Florida Bar News articles from December 2004

Florida Bar News archives from December 2004

Home for the holidays.
December 1, 2004... HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS Jacquez recently sat on the lap of 13th Circuit Judge Katherine Essrig when she told a smiling new adoptive mother, Rozetta Tibbs, that she could take her son home, which was just where he wanted to go, via a short detour...

Bar passwords to be mailed: system will enable members to conduct Bar business online.
December 1, 2004... The Florida Bar will soon increase the security level for access to member services on the Bar's Web site page called the StoreFront. This means that every member will receive a letter with a new personal setup password. Each member will...

Bar president.
December 1, 2004... BAR PRESIDENT Kelly Overstreet Johnson recently attended a Miami-Dade FAWL/South Florida local voluntary bar organizations breakfast to provide information and receive feedback on the efforts of the Bar's Member Outreach Committee and discuss...

'Every child deserves a voice': guardian program seeks more money and volunteers.
December 1, 2004... American Airlines Arena, where the Miami Heat play basketball, is not big enough to hold all of the abused and neglected children denied a guardian ad litem to speak up for them in Florida's courts. The arena holds 19,600 sports fans. There...

Board to take up advertising, gay adoptions December 10.
December 1, 2004... A more detailed look at tentative revisions to The Florida Bar's advertising rules and dealing with the request of two sections to advocate for a repeal of the state law banning adoplions by gays will be on the Bar Board of Governors' December...

Want to serve on a Bar committee? Preference forms available online.
December 1, 2004... The annual committee preference form for Bar members seeking appointments for the presidential term of President-elect Alan Bookman will again only be available on The Florida Bar's Web site this year. The forms will be posted at...

Gay adoption.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2004... Overturning the ban on gay adoptions is important for two reasons: 1) it is in the best interest of children awaiting adoption in Florida; and 2) it is in the best interest of the membership of The Florida Bar. Overturning the ban is...

Lawyer advertising.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2004... I read in the October 1 News some rather disturbing comments made by Robert Rush, a member of the Bar Advertising Task Force, relating to a suggested amendment to Bar rules prohibiting direct mail to criminal defendants for a period of 30 days....

U.S. 11th Circuit to amend rules.
December 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...

Escambia County judgeship available.
December 1, 2004... The First Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications for an Escambia County judge position being vacated as a result of the retirement of Judge William P. White, Jr. Applicants must be registered voters, members of...

Supreme Court seeks new marshal.
December 1, 2004... The Supreme Court of Florida is seeking qualified applicants with leadership skills and ability to assume the position of marshal, to replace the retiring Wilson Barnes. The marshal is the custodian of all property and building and...

Tavares petitions for Bar reinstatement.
December 1, 2004... Pursuant to Rule 3-7.10, Gerald Augustus Tavares of Temple Terrace has petitioned the Supreme Court of Florida for reinstatement to The Florida Bar. Tavares was suspended for 91 days effective April 4, 2003, for failing to respond to an...

Stella petitions for Bar reinstatement.
December 1, 2004... Pursuant to Rule 3-7.10, C. Craig Stella has petitioned the Supreme Court for Bar reinstatement. On or about May 20, 2002, Stella was placed on the inactive list for incapacity not related to misconduct. Any persons having knowledge...

Errata.(Correction Notice)
December 1, 2004... Due to an oversight, Rep. Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach, and Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Holiday, were omitted from the list of lawyers who are serving in the Florida Legislature for the next two years. Their inclusion brings the total number of...

Board to appoint Foundation members.(Notice)
December 1, 2004... The Board of Governors is seeking applicants for the following vacancies to be filled during its January 28, 2005, meeting: Florida Bar Foundation Board of Directors: Two lawyers to serve three-year terms, commencing July 1, 2005 on this...

YLD seeks delegates for ABA-YLD assembly.(Notice)
December 1, 2004... The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division is presently seeking 13 people to serve as delegates to the ABA Young Lawyers Division Assembly. The ABA YLD Assembly is the policymaking arm of the ABA Young Lawyers Division. Applicants must be a...

U.S. Northern District judgeship available.(Notice)
December 1, 2004... Applications are now being accepted to fill the position of U.S. District Court judge for the Northern District of Florida. Applications are available from Commission Chair Roberto Martinez, 255 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables 33134, phone (305)...

