TheFloridaBarRobertPersanteNo26-3129.pdf

TheFloridaBarRobertPersanteNo26-3129.pdf

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  The Florida Bar 651East Jefferson Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-2300 Joshua E. Doyle Executive Director 850/561 -5600 www.floridabar.org September 18,2025 Ms Alessandra C Kurchinski 969 Sunrise Drive Tarpon Springs, FL 34689 Re: Robert Persante; RFA No. 26-3129 Dear Ms. Kurchinski. This will acknowledge receipt of your correspondence regarding Robert Persante. After review of the content of your letter, more information is required in order for The Florida Bar to proceed. ln your complaint, you wrote the following, "l also question the conflict of interest. I had once tried to hire Mr. Persante as my attorney, but he declined. Later, he was appointed to act as 'the judge' in my family's case." Please provide information concerning the nature of the case you previously spoke to [/lr. Persante about and the information you provided to him. Please include a case number if the matter you spoke to Mr. Persante about was filed with the Court. Please provide a clear written statement which describes the circumstances surrounding your situation as well as a clear statement which describes the specific conduct you allege the attorney engaged in which forms the basis of your complaint and/or request for assistance. Your submission must not exceed 25 pages. lf no additional information is received, this matter will not be processed further. Sincerely, tu Christopher Stephen Wackes, Bar Counsel Attorney Consumer Assistance Prog ram ACAP Hotline 866-352-0707
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  Alessandra C. Kurchinski 969Sunrise Drive, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689 September 24,2025 The Florida Bar 651 East Jefferson Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2300 Re: Robert Persante; RFA No. 26-3129 Dear Bar Counsel, This letter is in response to your request for additional information regarding the nature of the case that I spoke to attorney Robert Persante, in the matter of Estate of Franklin R. Kurchinski, Case No. 22-010189-ES (Pinellas County). History I will do my best to explain the events from my heart and from memory. On December 28, 2A22, the Personal Representative, Nancy Gorby, filed a document with the court titled "Response to Beneficiary's Communication and Objection." lt contained 28 paragraphs that I believe misled the court and included false accusations. Additionally, she filed the Franklin R. Kurchinski Revocable Trust without including the referenced Schedule "A", which was supposed to list the trust assets under Article l, "Trust Assets." ln response, I hired attorney Daniel dePaz, who filed a correspondence to the court on January 30, 2023, titled "Denial and Admission " Mr. de Paz charged me $350 for that filing but did not initially explain that he would also charge the same hourly rate for "internal communications". He stayed on the case for approximately two months. By March 2023, I had consented to his withdrawal,from the case, as I could no longer afford his fees, which had exceeded $5,500 for a very low assistance. Approximately 98% of all court correspondence filed on my side was "pro se" by me and my daughters. During that time, I was actively searching on the internet for a new attorney, because I was told I needed someone with experience in trial litigation and trust law. After searching online for a trial litigation attorney near me, I found the law firm Persante Zuroweste, https:llpersantelaw.comlcontact-us/ contact {727)796-7666, I saw his picture and I read his background, I thought he had a right experience for the case. So, I emailed Mr. Persante on March 21,2A23, at9.24 PM "From: Alessandra Kurchinski Sent: Tuesday, March 21,2023,9:24 PM us ,r,
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  To: [email protected] Subject: SuccessorTrustee vs. Beneficiary Dear Attorney, Can you take a new case? Thanks, Alessandra" I do not recall whether I attached any documents to that email. ln 2024, I deleted many files from my computer to free up space, so I no longer have copies of the attachments. At that time, I was under extreme emotional distress due to my husband's passing and the ovenrvhelming probate issues. I believed Mr. Persante was the right attorney to help bring an end to the legal nightmare, but unfortunately, things did not unfold as I had hoped. TRIED TO HIRE BOB PERSANTE ln March 2023, I contacted Mr. Persante's office to look for legal representation in my late husband's probate and trust estate. My worries included the missing Schedule "A" from the Franklin R. Kurchinski Revocable Trust (2006), the premarital agreement that my husband and I signed in Brazil on October 8,2001 (and which my husband later recorded in Palm Beach County, Florida), and what I believed to be a possible conflict of interest involving attorney Michael Kouskoutis, who both witnessed my husband's will and later represented the Personal Representative, Nancy Gorby. I initially spoke by phone to someone ( woman voice) at N/r. Persante's office, and later had a brief free phone consultation with Mr. Persante. The call lasted around 25 minutes. I explained the key facts of the case, including the issues with the trust, the premarital agreement, and the will and testament. He told me he charged by the hour and declined to take my case. I offered to pay him $5,000 upfront and after I get my funds, trust assets, but he showed no interest in representing me or my daughters. We never signed a contract, it was only an initial consultation. I was devastated when Bob Persante declined my case. I felt hopeless. I avoided reaching out to other attorneys for months. I felt that if I were the trustee, or had more money, he might have taken the case. I also felt some discrimination, as English is not my first language-l am from Brazil, and I often struggled to understand legal words such as "trial," "hearing," "assets," "probate," and "estate." "fees". lt was all very confusing to me, I cried most of the time! Meanwhile, I had no access to our family's funds, since the trust funds were under the successor trustee's rt
