Corrupt Attorneys and Dirty Cop Team Up and Get DESTROYED
Corrupt Attorneys and Dirty Cop Team Up and Get DESTROYED
Corrupt Attorneys and a Dirty Cop Team Up and Get Destroyed
Preview
When a high-stakes legal rivalry crosses ethical boundaries, the consequences can be catastrophic. A calculated conspiracy involving a law firm, a compromised police officer, and an elaborate setup to wrongly arrest opposing counsel ultimately unraveled. Facing severe disciplinary action before the Florida Supreme Court, the attorneys involved learned that egregious misconduct carries a permanent and devastating price.
The Setup: A High-Profile Legal Feud and a Fake DUI Trap
The scandal erupted from a fierce civil lawsuit involving Tampa radio personality Bubba the Love Sponge and rival host Todd Schnitt. Representing Bubba the Love Sponge were equity partners Steven Dako and Robert Adams, alongside non-equity partner Adam Filtout from the law firm of Adams and Dako.
Desperate to gain an unfair advantage in the ongoing litigation, members of the firm orchestrated a scheme to target Schnitt’s lead attorney, Philip Campbell. On the evening of January 23, 2013, a firm paralegal spotted Campbell at a local steakhouse, flirted with him, lied about her employment, and encouraged him to drink. Simultaneously, attorney Adam Filtout utilized a close personal friendship with Tampa Police Sergeant Raymond Fernandez, contacting the officer to alert him that Campbell might soon drive while intoxicated.
The trap worked, resulting in Campbell’s wrongful arrest for driving under the influence. However, the fallout was swift and catastrophic: the arrest collapsed, Sergeant Fernandez lost his career, and the Florida Bar launched a sweeping investigation into the attorneys’ conduct.
The Disciplinary Proceedings and Supreme Court Appeal
Following a comprehensive inquiry, a referee appointed by the Florida Supreme Court recommended that all three participating attorneys—Dako, Adams, and Filtout—be permanently disbarred. While Dako accepted the disbarment, Adams and Filtout appealed the recommendation, arguing that permanent disbarment was too severe and that they should be eligible to apply for readmission after a period of time.
During oral arguments before the Florida Supreme Court, attorneys for Adams and Filtout attempted to minimize their clients’ direct involvement. They argued that the misconduct was an isolated lapse in judgment, that neither attorney had prior disciplinary records, and that Filtout was merely acting as a subordinate following instructions or serving as a citizen informant.
The Justices, however, expressed profound shock and outrage at the calculated and premeditated nature of the conspiracy. Pointing out the deliberate exploitation of personal relationships with law enforcement, the destruction of text message evidence, and the blatant violation of a lawyer’s core oath, the court dismantled the defense’s arguments. Representatives for the Florida Bar firmly maintained that attorneys who actively engineer a malicious trap to destroy an opponent’s freedom and reputation demonstrate a fundamental defect in character that warrants the ultimate sanction.
The Broader Lesson on Legal Ethics
The Florida Bar’s disciplinary action serves as an unmistakable reminder of the absolute sanctity of professional ethics and the attorney’s oath. Courtroom advocacy must remain within the bounds of honesty, integrity, and the rule of law. When legal professionals abandon their ethical obligations to engage in coordinated conspiracies, they risk not only their own livelihoods and licenses, but the public trust in the entire judicial system.
