Bar Complaint Against Former Lawyer Picazio Filed By Crystal Sheffiel

[atherella]

In all fairness...her ex-attorney would say anything at this juncture. A complaint was filed against her and she responded. There doesn't really have to be any truth to what she says. The burdon of proof has to be on the complainant. I've read here in this forum much more than I've posted...but I have to say no one and I mean no one knows what CP promised CS. I'm sure she promised a lot. IIRC she stated as much in early interviews. Let's remember she filed the motions. If she believed there was no merit to them then she should have advised her client of that. Instead, IMO she no doubt promised her the moon...and came up way short of delivering. JMHO

PS- IMO it's tacky for an attorney to take to the airwaves to speak about an ex-client. She should have taken the high road and rise above this.

While Kim is not my favorite person in this case, I don't think an attorney is going to lie in front of the disciplinary committee and risk being disbarred. You cannot just say "anything". There is a burden of proof that must be met.

You mentioned that Kim "filed the motions". What motions do you mean? Kim did not file any motions. I'm guessing that is part of the grounds upon which Crystal filed her complaint. When you read the bar's response to Crystal, it discusses how attorneys cannot file frivolous motions or pleadings and that this falls within an attorney's discretion. It is the attorney that would be disciplined and/or sanctioned for doing so. Kim gave the bar the reasons that she did not file the motion that Crystal wanted Kim to file and the bar clearly agreed with Kim's reasoning.

Crystal has had a new attorney since July. Said attorney has not filed any of those motions either.

I do agree that attorneys do not belong in the media discussing a client's case. However, an attorney works for the client. If a client does not approve of an attorney's action, the client needs to express her displeasure to the attorney.

 

[Baxter]

No offense to you, but it was not "supposed", it WAS started by a SO. You can Google it, see his name and his record, all the facts are there.

I know, no need to google. Just explaining to the poster that this SO has nothing to do with Crystal or Marie.

 

[Tricia]

That's the gist of it, it seems. This "blogger" was the spokesperson of the family and made statements to the bar about KP. KP also said this blogger was a moderator for a certain chat forum for Haleigh that was run by a "high risk sex offender".

I have not read this whole thread but I want to make sure everyone knows the forum was "Hearts for Haleigh" and the person who ran and owned that forum is a sex offender. Websleuths is in no way connected to this crap at all.

 

[DotsEyes]

I have never seen a BAR ever proceed against an attorney. The Bar Assoc. is equivalent to the DCF in that regard. They have to witness a wrong doing or have the paperwork. You cannot allege against an attorney and win, never works.

We have not seen proof of anything the letter says. I do not take a summary or decision as a fact that something did/didn't occur.....just like DCF! Or the Family Court....all under the unbrella of the same system.

Wrong, the Bar Asociation Disciplinary Boards investigate the complaints. If there is any basis to the complaint, there are hearings and decisions made as to the appropriate penlty.Then it petitions the Supreme Court of the State which makes the call. This particular complaint filed by CS apparently had no basis in fact and no further action was appropriate.

 

[Bobbisangel]

Wow........now that's a bombshell...!! She sat right there on the NG show and stated that the papers had been served at an address that she no longer lived at and that RC knew it. Does it ever stop?

I think if a lot of the things that Crystal said were throughly checked out we would come to realize that she has a problem with not telling the truth in order to try and make herself look better.

One thing I noticed about Crystal while on different shows is that her affect was always so flat. Like she was zoning out all of the time. Probably zoned out on what ever drug she uses. Between Crystal and her stepbrother/boyfriend their homelife doesn't seem to be a great place to raise kids. If Crystal is using you can bet he is too.

Kim came on so strong at first. I'm glad that she finally figured out that things weren't rigiht and got out of there. It's pretty sad when an attorney is willing to help you for no money and you lie through your teeth to her. I wonder how the woman who sent her the money to pay her child support feels since she is no doubt reading all of this too.

 

[debs]

I find it ironic that the Father of Haleigh, who, imo, is the only parent that gave a crap about her, stood up and raised her and her brother, supported, clothed, fed, took them to the Dr., made sure she went to school and that both were clean and well groomed, is villified by some.

While the Mother who, gave up custody, couldn't be bothered to get out of bed to take her child to the Dr., couldn't be bothered to show up the her custody hearing, told a lie about the hearing, made false abuse claims against the Father, continued to use cocaine while pregnant with her second child, did not pay child support, who was more concerned about getting her support order modified than she was her missing child, is placed on a pedestal and made out to be the "better parent." Ridiculous. All MOO.

And the same people who have sainted CS have nothing to say about the facts presented about CS by her own attorney, I guess because there is no defense of these things, IMO. But RC is still treated as a horrible person and no one has any proof he did anything he as been accused of. MOO.

