Bradenton attorney suspended after petition claims she misappropriated funds

A Bradenton attorney was ordered suspended from the Florida Bar after she misappropriated thousands of client dollars, according to a news release.

Julie Ann Parker, a managing partner of the Parker Law Group, 5513 61st Lane E., Bradenton, is currently listed as suspended and not eligible to practice law in Florida, according to the Florida Bar website.

Parker’s suspension was effective 30 days from a May 31 Florida Supreme Court order and is in place until further order, according to a release from the Florida Bar.

According to a petition for emergency suspension, Parker misappropriated at least $7,340 from her trust account, appearing to cause great public harm.

In an audit conducted from Sept. 1, 2016, to Dec. 31, 2016, four check stubs provided by Parker showed she disbursed $7,340.00 to herself between Oct. 3, 2016, and Nov. 2, 2016, according to Supreme Court documents. The funds belonged to clients and “should not have been disbursed to Parker from the trust account.”

Parker was given an opportunity to show that the $7,340 was still in her possession, but she has not provided any documentation to prove that to investigators, court documents stated.

Court documents claim Parker has caused, or is likely to cause, immediate and serious harm to her clients and the public because of her actions.

Parker attended Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School, where she graduated in 2001 and was admitted to the Florida Bar in September of that year, according to her Florida Bar profile.

Two Sarasota-area attorneys were also disciplined in Monday’s release:

▪  John Pangallo, 13617 Wild Citrus Road, Sarasota, was suspended for three years, effective immediately, following a May 25 court order. Upon reinstatement, Pangallo will be placed on probation for three years and directed to attend ethics school, according to the release. Pangallo appeared to be causing great public harm, based on his misappropriation of at least $60,000 from his trust account, according to a petition for emergency suspension. Pangallo was admitted to practice in 1991.

▪  William Robert Cohen, 505 S. Orange Ave., Sarasota, was granted a disciplinary revocation of admission to the Florida Bar, virtually the same as disbarment, following a June 22 court order. Cohen was also granted leave to seek readmission after five years, effective retroactive to Sept. 22, 2016. Disciplinary matters pending against Cohen involved allegations of trust fund shortages and commingling funds, according to the release. Cohen was admitted to practice in 1997.

Parker, Cohen and Pangallo were three of 14 Florida attorneys noted as disciplined in Monday’s release.

Court orders are not final until time expires to file a rehearing motion and, if filed, determined. The filing of such a motion does not alter the effective date of the discipline, according to the release.

This story was originally published July 31, 2017 at 6:14 PM with the headline "Bradenton attorney suspended after petition claims she misappropriated funds."