Florida Bar News articles from April 2007

Florida Bar News archives from April 2007

Bill says kids must consult lawyer before waiving rights.
April 1, 2007... A bill requiring that juveniles charged with crimes have a meaningful opportunity to consult with a lawyer before waiving their right to counsel has cleared a key Senate committee. The Senate Judiciary Committee March 9 unanimously approved...

Loan repayment bill marches on.
April 1, 2007... The House Committee on Courts March 7 moved legislation that would help career assistant state attorneys, assistant public defenders, assistant attorneys general, and assistant statewide prosecutors repay student loans. [ILLUSTRATION...

Justice Quince takes her place in the Florida Women's Hall of Fame.(First Ballot Hall of Famer)(Peggy Quince)
April 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A modern pioneer in the law, Justice Peggy Quince was inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame in a Capitol Rotunda ceremony March 13 in Tallahassee. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Quince, the first black...

Secret files spark open court airing: court hears arguments in chief justice's inquiry.
April 1, 2007... Secret dockets, super-sealed files, hidden files, and phony court dockets were very publicly debated when the Florida Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Chief Justice Fred Lewis' inquiry prompted by newspaper reports of abuses and mistakes....

Bill would make it harder to add third parties to jury forms.
April 1, 2007... A bill that would limit the impact of the Florida Supreme Court's 1993 Fabre decision has cleared a key Florida House committee. On March 14, the Constitution and Civil Law Committee approved HB 733, which would limit the ability of...

The clock is ticking: do Florida lawyers keep time records?
April 1, 2007... The Clock is Ticking Do Florida lawyers keep time records? Always, with the 66% exception of fixed fee or contingency fee cases Sometimes 19% Never 15% Source: The Florida Bar's...

Amendments to the appellate rules.(Notice)
April 1, 2007... The Florida Supreme Court is considering amendments to Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.310, Stay Pending Review, drafted by the Civil Rules Subcommittee of the Appellate Court Rules Committee. The amendments are supported by a minority...

Proposed criminal jury instruction.(Notice)
April 1, 2007... The Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases submits the following amended instruction to the Florida Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases. The committee proposes a revised instruction for: 14.7 False...

Courthouses should be more accessible to the disabled equal opportunities law section advocates rules change.
April 1, 2007... Florida should go the way of California when it comes to a rule for accommodating people with disabilities in courthouses. So said George C. Richards, chief assistant statewide prosecutor in Ft. Myers, who uses a wheelchair to get around...

Certification awards nominations sought.
April 1, 2007... The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education is accepting nominations for two awards that recognize lawyers or firms who demonstrate the board certification program's professionalism and excellence principles. The Justice...

Supreme Court adds RSS news feed to its Web site.(Attorneys Exchange)
April 1, 2007... Keeping up with emerging trends in information technology, the Florida Supreme Court now has added an RSS news feed to its Web site. The feed is chiefly aimed at the information needs of the legal community RSS is an acronym for "rich site...

Disciplinary actions.(List)
April 1, 2007... The Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders disciplined 19 attorneys, disbarred five, suspended nine, placed four on probation, and reprimanded three. Some attorneys received more than one form of discipline. The following lawyers are...

Federal judicial roundtable set for the Bar's Annual Convention.(Disciplinary Actions)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Being touted as "the best deal in town" by program chair Larry Goodman, this year's Federal Judicial Roundtable is set for June 28, beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the Bar's Annual Convention at the Orlando World Center Marriott. "Where else...

Florida DCAs plan for 50th anniversaries.
April 1, 2007... For fans of historical detail, here's a court-related one: Gavels made of olive wood from trees grown on the Mount of Olives in Israel were presented to the first three judges sworn in to serve on the First District Court of Appeal. ...

Offers of judgment legislation on the move in both chambers.
April 1, 2007... Key House and Senate committees have passed identical bills affecting attorneys' fees against a party that has raised a frivolous or unsupported claim and on offers of judgment. The House Constitution and Civil Law Committee acted first,...

