On Monday, January 26, 2026, The Florida Bar filed a complaint with the Supreme Court of Florida against attorney Joshua Mark Silverman, alleging professional misconduct in multiple client cases. The complaint outlines four separate counts of alleged violations of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar.
The case is entitled “The Florida Bar v. Joshua Mark Silverman,” with case nos. 2024-00,416(8B), 2024-00,512(8B), 2025-00,156(8B), and 2025-00,353(8B).
The first count, TFB # 2024-00,416(8B), concerns Mary Auguste, who hired Silverman in a family law case on March 21, 2023, paying him a $2,400.00 fee. The complaint states that Silverman entered a limited notice of appearance for an informal/formal mediation conference and to prepare, file, and litigate a Motion for Relief from Judgment/Order, and in the Alternative, a Motion for Rehearing.
The Florida Bar alleges that Silverman failed to inform Auguste that the motion had been filed and, later, that it had been denied. Furthermore, Auguste claims Silverman agreed to file an appeal, which was never done. Auguste sent multiple emails requesting status updates between March 2023 and March 2024, which allegedly went unanswered. The Florida Bar sent Silverman multiple letters requesting a response to Auguste’s complaint, but he allegedly failed to respond.
The second count, TFB # 2024-00,512(8B), involves Clay Molinari and his sister, Marie Fishman, who retained Silverman in an alimony enforcement case on November 10, 2023, for a fee of $6,000.00. Molinari and Fishman allegedly sent numerous emails to Silverman without receiving a response. After a meeting on November 27, 2023, where Silverman outlined a strategy and requested additional documentation, he allegedly failed to file a notice of appearance.
The complaint further alleges that Silverman failed to respond to emails and phone calls from Molinari and Fishman, and numerous meetings were canceled by Silverman’s office. Despite receiving a refund of $3,000.00, Molinari filed a complaint with The Florida Bar on June 17, 2024, and Silverman allegedly failed to respond to subsequent inquiries from the Bar.
The third count, TFB # 2025-00,156(8B), pertains to Joy Walker, who hired Silverman on January 18, 2023, for a divorce case, paying a $4,000.00 fee. After a final judgment was entered, Walker contacted Silverman with questions about assets awarded in the dissolution action.
The Florida Bar alleges that Silverman answered some questions but ignored others. Between January and June 2024, the parties exchanged over 1,600 text messages, which allegedly became sexual in May and June 2024. Silverman allegedly failed to respond to a 15-day letter from the bar and failed to contact an investigating member.
The fourth count, TFB # 2025-00,353(8B), concerns Kara Ryan, who hired Silverman on April 3, 2024, for a divorce action, paying a $6,000.00 fee. After providing all required documents, Ryan allegedly received an email from Silverman’s paralegal, Brent Lanier, requesting her “thoughts” on serving her husband. Ryan requested updates on her case but received no responses. Lanier later suggested Ryan coordinate directly with the process server. Despite Ryan’s repeated attempts to contact Silverman, she received no response. A Notice of Intent to Dismiss for Lack of Service of Process was issued, and Silverman allegedly failed to file a response. Ryan ultimately received a Notice of Dismissal for Lack of Service.
The Florida Bar contends that Silverman’s conduct violated Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, including those related to communication, diligence, fees, and costs for legal services, failure to respond to official inquiries, and sexual conduct with a client. The Florida Bar is requesting the Supreme Court to discipline Silverman and award the bar its costs.
According to Avvo.com, Mr. Silverman is a divorce and separation attorney in Gainesville, Florida. He attended the University of Florida, Fredric G. Levin College of Law, graduating in 2001. He acquired his law license in Florida in the same year.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
