Prominent Jacksonville Attorney Chuck Farah Suspended for 90 Days and Fined $2.16M

By Staff

Key Details of the Suspension

• Reason for Discipline: The sanction stems from Farah’s handling of mass tort claims after the landmark Engle v. Liggett Group Inc. tobacco litigation. The court found that Farah failed to adequately communicate with clients, failed to provide diligent representation, and failed to secure written contingency agreements when filing thousands of claims on behalf of smokers against tobacco companies.
• Rules Violated: The Florida Bar cited violations of Rules 4-1.3 (Diligence), 4-1.4(a) (Communication), 4-1.16(a)(1) (Declining or Terminating Representation), and 4-1.5(f)(2) (Contingency Fee Agreements).
• Sanctions & Costs: In addition to the 90-day suspension from practicing law, the court ordered Farah to disgorge $2.16 million in legal fees and attend the Florida Bar’s Ethics School.
• Background: The action traces back to a 2008 partnership with attorney Norwood Wilner, whose firm filed roughly 3,700 Engle-progeny complaints. Federal courts later determined hundreds of these complaints were frivolous or filed without client authorization (including cases involving deceased individuals or non-smokers), resulting in multi-million-dollar federal sanctions against both attorneys. Wilner received a 91-day suspension in 2022.
• Response: Through his defense counsel, Hank Coxe, Farah stated that he accepts the court’s decision, emphasizing that he acted transparently throughout his nearly 40-year career.

The Florida Supreme Court has suspended prominent Jacksonville attorney Charlie “Chuck” Farah Jr., senior partner of Farah & Farah, for 90 days following disciplinary proceedings brought by the Florida Bar.

Key Details of the Suspension

• Reason for Discipline: The sanction stems from Farah’s handling of mass tort claims in the wake of the landmark Engle v. Liggett Group Inc. tobacco litigation. The court found that Farah failed to adequately communicate with clients, failed to provide diligent representation, and failed to secure written contingency agreements when filing thousands of claims on behalf of smokers against tobacco companies.
• Rules Violated: The Florida Bar cited violations of Rules 4-1.3 (Diligence), 4-1.4(a) (Communication), 4-1.16(a)(1) (Declining or Terminating Representation), and 4-1.5(f)(2) (Contingency Fee Agreements).
• Sanctions & Costs: In addition to the 90-day suspension from practicing law, the court ordered Farah to disgorge $2.16 million in legal fees and attend the Florida Bar’s Ethics School.
• Background: The action traces back to a 2008 partnership with attorney Norwood Wilner, whose firm filed roughly 3,700 Engle-progeny complaints. Federal courts later determined hundreds of these complaints were frivolous or filed without client authorization (including cases involving deceased individuals or non-smokers), resulting in multi-million-dollar federal sanctions against both attorneys. Wilner received a 91-day suspension in 2022.
• Response: Through his defense counsel, Hank Coxe, Farah stated that he accepts the court’s decision, emphasizing that he acted transparently throughout his nearly 40-year career.