TALLAHASSEE — Palatka attorney Amanda C. Leary has been disbarred following a Dec. 12 Florida Supreme Court order after she allegedly failed to respond to an official inquiry, according to a recent announcement by The Florida Bar.
"Upon receiving several grievances concerning Leary's alleged acts of professional misconduct, The Florida Bar sent Leary correspondence requiring her to respond in writing," the state bar said in its Dec. 27 announcement of the discipline and the Supreme Court's order. "Leary failed to respond to the Bar’s investigative inquiries."
In its two-page order, the Supreme Court granted the state bar's petition for contempt and order to show cause and held Leary in contempt.
As a sanction, the high court suspended Leary until she has fully responded in writing to the official bar inquiries, and until further order of the court, the court's order said.
Leary allegedly failed to return or didn't timely return a client's calls and emails, showed up late or not at all for appointments and did little or nothing in exchange for the $1,200 fee the clients paid to have their work done in a will matter, according to a copy of the client's complaint attached to the state bar's petition.
"In addition, [Leary] shall accept no new business from the date this order is filed until she is reinstated," the court's order said. "Once the suspension takes effect, [Leary] shall remain suspended until further order of this Court."
Leary'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. The court also ordered Leary to pay $1,250 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 Leary's suspension.
Leary was admitted to the bar in Florida in 2014, according to her profile at the state bar website. No prior discipline before the state bar is listed on Leary's state bar profile.