Palm Harbor Attorney Suspended

A Palm Harbor attorney has been disciplined by the Florida Supreme Court for violating rules of professional conduct. Doreen M. Goldbronn, 59, was suspended for one year. 

According to Florida Supreme Court records, Goldbronn overcharged a client $6,700 in an administration of trust transaction. 

Court documents say that Goldbronn's client was the trustee of an estate who agreed to pay Goldbronn 2.25% of the trust assets. Goldbronn received $21,278.75 from the client plus $500 for costs. Goldbronn was accused of including $300,000 of assets that were not trust assets, which resulted in the client being overcharged $6,700.

Court documents also say Goldbronn failed to inform the client about her impending suspension in connection with a previous disciplinary incident, until days before she became ineligible to practice law. Because of this, the client had to hire a new attorney and pay additional fees to complete the trust administration.

The Supreme Court considered two previous disciplinary actions when deciding to suspend Goldbronn for one year, according to court records:

• September 2009: Six-month suspension. In this incident, Goldbronn was accused of falsifying a medical note. Goldbronn did not petition to be reinstated.
• October 2007: 60-day suspension. In this incident, Goldbronn was accused of sharing a commission with a licensed broker in connection with an investment transaction. At the time of the transaction, Goldbronn did not have the proper license. 

Goldbronn was admitted to the Florida Bar in August 1984. We tried contacting Goldbronn for her comments about this story and called multiple phone numbers listed in directories, however, those phone numbers are no longer working.