Florida Bar News articles from August 2008

Florida Bar News archives from August 2008

Lawyers needed to wade through foreclosure flood: Glitch won't affect lawyers handling foreclosures.
August 1, 2008... A new state law aimed at cracking down on scammers taking advantage of homeowners facing mortgage foreclosures will not affect the hiring of attorneys by those homeowners, according to Attorney General Bill McCollum. In a July 8 letter,...

Lawyers needed to wade through foreclosure flood: bar members step up to assist homeowners.
August 1, 2008... Florida lawyers have responded to the call for volunteers to assist the working poor facing foreclosure. But more are needed. Three hundred and twenty Bar members have thus far offered their services to FLASH--Florida Attorneys Saving...

Rules panel wants representation at first appearances.(The Florida Bar Criminal Procedure Rules Committee)
August 1, 2008... Once a contentious issue pitting the guarantee of constitutional rights against practical concerns in a budget crisis, the vote was 28-0 to mandate that both prosecutor and public defender be required to attend all first appearance...

Attorneys needed for aging-out foster kids.
August 1, 2008... The day Peggy Quince became chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court, she asked lawyers to volunteer for the Fostering Independence Project to help youth aging-out of foster care become productive citizens. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Summer service.(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RICHARD SHANE WAS ONE OF 10 summer associates at Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price and Alexrod in Miami who put on their gardening gloves and braved the humidity to landscape one of 187 homes in the Jordan Commons community...

Citing financial woes, PD stops accepting cases: hearing set in the 11th Circuit's action, more PDs may follow suit.
August 1, 2008... Swamped with cases and too broke to hire more lawyers, Florida's largest public defender office--Miami-Dade's 11th Circuit--can no longer effectively represent more clients, so it must refuse new felony cases. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Administrative Law Section to support those with disabilities.
August 1, 2008... Amid all the budgetary hand-wringing that characterized this year's legislative session, the average person might not have noticed many changes lawmakers made to the administrative rules governing state agencies. Luckily, after more than 30...

Bar referral service will cover Dade.(The Florida Bar and Miami-Dade County, Florida)
August 1, 2008... The Bar's Lawyer Referral Service will soon add Miami-Dade County to its coverage area. The Bar's LRS will begin making referrals in Miami-Dade County beginning October 1, which coincides with the publishing of the new phone books,...

Tjoflat: ethics and professionalism lead to independence.
August 1, 2008... If American lawyers want to remain independent, much of their fate remains in their own hands through following high standards of ethics and professionalism, according to 11th U.S. Circuit Court Judge Gerald Tjoflat. Judge Tjoflat...

Task Force on Judicial Branch Planning extends its online court system survey deadline.
August 1, 2008... There is still time to participate in an online survey to help the Task Force on Judicial Branch Planning identify emerging issues and trends. "In planning for the court system for the next 20 years, it's important to gather input from...

Center for Professionalism sets career satisfaction workshop.
August 1, 2008... The Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism and Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc., will host a two-day career satisfaction workshop September 5-6 in Tallahassee. Shari R. Gregory, the assistant director/attorney counselor with the Oregon...

Hersch elected FACDL president.
August 1, 2008... Richard Hersch of Miami was recently elected president of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers at its recent Annual Meeting in Key West. Other new FACDL officers include Paula Saunders of Tallahassee, president-elect; Brian...

The Florida International University.(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY College of Law trial team captured first place in the Southeast Region of the American Association for Justice National Student Trial Advocacy Competition. Held in Atlanta, the...

Proposed civil jury instructions.(Notices)
August 1, 2008... The Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases noticed proposed changes and new instructions for public comment on April 15 and May 1. As a result of comments received, the committee proposes the following changes in...

Proposed amendments to the juvenile procedures rules deal with foster kids.(Notices)
August 1, 2008... The Steering Committee on Families and Children in the Court has submitted to the Florida Supreme Court a petition seeking to amend Florida Rule of Juvenile Procedure 8.255, General Provision for Hearing, to require a child who is in licensed...

Aronberg wants to rework released sex offender laws: Senator says the current hodgepodge of laws regulating residency undermines public safety.
August 1, 2008... While well-intentioned, Florida's current laws restricting where sex offenders released from prison can live undermines public safety and need to be reformed. That's the message Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres, brought to the Young...