Interestingly enough......the mother was living with the father and his family and NONE of them got Haleigh to 12 appt's, but it's only Crystal who is blamed. Repeatedly.

 

[RR0004]

While Kim is not my favorite person in this case, I don't think an attorney is going to lie in front of the disciplinary committee and risk being disbarred. You cannot just say "anything". There is a burden of proof that must be met.

You mentioned that Kim "filed the motions". What motions do you mean? Kim did not file any motions. I'm guessing that is part of the grounds upon which Crystal filed her complaint. When you read the bar's response to Crystal, it discusses how attorneys cannot file frivolous motions or pleadings and that this falls within an attorney's discretion. It is the attorney that would be disciplined and/or sanctioned for doing so. Kim gave the bar the reasons that she did not file the motion that Crystal wanted Kim to file and the bar clearly agreed with Kim's reasoning.

Crystal has had a new attorney since July. Said attorney has not filed any of those motions either.

I do agree that attorneys do not belong in the media discussing a client's case. However, an attorney works for the client. If a client does not approve of an attorney's action, the client needs to express her displeasure to the attorney.

First off, filing for a reduction in child support/modification for custody is not frivolous IMO...but that being said, I assumed KP followed through on seeking both as she stated/alluded to doing so early on. My bad! I'm not going to argue, but attorneys do tell stories/lie all the time. She needed to do what she had to do. I'm not even going to say she was wrong throwing up CS's sorry life to discredit her. Attorneys don't play nice. Now mind you, I have nothing against attorneys, I grew up surrounded by them. But, we may never know if CS's own lie was the reason KP didn't pursue action....however, something tells me that she was more concerned about the "negative impact" this case had on her career more than anything else. I'd love to believe her reasons for getting involved were pure of heart, truly I would. Simply put, IMO she shouldn't have gotten CS's hopes up by saying anything.

 

[Dr. Know?]

All I know after reading/listening to KP via the article I read today is, don't ever take a pro bono lawyer no matter what. I heard KP say one thing, and then today read/listened to her, and oh boy! Big difference in adamant words she has spoken/written. I am confused, yet amazed at how words can be twisted.

 

[RR0004]

All I know after reading/listening to KP via the article I read today is, don't ever take a pro bono lawyer no matter what. I heard KP say one thing, and then today read/listened to her, and oh boy! Big difference in adamant words she has spoken/written. I am confused, yet amazed at how words can be twisted.

Lawyers are notorious for doing just that. IMO everything comes with a price tag.

 

[chesterp]

BOTTOM LINE... Haleigh is missing and has been for over nine months now...And her father knows exactly what happened to her... I suspect TN and GGMS know too...JMO.. We need to cut through all the BS of what happened way back when concerning who didn't do this and who did that.. and find out WHY Haleigh disappeared and hold those that are responsible for her disappearance accountable....JMO

BOTTOM LINE: JMO.....The Cummings do not know what and where Haleigh is....and that is also true for the Sheffields.

All the BS will be cut through very soon. This case is a complete circus...the people who took Haleigh from this WORLD will be accounted for and will get what they deserve.... If all of these people involved would focus on Haleigh and not go one NG....the tabloids, etc. these interviews are more to feed the hatred and the focus of finding Haleigh gets lost in all the BS.

KP is just another person dragged into this crap....TM, Cobra, and the list goes on. These family members that you are TRASHING constantly are Haleigh's parents....no matter what.....all this HATE does not help in finding her. She is going to be found very soon.....

 

[PorcineGranny]

BOTTOM LINE: JMO.....The Cummings do not know what and where Haleigh is....and that is also true for the Sheffields.

All the BS will be cut through very soon. This case is a complete circus...the people who took Haleigh from this WORLD will be accounted for and will get what they deserve.... If all of these people involved would focus on Haleigh and not go one NG....the tabloids, etc. these interviews are more to feed the hatred and the focus of finding Haleigh gets lost in all the BS.

KP is just another person dragged into this crap....TM, Cobra, and the list goes on. These family members that you are TRASHING constantly are Haleigh's parents....no matter what.....all this HATE does not help in finding her. She is going to be found very soon.....

Chesterp, I believe you, but it can't come soon enough.

 

[TxLady2]

BOTTOM LINE: JMO.....The Cummings do not know what and where Haleigh is....and that is also true for the Sheffields.

All the BS will be cut through very soon. This case is a complete circus...the people who took Haleigh from this WORLD will be accounted for and will get what they deserve.... If all of these people involved would focus on Haleigh and not go one NG....the tabloids, etc. these interviews are more to feed the hatred and the focus of finding Haleigh gets lost in all the BS.

KP is just another person dragged into this crap....TM, Cobra, and the list goes on. These family members that you are TRASHING constantly are Haleigh's parents....no matter what.....all this HATE does not help in finding her. She is going to be found very soon.....

