Florida Bar News articles from December 2005

Florida Bar News archives from December 2005

Constitution streamlining is underway: but not without criticism from some Democrats.
December 1, 2005... The chair of the Florida House Judiciary Committee has reiterated his intention to complete a streamlining review of the state constitution this year, despite strong reservations expressed by some committee members. Rep. David Simmons,...

Want to serve on a Bar committee? Preference forms available online.
December 1, 2005... The annual committee preference form for Bar members seeking appointments for the presidential term of President-elect Hank Coxe will again only be available on The Florida Bar's Web site. The forms will be posted at florida bar.org...

Lawyer regulation report on board's December agenda.
December 1, 2005... A first look at an extensive review of the Bar's disciplinary process and revisiting a controversial criminal procedural rule amendment will be on the agenda for the Bar Board of Governors when it meets December 16 at Amelia Island. The...

Florida lawyers sound off on the state of the profession.(The Results Are In)
December 1, 2005... Florida lawyers say balancing family and work, time management, and stress are their top personal concerns. The most significant problems facing the profession include the public's poor perception of lawyers, the lack of ethics/professionalism,...

Bookman encourages recruitment of attorneys to serve on the JNCs.
December 1, 2005... The Florida Bar is actively looking for lawyers from all backgrounds and from all over the state willing to serve on the state's 26 judicial nominating commissions. Bar President Alan Bookman asked members of the Board of Governors in...

Panel wants Bar section for paralegals: lawmaker advocates mandatory membership.
December 1, 2005... A special committee studying the possibility of regulating paralegals has voted to recommend that the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar create a new paralegal section, with voluntary membership. But a state representative who serves on the...

Hurricane relief.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... We have much to be thankful for this holiday season, but many of our fellow Floridians will not be celebrating as usual. Recently, Florida was severely hit by Hurricane Wilma, which tore across the southern part of our state, destroying...

MacQuarrie seeks Bar reinstatement.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... Pursuant to Bar Rule 3-7.10, Christopher John MacQuarrie has petitioned the Supreme Court of Florida for Bar reinstatement. The court suspended MacQuarrie from the practice of law for an indefinite period of time effective August 17, 2005,...

JNC applicants sought.(Notice)
December 1, 2005... Judicial Nominating Commissions: Two lawyer vacancies for each of the 26 JNCs. The Florida Bar must nominate three lawyers for each vacancy to the governor for his appointment. Each appointee will serve a four-year term, commencing July 1,...

Board of Bar Examiners vacancy.(Notice)
December 1, 2005... Florida Board of Bar Examiners Vacancy: Lawyer applicants are being sought to fill a vacancy on the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. The Board of Governors will be selecting three nominees for the lawyer vacancy at its December 16 meeting. The...

Middle district judgeship available.(Notice)
December 1, 2005... Applications are now being accepted to fill the position of United States District Court judge for the Middle District of Florida. Applications are available from Michael J. Grindstaff, chair of the Florida Federal Judicial Nominating...

Hillsborough County judgeship available.(Notice)
December 1, 2005... The 13th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the Hillsborough County bench. Applicants must be residents of Hillsborough County, registered voters, and a member of The Florida Bar for...

17th Circuit to fill Broward judgeship.(Notice)
December 1, 2005... The 17th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the Broward County bench, created by the appointment of Judge Jeffrey Levinson to the circuit court. An applicant must be a member in good...

U.S. 11th Circuit to amend procedures.(Notice)
December 1, 2005... 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...

Levine seeks Florida Bar reinstatement.(Notice)
December 1, 2005... Pursuant to Bar Rule 3-7.10, Paul Anthony Levine has petitioned the Florida Supreme Court for Bar reinstatement from a rehabilitative suspension. This suspension was effective August 10, 2004, and was for a period of one year resulting...

Osceola judgeship available.
December 1, 2005... Applications are now being accepted to fill a vacancy on the Osceola County bench, created by the appointment of Judge Jon B. Morgan to the Ninth Circuit court. Applicants must be registered voters, members of the Bar in good standing for...

