Florida Bar News articles from August 2004

Florida Bar News archives from August 2004

A new day for Florida's trial courts: recounting the struggle to establish the framework and obtain funding.
August 1, 2004... Court officials who labored long and hard during the regular and special legislative sessions of 2003 left Tallahassee that summer "absolutely believing" that they would never get adequate funding for Revision 7 to Art. V when the stale took...

TCBC deals with more than just funding issues.
August 1, 2004... The successful implementation of Revision 7 to Art. V would not be complete without noting some of the other matters the Supreme Court's Trial Court Budget Commission fought for over the past two years, according to TCBA Chair Susan Schaeffer,...

License tag to fund children's issues: 100% of the proceeds will be used to provide legal assistance to children.
August 1, 2004... While it is not expected to be available until the fall, you may pledge your willingness now to purchase the newly approved specialty license plate that will raise funds for Florida Bar Foundation legal programs for children. The new "Kids...

Supreme Court okays dueling amendments: Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Florida Medical Association ready for the fray.
August 1, 2004... The battle between Florida's trial lawyers and doctors is heading to the statewide stage this fall as the Supreme Court has approved four constitutional amendments for the November general election ballot. On July 15, the court said the...

ABA Model Rules, gay adoptions on board's agenda.
August 1, 2004... Revisiting proposed rule changes sparked by a rewrite of the ABA Model Rules and a potentially controversial Family Law Section legislative position will be on the Bar Board of Governors agenda for its August 13 meeting. The board's first...

Gay adoptions.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... Let me preface this criticism by noting that the care of children should be foremost among the pressing concerns for any state. This requires an open and balanced debate on what constitutes the best policy for handling child welfare issues. It...

Grievance survey.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... This is in response to the June 15 News story headlined "Commission gets grievance survey." I am now winding up my third and final year as a public member of a grievance committee in the 13th Judicial Circuit. I agreed to serve on the...

Bar fees are now payable.(Letters)
August 1, 2004... Florida Bar members should now have received their 2003-2004 annual fee statements--reflecting no increase in fees. The statements were mailed in late May. The lees were payable July 1 and are late after August 15. Members will receive...

Oral argument set.(Letters)
August 1, 2004... The Supreme Court has set oral argument in Re: Amendments to the Florida Rules of Workers' Compensation Procedure, Case No. SC04-110 for September 2. Check the online docket for further information at http://jweb.flcourts.org/pls/...

Applicants sought for jury instructions panel.(Letters)
August 1, 2004... The Florida Supreme Court's Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases will have up to seven vacancies at the end of 2004. Any lawyer licensed to practice law in Florida and any member of the Florida judiciary may apply for...

Virgil Hawkins.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... According to a letter in the June 15 News, "[a]s late as 1957, the Florida Supreme Court, by a 5-2 decision, ruled it would not order the University of Florida Law School to admit a qualified black man, Virgil Hawkins, even though the U.S....

U.S. 11th Circuit Court seeks rules amendment comments.(Letters)
August 1, 2004... Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. [section]2071(b), notice and opportunity for comment is hereby given of proposed amendments to the Rules and Internal Operating Procedures of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. A copy of the proposed...

Meeting slated to discuss workers' comp judges up for reappointment.(Letters)
August 1, 2004... The Statewide Nominating Commission for Judges of Compensation Claims will hold a public hearing August 24, beginning at 9:30 a.m., at the Orlando World Marriott on World Center Drive in Orlando. The purpose of the hearing is to conduct the...

Tables turned as justices are quizzed by lawyers.
August 1, 2004... >From the usefulness of amicus briefs to protocol for who gets to answer questions during oral argument, members of the Bar had a unique opportunity to fire questions at the Supreme Court during the Appellate Practice Section's discussion with...

In memoriam.
August 1, 2004... John W. Achor, Naples Admitted 1951; Died June 3 2004 Marvin Ballan, Hallandale Admitted 1994; Died July 1, 2004 Mary K. Hembree Benson, Washington, D.C. Admitted 1973; Died October 4, 2003 Alan Bernstein, West Palm...

Miami Attorney Ervin A. Gonzalez, a member of The Florida Bar Board of Governors, was recently awarded St. Thomas University's first "Leaders For Life Award" for his contributions to the legal profession and community.
August 1, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: MIAMI ATTORNEY ERVIN A. GONZALEZ, a member of The Florida Bar Board of Governors, was recently awarded St. Thomas University's first "Leaders For Life Award" for his contributions to the legal profession and...

