Rick Patrick
reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com
A Madison attorney was among 12 attorneys recently disciplined by the state Supreme Court. Thomas Edward Stone, a former attorney for the Town of Jennings and an assistant public defender in the office of Blair Payne, Public Defender, Third Judicial Circuit, had been in practice since 1976. He has been punished with disciplinary revocation, effective 30 days following a Thursday, Sept. 29, court order.
According to information provided by the Florida Bar, Stone was assigned to represent a female defendant in several criminal matters, some of which were felonies. The client subsequently violated the terms of her probation related to her plea in the criminal matters. Stone again represented her in the violation of probation matters. Afterward, Stone admitted to engaging in a sexual relationship with the client, who he was still representing in court. This client reported that she felt pressured into the inappropriate relationship because Stone was handling her criminal matters.
On Tuesday, July 21, Stone filed a petition with the Florida Supreme Court to requesting that his “membership in The Florida Bar be revoked with leave to seek readmission.” The petition stated that prior to this matter, Stone had no disciplinary history. Stone also agreed to “reimburse the Client Security Fund (CSF) for any and all funds [the] CSF has paid or may pay out for claims resulting from [Stone's] misconduct.” Stone also agreed to reimburse The Florida Bar “for the costs incurred in his disciplinary cases.”
On Thursday, Sept. 29, the Florida Supreme Court granted the disciplinary revocation. As a result, Stone's membership in The Florida Bar is revoked. In the ruling, it was stated that Stone may “seek readmission after five years.” This revocation is equal to disbarment, meaning Stone is not allowed to practice law during the time the revocation is in effect. Stone was also ordered to pay $2,330.75 for “recovery of costs.” The ruling also states that, “as with disbarment, in seeking readmission to The Florida Bar, [Stone] 'may be admitted again only upon full compliance with the rules and regulations governing admission to the bar.'”