Supreme Court of Florida
The Florida Bar v. Stephen Matthew Bander
May 11, 2023361 So. 3d 808
Summary
The court approved the referee’s findings that Stephen Matthew Bander violated multiple professional-conduct rules by failing to obtain informed consent for third-party fee payments, mishandling duplicate fee payments, and using client funds for firm expenses. Applying deferential review to the factual findings and broader review to discipline, the court concluded that knowing conversion of client property warranted disbarment and that no substantial mitigation justified departure from that sanction. The court also approved assessment of $20,293.75 in costs.