On Friday, April 11, 2025, The Florida Bar filed a petition with the Supreme Court of Florida requesting approval of a conditional guilty plea and consent judgment for Attorney Suzanne Mandich. The filing outlines disciplinary measures stemming from Mandich’s actions in a contentious custody case.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Suzanne Mandich,” with case no. 2024-50,583(11D).
Mandich voluntarily submitted the guilty plea before a formal complaint was filed. The plea, approved by The Florida Bar under Rule 3-7.9, details a 91-day suspension from practicing law, effective 30 days after the Supreme Court’s approval, allowing Mandich time to close her practice and protect client interests. During this period, she must cease accepting new clients, initiating litigation, and holding herself out as a Florida Bar member. She is also required to notify courts, clients, co-counsel, opposing counsel, and financial institutions holding client funds of her suspension, as mandated by Rule 3-5.1(h). Additionally, Mandich must provide an affidavit listing all notified parties and comply with a bar subpoena for trust account records.
The petition arises from Mandich’s representation of an indigent father in a custody dispute. The client, described as poorly educated and technologically challenged, struggled to complete a court-mandated online parenting course despite paying for it twice. Mandich, driven by empathy, arranged for her assistant to complete the course using the client’s information and filed a notice of completion with the court. During a deposition, Mandich did not correct the client’s testimony that he completed the course himself. When confronted by the opposing party with evidence of the assistant’s involvement, Mandich ended the contentious deposition. She later filed an errata sheet to correct the testimony and ensured the client completed the course independently.
Mandich’s actions violated several Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, including those concerning candor toward the tribunal, fairness to opposing parties, truthfulness, responsibilities for nonlawyer assistants, and conduct involving dishonesty or prejudice to justice. She expressed remorse, citing her emotional involvement in the case as a factor clouding her judgment. Mandich has no prior disciplinary history and has ceased taking child custody cases. She is also required to attend Ethics School within six months, paying $750 in fees, and cover $1,250 in disciplinary costs within 30 days of the court’s order.
Mandich, who has engaged in interim rehabilitation and community service, acknowledged her empathetic tendencies, noting a past instance where she personally covered client debts after her first employer’s misconduct. The Supreme Court’s approval of the plea is pending, with The Florida Bar and Mandich stipulating to the proposed order.
The petition states:
“WHEREFORE, The Florida Bar respectfully requests that the conditional Guilty Plea for Consent Judgment and Stipulation to Entry of Agreed Order be accepted, the proposed discipline be imposed, and the bar be awarded costs.”
According to avvo.com, Ms. Mandich is a family attorney in West Palm Beach, Florida. She attended Nova Southeastern University – Shepard Broad Law Center, graduating in 2013. She acquired her law license in the same year.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
