Florida Bar re Untracht

The Florida Bar petitions the Court for review of a referee’s report recommending Gary H. Untracht’s reinstatement to the practice of law after a two-year suspension. We have jurisdiction. See art. V, § 15, Fla. Const. For, the reasons expressed below, we reject the referee’s recommendation and deny Untracht’s reinstatement.

BACKGROUND

In April 2000, Untracht, an attorney licensed to practice law in New Jersey and Florida, was practicing as a sole practitioner in New Jersey handling plaintiffs’ negligence claims when his practice was randomly audited by the New Jersey Office of Attorney Ethics…