Clearwater launches intern program.(Clearwater Bar Association)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... The Clearwater Bar Association's Student Legal Intern Program will welcome its first class of high school interns this summer. The legal intern program will run from June 11 to July 20, and is designed to provide students with valuable work...

Private Registry Lawyers v. CCRCs.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2007... The statistics recited in the March 1 News story comparing CCRC lawyers and private registry attorneys are skewed. The article notes that "private registry attorneys interviewed only 175 witnesses and experts for 153 cases" during that...

Over regulation.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2007... Our Bar spends too much time looking for areas to regulate. Examples are paralegal certification, inventory lawyers, and now the prospect of mandatory mentoring (March 1 News, "Bar must address lawyers' perception of judges"). The...

Proud to be a lawyer.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2007... No matter what one thinks of the maelstrom swirling around the tragic life and death of Anna Nicole Smith, we must acknowledge that there was one bright shining light showing us the way out. This beacon was Richard Milstein, the only...

U.S. attorney for the Middle District needed.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2007... Applications are now being accepted to fill the position of United States attorney for the Middle District of Florida. Applications are available from Michael J. Grindstaff, Commission Chair, P.O. Box 4956, Orlando 32802-4956, telephone...

Sixth Circuit YLD seat is available.(Letters)(Young Lawyers Division)(Public notice)
April 1, 2007... With the election of Jewel White Cole as president-elect designate of the Young Lawyers Division, her former seat on the YLD Board of Governors--Sixth Circuit, Seat 1--will be vacant as of June 30. Anyone interested in being considered for...

U.S. 11th Circuit to amend its rules.(Letters)(Public notice)
April 1, 2007... Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. [section]2071(b), notice and opportunity for comment is hereby given of proposed amendments to the Rules of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, and of proposed amendments to Addendum Five, Non-Criminal Justice...

Board to make appointments in June.(Notice)(Public notice)
April 1, 2007... The Board of Governors is seeking applicants for the following vacancies to be filled during its June 1 meeting: ABA House of Delegates: Three lawyers to serve two-year terms commencing August 2007, at the conclusion of the ABA Annual...

Board of Bar Examiners needs members.(Notice)
April 1, 2007... Florida Board of Bar Examiners Vacancy: Lawyer applicants are being sought to fill three vacancies on the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. The Board of Governors will be selecting nine nominees for three lawyer vacancies at its June 1 meeting....

Annual Convention resolution meeting set.(Notice)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Pursuant to Standing Board Policy 11.21, any member of The Florida Bar may offer for possible consideration at the Annual Convention any resolution to the Executive Committee of The Florida Bar, acting as the Resolutions Committee. A meeting of...

Chief Justice Fred Lewis.(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: CHIEF JUSTICE FRED LEWIS recently presented his Justice Teaching program to more than 90 members of the Palm Beach County Bar. The purpose of the program is for judges and attorneys to serve as mentors in...

PMDS to team up with General Practice Section: Quality of Life and Career Committee ending its run.
April 1, 2007... Recommendations to terminate a Bar committee and have one section merged by another have been ratified by the Bar Board of Governors. The board, also on the recommendation of the Program Evaluation Committee, has approved the permanent...

Top 10 things lawyers need to know when handling a small claims case.(In Practice)
April 1, 2007... 10. CORPORATIONS CAN FLY SOLO. Most lawyers are aware that a corporation must be represented by counsel in legal proceedings. See, e.g., Szteinbaum v. Kaes Iversiones y Valores, C.A., 476 So. 2d 237 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1985). However, Florida...

Advisory ethics opinion withdrawn.(Notice)
April 1, 2007... The Professional Ethics Committee withdrew Florida Ethics Opinions 72-46 and 90-6 at its meeting on March 16. Florida Ethics Opinion 72-46 concluded that subject to any constitutional privilege a lawyer should not originate public...

Comments requested on senior judges seeking service renewal.
April 1, 2007... The following senior judges' current service will expire on September 30 and they are seeking service renewal. Any persons having knowledge bearing upon the fitness or qualifications of any of the senior judges on the list to continue...

