Tampa Radio: Bubba Attorneys Found Guilty In DUI Set-Up

Bubba, Schnitt

A Pinellas County, Florida judge found Tuesday that three lawyers in a prominent law firm “deliberately and maliciously” orchestrated the drunken driving arrest of an opposing attorney in a highly publicized civil trial two years ago “solely to gain an advantage” in the proceedings.

The attorneys also violated several other codes of conduct established for Florida lawyers and face the possibility of disbarment.

The Tampa Tribune reports Tuesday’s ruling by retired Pinellas County Circuit Judge W. Douglas Baird, who is serving as “referee” in the case, found Stephen Diaco, Robert Adams and Adam Filthaut guilty of all but one of the ethics charges filed against them by the Florida Bar.

Set-Up Attorney

Baird has scheduled a sanctions hearing for Aug. 6 and 7, said Francine Andia Walker, director of public information for The Florida Bar. That hearing will provide a forum for the parties to present case law and argue for appropriate sanctions. She would not say what sanctions the Bar will recommend.

The three members of the Adams & Diaco law firm were accused of setting up C. Philip Campbell’s drunk driving arrest the night of Jan. 23, 2013. Campbell was representing radio personality Todd “MJ” Schnitt in his slander suit against another DJ, Bubba the Love Sponge Clem. Clem was represented by the Adams and Diaco law firm.

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