Florida Supreme Court Suspends Miami Attorney Who Misappropriated Insurance Settlement Funds

Published Nov. 6, 2026. Case status is current as of that date. A suspension until further order is an interim or open-ended disciplinary status pending further court action.

According to The Florida Bar News’s January 1, 2024 report, the Supreme Court of Florida suspended James Edward Leano of Miami until further order, effective immediately following a November 30, 2023 order in Case No. SC23-1590, after he settled an insurance claim for which $40,000 was paid by Geico into his trust account and a staff audit found he misappropriated at least $26,577.88 of client funds from that account [1].

Status: Suspended until further order; order November 30, 2023 (SC23-1590) [1].

What the Bar News reports

According to The Florida Bar News [1]:

1. On behalf of his client, Leano (admitted 1998) settled an insurance claim for which $40,000 was paid by Geico and deposited into Leano’s trust account.
2. According to the staff audit and court records, Leano misappropriated at least $26,577.88 of client funds from his trust account.

The attorney suspended

James Edward Leano, Miami, Florida. Admitted 1998. Suspended until further order November 30, 2023 (SC23-1590) [1].

Case status (as of Nov. 6, 2026)

Respondent	Court	Status	Source
James Edward Leano, Miami	Supreme Court of Florida, SC23-1590	Suspended until further order; order Nov. 30, 2023	[1]

Further final discipline, if any, requires a subsequent court order.

Sources

1. The Florida Bar News, “January 1, 2024 Disciplinary Actions” (reporting Supreme Court order in SC23-1590). https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-news/january-1-2024-disciplinary-actions/