U.S. Magistrate Baker seeks reappointment.(David A. Baker)
April 1, 2007... The current term of office of United States Magistrate Judge David A. Baker, who is located in Orlando, is due to expire December 12. The United States District Court is required by law to establish a panel of citizens to consider reappointment...

U.S. Magistrate Frazier seeks reappointment.(Douglas N. Frazier)
April 1, 2007... The current term of office of United States Magistrate Judge Douglas N. Frazier, who is located in Ft. Myers, is due to expire on January 7, 2008. The U.S. District Court is required by law to establish a panel of citizens to consider...

U.S. Magistrate Jones seeks reappointment.(Gary R. Jones)
April 1, 2007... The current term of office of United States Magistrate Judge Gary R. Jones, who is located in Ocala, is due to expire on April 30, 2008. The U.S. District Court is required by law to establish a panel of citizens to consider reappointment of...

Two elected to Bar board, 19th Circuit runoff slated.
April 1, 2007... Two 19th Circuit attorneys will face each other this month in a runoff for a Bar Board of Governors seat, while two other board contests were decided in March balloting. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The voting also decided one Young Lawyers...

Mark Bonfanti and Jason Vail from Allen, Norton & Blue recently published "Drawing the Line: Punitive Damages and Arbitration.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Mark Bonfanti and Jason Vail from Allen, Norton & Blue recently published "Drawing the Line: Punitive Damages and Arbitration" in the Winter 2007 issue of Conflict Management, a publication of the ABA's Litigation Section. [ILLUSTRATIONS...

Dan A. Carlton.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Dan A. Carlton of Sarasota was certified as a federal mediator in the Middle Distict, and as a Florida circuit civil mediator.

John Elliot Leighton.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... John Elliot Leighton of Leesfield Leighton & Partners was honored with the Crime Victim Advocate Award by both the Inadequate Securities Litigation Group and the National Crime Victim Bar Association for his dedication in pursuing civil justice...

Joshua J. Hertz.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Joshua J. Hertz received the "Outstanding Young Alumnus Award" at the St. Thomas University Law School's Annual Awards Ceremony. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Peter F. Valori.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Peter F. Valori of Damian & Valori gave an overview of the new amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure regarding electronic discovery at a seminar put on by the Securities Litigation Committee of the Dade County Bar.

Ira H. Leesfield.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Ira H. Leesfield of Leesfield Leighton & Partners' Miami office presented a seminar titled "Practice Development: 10 Surefire Ways to Improve Your Firm's Business Generation" in Miami Beach. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Stephen E. Kelly.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Stephen E. Kelly of Rogers Towers became registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

David B. Weinstein.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... David B. Weinstein of Greenberg Traurig's Tampa office served as a panelist for the ABA's Section of Environment, Energy and Resources teleconference.

M.B. Adelson IV.(News and Notes)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... M.B. Adelson IV of Sachs & Sax's Tallahassee office spoke at two National Business Institute continuing education seminars for attorneys and accountants. The first seminar was "Boundary Disputes: Resolving Conflicts without Going to Court," in...

Vermont State Senate.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... John F. Campbell of Quechee, Vermont, was re-elected majority leader of the Vermont State Senate, where he has served for the past seven years. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Kluger, Peretz, Kaplan & Berlin.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Michael D. Seese of Kluger, Peretz, Kaplan & Berlin was named co-chair of the firm's bankruptcy and creditor rights law department, and Michael B. Chesal was named co-chair of the firm's intellectual property law department.

Judeo Christian Health Clinic.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Jim Davis of Holland & Knight's Tampa office was appointed to the board of directors of the Judeo Christian Health Clinic. Davis will serve a three-year term beginning in April.

Orange County Board of Zoning Adjustment.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Scott A. Richman of Carlton Fields' Orlando office was appointed to the Orange County Board of Zoning Adjustment. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... N. Diane Holmes of Orlando was named a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

Min Cho.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Min Cho of Carlton Fields was chosen as Tampa Bay Business Journal's Young Minority and Overall Businessperson of the Year.