YLD opposes gay adoption lobbying.
December 1, 2004... The Bar's Young Lawyer's Division voted against supporting the Family Law and Public Interest Law sections" initiative to lobby for repeal of the state law that bans homosexuals from adopting at its November board meeting in Daytona Beach. ...

New house speaker.
December 1, 2004... Allan Bense, R-Panama City, recently met with a number of Bar leaders, including President Kelly Overstreet Johnson, at a Tallahassee reception celebrating his election to the speaker's post. Pictured from the left are Tallahassee Board of...

St. Thomas clinic shines light on elder law issues.
December 1, 2004... For four law students at St. Thomas University, participation in the school's new elder law clinic is more than an opportunity to learn about elder law issues. It's a chance to be on the cutting edge of both guardianship and technological parts...

McPherson to address military law symposium.
December 1, 2004... Rear Adm. James E. McPherson, the judge advocate general of the U.S. Navy, will be the keynote speaker for the 2005 Military Law and Legal Assistance Symposium January 22 in Miami. The Bar's Military Affairs Committee will also present its...

Professionalism movement to build on successes.
December 1, 2004... With an emphasis on actual achievements, the Supreme Court's Commission on Professionalism and The Florida Bar's Committee on Professionalism held their semi-annual retreat recently in Tallahassee. New members of the two panels went through...

Court launches new Web site.
December 1, 2004... Starting in 1994 the Florida Supreme Court was among the very first courts in the world to use the World Wide Web as a communications medium, and November 19 it continued its pioneering tradition by launching two new Web sites at the direction...

Chief judge-clerk rule tabled for now.
December 1, 2004... A controversial procedural rules amendment on the relationship between chief circuit judges and court clerks has been tabled until next summer. The Rules of Judicial Administration Committee, at its October 28 meeting, voted to reconsider...

$300,000 earmarked for representing kids.
December 1, 2004... Lawyers for Children America and collaborative partners, Florida Foster Care Review, Inc., Dade County Bar Legal Aid/Put Something Back Project, and Guardian Ad Litem Program/Voices for Children Foundation have been awarded a $300,000 grant...

Amendments to the Civil Procedure Rules.(Notice)
December 1, 2004... The Civil Procedure Rules Committee invites comment on the proposed two-year cycle amendments to the Florida Civil Procedure Rules. The full text of the proposals can be found at the Bar's Web site at www.flabar.org. The proposed amendments...

Foundation seeks board of directors applicants.(Notice)
December 1, 2004... A search is underway for eight qualified applicants to join The Florida Bar Foundation's board of directors for terms starting in July 2005, under the Florida Supreme Court approved governance plan. The plan calls for 18 members of the Bar...

The Collier County Women's Bar Association.
December 1, 2004... THE COLLIER COUNTY WOMEN'S BAR ASSOCIATION and the Collier County Bar Association recently held a joint luncheon meeting in Naples featuring Kelly Overstreet Johnson, president of The Florida Bar. Pictured from the left are Jeanne Seewald,...

The Collier County.
December 1, 2004... THE COLLIER COUNTY Women's Bar Association and the Lee County Association for Women Lawyers recently held their Third Annual Joint Fall Reception. Pictured from the left are Doug Fornberg of LexisNexis; Jeanne Seewald, president of the Collier...

Proposed board actions, corrected.(Notice)
December 1, 2004... Pursuant to Standing Board Policy 1.60, the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar hereby publishes this corrected notice of intent to consider or take final action at its December 10 meeting on the following item. These matters are additionally...

Annual pro bono award nominations solicited.
December 1, 2004... Lawyers who have freely given their time and expertise in making legal services available to the poor are being sought for public recognition by the Florida Supreme Court and The Florida Bar. The Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service...

Court creates award honoring judges.
December 1, 2004... New to this year's pro bono award lineup will be the Chief Justice's Distinguished Judicial Service Award. Chief Justice Barbara Pariente created the award to recognizes an active or retired judge for outstanding and sustained service to...

Business section offers luncheon CLE seminars.
December 1, 2004... Brainstorming is a common way to come up with new ideas. But frequently there can be a significant lag between conception and reality. Apparently the Business Law Section doesn't believe in such a "lag." It took the section and its CLE...

Sam Fields, recently helped collect and ship more than 200 pounds of care package items for troops in Iraq, donated by 45 attorneys and staff members from the Ft. Lauderdale office of Ruden McClosky.
December 1, 2004... SAM FIELDS, left, recently helped collect and ship more than 200 pounds of care package items for troops in Iraq, donated by 45 attorneys and staff members from the Ft. Lauderdale office of Ruden McClosky. Among the items were magazines,...