15th JNC to fill judicial positions.
December 1, 2005... The 15th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications to fill two vacancies created by the resignation of Judge Susan Lubitz, effective January 4, and the appointment of Judge Charles Burton to the 15th Circuit bench....

Eighth Circuit has judicial vacancies.
December 1, 2005... The Eighth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications to fill two judicial vacancies. One position is available on the Alachua County bench due to the resignation of the Judge James P. Nilon and a circuit court vacancy...

First Circuit JNC to fill two judgeships.
December 1, 2005... The First Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications to fill a circuit judge position in Escambia County vacated by the retirement of Judge John Parnham and the county court position in Santa Rosa County vacated by the...

McDonough seeks Bar reinstatement.
December 1, 2005... Pursuant to Bar Rule 3-7.10, Michael David McDonough has petitioned the Supreme Court of Florida for Bar reinstatement. On December 27, 2004, McDonough received a 91-day suspension with conditions: evaluation by Florida Lawyer's Assistance,...

Orange County lawyer.(Notice)
December 1, 2005... ORANGE COUNTY LAWYER Lisa Figureroa was one of 25 local attorneys and business people who recently volunteered as part of Orange County Public School's Teach-In Day. Junior Achievement of Central Florida helped 2provide the volunteers to...

Administration rules amended to keep lawmakers informed: court also addresses cameras in the courtroom.
December 1, 2005... The Supreme Court has amended the Rules of Judicial Administration so that legislators will be better informed about the court's procedural rulemaking process, but declined to adopt rules that would have placed greater restrictions on the use...

Proposed capital case instructions.(Notice)
December 1, 2005... In response to a request by the Florida Supreme Court, the Criminal Court Steering Committee has submitted to the court a report containing two proposals concerning Florida Standard Jury Instruction (Crim.) 7.11, Penalty Proceedings--Capital...

Proposed board actions.(Notice)
December 1, 2005... Pursuant to Standing Board Policy 1.60, the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar hereby publishes this notice of intent to consider or take final action at its December 16 meeting on the following items. These matters are additionally governed...

Proposed family law rule amendment.(Notice)
December 1, 2005... The Family Law Rules Committee invites comment on a proposed fast-track amendment to the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure shown below. The full text of the proposal can be found on The Florida Bar's Web site at floridabar.org. Interested...

Amendments to standard jury instructions for criminal cases.(Notice)
December 1, 2005... The Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases submits the following amended and new instructions to the Florida-Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases and invites all persons to comment to the Committee on...

USF scholarship endowed.(Legal Roundup)
December 1, 2005... USF Scholarship Endowed: Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick recently endowed a $100,000 scholarship with the University of South Florida Foundation to benefit the athletic department. "Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick is involved in numerous charitable...

Hurricane relief.(Legal Roundup)
December 1, 2005... Hurricane Relief: Dennis Hernandez & Associates spearheaded a relief drive for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Sites were established in Tampa, Clearwater, Sarasota, and St. Petersburg for the public to drop off nonperishable goods. After...

Lawyers in the schools.(Legal Roundup)
December 1, 2005... Lawyers in the Schools: Lead in your own way. That's the message some of the staff from Page, Eichenblatt, Bernbaum & Bennett brought to a group of Orlando eighth graders recently. The staff used their own experiences to motivate students at...

Indians win at Stetson.(Legal Roundup)
December 1, 2005... Indians Win at Stetson: A team from West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences in Kolkata (Calcutta), India, won the 10th annual International Environmental Moot Court Competition at Stetson University College of Law. Law students...

NSU enters into dual degrees arrangement.(Legal Roundup)
December 1, 2005... NSU Enters Into Dual Degrees Arrangement: The Shepard Broad Law Center at Nova Southeastern University has signed an agreement with the Ca' Foscari University of Venice for a dual degree program that will allow NSU students to study law in...

