Today, the Supreme Court of Florida disbarred a lawyer who charged people $799 for an “Official Legal Certification” and patient identification card, which he claimed would give them the legal right to have and grow marijuana. Along with the certification, he gave some clients a “g row sign” to post at their houses to indicate they were cultivating marijuana. Several clients who relied upon the attorney’s erroneous advice were arrested and criminally prosecuted.

Under Florida Standard for Imposing Lawyer Discipline 4.51, disbarment is appropriate “when a lawyer’s course of conduct demonstrates that the lawyer does not understand the most fundamental legal doctrines or procedures, and the lawyer’s conduct causes injury or potential injury to a client.” Fla. Stds. Imposing Lawyer Sancs. 4.51. The referee recommended a two-year suspension. In reaching the conclusion that disbarment is appropriate, the Court explained, “[t]he most prominent features of respondent’s misconduct are incompetence and extremely serious harm to clients,” some of whom lost their jobs.