LSNF gets grant for storm victims.
December 1, 2004... The Legal Services Corporation recently awarded Legal Services of North Florida a grant to assist hurricane victims in Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton counties. "Historically, clients in our service area are targets for consumer...

Try it. You like it.(Notice)
December 1, 2004... Try it. You'll like it. That's Angela Orkin's message to Florida lawyers: Agree to take on one case as a guardian ad litem and you'll find it compelling volunteer work. You say you're a bit leery of visiting the child's family,...

The Florida bar's 2005 midyear meeting.
December 1, 2004... January 19-22 * Hyatt Regency Miami * 400 S.E. Second Avenue * Miami, Florida Wednesday, January 19 Business Law Section * Bankruptcy Judicial Liaison Committee 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. * State/Federal Court Liaison...

Alexander E. Barthet.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Alexander E. Barthet of The Barthet Law Firm in Miami coordinated and spoke at Lorman Education Services" seminar titled "Show Us the Money! How to Get Paid on a Construction Project."

Trial Advocate Quarterly.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Betsy E. Gallagher and Christopher B. Hopkins of Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A., were appointed chair of the editorial board of the Trial Advocate Quarterly.

William H. Stafford American Inn of Court.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Melanie Ann Hines of Berger Singerman in Tallahassee was inducted as president of the William H. Stafford American Inn of Court. Hines has also been named to the Leadership Florida Class XXIII.

Omega Financial, Inc.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Fred Maglione was recently appointed director of alumni services with Omega Financial, Inc.

The Barthet Firm.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Eric M. Sodhi of The Barthet Firm in Miami wrote "Commonality of Control: How Much is Necessary to Shed the Light of Legitimacy into the Gray Market?" which will be published by Trademark World.

Mark N. Miller and Kristie Hatcher-Bolin of GrayRobinson in Lakeland, and Cristina A. Equi of the Orlando office, were recently published in Bender's Labor and Employment Bulletin..(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Mark N. Miller and Kristie Hatcher-Bolin of GrayRobinson in Lakeland, and Cristina A. Equi of the Orlando office, were recently published in Bender's Labor and Employment Bulletin. The article focused on employer liability for threats of...

Michael Cohen.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Michael Cohen, executive director of Florida Lawyers Assistance, recently addressed the annual dinner of the Illinois Lawyers Assistance Program on the topic of "Reaching Out to Our Colleagues: How the Lawyer Assistance Program Can Help."

Stephen R. Boopher American Inn of Court.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Brad E. Coren of Weston was inducted as a member of the Stephen R. Boopher American Inn of Court.

Library Foundation.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Mark P. Barneby of Kirk Pinkerton was elected vice president for the Library Foundation of the Manatee County Library System.

Christine A. Donoghue, and Daniel P. Mitchell with the Tampa office of GrayRobinson were awarded top honors by the Florida Defense Lawyers Association at its annual meeting in Longboat Key.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Christine A. Donoghue, and Daniel P. Mitchell with the Tampa office of GrayRobinson were awarded top honors by the Florida Defense Lawyers Association at its annual meeting in Longboat Key. Donoghue was awarded the 2004 FDLA James A. Dixon...

Nelson Slosbergas.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Nelson Slosbergas of Miami completed the diploma program in offshore e-Commerce law, presented by the International Business Law Services and The Royal Society of Fellows.

William E. Ruffier.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... William E. Ruffler of Dellecker Wilson & King, P.A., in Orlando served as a faculty presenter for the National Business Institute's workshop on "Handling Medical Negligence Cases in Florida."

Bruce A. Blitman.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Bruce A. Blitman of Ft. Lauderdale discussed "Florida's New Mediation Confidentiality and Privilege Act" at the North Broward Bar Association.

Capital Trust Company.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Jason E. Havens of Havens & Miller, PLLC, in Destin joined the advisory board of the Capital Trust Company.

Christopher Shulman.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Christopher Shulman of Christopher M. Shulman, P.A., Alternative Dispute Resolutions in Tampa has been selected by the Collins Center for Public Policy to serve on the Mediator Roster for those mediations associated with the Hurricane Relief...

District 6990.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Ronald Lieberman with Glantz & Glantz, P.A., in Plantation was appointed to serve as editor-in-chief of the District 6990 newsletter. Lieberman also named Rotarian of the Year for Vocational Services.