Governor makes JNC appointments.
August 1, 2004... Gov. Jeb Bush has announced his appointments to Florida's 26 judicial nomination commissions. The governor on July 12 made two direct appointments to each of the nine-member JNCs, and also appointed one member to each from a slate of...

Orlando Federalists debate lawyer advertising.
August 1, 2004... Lawyer advertising is either contributing to the destruction of the legal profession, or just a smoke screen for age-old hostility toward the legal profession. Arguing June 30 at The Federalist Society Orlando Lawyers Division, Rep. David...

1-800-PIT-BULL is for real.
August 1, 2004... In Rep. David Simmons's crusade to restrict what he sees as bad lawyer advertising, the example he mentions over and over is the law firm using the phone number 1-800-PITBULL. It has become almost the apocryphal example of what many see as...

Those who made a difference.
August 1, 2004... The Trial Court Budget Commission bestowed special recognition on those whom it considered "heroes" in working to make the Revision 7 to Art. V court funding transition successful when those who participated in the process gathered July 1 at...

Criminal Law Section set to increase its lobbying efforts.
August 1, 2004... With other section operations functioning well, new Criminal Law Section Chair Paul Zacks is looking at getting the section more involved in legislative activities. "The wisdom on this council is incredible," said Zacks at the section's...

Florida Bar CLE audio/video tapes.
August 1, 2004... Florida Bar CLE Audio/Video Tapes DIRECT PHONE LINE: (850) 561-5629 www.flabar.org KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS--CERTIFICATION CREDIT HOURS AD = Admiralty and Maritime AP = Appellate Practice AT = Antitrust AV =...

The Hispanic Bar Association.
August 1, 2004... Caption: THE HISPANIC BAR ASSOCIATION of Central Florida recently presented its "Jurist of the Year Award" to Ninth Circuit Judge Lawrence R. Kirkwood for his continued support of the Hispanic Bar Association from its inception and for...

Celebrating 50 years of practice.
August 1, 2004... Caption: CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF PRACTICE at the Bar's Annual Meeting in Boca Raton, Wilson Wright, left, and Nick Detardo share memories during a luncheon for the 50-year members sponsored by the Young Lawyers Division. Wright and Detardo were...

Lawyers must safeguard their independence.
August 1, 2004... Lawyers are the keepers of the flame that glows in the torch of Lady Liberty, and the profession's devotion to truth and the rule of law is paramount if lawyers are going to continue to "guard the thin and occasional indistinct line that...

Properly reporting your pro bono contributions.
August 1, 2004... (Editor's Note: It has come to the attention of the Bar's Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services that not all Bar members are properly reporting their pro bono hours on the Bar's annual fee statement form. To address the concerns, Robin...

Proposed rules amendments.(Notice)
August 1, 2004... The Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure Committee, the Rules of Civil Procedure Committee, the Rules of Criminal Procedure Committee, the Family Law Rules of Procedure Committee, the Rules of Juvenile Procedure Committee, and the Probate Rules...

Family law forms amended.(Notice)
August 1, 2004... In Amendments to Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Forms--Sexual Violence Forms, No. SC04-1039 (Fla. July 8, 2004), the Florida Supreme Court adopted amendments to the Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Forms governing domestic,...

The Bar's International Law Section is all over the map.(Notice)
August 1, 2004... Canada, Russia, Latin American. And more. All of that is on the plate of the Bar's International Law Section, which is working to place Florida not just as a center for commerce with Central and South America, but with the world. "The...

Stone's professionalism honored.(Notice)
August 1, 2004... The Florida Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism and The Florida Bar Standing Committee on Professionalism presented Professor Ruth Stone of Florida State University College of Law the 2004 Faculty Award during the Bar's Annual Meeting...

Donet recognized for section work.(Notice)
August 1, 2004... David A. Donet of Coral Gables received the 2004 Tradition of Excellence Award from the Bar's General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Section at The Florida Bar's Annual Meeting in Boca Raton. Donet, a native of Cuba who came to America at...

Mental illness awareness--or the lack of it.(Stresslines)
August 1, 2004... Why do we know so little about mental illnesses? Perhaps it is, as a physician speaker at a recent national mental health conference reminded attendees, that 90 percent of what we know about the brain has been learned in just the last 10 to 15...

Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2004... Paige Greenlee of Akerman Senterfitt in Tampa has been elected to the board of directors of the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers for 2004-2005.

Jed L. Frankel of Phillips.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2004... Jed L. Frankel of Phillips, Eisinger & Brown, P.A., in Hollywood spoke on "Disputes and Problems Arising in Real Estate Transactions" at a legal seminar for Esslinger Wooten Maxwell Realtors.

Asian Pacific American Bar Association.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2004... William Simonitsch of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart in Miami has been elected to the board of directors of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of South Florida.

William Davis.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2004... William Davis of Buchanan Ingersoll in Miami received the Transportation Lawyers Association's 2004 Distinguished Service Award.

Dade County Bar Association.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2004... Mark A. Sylvester of Leesfield, Leighton, Rubio, Mahfood & Boyers, P.A., in Miami has been elected to the board of directors for the Dade County Bar Association.

Michael S. Orfinger of Upchurch, Watson, White & Max Mediation Group, and firm mediation panelists, Kimberly Sands, Howard Marsee and Richard Lord, took part in the Fifth District Court of Appeal Appellate Mediation Seminar.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2004... Michael S. Orfinger of Upchurch, Watson, White & Max Mediation Group, and firm mediation panelists, Kimberly Sands, Howard Marsee and Richard Lord, took part in the Fifth District Court of Appeal Appellate Mediation Seminar at The Savannah...

Joel L. Tabas.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2004... Joel L. Tabas of Miami recently participated in a roundtable discussion at the University of Rochester Simon Graduate School of Business. The seminar was titled "Preserving Value in Chapter 11: A Roundtable Discussion of the Bankruptcy...

World Trade Center.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2004... Steven Sloane Newburgh of Fowler White Burnett P.A., in West Palm Beach has been elected to the board of directors of the World Trade Center--Palm Beach.

Chinese Children Adoption International's Florida Advisory Council.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2004... Martin R. Dix of Akerman Senterfitt in Tallahassee has been appointed to serve as both a member and vice chair of Chinese Children Adoption International's Florida Advisory Council.

The American Law Institute.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2004... Larry Stewart of Miami has been elected to the council of The American Law Institute at its 81st annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

Elizabeth F. Schwartz.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2004... Elizabeth F. Schwartz of Miami Beach spoke at the "Valuing Our Families" conference in Ft. Lauderdale about legal concerns for gay and lesbian couples considering parenthood. She has also been selected for the third class of the Miami Fellows...

Miami-Dade County Bar Association.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2004... Timothy M. Ravich of Hunton & Williams has recently been elected treasurer of the Miami-Dade County Bar Association.

The Florida Bar Board of Governors.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2004... Diana Santa Maria of Ft. Lauderdale was appointed by The Florida Bar Board of Governors to the Florida Supreme Court's Commission on Professionalism for a four-year term.

Russell Marlowe of New Port Richey and Steve Ake of Tampa recently completed America's Most Beautiful Ride, a 100-mile bicycle trip around Lake Tahoe.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2004... Russell Marlowe of New Port Richey and Steve Ake of Tampa recently completed America's Most Beautiful Ride, a 100-mile bicycle trip around Lake Tahoe. They were part of the Suncoast Chapter's team of 23 individuals who raised over $86,000 for...

Rep. Jeff Kottkamp.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2004... Rep. Jeff Kottkamp, R-Cape Coral, was recently named "Outstanding Representative of the Year" by the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers in recognition of his leadership "in preserving access to the court system during the 2004 legislative...

Timothy F. English.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2004... Timothy F. English received an LL.M. in Dutch Law, alternatively the title "Meester in de Rechten," from the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2004... Jason J. Guari of Ricci-Leopold, P.A., in Palm Beach Gardens has been appointed to the board of directors of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers.

Jack Bariton.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2004... Jack Bariton of Plantation received certification as a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit and County Court Mediator.

SERVE.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2004... James Evangelista of Fowler White Boggs Banker in Tampa has been appointed to the board of directors of SERVE--an organization that promotes educational opportunities for all learners in the Southeast.

Great Outdoors Conservancy.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2004... Mark P. Barnebey of Kirk-Pinkerton in Bradenton has been re-elected to the board of directors of the Great Outdoors Conservancy.

