On September 18, 2024, the Florida Bar filed a formal complaint against attorney Steven Edward Amster.
The case is entitled “The Florida Bar v. Steven Edward Amster”. with case number 2019-50,255(17E).
The complaint stems from Amster’s representation of a client named Tomas Diaz in 2015 and subsequent legal matters. Amster was retained to represent Diaz in a criminal case with an agreed upon flat fee of $5,000. Diaz eventually plead guilty in December 2015.
However, the complaint states that after the conclusion of the original criminal case, Amster contacted Diaz on three separate occasions requesting an additional $50,000 total for continued legal services related to a probation violation. This money was provided by wire transfers from Diaz’s mother, but Amster did not draft a new fee agreement.
Furthermore, Amster is accused of failing to properly handle these substantial advance fees. He allegedly did not keep the funds separate in a trust account, provide an accounting to Diaz of how the money was used, or disclose in writing that any part of the fees could be non-refundable. When Diaz later asked for an accounting of $40,000 of the $50,000, Amster did not provide one, according to the complaint.
The Florida Bar is seeking discipline of Amster, claiming his conduct violated several rules regarding proper communication of fees, maintaining client funds, and duty to apply advances only to the specified legal purpose.
Amster has been notified of the complaint and must now respond to the allegations in the matter before the Supreme Court of Florida.
According to Avvo, Mr. Amster is an attorney in Miami, Florida. He obtained his law license in Florida in 1994.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
