The Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders disciplined four attorneys, suspending three, reprimanding one, and emergency suspending one.

Curtis S. Alva, 200 E. 13th St., Riviera Beach, suspended for one year effective 30 days following an October 17 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1999) Alva entered a written legal representation providing that the client would pay a set hourly rate for attorney time and paralegal time. The client promptly paid all invoices for more than a year. However, when the client delayed sending a payment for several weeks as he questioned Alva about a $25,040 invoice, Alva sent the client a new invoice that unilaterally increased the agreed hourly rates and retroactively billed the client at higher rates from the beginning of the legal representation, for a total of $126,650 There was a zero-balance due after the client paid the $25,040 invoice. Although the written agreement stated that any unapplied retainer funds would be returned to the client when the representation terminated, Alva claimed the client had an outstanding balance in excess of $100,000, made known his intention to bring a collections action against the client, and failed to comply with the client’s demand to return the $25,000 retainer. (Case No. SC2021-1564)

Marc Evan Brown, 6400 N. Andrews Ave., Suite 510, Ft. Lauderdale, emergency suspended effective immediately following an October 1 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2006) Brown misappropriated client funds of at least $40,028.46 received for representation of a client who was the lien holder in a foreclosure matter. Brown was to hold the funds in trust as escrow agent and to file an interpleader action in the event the underlying matter could not be resolved. No funds were applied to the interpleader and Brown made misrepresentations to the client regarding the status of the interpleader. Additionally, Brown failed to produce all required subpoenaed trust records and procedures. (Case No. SC2024-1394)