I don't believe KP or Cobra were "dragged into" this crap... they came into it voluntarily. JMO.
KP marched in with guns-a-blazing and did a lot of smooth talking, on t.v., to the media and to Crystal herself. She didn't accomplish squat. Crystal is a young, naive woman who knew very little about the law, and KP should have known better than to get her hopes up. I don't feel sorry for KP or Cobra, at all. And Cobra is all hat and no cattle, as we say here. All he accomplished was to get himself into a mess of trouble.
All this is my humble opinion, of course. But I hope you're right, that Haleigh will be found soon, and the truth will be revealed.

 

[Concerned Papa]

Like many of you I became interested in the situation surrounding the disappearance of Haleigh Cummings from the very beginning. With two granddaughters of my own who are close to her age, I find myself powerless to look at her beautiful little face and not be drawn into trying to understand what happened on February 9th in Satsuma, FL. Towards this end, I have gone into the basements of her family’s lives and read every criminal charge, court proceeding, and transcript that’s available. I have read every article, watched every video, and watched more Nancy Grace than I ever care to again. The reality that was her life is not a pretty picture. Crime and drugs played a large role in the lives of the ones she loved the most. Time has formed my opinion of who I believe is most likely guilty of the unspeakable horror of this tragedy, but one reality persists for me. While the number of people who are guilty is likely very small, MANY are responsible.

Haleigh should have never been in the situation where life found her on that evening. If there is any justice in this world, I believe the guilty will pay. However, the ones with responsibility will also have a cross to bear for the rest of their days.

In my opinion, Kim Picazio came into this case with one purpose in mind, to help a young lady who needed help. When she got into the case, Crystal’s image was extremely negative. She launched a methodical, very strategic campaign to lift that image, which is still being enjoyed by her and her family to this day. Defending Crystal was her job. Whether the medium was television, radio, newspaper, or the Internet it was her responsibility to favorably affect the public’s perception of her client. I personally have never seen or heard one word that violated the integrity of the attorney/client privilege. During her representation, she never said a disparaging word about that family. She zealously and sometimes aggressively defended them. That’s what a good attorney does. What do you think Terry Shoemaker was doing when he said Ronald Cummings usually got to work 45 minutes early each day?

For her efforts, she has been accused of every type of nefarious intent imaginable ranging from “think bio-fuels”, to “love triangles”, and even stolen donation money, none of which ever offered a scintilla of proof or evidence to back it up. Finally, she had to defend herself to the Florida Bar Association. Just as vigorously as she defended her client, she defended herself. As we are all now aware, she was completely vindicated.

Some people on the Internet have lost their direction – completely. Who stole whose photos, or called the other one a name, or impersonated someone else, is IRRELEVANT when you think of whatever pain or fear Haleigh must have felt in those final moments. I think of that all the time. Haleigh’s final moments. Was she conscious, was she hurt, crying, cold, fighting back, struggling to live?

I wish I could claim credit for the paragraph above, but those are the words of Kim Picazio from a couple of weeks ago. We need to refocus and find the only direction that’s important.

Where is Haleigh?

 

[TxLady2]

And it is the very person who brought Kim into this case who accused her of this love triangle, and the other scandals. Yet they seem to have kissed and made up, while Crystal has been thrown under the bus. Funny that.

 

[debs]

Apologetics so early in the morning........I need more coffee.

 

[RR0004]

BOTTOM LINE: JMO.....The Cummings do not know what and where Haleigh is....and that is also true for the Sheffields.

All the BS will be cut through very soon. This case is a complete circus...the people who took Haleigh from this WORLD will be accounted for and will get what they deserve.... If all of these people involved would focus on Haleigh and not go one NG....the tabloids, etc. these interviews are more to feed the hatred and the focus of finding Haleigh gets lost in all the BS.

KP is just another person dragged into this crap....TM, Cobra, and the list goes on. These family members that you are TRASHING constantly are Haleigh's parents....no matter what.....all this HATE does not help in finding her. She is going to be found very soon.....

From your mouth to G-d's ears. (I pray, I pray, I pray)

PS- no one attends the circus unless they want to. The only innocent one here is Haleigh.

 

[badme102]

It is looking like TJ Hart has requested a copy of the original Bar Complaint and it will be made public soon.

I wanted to get a jump on that because I am personally involved in this complaint. Not that I wanted to be DRAGGED into this by any means, but a former blogger from WS forced the issue and insulted me, my name and my illness all in one fell swoop.

Some of you know that I have MS, and some of you don't. I just want to say that I was named by full name and screen name (badme) in this Bar Complaint in a very cruel and disgusting manner.

The ex blogger from here used Multiple Sclerosis against me and stated that I have "mental issues" because of it.