Westshore Alliance.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Edgel C. Lester of Carlton Fields was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Westshore Alliance. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Christine D. Hanley.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Christine D. Hanley of West Palm Beach presented "Employment Law: An Open Dialogue," at Boys & Girls Clubs of America's 52nd Annual Southeast Administration Conference in Atlanta. Hanley also presented a FLSA--Understanding the Fair Labor...

Bruce A. Blitman.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Bruce A. Blitman of Ft. Lauderdale discussed "Mediation as a Career" with the Eighth Annual Conflict Resolution Symposium in Miami. Blitman was also appointed to the Education Advisory Board by the Cooper City Commission.

David Sampedro.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... David Sampedro of Panter, Panter & Sampedro in Miami presented "Truck Accident Litigation from Start to Finish" for the National Business Institute in Miami.

Brett Alan Panter.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Brett Alan Panter of Panter, Panter & Sampedro served as a scoring judge at the 2007 Chester Bedell Memorial Mock Trial Competition in Miami. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Viktoria Collins.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Viktoria Collins of Winderweedle, Haines, Ward & Woodman's Winter Park office was certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a mediator in all Florida circuit and county courts.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Russell S. Buhite of Fowler White Boggs Banker was elected secretary of the Board of Trustees for the Mid-Florida Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Buhite was also chosen as chair-elect of the Health and Disability Insurance...

Michael Rosenberg and Shawn P. Wolf of Packman, Neuwahl & Rosenberg presented "International Tax Considerations Relevant to the International Investor and/or Professional Advisor".(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Michael Rosenberg and Shawn P. Wolf of Packman, Neuwahl & Rosenberg presented "International Tax Considerations Relevant to the International Investor and/or Professional Advisor" in Kingston, Jamaica.

Rafael J. Roca.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Rafael J. Roca of Lake Worth received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami.

Howard J. Hollander.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Howard J. Hollander of Miami spoke on "Public Payment and Performance Bonds" at the Construction Law Certification Review course in Orlando. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Fowler White Boggs Banker.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Carl Joseph Coleman of Fowler White Boggs Banker was elected to the board of directors and Rhea F. Law was re-elected to the board for a three-year term.

Judge Ronald J. Rothschild.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Judge Ronald J. Rothschild received the 2006 Outstanding Judge Award from the Ft. Lauderdale Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates.

Ophelia Project Community Board.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Kathy Billings Massing of Fowler White Boggs Banker was elected to the Ophelia Project Community Board in Tampa. Massing previously served as a volunteer mentor with the organization. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Luis A. "Tony" Cabassa.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Luis A. "Tony" Cabassa spoke on "Employment Law Update: The Revolving Door of Employment Litigation," at the 33rd Annual TIPS Midwinter Symposium on Insurance, Employment and Benefits in Laguna Beach, California.

Paul R. Pizzo.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Paul R. Pizzo of Fowler White Boggs Banker was selected to serve on the Community Advisory Board of the Junior League of Tampa. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Colonel Lettie Bien.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Colonel Lettie Bien of Coral Gables was honored at the Pentagon for 30 years of service in the U.S. Army Reserves. Gen. Peter Pace, USMC, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presented Bien with the Legion of Merit Medal and a Certificate of...

Greater Ft. Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Martin J. Shuham was appointed to the 2007 Board of Directors of the Greater Ft. Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce.

Broward County Board of County Commissioners.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Ken Keechl of Wilton Manors was elected to the Broward County Board of County Commissioners, District 4. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Larry S. Stewart.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Larry S. Stewart of Miami won the Pursuit of Justice Award from the ABA Tort, Trial & Insurance Practice Section. Also, Stewart was appointed to the American Law Institute's Program Committee of the Council. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Coastal Conservation Association.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Bruce A. Aebel of Fowler White Boggs Banker was appointed to the State Board of Directors of the Coastal Conservation Association, which oversees the conservation of marine resources through programs of education, legislation, and law...