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  control [Vlrs Gorby.I was mourning the loss of my husband and also the loss of our financial security. His decline gave me a lot of anxiety for days without sleep. AFTER DEGLINED Unable to afford any attorney that charged more than $5,000 upfront and disappointed after contacting Mrs Persante office. I continued filing documents with the court as "self representation". For example: On ft/arch 30,2023 (Docket M7),1 informed the court that I did not have access to Schedule "A" and that the Personal Representative was not communicating with me. On Docket #37,.|informed the court about the prenuptial agreement (which provides for a 50150 division of assets) and raised the issue of the 30% elective share, which I believed was relevant to the estate. I began suffering from panic attacks due to the stress and trauma of the situation. And I showed up as "self representation" with my daughters in the court "trial" on October 26, 2023 after I returned from a long trip from Brazil on October 25. No attorney with us! And Mr. Persante the'Judge trial". APPOINTED AS SPECIAL MASTER MAGISTRATE ln October 4, 2023, I was shocked to discover that [Vr. Persante had been appointed as Special [4aster Magistrate (special "Judge") in my late husband's estate for a full-day trial. On 10/1312A231 emailed to the judge Coleman: "Section3" this: " S ecti o n 3 " <fu _qtiffri@jud$_srg> "GOOD AFTERNOON Your Honor, I'd like to know if the attorney, i4ichae1 Kouskoutis, involved in Motion #156, is the same attorney mentioned ln Report #160, where Robert Persant, E*q., was appointed as Special Master/Magistrate on October 4,2023. We don't agree with using our familSr trust funds to cover the Special Master/Magistrate's costs. My husband's expressed his wishes in his wills and Revocable Trust, indicating he didn't want his estate to go through probate. Very Respectftrliy! Alessandra Kurchinski Widorv of Franklin R. Kurchinski" Nh )
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  I want toknow who picked tAr. Robert Persante to be the Special l/agistrate in my case 22-010189-ES. Did Judge Coleman choose him, or did Attorney Michael Kouskoutis recommend him and then the Court approved? Before, another party suggested [t/r. George Greer to be mediator, and later the Court appointed him. I think the same may have happened with Mr. Persante. [Iy worry was that when the Personal Representative's lawyer suggests people to be mediator or special magistrate - and their fees are paid from the family trust that they were in control of - it does not feel fair. lt looks like a conflict of interest and lack of impartiality. I never got a response to this email. I thought his position was paid by the Court. Later, I felt he would not be impartial because he is an attorney for the Trustee or connected to the people who can pay his fees. And he had already declined my case. DISBURSEMENT FROM MY ASSETS AND BENEFICIARY ASSETS After one year from the Trial, I got the Second Annual Account from Successor Trustee, I believe was around October 2A24. I was even more surprised to learn that the successor trustee paid Persante Zuroweste over $12,000, that I believe for the trial, and from my family trust funds (60% from my 20o/o share, and 40o/o from my daughter Jacqueline's share). Without my daughter Jacqueline and I approval of his fees. REQUEST I respectfully request that The Florida Bar investigate whether Mr. Persante's actions were consistent with ethical rules and whether this situation was appropriate or in the best interest of grieving families dealing with probate and trust administration. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. Please let me know if I can provide any additional information or clarification. pectfully, AI ki Widow of Franklin R Kurchinski +,p I
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  Outlook 2022-CP-10189 ES From alessandra kurchi nski < alessandraxp@ hotmail.com > Date Fri 20n-14-1'3 3:41 PM To Section3 <[email protected] > Cc Nancy Gorby <[email protected]>; Mary Andersen <[email protected]>; Jacqueline Kurchinski <[email protected]>; Cici Kurchinski <[email protected]>; Kelly Smallwood < [email protected] > Bcc Robert Smallwood <[email protected]> GOOD AFTERNOON Your Honor, l'd like to know if the attorney, Ir4ichael Kouskoutis, involved in Motion #156, is the same attorney mentiCIned in Report#150, where Robert Persant, Esq., was appointed as Special lvlaster/lilagistrate on October 4, 2023. We don't agree with using our family trust funds to cover the Special Vlaster/Magistrate's costs. 4y husband's expressed his wishes in his wills and Revocable Trust, indicatinq he didn't want his estate to go thr"ough probate. Very Respectfullyl Alessandra Kurchinski Widow of Franklirr R. Kurchinski -q
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  ffi outlook Re: SucessorTrustee vs beneficiary From alessandra kurchinski < [email protected] > Date Fri 2A25-08-29 5:29 PM To [email protected] <[email protected]> Cc JacquelineKurchinski <[email protected]> $ 2 attachments (9 MB) EstateSecondAnnualAccounting2024.pdf; EstateTrustNoticeSupplAnnualAccounting2025.pdf; Dear Honor, Special Master Magistrate Bob Persante On March 21,2023, you did not want take my case that time, I told you I only can pay 5 S,O0O later; the Successor Trustee of my husband's Estate send the Second Annual Accounting with $ 12,A67.75 as disbursements 50% from my assets. This is a lot money to take from my assets, and I did NOT get information about your "hours rates" invoice, or flat fue.for the service on October 26,2023.1 thought you were the "Judge", and paid by Government, by this time. We called you "honor", "judge", And the Successor Trustee continues charges fees; her attorney overbills my family trust. Your Report and Recommendations pay them around 5 60,000.00, but on January L5,2025 they sent the Second Annual Accounting with S L34,28I.LA. I feel this not unfuir, is very excessive fees. Sorry if I bother you! Pray for Lord bring peace and happiness to my family! Alessandra Kurchinski 969 Sunrise Dr. Tarpon Springs, FL 34689 Phone: (7271307-3777 From: alessand ra kurchinski Sent: Tuesday, March 2L,2A23 9:24 PM To: fi rm @ persa ntelaw.com <fi rm @ pe rsa ntelaw.com > Subject: Sucessor Trustee vs beneficiary Dear attorney, Can take new case? Thanks Alessandra $! b Get Outlook for Android