Jeanne L. Seewald.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2004... Jeanne L. Seewald of Fowler White Boggs Banker in Naples has been named a Special Volunteer Honoree for Outstanding Service in Membership Services by the Naples Chamber of Commerce.

Bruce A. Blitman.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2004... Bruce A. Blitman of Ft. Lauderdale coauthored, with the help of professors from the University of South Alabama, an article titled, "Using Collaborative Modeling To Mediate Workplace Conflicts," published in Equal Opportunities.

Trial Techniques Committee.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2004... Ervin A. Gonzalez of Miami has been appointed vice chair of the Trial Techniques Committee within the Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association for the 2004-2005 fiscal year.

John E. Fisher.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2004... John E. Fisher of Orlando has been named Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Florida Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates.

Englander & Fischer, P.A.(On the Move)
August 1, 2004... Terry L. Hirsch has become a shareholder of Englander & Fischer, PA., in St. Petersburg. Hirsch concentrates on business litigation and employment litigation.

McCumber, Inclan, Daniels, Buntz & Ferrera, P.A.(On the Move)
August 1, 2004... G. Douglas Nail has become associated with McCumber, Inclan, Daniels, Buntz & Ferrera, P.A., in Orlando, with offices at 8529 S. Park Circle, Ste. 240, Orlando, 32819, phone: (407)-903-9979. Nail concentrates in nursing home, medical...

Carlton Fields, P.A.(On the Move)
August 1, 2004... The Tampa office of Carlton Fields, P.A., has moved to Corporate Center Three at International Plaza, 4221 W. Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa, 33607, phone: (813) 223-7000.

Landis Graham French, P.A.(On the Move)
August 1, 2004... Lisa Zima Bosch, formerly an assistant county attorney with Volusia County, has joined and become a shareholder with Landis Graham French, P.A. She focuses in matters of land use, zoning, and environmental law.

Abel Band.(On the Move)
August 1, 2004... Jennifer B. Compton has become a shareholder with Abel Band in Sarasota. She concentrates on securities law, restrictive covenants, commercial litigation, and employment law litigation.

Akerman Senterfitt.(On the Move)
August 1, 2004... Paul Kunz, formerly of Boise, Schiller & Flexner in Washington, D.C., has become associated with Akerman Senterfitt in Ft. Lauderdale. He focuses on commercial litigation.

Engel & Reiman.(On the Move)
August 1, 2004... Christine Sue Cook has become associated with Engel & Reiman in Denver, with offices at The Equitable Building, 730-17 St., Ste. 500, Denver, CO, 80202, phone: (303) 741-1111, fax: (303) 694-4028.

Wendy Vargas, formerly of Hughes Hubbard & Reed, has become associated.(On the Move)
August 1, 2004... Wendy Vargas, formerly of Hughes Hubbard & Reed, has become associated with Akerman Senterfitt in Miami.

Gordon Hargrove & James, P.A.(On the Move)
August 1, 2004... Al L. Frevola, Jr., has joined Gordon Hargrove & James, PA., in Ft. Lauderdale. He concentrates in large scale maritime and commercial litigation matters.

Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart, P.A.(On the Move)
August 1, 2004... Jacqueline Negri has joined Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart, P.A., in Miami, as a visiting attorney from Milan, Italy, for an initial period of six months. She will assist the corporate department with the broad range of legal services to Italian...

Hinshaw & Culbertson.(On the Move)
August 1, 2004... Cheryl Wilke has been appointed to a three-year term on the executive committee of Hinshaw & Culbertson. Wilke is partner in charge of the firm's Ft. Lauderdale office and the chair of the firm's national workers' compensation defense practice...

Ford & Harrison.(On the Move)
August 1, 2004... Charles E. Williams, Jr., formerly of Williams, Livingston & Associates, has joined Ford & Harrison as partner. He focuses on employment litigation defense and practices in the firm's Orlando office.

Berger Singerman.(On the Move)
August 1, 2004... Thomas Anthony Sadaka, formerly special counsel to Florida's Statewide Prosecutor, has joined Berger Singerman as of counsel. He concentrates on risk assessment, information assurance compliance, privacy and use policy review and enforcement,...

CRAIG, is/Ltd.(On the Move)
August 1, 2004... Kevin J. Vander Koik of Ponte Vedra Beach has joined the large loss and litigation department of CRAIG, is/Ltd, phone: (904) 807-2583.

