Palatka lawyer among 32 disciplined by The Florida Bar

This week, Historic City News received summaries of discipline orders issued by The Florida Bar from April 4 – June 30, 2016, including one who practices in Palatka. The Florida Supreme Court disciplined 32 attorneys – disbarring six, revoking the licenses of two, suspending 16 and publicly reprimanding eight. Two attorneys were also placed on probation, and another was ordered to pay restitution.

A 2004 graduate of Florida Coastal School of Law, 41-year-old Adam Powell Rowe, was admitted to practice law in Florida in February 2006. He was born in St Augustine and grew up in Palatka. He is a partner in the law practice of Speas and Rowe PLLC located at 613 Saint Johns Ave., Suite 2013, Palatka.

Rowe was hired to assist a client in a foreclosure case. Rowe sent a letter to her with unprofessional and threatening language when she requested an itemized list of charges. (Case No. SC16-469)

Rowe was ordered to be publicly reprimanded by publication in the Southern Reporter, following an April 7 court order. Further, Rowe is placed on probation for two years, and he shall sign a rehabilitation contract with Florida Lawyers Assistance.

As an official arm of the Florida Supreme Court, The Florida Bar and its Department of Lawyer Regulation are charged with administering a statewide disciplinary system to enforce Supreme Court rules of professional conduct for the 103,000-plus lawyers admitted to practice law in Florida.

Court orders are not final until time expires to file a rehearing motion and, if filed, determined. The filing of such a motion does not alter the effective date of the discipline. Disbarred lawyers may not re-apply for admission for five years. They are required to go through an extensive process that rejects many who apply. It includes a rigorous background check and retaking the bar exam. Historically, less than 5 percent of disbarred lawyers seek readmission.