Florida's Highest Court Disbars Defense Lawyer F. Lee Bailey for Handling of Client's Funds

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Florida's Highest Court Disbars Defense Lawyer F. Lee Bailey for Handling of Client's Funds

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The state Supreme Court on Wednesday barred defense attorney F. Lee Bailey from practicing law in Florida.

Bailey, who has represented Dr. Sam Sheppard and O.J. Simpson, was disbarred for the way he handled 600,000 shares of stock owned by a former client now serving life in prison for drug smuggling.

The unanimous order gives Bailey 30 days to close his practice in Florida.

Bailey said he took control of the stock that was worth nearly $6 million as payment for his services to convicted drug dealer Claude Duboc. Federal prosecutors claimed the stock was meant for seizure and that Bailey had only been given control over it for limited purposes and a limited period.

He initially refused to relinquish control but changed his mind after almost six weeks in a federal prison in 1996.

The Supreme Court said Bailey committed "the most serious and basic trust account violations."

Bailey was supposed to put the stock toward Duboc's forfeiture requirement as part of an agreement with federal prosecutors, it said.

"Nevertheless, from the day it was transferred to him, Bailey treated the money as his own," the court said in an unsigned unanimous opinion.

-- Anonymous, November 21, 2001


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