Parks & Crump.
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PARKS & CRUMP recently presented a $1 million gift to Legal Services of North Florida's 30th Anniversary Endowment Fund. LSNF launched its major gift campaign in January 2007, to create an endowment that will secure...

Roundtable explores the ins and outs of federal practice.
August 1, 2008... "There are three kinds of closing arguments," said William Stafford, senior federal judge in the Northern District of Florida. "There's the well-organized one you write out, there's the mish-mash of what you actually say when you stand before...

Older Floridians Handbook available.
August 1, 2008... Carlton Fields and Florida Justice Institute, Inc., recently published the fifth edition of the Older Floridians Handbook: Laws and Programs Affecting Older Floridians. The handbook, first published by the Florida Justice Institute in...

Practice in federal court? This Bar committee has the guide for you.
August 1, 2008... The Federal Judicial Roundtable is just one of the projects of the Federal Court Practice Committee, more than 40 members who serve as The Florida Bar's liaison to the federal courts, the standing committees of the Federal Judicial Conference,...

Court applies more of the judicial code to candidates: those running for the bench now prohibited from criticizing jurors for their verdicts.
August 1, 2008... Current prohibitions preventing sitting judges from being "swayed by partisan interests" and "criticizing jurors" for their verdicts have now been extended to judicial candidates as well. While the Supreme Court was unanimous in amending...

What should you do with unsolicited information? PEC also discusses if punitive fees and costs can be split with the client.(Professional Ethics Committee)
August 1, 2008... Is it a lawyer's duty, if any, to protect information sent by a possible client unilaterally? May an attorney representing himself in a divorce directly contact his nonlawyer wife who is represented by counsel to discuss routine family and...

New certification logo.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... I wanted to take the opportunity to personally thank the many board certified lawyers who have given us the "thumbs up" on the certification program's new logo. We received a great deal of positive feedback at The Florida Bar's Annual...

Family Law Section.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... As the new chair of the Family Law Section, I would like to expand upon the comments of my colleagues in the July 1 News article, "Family Law Section often on the cutting edge of emerging issues." The leadership of the Family Law Section's...

Court funding.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... I have been reading about the court funding debate from both sides in the pages of the News. I've noticed that the elected officials have overlooked the premise on which this "crisis" arises. The people were given a chance (unbelievably) to...

Workers' comp judges needed in Jacksonville and Gainesville.
August 1, 2008... The Statewide Nominating Commission for Judges of Compensation Claims is now accepting applications to fill a vacancy in Jacksonville and another in Gainesville. The term of the successful Jacksonville candidate will commence upon...

Workers' Comp judges seek reappointment.
August 1, 2008... The Statewide Nominating Commission for Judges of Compensation Claims will meet August 18 at 8:30 a.m. at the Orlando World Center Marriott, 8701 World Center Drive, Orlando, in the Crystal Ballrooms E and F, for the purpose of interviewing the...

The Florida Bar CLE audio/video list.(List)
August 1, 2008... The Florida Bar CLE Audio/Video List www.floridabar.org 850-561-5629 KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS--CERTIFICATION CREDIT HOURS AD = Admiralty and Maritime AG = State & Federal Government & Admin. Practice AP = Appellate Practice AT =...

Karen Koster Burr and Grier Wells recently participated in the Jacksonville Bar Association's "There Oughta Be a Law" variety show at the Times Union Center for the Performing Arts Terry Theatre.
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] KAREN KOSTER BURR and Grier Wells recently participated in the Jacksonville Bar Association's "There Oughta Be a Law" variety show at the Times Union Center for the Performing Arts Terry Theatre. Jacksonville's legal...

Coral Gables Bar honors Davis.(Legal Roundup)
August 1, 2008... Coral Gables Bar Honors Davis: The Coral Gables Bar Association awarded its Lifetime Achievement Award to Edward B. Davis, the retired chief judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Judge Davis also was...

Sarasota Bar scholarship.(Legal Roundup)
August 1, 2008... Sarasota Bar Scholarship: The Sarasota County Bar Association has awarded Terrica Jennings and Jesse Butler its 2008 Diversity Scholarships. Both recipients are first-year law students. Jennings attends Stetson University College of Law and is...