Mark Eiglarsh of Robbins, Tunkey, Ross, Amsel, Raben, Waxman & Eiglarsh, P.A., and Brian Tannebaum of Tannebaum, Planas & Weiss, LLP, presented "'What Every Civil Lawyer Should Know About Criminal Law.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Mark Eiglarsh of Robbins, Tunkey, Ross, Amsei, Raben, Waxman & Eiglarsh, P.A., and Brian Tannebaum of Tannebaum, Pianas & Weiss, LLP, presented "'What Every Civil Lawyer Should Know About Criminal Law," a CLE seminar sponsored by the Dade...

Deborah L. Russell.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Deborah L. Russell of Cummings & Lockwood, LLC, in Naples was selected to participate in the Leadership Collier Class of 2005. Russell was also a featured speaker for the Corporate Fiduciaries of Southwest Florida on the topic of "Corporate...

Nathaniel L. Doliner.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Nathaniel L. Doliner of Carlton Fields in Tampa moderated a corporate governance program held in Paris, France, titled "The Impact of Converging Business Legal Issues in the World's Two Largest Markets: Greater Europe and the United States."

Mary Li Creasy.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Mary Li Creasy of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick LLP, in Tampa presented a half-day seminar for the National Business Institute on advanced employment topics which covered wage/hour law, employee privacy issues, and termination. Creasy also...

John E. Meagher.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... John E. Meagher of Shutts & Bowen, LLP, spoke at the 13th National Educational Conference of the Association of Administrative Law Judges, in Orlando, on the topic of "Determining Disability in a Non-adversarial System." Meagher also...

ABA Business Law Section Corporate Client Committee.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Theresa Van Vliet of Ruden McClosky in Ft. Lauderdale was appointed to the ABA Business Law Section Corporate Client Committee and its subcommittees on compliance investigation and document retention and e-policies.

Gregory W. Meier.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Gregory W. Meier of Shuffield Lowman was a keynote speaker at the Florida Owners' Marketing Convention in Coventry, England on the topic of U.S. Estate Planning for Citizens of the U.K.

Forensic Digital Evidence: Current and Prospective Scientific and Legal Issues.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Gregory L. Hill of Kissimmee was named co-chair of "Forensic Digital Evidence: Current and Prospective Scientific and Legal Issues," presented at the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting.

Interlaw Americas.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Lisa Landy of Akerman Senterfitt in Miami has been elected co-chair of Women Lawyers of Interlaw Americas.

Richard M. Zelman.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Richard M. Zelman of Miami's Sacher, Zelman, Van Sant, Paul, Beiley, Hartman, Rolnick & Waldman, P.A., gave a lecture at Harvard University Law School titled "Public Taking for Private Purposes: Public Good or Public Theft?"

Gunster Yoakley.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Gunster Yoakley in Ft. Lauderdale was the recipient of the 2004 Compassion Award from the Wildlife Care Center.

Easter Seals.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Steve Rossman of Rossman Baumberger Reboso & Spier, P.A., was recenly elected to the national board of Easter Seals at the organization's annual meeting in Phoenix.

Valory Greenfield.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Valory Greenfield of the Miami office of Florida Legal Services, Inc., was the recipient of the "Community Champion" Award at the annual celebration of the Human Services Coalition of Dade County.

Kevin E. Packman.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Kevin E. Packman of Nelson & Levine, P.A., in North Miami Beach spoke at the Professional Advisory Committee of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. Packman spoke on "Florida's Homestead Laws: Pitfalls and Traps for the Florida Practitioner."

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation--Greater Palm Beach Chapter.(News & Notes)
December 1, 2004... Traci Rollins of Steel, Hector & Davis in West Palm Beach was appointed to the board of directors of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation--Greater Palm Beach Chapter.

Holland & Knight.(On the Move)
December 1, 2004... Ben W. Subin joined Holland & Knight in Orlando as a partner. Subin focuses in complex construction litigation, including defects, delay damages, acceleration claims, default terminations, bid protests, and changed conditions.

Akerman Senterfitt.(On the Move)
December 1, 2004... Ed Guntin and Grace P. Laba joined Akerman Senterfitt in Ft. Lauderdale. Guntin was hired as of counsel in the intellectual property practice group. Laba was hired as an associate in the corporate practice group. Additionally, Mike Wilde, Mike...

