Case 1:25-mc-26017 Document 9 Entered on FLSD Docket 05/14/2026 Page 1 of 3
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER 2026-43
CASE NO. 25-MC-26017
tah
IN RE: SAMUEL CLIFFORD FELDMAN
FLORIDA BAR # 1042262 May 14, 2026
_______________________________________/
WPB
ORDER ON FINAL REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
On October 10, 2025, the Court referred attorney Samuel Clifford Feldman to the Ad Hoc
Committee on Attorney Admissions, Peer Review, and Attorney Grievance for the United States
District Court, Southern District of Florida for investigation in connection with certain actions as
counsel in Fontainebleau Florida Hotel, LLC v. Jacob Shmuel Botach, et al., No. 25-cv-20251
(S.D. Fla. 2025). (See generally Order of Referral [ECF No. 1-1] 7).1
On March 23, 2026, the Committee issued a Proposed Report and Recommendation [ECF
No. 4], recommending that Mr. Feldman (1) engage a formal mentor for a period of 12 months;
(2) engage in and participate in counseling and establish and follow a recommended course of
treatment; (3) write and deliver a formal letter of apology to the Court; (4) register for and complete
a CLE course or courses of at least three hours focused on professionalism, civility, and attorney
wellness; and (4) for a period of six months, monthly self-report to the Committee any instance in
which any court, state or federal, issues an order directed at Mr. Feldman concerning his
professional conduct or civility. (See id. 6–7). That day, the Committee submitted a Final
Report and Recommendation [ECF No. 5], restating the recommendations in the Proposed Report
and Recommendation and noting that Mr. Feldman, via email to the Chair of the Committee, had
reviewed the Proposed Report and Recommendation and accepted the Committee’s
1
The Court uses the pagination generated by the electronic CM/ECF database, which appears in the headers
of all court filings.
Case 1:25-mc-26017 Document 9 Entered on FLSD Docket 05/14/2026 Page 2 of 3
CASE NO. 25-26017-MC-ALTONAGA
recommendations. (See generally Final R. & R. [ECF No. 5]; see also id. 3 n.1). The Court
issued an Order to Show Cause [ECF No. 6] and an Amended Order to Show Cause [ECF No. 7],2
directing Mr. Feldman to respond to the Final Report and Recommendation. Mr. Feldman filed
a Response [ECF No. 8], again agreeing to the Committee’s recommendations. (See id.).
The undersigned submitted this matter for consideration at a regularly scheduled Judges’
Meeting held on May 7, 2026. By unanimous vote of all District Judges in attendance and eligible
to vote, the Court approved and adopted the Committee’s Final Report and Recommendation in
full.
Given this background, and in accordance with the Court’s inherent power to regulate
membership in its bar for the protection of the public interest, see Chambers v. NASCO, Inc., 501
U.S. 32, 43 (1991) (“[A] federal court has the power to control admission to its bar and to discipline
attorneys who appear before it.” (alteration added)), it is
ORDERED as follows:
1. The Committee’s Final Report and Recommendation [ECF No. 5] is ADOPTED.
2. Mr. Feldman must engage a formal mentor. For a period of twelve (12) months,
commencing on the date that the Committee approves the mentor, Mr. Feldman must establish a
professional relationship for formal mentorship through which Mr. Feldman can confer on matters
relating to his practice of law including ethical questions or professional pressures and stressors.
The mentor’s name shall be provided to the Committee within thirty (30) days of the date of this
Order so that the Committee may discuss the mentorship and approve the mentor.
3. Within thirty (30) days of the date of this Order, Mr. Feldman must engage in and
participate in counseling and establish and follow a recommended course of treatment, whether
through the Florida Lawyers Assistance Program, or otherwise privately sought, that is ideally
2
The Amended Order corrected a scrivener’s error as to the named attorney.
2
Case 1:25-mc-26017 Document 9 Entered on FLSD Docket 05/14/2026 Page 3 of 3
CASE NO. 25-26017-MC-ALTONAGA
focused on professionalism, civility, and attorney wellness. Once again, Mr. Feldman must seek
and obtain the Committee’s prior approval of the program.
4. Within thirty (30) days of the date of this Order, Mr. Feldman must write and deliver a
formal letter of apology to the Court, addressed to Magistrate Judge Marty Fulgueira Elfenbein.
A copy of this letter must be simultaneously submitted to the Committee Chair.
5. Within thirty (30) days of the date of this Order, Mr. Feldman must register for and
complete a CLE course or courses of at least three hours focused on professionalism, civility, and
attorney wellness. Before registering, Mr. Feldman must submit the proposed CLE course
information to the Committee Chair for approval.
6. For a period of six (6) months following the Court’s Order, Mr. Feldman must self-
report to the Committee any instance in which any court, state or federal, issues an order directed
at Mr. Feldman concerning his professional conduct or civility. A monthly report must be sent to
the Committee Chair, even if there are no incidents that need to be reported.
DONE AND ORDERED in Miami, Florida, this 13th day of May, 2026.
________________________________________
CECILIA M. ALTONAGA
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
cc: All South Florida Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals Judges
All Southern District of Florida District Judges, Bankruptcy Judges, and Magistrate Judges
United States Attorney
Circuit Executive
Federal Public Defender
Clerks of Court – District, Bankruptcy, and Eleventh Circuit
Florida Bar and National Lawyer Regulatory Data Bank
Library
William C. Hearon, Chair, Ad Hoc Committee on Attorney Admissions, Peer Review,
and Attorney Grievance for the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida
Samuel Clifford Feldman
3