Wall of Honor.(Legal Roundup)
August 1, 2008... Wall of Honor: Each year, the judges of Miami's Juvenile Justice Center present the "Wall of Honor" ceremony to recognize those individuals who have made significant contributions to children in the juvenile justice and child welfare system in...

Edwards to lead FJA.(Legal Roundup)(Florida Justice Association's Thomas S. Edwards, Jr. )(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Edwards to Lead FJA: The Florida Justice Association recently seated its new officers and board members: Thomas S. Edwards, Jr., president; Michael A. Haggard, president-elect; C. Richard Newsome, treasurer; Fred A. Cunningham, secretary; Paul...

LSGMI recognizes Baker.(Legal Roundup)(Legal Services of Greater Miami Distinguished Service Award goes to Elizabeth S. Baker)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... LSGMI Recognizes Baker: Elizabeth S. Baker was honored with the Legal Services of Greater Miami Distinguished Service Award at the organization's annual service awards luncheon. The award was given in recognition of Baker's "outstanding...

Scholarships all around.(Legal Roundup)
August 1, 2008... Scholarships All Around: Dean Mead, with offices in Orlando, Ft. Pierce, and Viera, helped the University of Central Florida College of Medicine make history by becoming the first medical school in the country to offer scholarships to its...

SMKB scholarships.(Legal Roundup)
August 1, 2008... SMKB Scholarships: The South Miami Kendall Bar Association and one of its member firms, Panter, Panter & Sampedro, have co-sponsored a $1,500 scholarship to be applied towards the tuition of a law student attending the University of Miami...

Wiley to lead Cherry Bar.(Legal Roundup)(Marva L. Wiley of the Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association )(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Wiley to Lead Cherry Bar: The Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association celebrated its 23rd anniversary with its awards and installation luncheon. The association selected the Judge Melvia B. Green as its member of the year for her...

Annual Bar rules proposals.(Notice)
August 1, 2008... The Board of Governors of The Florida Bar hereby gives notice of filing with the Supreme Court of Florida, on or about September 1, 2008, a petition to amend the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar. The full text of the proposed amendments is...

USDC-MDFL offers grace period for tardy renewals.(U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida )(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... The 2008-2009 renewal period for those who practice in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida is underway. Signed renewal forms and fees were due July 15, although there is a grace period which will run until August 31,...

15th JNC accepting judicial applications.(15th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission )
August 1, 2008... The 15th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the circuit bench created by the death of Judge Jeffrey Winikoff. Applicants must have been members of The Florida Bar in good standing for...

Jonas petitions for Bar reinstatement.(Steven Keith Jonas)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Pursuant to Rule 3-7.10, Steven Keith Jonas has petitioned the Supreme Court for Bar reinstatement. The Supreme Court suspended Jonas for 18 months in an August 31, 2006, order for violation of the following rules: Rule 4-4.1(a) (in the...

Mastrilli petitions for reinstatement.(Kenneth W. Mastrilli)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Pursuant to Rule 3-7.10(b), Kenneth W. Mastrilli of Tampa has petitioned the Supreme Court for Bar reinstatement. Mastrilli was suspended for 18 months, effective nunc pro tunc, November 27, 2005, under the terms and conditions set forth by...

Turna petitions for Bar reinstatement.(C. Jivan Turna)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Pursuant to Rule 3-7.10(b), C. Jivan Turna of Clearwater has petitioned the Supreme Court for Bar reinstatement. Turna was suspended for a period of 91 days by an April 7, 2005, order of the court. The suspension was served from on or about...

Lawyer needed for the JQC.(Notice)
August 1, 2008... Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission Vacancy: One attorney to serve a six-year term commencing January 1, 2009, and expiring December 31, 2014. The 15-member commission is authorized under Art. V, Section 12, Florida Constitution, to...

U.S. 11th Circuit to amend its rules.(Notice)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... 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. A copy of the proposed amendments may be obtained from the...

U.S. Magistrate Morris seeks reappointment.(Notice)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... United States Magistrate Judge Thomas E. Morris of Jacksonville is seeking reappointment. Morris' term will expire on March 7 and the United States District Court is required to establish a panel of citizens to consider his request for a...

