Miccosukee Misconduct Case

Photo: BillionPhotos | Shutterstock.
The Miccosukee Tribe of Florida is actively searching for a new general counsel on the Florida bar website after firing and suing several previous lawyers over various forms of misconduct.

The tribe’s ad on the Florida bar website says that they seek a lawyer to provide “legal services, representation, and advice on legal issues pertaining to the tribal government and its departments, divisions, agencies, and enterprises.”

There’s no telling how many will apply for the position, but Kendall Coffey, partner with Coffey Burlington in Miami and former U.S. attorney, thinks that the tribe will undoubtedly get applicants. “It’s still a fascinating and potentially lucrative opportunity for someone who is not risk adverse,” he said. “The legal issues are complex, varied, and involve multiple different jurisdictions. From a legal and intellectual standpoint, it would be an entirely intriguing opportunity.”

The tribe’s last lawyer, Bernardo Roman III of the Law Offices of Bernardo Roman III in Miami, was fired in May after the Florida Bar found probable cause to investigate claims that his conduct was deceitful and prejudicial to his client. He is awaiting a trial before he faces possible disbarment.

Previously, he and the tribe were also sanctioned by U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke and ordered to pay $1 million in fines for filing a racketeering case against previous tribal attorneys, which were dismissed as groundless.

Steve Davis, litigator with Becker & Poliakoff, also recently represented the tribe on July 9th in a state case against former tribe chair Billy Cypress and other defendants. Davis did not reply to the Daily Business Review for comment, though he still appears to be the frontrunner to get the position—assuming he applies.

Lawyer Robert Saunooke, a Miramar solo practitioner of eastern Cherokee descent, has expressed interest in the job. Saunooke, who represents 50 members of the tribe in tax cases and has done legal work for the Seminole Tribe of Florida, would be a good fit for the position, given his background of working in the realm of Indian tribal law.


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