On Thursday, December 14, 2023, the Supreme Court of Florida approved a conditional guilty plea and consent judgment, suspending attorney Gregorio Dickson-Ventura from the practice of law for three years.

The case is entitled “The Florida Bar v. Gregorio Dickson-Ventura,” with case no. SC2023-1663.

According to the filing, The Florida Bar filed a petition on December 4, 2023, seeking approval of the conditional guilty plea stemming from a bar investigation opened last April 28, 2023.

Records obtained by the bar showed Dickson-Ventura’s trust account contained insufficient funds to cover a check in April 2023. When questioned, the attorney could not produce the required trust accounting records. A subsequent audit revealed a $2,000 shortage that should have been held for a client’s medical bills, though no intentional misuse of funds was found.

Dickson-Ventura acknowledged issues following rules regulating trust accounting procedures and maintenance of financial records. In his November 17, 2023, conditional guilty plea, attorney Dickson-Ventura accepted the recommended three-year suspension and agreed to pay $2,509.37 in bar costs.

The high court’s order suspends Dickson-Ventura effective 30 days from the date of the order to allow him to close his practice and protect existing clients, unless he notifies the court he does not need the 30 days. He must comply with bar rules on suspension and accept no new clients until reinstated. The Florida Bar was also granted a judgment against Dickson-Ventura for costs.

With the recent ruling, the Supreme Court of Florida has suspended Gregorio Dickson-Ventura from the practice of law for three years.

The Disposition states:

“The conditional guilty plea and consent judgment for discipline are approved and Respondent is suspended from the practice of law for three years, effective thirty days from the date of this order so that Respondent can close out his practice and protect the interests of existing clients.”

According to avvo.com, Mr. Dickson-Ventura is an attorney in Intercession City, Florida. He attended the University of Miami School of Law, graduating in 1997. He acquired his law license in Florida in the same year.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.