11th Circuit PDs win Glickstein Award.(Bennett Brummer and Carlos Martinez)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Supreme Court Justice Fred Lewis presented the Hugh S. Glickstein Award for Child Advocacy from the Public Interest Law Section's Legal Needs of Children Committee to retiring 11th Circuit Public Defender Bennett Brummer and Public...

LOMAS' Phelps honored by the ABA.(American Bar Association Law Practice Management Section's J.R. Phelps)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... The American Bar Association Law Practice Management Section recently honored Florida Bar LOMAS Director J.R. Phelps for his more than 27 years of service to the legal profession, when it presented him with the LPM Publishing Achievement Award...

Whitesman nominated to chair Tax Section.(Guy Edward Whitesman)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... The Tax Section Nominating Committee has recommended Guy Edward Whitesman of Ft. Myers to serve as the 2009-2010 chair-elect. The section bylaws provide that petitions setting forth the name of other nominees for the office of chair-elect...

The Palm Beach County Bar.(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE PALM BEACH COUNTY BAR recently installed its new officers and directors. Pictured sitting from the left are President-elect Michelle Suskauer; Judge Kenneth Marra from the United States District Court, who...

Proposed amendments to the probate rules.(Notice)
August 1, 2008... The Florida Supreme Court adopted amendments to the Florida Probate Rules proposed by the Florida Bar's Probate Rules Committee to implement recent changes to section 393.12, Florida Statutes. See In re: Amendments to the Florida Probate Rules,...

Family Law Rules amendments.(Notice)
August 1, 2008... The Florida Supreme Court adopted amendments to the Florida Family Law Rules proposed by the Florida Bar's Family Law Rules Committee to implement 2008 legislative changes to equitable distribution. See In re: Amendments to the Florida Family...

Lawyers urged to volunteer for the upcoming elections: election supervisors are always looking for poll workers.
August 1, 2008... The Bar's Communications Committee is encouraging Florida Bar members and their firms to get involved in public service during the upcoming elections. Communications Committee Chair Richard Tanner noted lawyers are particularly well-suited...

Amanda Arnold Sansone.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Amanda Arnold Sansone of Carlton Fields in Tampa was recently elected president of the Young Lawyers Division of the Hillsborough County Bar.

Jack M. Sobel and George W. Bush, Jr., of Fox, Wackeen, Dungey, Beard, Sobel, Bush & McCluskey spoke at a recent meeting of the Martin County Bar.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... Jack M. Sobel and George W. Bush, Jr., of Fox, Wackeen, Dungey, Beard, Sobel, Bush & McCluskey spoke at a recent meeting of the Martin County Bar regarding professionalism.

Adam Tebrugge.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Adam Tebrugge was presented the "Third Annual Jim Slater Award for Professionalism in the Practice of Criminal Law" by the Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto, and Venice-Englewood bar associations.

William J. Spratt Jr.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] William J. Spratt Jr., of K&L Gates in Miami recently spoke at the First Annual Southwest Healthcare Transactions Conference in Dallas. Spratt's panel addressed how buyers and investors should modify their approaches...

Hank Coxe.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hank Coxe of Bedell, Dittmar, DeVault, Pillans & Coxe in Jacksonville has joined the Florida Coastal School of Law Board of Advisors.

W. Barry Blum.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... W. Barry Blum of W. Barry Blum, LLC, in Miami recently was a panelist in Washington, D.C., at the International Franchise Association Legal Symposium on the topic "The Five Most Frequently Filed Lawsuits Against Franchisors and How to Avoid...

Edward J. Page.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Edward J. Page of Carlton Fields in Tampa spoke at the Hillsborough County Bar Young Lawyers Division State Court Trial Seminar on direct and cross-examination from the defense perspective.

Jeannine S. Williams.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jeannine S. Williams of the City of St. Petersburg's Attorneys Office was recently installed as president of the St. Petersburg Bar Association. She was also honored as a 2008 Legend by the Friends of the Carter G....

Alpizar Law.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... O. John Alpizar of Alpizar Law in Palm Bay has been appointed to the Fifth District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission.

