The Florida Bar, the state’s governing body for attorneys, has filed a formal complaint against Peter J. Parlow, a Massachusetts attorney who was reprimanded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers. The complaint was filed on August 24, 2023, and it alleges that Parlow violated the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar by his actions in a case involving a client he represented in Massachusetts.

The case is entitled “The Florida Bar v. Peter J. Parlow.”

According to the complaint, Parlow was assigned to represent a client named Juan Lopez, who was charged with several offenses related to a motor vehicle accident and subsequent manhunt. Parlow was aware that another attorney, George Panas, had been assigned to represent Lopez’s co-defendant, Charles Robinson. However, Parlow did not seek Panas’s consent before communicating with Robinson about the case and preparing an affidavit for him to sign, which would have taken sole responsibility for the alleged crime and exonerated Lopez.

The complaint alleges that Parlow drafted the affidavit and faxed it to Robinson, along with a cover note instructing him to have his signature notarized. Parlow received a signed copy of the affidavit and a copy of Robinson’s driver’s license, but he took no action regarding its use because the affidavit was not notarized. Later, Parlow received a notarized copy of the affidavit and a clear copy of Robinson’s driver’s license via U.S. mail.

The complaint also alleges that Parlow’s conduct was in violation of several rules governing the conduct of attorneys in Massachusetts, including rules related to the unauthorized practice of law, communication with a represented person, and false statements.

The complaint requests that the Supreme Court of Florida impose reciprocal discipline on Parlow, as he has been disciplined in Massachusetts for his actions in this case.

The prayer 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.”

Mr. Parlow is the owner of the Law Office of Peter J. Parlow, which is located in Lowell, Massachusetts. Parlow was licensed to practice law in Florida and Massachusetts in the same year, 1997.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.