A Broward circuit judge and a former attorney received scathing criticism in a 4th District Court of Appeal opinion overturning attorney fees and other awards to the attorney and directed the circuit judge to consider sanctions instead.
The appellate court said Circuit Judge Richard Eade repeatedly abused his discretion by ignoring the legitimate claims of Dr. Roberta Santini and her attorney, Donald R. McCoy, a solo practitioner in Fort Lauderdale, in favor of claims brought by Bartley C. Miller. The managing partner of Panza Maurer Maynard and Neel was her first attorney in an employment discrimination and sexual harassment case against Cleveland Clinic Florida that began in 1996.
