Sanctions Imposed by a Panel

NOTE:  This page is still being populated and all sanctions are not yet listed here.  To check whether a specific mediator has ever been sanctioned, please go to the Mediator Search feature and enter the name of the mediator you are seeking.  If a name does not appear that person is not certified.

Name: Richard R. Nevitte, Jr.
Case Number: QCC 2011-072
Case Type: Good Moral Character

QCC 2011-072 Nevitte Order and Sanctions (PDF)

Summary:

Santioned by Order entered March 6, 2013 - denial of Mediator's application for certification as a Florida Supreme Court Circuit Court Mediator; not allowed to again apply for such certification for a minimum of 5 years from March 13, 2013; and ordered to pay the Dispute Resolution Center (DRC) $2,055.00 in costs within 30 days of March 13, 2013.

Findings: The Qualifications Complaint Committee (QCC) found probable cause to believe the Mediator lacks the good moral character required by rule 10.110, Florida Rules for Certified and Court-Appointed Mediators, due to a series of fraudulent acts from 1988 through 1991 connected to his purchase of a used Jaguar XJ-6. While employed as a trial attorney with the U.S. Dept. of Justice, he obtained a loan based on a fradulent bill of sale; underpaid sales tax on the car; arranged to have the car stolen, made a false police report, submitted two fradulent insurance claims; and underpaid personal property taxes on the car. He pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and mail fraud, and failed to notify the Virginia, District of Columbia, and Louisiana Bars that he had been convicted of a felony. His application for reinstatement to the Louisiana Bar was denied and the Florida Bar denied his application for admission.

Rules Violations:

Florida Rules For Certified and Court Appointed Mediators Violated:
10.110 Good Moral Character

Name: George J. Lawler, Mediator
Certification Number: 18409CF
Case Number: QCC 2011-039
Case Type: Good Moral Character

QCC 2011-039 Lawler Order and Sanctions (PDF)

Summary:

Sanctioned by Decision entered October 22, 2012 – Decertified as a family and county mediator and permanently barred from certification in any other areas.

Findings: Found not to possess good moral character because of failure to report an extensive disciplinary history as a practicing attorney within the state of Connecticut and false or misleading statements made to the Director of the Dispute Resolution Center concerning inquiries connected to his disciplinary history. The mediator failed to appear at the hearing after notice was duly provided.

Rules Violations:

Florida Rules For Certified and Court Appointed Mediators Violated:
10.110 Good Moral Character

Name: William J. Jatczak, Mediator
Certification Number: 17792C            
Case Number: MQB 2010-010
Case Type: County

MQB 2010-010 Jatczak Order and Sanctions (PDF)

Summary:

Sanctioned by Decision entered May 10, 2012 – Six hours of continuing education credits on the subjects of demeanor, impartiality, balanced process and sensitivity; submitting a reflective report following the CMEs; observation of five separate mediations by five mediators-must not be credit union or credit card collection mediations and imposition of costs of the proceeding. All courses and observations to be pre-approved by DRC Director.

Findings: The mediator did not conduct a balanced process, did not act in a dignified manner, gave the appearance of partiality and did not show sensitivity toward the complainant parties; specifically in his comments about the complainant’s appearance, her jewelry and the possible outcome of the case.

Rules Violations:

Florida Rules For Certified and Court Appointed Mediators Violated:
10.300 Mediator’s Responsibility to the Parties
10.350 Demeanor

Name: Bruce Morosco, Mediator
Certification Number: 25406CFR            
Case Number: QCC 2010-048j
Case Type: Good Moral Character

QCC 2010-048 Morosco Order and Sanctions (PDF)

Summary:

Sanctioned by Decision entered March 23, 2012 – Decertified for a period of at least three years from all current certifications and denied certification as an appellate mediator. 

Findings:  The mediator lacks the good moral character required by Rule 10.110 as shown by his pattern of intimidation of his wife and after the period of their marriage, his activities which led to the issuance against him of the injunction against domestic violence, and his violation of the injunction.

Rules Violations:

Florida Rules For Certified and Court Appointed Mediators Violated:
10.110 Good Moral Character

Name: Jason T. Banks, Mediator
Certification Number: 20581F
Case Number: MQB 2010-001
Case Type: Family

MQB 2010-001 Banks Order and Sanctions (PDF)

Summary:

Sanctioned by Decision entered November 10, 2011- Decertified and barred from mediating in the State of Florida and under the Rules for Certified and Court Appointed Mediators. 

Findings:  Mediator failure to maintain impartiality and avoid conflict of interest and to maintain business practices that reflect fairness, integrity and impartiality due to his friendship with one mediation participant (wife) while assuming an adversarial position to the other participant (husband) by giving advice and counsel to the participant wife prior to the institution of legal proceedings and during legal proceedings. In addition, the mediator untruthfully responded to the Florida Dispute Resolution Center that he did not mediate when evidence to the contrary was proven and the mediator improperly attempted to influence one of the parties to obtain a dismissal of the DRC Complaint.

Rules Violations:

Florida Rules For Certified and Court Appointed Mediators Violated:
10.110  Good Moral Character  [erroneously referred to as 10.800 in Decision and Disposition]
10.300 Mediator’s Responsibility to the Parties
10.340(a) and (b)  Conflicts of Interest
10.600 Mediator’s Responsibility to the Mediation Profession
10.620 Integrity and Impartiality

Name: Craig R. Steinberg, Mediator
Certification Number: 20589R
Case Number: MQB 2010-006
Case Type: Circuit

MQB 2009-006 Steinberg Order and Sanctions (PDF)

Summary:

Sanctioned by Decision entered September 12, 2011 – Decertified and barred from serving as a mediator under the Rules for Certified and Court-Appointed Mediators.

Findings:  Found not to possess good moral character because of repeated misrepresentations on his application for certification, in resumes, web sites and other marketing materials and to the public regarding his background and qualifications implying or stating he was an attorney, member of the Florida Bar; stating his prior occupation was as a judge and that he was now a retired judge and advertising he was certified prior to obtaining his certification.

Rules Violations:

Florida Rules For Certified and Court Appointed Mediators Violated:
10.110 Good Moral Character
10.310(c) Self Determination
10.600 Mediator’s Responsibility to the Mediation Profession
10.610 (a) and (d) Marketing Practices

Name: Mitchell A. Blum, Mediator
Certification Number: 17981F
Case Number: MQB 2009-006
Case Type: Family

MQB 2009-006 Blum Order and Sanctions (PDF)

Summary:

Sanctioned by Decision entered February 26, 2010 – Relinquishment of Certification as a Florida Supreme Court mediator with agreement never to reapply for certification as a mediator in the State of Florida. 

Findings:  Did not enable parties to effectively participate in the mediation process, did not perform mediation services in a timely fashion, did not return a fee for drafting of agreement although no agreement was reached, and failed to maintain records necessary to support charges for services.

Rules Violations:

Florida Rules For Certified and Court Appointed Mediators Violated:
10.120(a) Notice of Change of Address or Name
10.380(c) and (d) Fees and Expenses
10.430 Scheduling Mediation