Why are attorneys so despised? In part, because of actions like this. Recently, a complaint against attorney Martin Pedata, Florida bar #745790, was filed by Dr. Dale Dugas with the Florida Bar Association. The nature of the complaint was in regard to Martin Pedata's unethical actions as representative for the plaintiffs in the case of Gordon and Hatfield v Dugas. https://www.facebook.com/martin.pedata On November 24, 2010, Bret Gordon and Steven Hatfield, represented by attorney Martin Pedata, filed suit against Dr. Dale Dugas, alleging defamation against themselves and their businesses. According to Steven Hatfield, Martin Pedata advised him to post a video on social media to announce and discuss the suit. This was also posted on a blog run by Bret Gordon. The relevant part of the transcript, in which Hatfield states that Pedata had recommended that he post a video, reads: “It's 2020-CA-001851, and the Complaint was actually provided and written by our attorney, who is Martin Pedata, and he has provided us with more than enough help to get everything taken care of that needs to be taken care of and addressed. “I normally don't even speak out on this crap, but my attorney did suggest that I make a video and kind of let everybody know what's going on . . . “. . . I just wanted to be clear that, y'know, luckily, with the help of Martin Pedata, this is something that has been, we've been working on for awhile.” You can read the entire transcript here. According to the Florida Bar Association's website, the General Principles of their Guidelines for Professional Conduct state that an attorney should (in relevant part): 1) strive to uphold the honor and dignity of the profession. 2) be courteous and civil in all professional dealings with other persons. Whether orally or in writing, lawyers should avoid vulgar language, disparaging personal remarks, or acrimony toward other counsel, parties, or witnesses. [acrimony meaning bitterness or sharpness of manner, speech, temper, etc. https://www.thefreedictionary.com/acrimony] In brief, attorneys are supposed to conduct themselves in a dignified and professional manner, and refrain from making unprofessional and disparaging remarks, at least while representing their clients. Martin Pedata seems to have skipped over this section. On Steven Hatfield and Bret Gordon's website, Gordon wrote the previously referenced blog entry featuring the video posted by Steven Hatfield, which Martin Pedata responded to by posting a comment. [Note that comments must be approved by Bret Gordon in order to appear on the blog.] The part of the comment relevant to Dr. Dugas reads: “Martin 11/25/2020 12:51:15 pm “Dale Dugas is a coward. Him showing up to your school unannounced with bodyguards was a ploy to avoid fighting. He knew by doing that he would screw up the set upon time to spar. All he had to do was wait a few more days and the fight would have happened.” I don't know how you might interpret this, but referring to someone as “a coward” on a publicly available forum, someone who is the opposing party to the clients you are representing in a suit, doesn't seem to be adhering very well to the Professional Guidelines set forth by the Florida Bar Association. Nor did it seem very ethical or professional to Dr. Dugas, and the complaint was filed for this reason. This is not the only ethically questionable behavior that Martin Pedata has seen fit to indulge. Looking into Steven Hatfield and Bret Gordon's numerous websites and organizations reveals a relationship that goes far beyond an average client-attorney association. Martin Pedata is featured as the “Director of Operations” for Hatfield and Gordon's USAMA organization. http://www.join-usama.com/martin-pedata.html
Among the many, many, many, many, MANY martial arts that Hatfield and Gordon claim to have mastered well enough to become not only instructors, but high-ranking instructors at that, neither one has ever mentioned having any proficiency whatsoever in Krav Maga. This begs the question – If you have no experience in a specific martial art, certainly not the level necessary to competently evaluate anyone's proficiency, how could you possibly recognize someone's rank in said art, issue them a certificate stating as much, and include them in your organization? Sounds pretty dishonest, almost like something a fraud would do, doesn't it? And, if you're an attorney (or anyone else for that matter), why would you accept, or even seek out, rank recognition from someone who has a history of making dubious claims about their own background, who can't honestly evaluate your skill or proficiency, someone with no experience in your art, someone whose “rank recognition” holds no authority whatsoever? Sounds pretty dishonest, almost like something a fraud would do, doesn't it? But then, we are talking about an attorney, aren't we? It would seem that Pedata has a vested fiduciary, and even a personal interest in the favorable outcome of this case, would it not? Wouldn't an ethical, moral attorney (I know, I know!) recuse himself from involvement due to the conflict of interest? This doesn't seem like the type of behavior someone who touts himself as a “Follower of Christ, Pastor”, should engage in, does it? I wonder what the Bible has to say about lying?
Proverbs 19:5 - A false witness shall not be unpunished, and [he that] speaketh lies shall not escape. Proverbs 19:9 - A false witness shall not be unpunished, and [he that] speaketh lies shall perish. Exodus 20:16 - Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Ephesians 4:25 - Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. In light of Martin Pedata's past conduct, conduct that could be considered questionable, unethical, immoral and possibly even criminal, what was the result of the complaint filed against him by Dr. Dale Dugas? Predictably, they circled the wagons to defend their scumrade. On December 15, 2020, the Florida Bar Association responded to Dr. Dugas after conducting their own review of the complaint. Their conclusion was: “Your inquiry concerning [Martin Pedata] has been referred to me for my review. “Your complaint raises issues which are civil in nature and must be addressed to the appropriate tribunal, not the Bar. “After careful consideration, I conclude that the matters referenced in your inquiry do not constitute violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct, and accordingly, your inquiry does not fall within the purview of the grievance system framework. Consequently, I have closed our record in this matter effective December 14, 2020. Please be advised that my action does not preclude you from consulting with private counsel, nor does it preclude you from exercising any legal remedy which may be available to you. “Pursuant to the Bar's records retention schedule, the computer record and file will be disposed of one year from the date of closing.” Sincerely William W. Wilhelm Attorney Consumer Assistance Program ACAP Hotline 866-352-0707” To summarize – scumbag attorneys (Triple Dub in particular) decided not to reprimand another scumbag attorney for violation of their Professional Guidelines because their Professional Guidelines don't apply to scumbag attorneys if other scumbag attorneys don't want them to. (That's my interpretation, anyway.) Pursuant to Under the Gi – with H.K.'s records retention schedule, this information will remain available to the public indefinitely.
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AuthorHarold (HK) Hayward, retired, enjoying life Archives
February 2021
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