The Florida Supreme Court recently disbarred an Ocala attorney for missing hearings and acting inappropriately in court on behalf of clients, from whom she took funds in exchange for performing “no useful services.”
Danialle Riggins was disbarred by the state’s highest court in an order issued on February 13.
The disbarment order goes into effect thirty days after its issuance, according to a statement issued on the matter by the Florida Bar (FB).
Riggins, received her degree to practice law from Florida A&M University in 2005, is accused of engaging in a “serious pattern of neglect and lack of communication” with four separate clients.
According to the FB, Riggins received funds from clients for which she performed “no useful services, did not respond to their requests for information, delayed resolution of the clients’ cases, and did not refund any of the money she previously accepted.”
In some instances, the FB says Riggins caused clients to seek alternative counsel, which resulted in additional costs incurred by the clients.
Riggins operated out of 421 S Pine Avenue for a stint. During her time there, one client left a detailed review of her experience with Riggins.
The client says that she paid a consultation fee and when she showed up for her appointment, she was told that Riggins was having car trouble. When Riggins spoke with the client, she indicated that she would contact her to reschedule. When Riggins did not reschedule, she told the client she would issue a refund.
The client said despite contacting Riggins multiple times for the refund, she never received it.
In addition to the client complaints, two local judges familiar with past appearances of Riggins in their courtrooms complained about the attorney’s “inappropriate courtroom conduct and missed hearings.”
“Riggins also failed to meaningfully participate in the disciplinary proceeding [in her case],” reads a statement from the FB.
Riggins’ online attorney profile through FB indicates that her practice areas were business, civil litigation, dispute resolution, employee benefits, and mediation.
Now that she has been disbarred, Riggins is prohibited from practicing law in the state of Florida. Although she can apply for reinstatement, she cannot request that for at least another five years.