In a complaint filed in April, the Florida Bar Association has alleged that the attorney representing Nevin Shapiro at the time of Miami’s 2009 impermissible benefits case, Maria Elena Perez, committed a range of ethical and rules violations.
More specifically, the compliant claims Perez violated regulations regarding competence, diligence, and candor toward the tribunal, while representing the Ponzi-scheming Shapiro.
Perez, a graduate of Miami, allegedly assisted the NCAA during its investigation of the university’s athletic department. While representing Shapiro—a Miami booster—during his bankruptcy proceedings, she proposed to the NCAA that she could use her subpoena power to retrieve information the association could in turn use for its investigation, according to reports.
After an external review by the NCAA, it was determined members of the enforcement staff accepted Perez’ offer, even after warnings from legal staff. Julie Roe Lach, a former enforcement director for the NCAA, allegedly gained permission to spend roughly $20,000 on Perez to obtain the information the association would otherwise not have been able to get.
According to records, Perez received payment of $18,325 from the NCAA, which she billed for “paralegal services” at an attorney’s rate.
The information obtained through Perez was eventually thrown out of the NCAA’s investigation, but Perez could still face probation, reprimand, suspension, or disbarment by the Florida Bar as a result of her procedural errors.
