On Thursday, August 3, 2023, the Supreme Court of Florida suspended attorney Erica Helene Kobloth for failure to show up on the rescheduled date, forcing the client to handle the proceedings by himself.
The case is entitled “The Florida Bar v. Erica Helene Kobloth,” with case no. SC2022-1578.
The complaint, lodged on November 22, 2022, encompassed two separate files, highlighting instances where Kobloth had allegedly violated various rules governing legal practice. The case had shed light on Kobloth’s representation of clients in dissolution of marriage proceedings and had pointed to a pattern of neglect and mismanagement.
In the first count, Kobloth had allegedly filed an emergency motion for a trial continuance due to personal health issues while representing Kenneth Freeman. However, after securing the postponement, she failed to appear on the rescheduled date, leaving Freeman to navigate the proceedings alone. Furthermore, she had neglected to update her official bar contact information and had disregarded the bar’s attempts at communication.
In the second count, Kobloth had been retained to represent Frederick Brunn in a dissolution of marriage case. Despite receiving a $2,000 payment for her services, she had allegedly taken inadequate action on behalf of the client. Kobloth had also failed to file a notice of appearance, leaving Brunn uninformed about the status of his case. Her delayed responses to the bar’s inquiries had further compounded the issue.
Kobloth’s alleged misconduct had encompassed a range of rule violations, including those related to diligence, communication, duty to explain matters to clients, termination of representation, and responding to official bar inquiries. Given her history of prior disciplinary offenses and a perceived pattern of misconduct, the referee had recommended a one-year suspension and the payment of disciplinary costs totaling $1,962.37. Kobloth had been mandated to eliminate any indications of her status as an attorney and had been barred from representing herself as a licensed legal professional.
Based on the uncontested report of the referee, the Supreme Court of Florida decided to suspend Kobloth from the practice of law.
The Disposition states:
“The uncontested report of the referee is approved and the respondent is suspended from the practice of law for one year. Respondent is currently suspended; therefore, this suspension is effective immediately.”
According to avvo.com, Ms. Kobloth is a foreclosure attorney in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. She acquired he law license in Florida in 2012.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