Hinshaw & Culbertson.(On the Move)
August 1, 2004... Hinshaw & Culbertson announces the addition of: Christopher L. Casey (Ft. Lauderdale) who concentrates in matters of general civil litigation, insurance coverage and defense, and commercial litigation. Prior to joining Hinshaw, he was at J. Hue...

Crystal L. Ganpath, formerly of Dzikowski & Walsh in Ft. Lauderdale has become associated with Akerman Senterfitt in Jacksonville.(On the Move)
August 1, 2004... Crystal L. Ganpath, formerly of Dzikowski & Walsh in Ft. Lauderdale has become associated with Akerman Senterfitt in Jacksonville. Laura Holm, formerly a partner in the business group of Adorno & Yoss, P.A., has become a shareholder with Berger...

Kasen & Levine, P.A.(On the Move)
August 1, 2004... Jonathan Kasen and Scott A. Levine, announce the opening of Kasen & Levine, P.A. The firm concentrates in civil and criminal trial practice in both state and federal courts with offices at 600 SW 4th Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, 33315, phone:...

Snell Legal.(On the Move)
August 1, 2004... Gregory D. Snell, formerly of Rice Rose & Snell, has established and become a shareholder in Snell Legal in Ormond Beach. Keith E. Broll, formerly of Rice Rose & Snell, has become associated with Snell Legal. The firm concentrates in business...

Macfarlane, Ferguson & McMullen.(On the Move)
August 1, 2004... Macfarlane, Ferguson & McMullen in Tampa has moved to One Tampa City Center, Ste. 2000, 201 N. Franklin SL, Tampa, 33602, phone: (813) 273-200, fax: (813) 273-4396.

Brinkley, McNerney, Morgan, Solomon & Tatum.(On the Move)
August 1, 2004... Pamela M.M. Holcombe has joined Brinkley, McNerney, Morgan, Solomon & Tatum in Ft. Lauderdale. Holcombe concentrates in matters of complex commercial litigation, business litigation, appellate practice, and maritime law.

Gronek & Latham.(On the Move)
August 1, 2004... Daniel P. Ostendorf has become associated with Gronek & Latham in Orlando, with offices located at 390 N. Orange Ave., Ste. 600, 32801, phone: (407) 481-5800.

Kirk Pinkerton.(On the Move)
August 1, 2004... Whitney C. Giaser has become associated with Kirk Pinkerton in Sarasota.

Weston, Garrou & DeWitt.(On the Move)
August 1, 2004... Marc J. Randazza, formerly of Becker & Poliakoff, P.A., has become associated with Weston, Garrou & DeWitt in Altamonte Springs. Randazza, formerly a journalist, will primarily represent clients in First Amendment matters.

Preston O. Cockey, Jr.(On the Move)
August 1, 2004... Preston O. Cockey, Jr., has opened an office of law that focuses on commercial real estate. He will continue representing clients in commercial and real estate transactions involving development, lending, and leasing transactions. His office is...

Trenam, Kemker, Scharf, Barkin, Frye, O'Neill & Mullis.(On the Move)
August 1, 2004... Brenda E. Byrne has become associated with Trenam, Kemker, Scharf, Barkin, Frye, O'Neill & Mullis in Tampa. Byrne joined the firm's trust and estates practice group but also practices in matters of corporate and business transactions.

Fowler White Boggs Banker.(On the Move)
August 1, 2004... Suzanne Schwartz Rummell has become of counsel to Fowler White Boggs Banker in Tampa. Rummell joined the trusts and estates practice group and concentrates in matters of estate planning. Offices are located at 501 E. Kennedy Blvd., Ste. 1700,...

Moye, O'Brien, O'Rourke, Pickert & Martin.(On the Move)
August 1, 2004... Michael R. Candes has become associated with Moye, O'Brien, O'Rourke, Pickert & Martin. Candes practices in construction related litigation. Offices are located at 800 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland, 32751, phone: (407) 622-5250.

Richman Greer Weil Brumbaugh Mirabito & Christensen, P.A.(On the Move)
August 1, 2004... Jill G. Weiss, formerly of Ward, Damon & Posner, P.A., has become associated with Richman Greer Weil Brumbaugh Mirabito & Christensen, P.A., with offices at One Clearlake Centre, Ste. 1504, 250 Australian Ave., S., West Palm Beach, 33401,...