Carlton Fields.(On the Move)
December 1, 2004... Carlton Fields announces that Guinevere M. Christmann has joined the firm's Tampa office as an associate in the Real Estate and Mortgage Financing Practice Group, and Christopher M. Sacco has joined the firm's Tampa office as an associate in...

Dunlap & Moran.(On the Move)
December 1, 2004... Dunlap & Moran, P.A. announced the addition of Thomas Luzier as a shareholder in the firm's Sarasota office. Luzier focuses on representation of individual and corporate clients in all phases of commercial and residential real estate...

Adam J. Kohl.(On the Move)
December 1, 2004... Adam J. Kohl announces the formation of the Law Offices of Adam J. Kohl, P.A., with offices at 11839 San Jose Blvd., Suite 200, Jacksonville 32223; phone (904) 880-2223: fax (904) 880-2268; e-mail: adamjkohl@aol.com. The firm concentrates in...

Michael Romm has relocated Michael R. Romm, P.A.(On the Move)
December 1, 2004... Michael Romm has relocated Michael R. Romm, P.A., to 150 S.E. 12th Street (Davie Blvd.), Suite 101, Ft. Lauderdale 33316; phone (954) 779-1015; fax (954) 779-1019; e-mail: mromm@rommlaw.com.

Carlton Fields.(On the Move)
December 1, 2004... Nicole D. Quinn has rejoined Carlton Fields in its Miami office as an associate in the Labor and Employment Practice Group. Quinn concentrates her practice in cases concerning the Americans with Disabilities Act, Rehabilitation Act, Title VII,...

Manuel Gonzalez, Jr.(On the Move)
December 1, 2004... Manuel Gonzalez, Jr., announced the relocation of his office to 2100 Ponce De Leon Blvd., Suite 1170, Coral Gables 33134-5201 phone (305) 444-1400; fax (305) 443-0903; e-mail: mannylaw@quixnet.net.

D. Jean Ryan and Marcia T. Dunn announce the formation of Ryan & Dunn, P.A.(On the Move)
December 1, 2004... D. Jean Ryan and Marcia T. Dunn announce the formation of Ryan & Dunn, P.A., with office located at 3900 N.W. 79th Ave., Suite 417, Miami 33166; phone (305) 513-3303; fax (305) 513-3310; e-mail: jryan@ryan-dunn.com, mdunn@ryan-dunn.com. The...

Michael J. Rosen.(On the Move)
December 1, 2004... Michael J. Rosen, P.A. has relocated its office to Grove Forest Building, 2937 Southwest 27th Ave., Suite 101, Miami 33133; phone (305) 446-6116; fax (305) 4466150; e-mail: mjr@mjrosenlaw.com, keb@mjrosenlaw.com.

Brown, Garganese, Weiss & D'Agresta.(On the Move)
December 1, 2004... Anthony A. Garganese was named managing shareholder of Brown, Garganese, Weiss & D'Agresta, P.A., in Orlando. Garganese practices in the area of city, county, and local government law.

Moore and Co.(On the Move)
December 1, 2004... Erin Ackor joined Moore and CO, P.A., in Miami. Ackor concentrates in all aspects of marine and aviation law.

Rice & Rice.(On the Move)
December 1, 2004... Keith E. Broil rejoined Rice & Rice with offices at 222 Seabreeze Blvd., in Daytona Beach and 1 Florida Park Drive South, Suite 301, in Palm Coast. Broll primarily represents clients in the areas of business law and commercial litigation.

Fowler White Boggs Banker.(On the Move)
December 1, 2004... Nicole A. Deese, Perdita M. Martin, Brooke Wagner Odom, D. Finn Pressly, Jeraid Steven Southwell and Yvette F. Zassenbraker joined Fowler White Boggs Banker as associates. Deese practices in the firm's securities, financial service, and white...

Atkinson, Diner, Stone, Mankuta & Ploucha.(On the Move)
December 1, 2004... Ellyn Bogdanoff joined the litigation department of Atkinson, Diner, Stone, Mankuta & Ploucha, P.A., in Hollywood. Bogdanoff concentrates her practice in the area of commercial litigation.

Office of General Counsel, Jacksonville Field Office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.(On the Move)
December 1, 2004... Ingrid Suarez joined the Office of General Counsel, Jacksonville Field Office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Suarez will provide advice and services with respect to all departmental programs and activities.