Florida court disbars Rothstein
By Tom Baxter
Southern Political Report
November 27, 2009 — The Florida Supreme Court has disbarred Scott Rothstein, the politically-connected Fort Lauderdale attorney who is under investigation in a $1 billion ponzi scheme. Gov. Charlie Crist, who appointed Rothstein to the Fourth District Court of Appeal Judicial Nomination Commission last year, suspended him from that post earlier this week. Rothstein gave a $140,000 contribution to the Florida Republican Party four days after being appointed to the commission. Four attorneys in Rothstein's law firm, now defunct, are also under investigation by the Florida Bar. -- At an annual Thanksgiving ceremony Wednesday, Gov. Tim Kaine predicted that six Virginia Indian tribes will gain federal status before he leaves office in January. The tribes, which have about 3,000 members, are the Eastern Chickahominy, Chickahominy, Upper Mattaponi, Rappahannock, Monacan and Nansemond. -- A spokesman for State Farm Insurance said the company plans to file an appeal in Austin Monday challenging Insurance Commissioner Mike Geeslin's ruling that it had charged excessive rates for homeowner's policies. Geeslin ordered State Farm to refund $310 million to its Texas customers.
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