade ago, according to a recent announcement by The Florida Bar.
"Giorgini represented a plaintiff in a civil case where he filed pleadings that contained accusations of misconduct and bias by the presiding judges," the state bar said in its Dec. 27 announcement of the discipline and the Supreme Court's order. "He also made veiled threats of filing disciplinary actions against the judges. The New York Supreme Court held that the comments made by Giorgini against members of the judiciary 'went beyond the bounds of zealous advocacy and were derogatory, undignified and inexcusable.'"
In its two-page order, the Supreme Court approved the uncontested referee's report filed in the matter before suspending Giorgini for 91 days and ordered him to pay $1,408 in costs.
Giorgini'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 court's order.
Allegations against Giorgini arise from six charges filed against him in 2015 by a New York-based Attorney Grievance Committee alleging professional conduct rules violations based on motions filed in 2005 and 2008, according to the referee's report.
In the 2008 motion for reargument, Giorgini allegedly demeaned the court and accused it and the appellate division of corruption. In that motion, among other things, Giorgini allegedly accused a New York court of disrespecting his "elderly client for the benefit of some political contributors" and suggested he should turn to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The New York Supreme Court suspended Giorgini in October 2018 for three months over the language in the two motions.
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 Giorgini's suspension.
Giorgini was admitted to the bar in Florida in 1991, according to his profile at the state bar website. No prior discipline before the state bar is listed on Giorgini's state bar profile.