Attorney Michael Gaines of Palm Tampa, FL; druggie, repeater

The state of Florida presented Michael Walter Gaines with a law license in 1988 after he graduated from Stetson University Law School.

The Florida State Bar found Michael guilty of misconduct on two occasions as set forth below.

Michael’s 1^st bite at the Attorney Misfit Apple Tree

In one matter, Michael admitted that he had a substance abuse problem that required monitoring and treatment for quite some time.

Subsequently, Michael received a complimentary 60-day suspension of his law license, followed by 3-years of probation. Michael was also required to adhere to all of the requirements imposed on him in accordance with a contract he entered into with Florida Lawyers Assistance Inc.

As a consequence of his misconduct, the enablers for Attorney Misfits sitting on the Florida Supreme Court punished Michael by gifting him with a complimentary

Michael’s 2^nd bite at the Attorney Misfit Apple Tree

The terms of the contract between Michael and Florida Lawyers Assistance Inc., required that Michael “totally refrain from the use of all mood altering substances, including alcohol.”

Within 2 months of entering into the contract with FLA, Michael tested positive for morphine and heroin. Despite a physician’s recommendation to the State Bar that Michael be housed in a drug treatment facility, he chose the methadone maintenance program. Subsequently, Michael tested positive for mood altering drugs on at least five (5) occasions.

When Michael was confronted with tests proving he was illegally ingesting methadone, he did what any dishonest lawyer would do; he lied about it to bar investigators.

As a consequence of his misconduct, the enablers for Attorney Misfits sitting on the Florida Supreme Court punished Michael by gifting him with a complimentary 91-day suspension of his law license.

As we speak (ca. August 2013), Michael practices with the Cohen Law Group at 201 East Kennedy Blvd in Tampa, Florida.