UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURTMIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDATAMPA DIVISION
SUNLUST PICTURES, LLC, )))Plaintiff, )))Civil Action No.8:12-CV-1685-MSS-MAPv. ))
Wednesday, May 01, 2013
TUAN NGUYEN, )))Defendants, )
DEFENDANT TUAN NGUYEN’S OMNIBUS MOTION FOR SANCTIONS,THIRD MOTION FOR SANCTIONS AGAINST JOHN STEELE, FIRSTMOTION FOR SANCTIONS AGAINST PAUL HANSMEIER,AND SECOND MOTION FOR SANCTIONS AGAINST PAUL DUFFY
Defendant, Tuan Nguyen, by and through undersigned counsel, moves for additional monetary sanctions for the preparation of this document against John Steele,Paul Hansmeier, and Paul Duffy pursuant to 28 USC § 1927, Rule 11, and the courtsinherent power to issue sanctions, and states in support thereof that jurisdiction is proper because of the actions impact within the State of Florida and these proceedings beforethis Court and states further that:
THIRD MOTION FOR SANCTIONS AGAINST JOHN STEELE
First motion for sanctions pending at Dkt. 31, Second at Dkt. 46.
John Steele's Florida Residence
1. Attorney John Steele has previously stated in his affidavit of December 21,2012 that he resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dkt. 40-5, pp. 1.
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2. Sometime in the two month gap between the filing of that Affidavit and March8th, 2013, John Steele's residence again became the State of Florida.
See attached
Exhibit "A" (filed in
AF Holdings v. Does,
2:12-CV-08333-ODW-JC (C.D. Cal.)3. On February 24th, John Steele took advantage of his Florida citizenship and filed a complaint against an individual by the name of Alan Cooper and attorney PaulGodfread, alleging defamation regarding various and sundry internet comments whichwere made regarding Prenda Law. This lawsuit was supposedly about damages to his business and reputation, despite the fact that he is essentially retired to the State of Florida.
See attached
Exhibit "B" complaint from Miami-Dade Circuit Court,
John L.Steele v. Alan Cooper, Paul Godfread, et. al.
, 13-CA-6880 (removed to Federal Court1:13-CV-20744-JAL)(later dismissed). John Steele has now appeared
pro se
before thiscourt requesting sanctions against defendant and Defendant's attorney. Dkt. 51.
Perjury
"I have no involvement with case 8:12-cv-1685-T-35MAP."
4. Attorney John Steele has previously swore to this court that he had "noinvolvement" with the instant case. Dkt. 40-5, pp. 6.5. John Steele's statement directly conflicts with the Affidavit of Brett Gibbs,stating that he was directed in his actions by both John Steele and Paul Hansmeier. Dkt.49-1.6. John Steele has committed perjury by his sworn statement that he had noinvolvement with this case.7. Counsel for the Defendant has filed two bar complaints against John Steele,the first for opening up a Steele|Hansmeier, PLLC branch office in Miami which resulted
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in Dkt. #31, pp. 16-18, Exhibit D (John Steele's Florida affidavit of no UPL) and thesham sale of Steele|Hansmeier to Prenda Law.8. The second bar complaint against John Steele (for impersonating Floridaattorney Robert Balzebre who is a business partner of his in an entity called SierraInvestment Partners LLC) was met with a response through counsel on January 26, 2012,explaining that John Steele's presence at Prenda Law was solely in the capacity as aclient.
See attached
Exhibit "C" (letter from David Raben to Florida Bar, also stating thatPrenda Law in Florida is comprised of attorney Joseph Perea and paralegal Mark Lutz).9. On January 29th (but dated January 20th, 2012), after the sale of Steele|Hansmeier, PLLC to Prenda Law a court status report was filed in the WesternDistrict of Kentucky where contact information on Prenda Law letterhead was given for Paul Duffy, John Steele, and Paul Hansmeier as the managers of an attorney named Raphael Whitford.
See attached
Exhibit "D" (filed in 3:11-CV-00491-JGH W.D. Ky.).Both Paul Duffy and John Steele's listed numbers are identical and have a Miami,Florida area code while Mr. Hansmeier's number is located in Minneapolis - St. Paul,Minnesota. There is no Illinois address at all on this document.10. Even without being asked, John Steele, has consistently and fervently denied any involvement with any practice of law within the State of Florida or his persistenceand presence within this state while he was/is practicing law.
See
Dkt. 28, p. 12 (inresponse to the court's inquiry "Who are you?" John Steele states that he's an attorney notinvolved in this case), p. 19, ln. 6-8 (in response to the Courts inquiry of where SunnyLeone is located, John Steele stated that he no longer actively practices law), p. 19, ln.15-21 (when asked if he has a bar license within the State of Florida, John Steele wants
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