Associated Press, 04 Jan 2011
A Florida attorney says a misconduct complaint filed against him over his representation of a Muslim Ohio girl who converted to Christianity and ran away is a frivolous motion by a disgruntled opposing lawyer.
Orlando, Fla., attorney John Stemberger represented Rifqa Bary (RIHF'-kuh BAYR'-ee) after she ran away from Ohio to Florida in 2009 saying she feared persecution.
Stemberger said Tuesday that Muslims in the U.S. have become a protected class that institutions are bending over backward to accommodate. He says as the facts come to light the complaint by Columbus lawyer Omar Tarazi will be dismissed.
Tarazi represented the teenage girl's parents.
The complaint filed by the Florida bar on behalf of Tarazi alleges Stemberger appeared on TV as an attorney for the girl after he stopped representing her.
Orlando, Fla., attorney John Stemberger represented Rifqa Bary (RIHF'-kuh BAYR'-ee) after she ran away from Ohio to Florida in 2009 saying she feared persecution.
Stemberger said Tuesday that Muslims in the U.S. have become a protected class that institutions are bending over backward to accommodate. He says as the facts come to light the complaint by Columbus lawyer Omar Tarazi will be dismissed.
Tarazi represented the teenage girl's parents.
The complaint filed by the Florida bar on behalf of Tarazi alleges Stemberger appeared on TV as an attorney for the girl after he stopped representing her.
 |
| FILE - In this Feb. 19, 2008 file photo, John Stemberger, president and general counsel of the Florida Family Policy Council, talks to reporters following a meeting of the State Board of Education, in Tallahassee, Fla. A professional organization for lawyers has filed a complaint alleging misconduct by Stemberger, who formerly represented a teenager who ran away to Florida after converting from Islam to Christianity. The complaint alleges that Stemberger accused the attorney for the girl's parents of being paid by groups with terrorist ties and that he based the accusations solely on information from Facebook and a blog, the Florida bar complaint provided to The Associated Press says, Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011. (AP Photo/Phil Coale, File) Phil Coale |
