On Thursday, July 11, 2024, the Florida Bar filed a complaint against attorney T. Lorraine Johns with the Supreme Court of Florida.

The case is entitled “The Florida Bar v. T. Lorraine Johns,” with case no. 2023-10-515(06D).

The charges cited Rules Regulating Florida Bar 4-1.4 and 4-8.4(g). 

The complaint alleges that Johns neglected two separate client matters while assisting with estate administration. She was hired by Gary Keiser in 2021 to handle his father’s estate which included a house and bank account. Shortly after opening the probate case, a bank initiated foreclosure on the father’s house. Johns told Keiser she did not handle foreclosure cases and he should hire another attorney. However, Johns filed an initial response, making her the attorney of record but took no further action on the foreclosure.

In 2022, Keiser hired a new attorney, Doddridge, to substitute in on the probate case. Doddridge sent Johns a stipulation to substitute counsel, which she signed but added the foreclosure case number. When Doddridge informed her he was only substituting in on probate, Johns failed to resign the stipulation as requested. She also allegedly failed to provide Keiser’s file to Doddridge or respond to his questions.

The complaint also claims Johns was hired in 2022 by Fran Harvey to administer her late husband’s estate but failed to open the probate case after providing consultation. Johns then closed her practice to work for the public defender without completing Harvey’s matter.

Finally, the complaint states Johns has failed to respond to multiple inquiries from The Florida Bar regarding these complaints, resulting in a previous contempt finding and public reprimand by the Florida Supreme Court. If found guilty, Johns could face disciplinary action from the state’s highest court.

The complaint states:

“WHEREFORE, The Florida Bar prays respondent will be appropriately disciplined in accordance with the provisions of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar as amended.”

According to avvo.com, Ms. Johns is an estate planning attorney in New Port Richey, Florida. She attended the Loyola University New Orleans School of Law, graduating in 1998. She acquired her law license in Florida in 2001.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.