William D. Matthewman.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... William D. Matthewman of Miami presented opening statements at the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers' Death is Different XIII seminar in Kissimmee. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

David H. Pollack.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... David H. Pollack of Miami spoke on "Cruise Ship Medical Malpractice Cases Involving a Ship's Physician" at the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers Annual Work-horse Seminar in Orlando.

Dennis G. Kainen.(News and Notes)
April 1, 2007... Dennis G. Kainen of Weisberg and Kainen in Miami spoke on "When the IRS Comes Knocking: Taxpayer Representation Before the IRS in Criminal Proceedings," for the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Richard C. Garcia and Martin J. Hernandez joined the Law Office of Daniel J. Fernandez.(On the Move)
April 1, 2007... Richard C. Garcia and Martin J. Hernandez joined the Law Office of Daniel J. Fernandez in Tampa.

Berger Singerman.(On the Move)
April 1, 2007... Melanie Ann Hines was named a shareholder in Berger Singerman's Tallahassee office, and focuses her practice on administrative law, complex commercial litigation, and white collar criminal defense.

Attorneys' Title Insurance Fund, Inc.(On the Move)
April 1, 2007... Attorneys' Title Insurance Fund, Inc., of Orlando appointed Valerie Jahn Grandin to the commercial account executive and senior underwriting counsel position.

Brigham Moore.(On the Move)
April 1, 2007... Patrick T. DiPietro was named a partner at Brigham Moore's Miami office. DiPietro represents property owners against condemning authorities. D. Mark Natirboff and Menelaos Papalas, both with the Jacksonville office of Brigham Moore, were also...

Tania Carreno-Mederos joined Zumpano Patricios & Winker as an income partner.(On the Move)
April 1, 2007... Tania Carreno-Mederos joined Zumpano Patricios & Winker as an income partner. Carreno-Mederos focuses her practice on representing physician groups, health care facilities, and ancillary service companies in regulatory and transactional...

Former Congressman Michael Bilirakis joined Castagna Mediation Group.(On the Move)
April 1, 2007... Former Congressman Michael Bilirakis joined Castagna Mediation Group in Clearwater.

S. William Fuller, Jr., P. Scott Mitchell, Kathryn L. Hood, and Halley M. Stephens, formerly of Fuller, Johnson & Farrell formed the law firm of Fuller, Mitchell, Hood & Stephens, LLC.(On the Move)
April 1, 2007... S. William Fuller, Jr., P. Scott Mitchell, Kathryn L. Hood, and Halley M. Stephens, formerly of Fuller, Johnson & Farrell formed the law firm of Fuller, Mitchell, Hood & Stephens, LLC. The firm is located at 526 E. Park Ave., Ste. 200,...

Langfred "Lan" W. White opened the Law Offices of Langfred W. White, P.A.(On the Move)
April 1, 2007... Langfred "Lan" W. White opened the Law Offices of Langfred W. White, P.A. The firm is located at 32815 US Hwy 19 N., Palm Harbor 34684. The firm's telephone number is (727) 787-2304, and its fax number is (727) 787-2308. White can be reached by...

Scott P. Weber joined Phelps Dunbar's Tampa office as an equity partner.(On the Move)
April 1, 2007... Scott P. Weber joined Phelps Dunbar's Tampa office as an equity partner in the regional business practice group.

Bobby Klein and Lee Dobbins announced that Mary Kaye Collins of Stuart has joined Klein and Dobbins.(On the Move)
April 1, 2007... Bobby Klein and Lee Dobbins announced that Mary Kaye Collins of Stuart has joined Klein and Dobbins as an associate attorney

Alina Denis Jarjour has joined Medarex, Inc.(On the Move)
April 1, 2007... Alina Denis Jarjour has joined Medarex, Inc., as assistant general counsel in Princeton, New Jersey.

Richman Greer Weil Brumbaugh Mirabito & Christensen.(On the Move)
April 1, 2007... Manuel A. Garcia-Linares was named managing shareholder of Richman Greer Weil Brumbaugh Mirabito & Christensen in Miami.