Ben J. Hayes.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ben J. Hayes of Carlton Fields in St. Petersburg moderated a panel program titled "Game On: Sports Betting Around the World" during the International Masters of Gaming Law Spring Conference in Napa Valley,...

Peter D. Russin.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Peter D. Russin of Meland Russin & Budwick in Miami has been certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a civil circuit mediator and has registered as a mediator with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern...

Mark E. Becker.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... Mark E. Becker of Tallahassee was awarded "The Chair's Award of Merit" for his "service, dedication, and loyalty" to the Family Law Section.

Thomas Newcomb Hyde.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Thomas Newcomb Hyde of Tampa recently presented a program on legal ethics training to attorneys and paralegals for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company in Boston, Kansas City, St. Louis, and Chicago.

Williams Montgomery & John.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Alyssa Campbell of Williams Montgomery & John in Chicago was elected to the Illinois Appellate Lawyers Association Board of Directors

Vernon Healy.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... Chris Vernon of Vernon Healy in Naples has been appointed to the 20th Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission.

Tampa Downtown Partnership.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Andrea Zelman, with Fowler White Boggs Banker, has been appointed to the 2008-09 executive committee of the Tampa Downtown Partnership.

Julie O. Bru, Miami's city attorney, and Rafael Suarez-Rivas, an assistant Miami city attorney.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... Julie O. Bru, Miami's city attorney, and Rafael Suarez-Rivas, an assistant Miami city attorney, spoke at a City/County Attorneys' Luncheon in Miami about "Recent Decisions Relative To Jennings and Notice Issues in Land Use Matters."

Family Resource Center.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jeff Stay of Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler of Ft. Lauderdale has been elected to the board of directors of the Family Resource Center of South Florida.

Florida Association for Women Lawyers.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... Laura K. Wendell of counsel to Weiss Serota Helfman Pastoriza Cole & Boniske has been appointed development director of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.

Mike Colodny.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mike Colodny of Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate has become chair of the Joseph Meyerhoff Senior Center, formerly known as the Southeast Focal Point Senior Center.

Law Alumni Association.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... Jeff P.H. Cazeau of Weiss Serota Helfman Pastoriza Cole & Boniske in Miami was recently named secretary of the Law Alumni Association at the University of Miami School of Law.

Timothy M. Ravich.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Timothy M. Ravich was recently installed as the 92nd president of the Dade County Bar Association.

Brian Fender.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... Brian Fender of Gray-Robinson recently spoke about public-private partnerships at the Florida Association of County Attorneys seminar in Doral.

Jack Reiter.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jack Reiter of Adorno & Yoss in Miami spoke at a National Business Institute conference on "Successfully Navigating the Appellate Process."

Louise B. Zeuli.(News and Notes)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Louise B. Zeuli of Louise B. Zeuli, P.A., recently presented a lecture "Titling Property: Does It Matter?" to officers and employees at Colonial Bank in Orlando. She also presented "Documentation from a Risk...

Kathleen S. McLeroy.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Kathleen S. McLeroy of Carlton Fields in Tampa has become president of The Florida Bar Foundation.

Bond, Schoeneck & King.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... James D. Dati of Bond, Schoeneck & King has been appointed to the City of Bonita Springs Charter Review Committee.

Sherri L. Johnson.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sherri L. Johnson of Dent & Johnson in Sarasota received the 2008 "Woman Lawyer of the Year" award from the Manatee County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.

Tom McThenia, Rachel Gebaide, and Chad Duberke of Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed presented "'YouTube' for Business".(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... Tom McThenia, Rachel Gebaide, and Chad Duberke of Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed presented "'YouTube' for Business" for the Orange County Bar Intellectual Property Committee meeting.

Federal Bar Association's Broward County Chapter.(News and Notes)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Rene D. Harrod and Lorianne K. Williams, with Berger Singerman in Ft. Lauderdale were appointed as officers of the Federal Bar Association's Broward County Chapter for a one-year term. Harrod and Williams were sworn...

Alvin F. Lindsay.(News and Notes)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Alvin F. Lindsay of Hogan & Hartson in Miami recently presented on two panels at the Fifth Annual West LegalWorks conference titled "E-Discovery: An A-Z Workshop Roundtable Discussion with Industry Leaders" held in...