Strems files response
Plaintiff insurance attorney Scot Strems’ legal team filed three items with the Florida Supreme Court on July 30, the deadline to show cause why the referee’s recommendation upholding his suspension order should not be approved. His response disagreed with the referee and included an appendix in support, and a request for oral arguments before the Court.
The response states that “The Florida Bar’s submissions contain broad and inflammatory rhetoric arguing for the imposition of an emergency suspension,” and that “the underlying documents and testimony do not substantiate the pattern The Florida Bar attempts to create with its general accusations,” among the approximately 9,000 claims, handled during a two-year period. The response requests the Court reject the Referee’s Report recommending the denial of the Motion to Dissolve Order of Suspension, and immediately reinstate Respondent to the practice of law pending the trial in this cause. Alternately, it requests the Court dissolve the suspension and impose an interim period of probation including the special conditions set forth in the response. The Florida Bar may serve its reply on or before August 10, 2020. A trial on the matter is expected in September.
In other developments, Scot Strems’ former law firm colleague Gregory Saldamando filed notice that he’s hired famed Jacksonville criminal defense attorney Hank Coxe to represent him in a related complaint filed against him by the Florida Bar, also before the Florida Supreme Court.
For further background, you can read our June 22 and July 20 newsletter stories. This case is being closely watched by many and we will keep you apprised.
LMA Newsletter of 8-3-20