I was so disheartened and hurt by this statement from her that I was ready to give up on posting anywhere altogether. I now realize that in her attempt to degrade and embarrass me through my illness, she only managed to show HER true colors. (Which in my opinion are not very complimentary to her character)

I am saying this now to show everyone the depths of the cruelty and lies this blogger has sunk to.

IMO, KP did an excellent job defending and representing her client with the information that was available to her.

To have a blogger try to destroy her career based on lies, and say the cruel, untrue things that she said about me in a formal bar complaint is clearly over the line.

I hope now that everyone will step back and realize the damage that has been done to innocent people and most of all to Haleigh's case and the chances of finding her.

It's one thing to post opinions, kind or otherwise, but it's a whole other ball game to take it to the level that this blogger did.

Thanks so much for "listening"

 

[elle1919]

It is looking like TJ Hart has requested a copy of the original Bar Complaint and it will be made public soon.

I wanted to get a jump on that because I am personally involved in this complaint. Not that I wanted to be DRAGGED into this by any means, but a former blogger from WS forced the issue and insulted me, my name and my illness all in one fell swoop.

Some of you know that I have MS, and some of you don't. I just want to say that I was named by full name and screen name (badme) in this Bar Complaint in a very cruel and disgusting manner.

The ex blogger from here used Multiple Sclerosis against me and stated that I have "mental issues" because of it.

I was so disheartened and hurt by this statement from her that I was ready to give up on posting anywhere altogether. I now realize that in her attempt to degrade and embarrass me through my illness, she only managed to show HER true colors. (Which in my opinion are not very complimentary to her character)

I am saying this now to show everyone the depths of the cruelty and lies this blogger has sunk to.

IMO, KP did an excellent job defending and representing her client with the information that was available to her.

To have a blogger try to destroy her career based on lies, and say the cruel, untrue things that she said about me in a formal bar complaint is clearly over the line.

I hope now that everyone will step back and realize the damage that has been done to innocent people and most of all to Haleigh's case and the chances of finding her.

It's one thing to post opinions, kind or otherwise, but it's a whole other ball game to take it to the level that this blogger did.

Thanks so much for "listening"

I am very sorry to hear that. I had no idea that this was going on back then so I really have no knowledge of any statements that you made. I find it admirable that you step up and post like this. Personally, I feel that we all share the same goal and that is to bring Haleigh home.

Of course I have an opinion of KP, and honestly I was thrilled that Crystal was no longer represented by her. That was because I thought that KP arrived in Satsuma to use Crystal to further her own name and needs. If that is wrong, I apologize. There is some truth however to the statement that all of this with the blogger and KP diverted attention away from the investigation into Haleigh's disappearance, would you agree?

I honestly would like to set aside the information that will not lead us in the direction of Haleigh Cummings. KP didn't take her, and I truly believe Crystal didn't take her. In your opinion do either of those women have information that might lead investigators to Haleigh? Just your opinion is all I ask, and if you would rather not comment I understand that to.

 

[cajun]

It is looking like TJ Hart has requested a copy of the original Bar Complaint and it will be made public soon.

I wanted to get a jump on that because I am personally involved in this complaint. Not that I wanted to be DRAGGED into this by any means, but a former blogger from WS forced the issue and insulted me, my name and my illness all in one fell swoop.

Some of you know that I have MS, and some of you don't. I just want to say that I was named by full name and screen name (badme) in this Bar Complaint in a very cruel and disgusting manner.

The ex blogger from here used Multiple Sclerosis against me and stated that I have "mental issues" because of it.

I was so disheartened and hurt by this statement from her that I was ready to give up on posting anywhere altogether. I now realize that in her attempt to degrade and embarrass me through my illness, she only managed to show HER true colors. (Which in my opinion are not very complimentary to her character)

I am saying this now to show everyone the depths of the cruelty and lies this blogger has sunk to.

IMO, KP did an excellent job defending and representing her client with the information that was available to her.

To have a blogger try to destroy her career based on lies, and say the cruel, untrue things that she said about me in a formal bar complaint is clearly over the line.

I hope now that everyone will step back and realize the damage that has been done to innocent people and most of all to Haleigh's case and the chances of finding her.

It's one thing to post opinions, kind or otherwise, but it's a whole other ball game to take it to the level that this blogger did.

Thanks so much for "listening"

Sorry you were dragged into this by "you know who". I can't wait for TJ to get all the records that are open and for "you know who" to get what's coming to her. Outside of the circus that came to town she's caused a lot of damage to this case..JMO and all.

 

[zadari]

Why should Crystal have to pay support for HaLeigh when she is missing? Better yet, what kind of man accepts money for a child he does not have? Sure hope hes putting it in a trust or account for Haleigh in the future, well, if DCF doesn't take away his remaining child-

i agree she shouldnt have to