The Florida Bar v. Stupica, 44130
Court | United States State Supreme Court of Florida |
Citation | 300 So.2d 683 |
Docket Number | No. 44130,44130 |
Parties | THE FLORIDA BAR, Petitioner, v. Joe L. STUPICA, d/b/a J. Lawrence Publications, Respondent. |
Decision Date | 17 July 1974 |
Leonard Rivkind, Chairman, Miami Beach, and Richard C. McFarlain, Asst. Executive Director of The Florida Bar, Tallahassee, for petitioner.
Joe L. Stupica, in pro. per.
This is an unauthorized practice of law case in which Petitioner, The Florida Bar, seeks an injunction against the advertisement, publication and sale of a document entitled 'Divorce Kit,' by Respondent Joe L. Stupica, d/b/a J. Lawrence Publications, which is designed specifically to be used in no-fault dissolution of marriage proceedings brought under the State's new dissolution of marriage law, Ch. 61, F.S.
The essential facts in this matter are set forth in the report of a Referee who was appointed and directed by this Court to try questions of fact in these proceedings, make findings of fact and conclusions of law, and report the same with his recommendations to this Court in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Integration Rule. See Article XVI thereof.
The Referee in his report made the following factual findings:
'1. THAT JOE L. STUPICA is not a member of the Florida Bar.
'2. THAT JOE L. STUPICA, d/b/a J. LAWRENCE PUBLICATIONS, publishes a document entitled DIVORCE KIT for Florida's New 'No-Fault Divorce' Law, and that the said documents are published by the said J. LAWRENCE PUBLICATIONS, Post Office Box 791, Pompano Beach, Florida 33061.
The Referee made the following conclusions of law:
'THAT the giving of legal advice by a person not licensed to practice law violates the provisions of the Integration Rule of the Florida Bar.
'THAT the facts in this case are governed by the ruling of the Court in the case of Florida Bar. vs. American Legal (and) Business Forms, Inc. (Fla.), 274 So.2d 225, 1973.
'It is the finding of the Referee that the activities of JOE L. STUPICA, d/b/a J. LAWRENCE PUBLICATIONS, constitute the unauthorized practice of law, in that the said JOE L. STUPICA is engaged in the advising of another as to how to secure a dissolution of marriage by was (sic) of selling the above referred to DIVORCE KIT and in providing persons interested in seeking the said DIVORCE KIT with instructions and advice, which do constitute the practice of law.
The Referee recommended that 'the Respondent be permanently enjoined from the further unauthorized practice of law and that he be prohibited from the further advertising and sale of the Divorce Kit.'
A copy of the 'Divorce Kit' as an exhibit is attached to the report. It contains the following forms: Petition for dissolution of marriage; answer thereto; summons; sworn statement for constructive service; notice of petition for dissolution of marriage; motion for default; default; joint stipulations for motion for final hearing; motion for final hearing; order setting final hearing; and final judgment of dissolution of marriage.
In addition to the enumerated forms, several pages are conjoined giving explanatory data concerning the proper use of the forms as well as specific information concerning Florida's dissolution of marriage laws.
For examples: Residency requirements of six months is stated to be necessary in order to 'file divorce proceedings'; no final dissolution of marriage may be entered until at least 20 days have elapsed from the date of filing the petition for dissolution; judgment of dissolution results in the parties regaining single status and free to marry again; information upon how to get constructive service when the whereabouts of one's spouse is unknown; definitions are given of such terms as the petition for dissolution, petitioner, respondent, answer, uncontested action, default and enter of record; types of actions using the Divorce Kit are said to be three, namely, when the petitioner and respondent agree to get a divorce; do not agree to get a divorce, and when the residence of respondent is not known to petitioner and then follows instructions and advice as to the procedures to follow in using the forms in the three types of actions.
In addition to the foregoing information and advice, a page is devoted to the 'final hearing.' There is outlined the fact that the courts 'may require documentary proof of residence' of petitioner. Examples of proof of residency are stated to be 'a declaration of domicile, a deed to Florida property, a Florida driver's license, a Florida automobile registration, Florida voter registration, Florida homestead exemption, etc.' Next it is stated proof of residence may be given by a witness with sample questions to be asked the witness, 'Of your own knowledge, how long has the petitioner lived in Florida?' Next is set forth what is stated to consist of proof of reasonable diligence as to search and inquiry to be made by petitioner to discover the residence of the respondent. Sample questions are set forth, and finally there is set forth information concerning the proof to show that the marriage is irretrievably broken, with sample questions to be asked petitioner on that score.
The Respondent filed objections to the report. He contends that the 'Divorce Kit' is merely a law book or pamphlet publication of legal forms with allowable explanatory data and instructions as to use conjoined. He contends the publication establishes no personal relationship of attorney and client between the purchaser of the kit and its publisher. Particularly, he relies on the holding in New York County Lawyers' Association v. Dacey, 28 A.D.2d 161, 283 N.Y.S.2d 984, reversed and dissenting opinion adopted, 21 N.Y.2d 694, 287 N.Y.S.2d 422, 234 N.E.2d 459. There it was ultimately held that Dacey's publication, 'How to Avoid Probate,' did not constitute the unlawful practice of law. The dissenting opinion by Mr. Justice Stephens, which was adopted by the New York Appellate Division, was to the effect that:
'. . . it could not be claimed that the publication of a legal text which purported to say what the law...
To continue reading
Request your trial-
State Bar v. Cramer, 11
...questions similar to those now presented which have held such practices to be the unauthorized practice of law. In Florida Bar v. Stupica, 300 So.2d 683 (Fla.1974), the mere furnishing of 'divorce kits' to the general public was held to constitute the unauthorized practice of law. Contained......
-
In re Campanella, Bankruptcy No. 96-31974DAS.
...such kits per se constituted the unauthorized practice of law. See Florida Bar v. Peake, 364 So.2d 431 (Fla.1978); and Florida Bar v. Stupica, 300 So.2d 683 (Fla.1974). However, the Florida Supreme Court reversed this position when it held, in Florida Bar v. Brumbaugh, 355 So.2d 1186, 1194 ......
-
Florida Bar v. Brumbaugh, 48803
...the rulings of this Court in The Florida Bar v. American Legal and Business Forms, Inc., 274 So.2d 225 (Fla.1973), and The Florida Bar v. Stupica, 300 So.2d 683 (Fla.1974). In those decisions we held that it is lawful to sell to the public printed legal forms, provided they do not carry wit......
-
Fifth Judicial Bar v. Glasgow, 96-00020
...1999 WL 47235, at *6 (N.D. Tex. Jan. 22, 1999), vacated on other grounds, 179 F.3d 956, 956 (5th Cir. 1999); The Florida Bar v. Stupica, 300 So. 2d 683, 687 (Fla. 1974); New Jersey State Bar Ass'n v. Divorce Ctr. of Atlantic County, 477 A.2d 415, 418-19, 422 (N.J. Super. Ct. Ch. Div. 1984).......
-
When public policies collide: legal "self-help" software and the unauthorized practice of law.
...Law Comm., 438 S.W.2d 374 (Tex. App. 1969); N.Y. County Lawyers' Ass'n v. Dacey, 283 N.Y.S.2d 984 (App. Div. 1967); Fla. Bar v. Stupica, 300 So. 2d 683 (Fla. (48.) Scott Goldstein, When Does Software Cross the Line into Law Practice?, 8 N.J. LAW. WKLY. NEWSPAPER, Feb. 8, 1999, at 271. (49.)......