Vero beach lawyer.(Legal Roundup)
December 1, 2005... Robin Blanton volunteers three times a year with the Experimental Aviation Association introducing children of the local community to the thrill of flying. An avid pilot, Blanton is a member of EAA Chapter 908 in Ft. Pierce and is pictured here...

Childrens first honors three.(Legal Roundup)
December 1, 2005... Childrens First Honors Three: Florida's Children First, a nonprofit that protects the rights of children in the foster care system, recently held a fundraiser and awards ceremony that netted $38,000 for the organization in North Palm Beach. The...

FCSL takes Moot Court crown.(Legal Roundup)
December 1, 2005... FCSL Takes Moot Court Crown: Florida Coastal School of Law won its first national moot court competition in November. The Chicago Bar Association National Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition also marks FCSL's third moot court competition...

Bill gives prosecutors the last say in all cases.
December 1, 2005... A law that would rewrite a criminal procedural rule that has given the defense the last say in some cases for more than 150 years has cleared a Florida House panel. The House Criminal Justice Committee voted 8-0 November 9 to pass out HB...

DOAH/OJCC offers electronic filing.
December 1, 2005... The Office of the Judges of Compensation Claims of the Division of Administrative Hearings has launched a new electronic filing system for workers' compensation adjudications. The new workers' compensation electronic filing system mirrors...

Senior judges may serve as mediators.
December 1, 2005... Senior judges should also be able to act as mediators, but they should be certified as mediators by the Supreme Court and meet special ethical considerations to avoid potential conflicts. The Supreme Court modified the Code of Judicial...

Proposed jury instructions for penalty phase of capital cases.(Notice)
December 1, 2005... In response to a request by the Florida Supreme Court, the Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases has submitted to the court a report proposing revisions to Florida Standard Jury Instruction (Crim.) 7.11, Penalty...

Proposed amendments to jury instructions.(Notice)
December 1, 2005... The Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases has submitted to the Florida Supreme Court a report proposing revisions to the Florida Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases. The Committee proposes revisions to...

Constitutional factoids: things we bet you never knew about state charters.
December 1, 2005... Ah, you can count on those hardy, nononsense New Englanders; taciturn and straightforward Yankees. They can get things done with few words and little fuss. Like Vermonters, who eke by with a state constitution of a mere 8,356 words, the...

The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers: Jill S. Schwartz.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2005... Jill S. Schwartz was elected a fellow of The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.

Third Federal Savings and Loan.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2005... Thomas J. Baird of North Palm Beach was appointed to the board of directors of Third Federal Savings and Loan.

Michael O'Rourke.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2005... Michael O'Rourke of Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra in Ft. Lauderdale presented a complimentary CLE seminar on the accounting standards that must be considered when evaluating damages for a legal dispute.

Mark David Hunter.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2005... Mark David Hunter of Boca Raton recently published an article titled "Investment Newsletters and Auto-Trading: Stretching the Boundaries of the Publisher's Exclusion" in the October 2005 issue of Wall Street Lawyer.

Dennis J. Wall.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2005... Dennis J. Wall of Orlando was selected to speak on "The Ethics of Good Faith and Fair Dealing Claims File Handling" at a legal seminar in Tampa.

George L. Fernandez.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2005... George L. Fernandez and Alexander Alvarez of Wolpe, Leibowitz, Alvarez & Fernandez presented "Legal Aspects of Maintenance of Traffic and Roadway Design" to claims professionals in Tampa.

Palms West Hospital Board of Trustees.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2005... David Aronberg of Greenspoon Marder in Ft. Lauderdale was elected to the Palms West Hospital Board of Trustees.

Bankruptcy Bar Association of the Southern District of Florida, Inc.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2005... William Simontisch of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham in Miami was elected the second vice president of the Bankruptcy Bar Association of the Southern District of Florida, Inc.

Joe Farrell.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2005... Joe Farrell of Orlando has been certified as a circuit civil mediator and has graduated from Florida Supreme Court certified arbitrator training.

Hispanic National Bar Association.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2005... Mayda Prego of Hughes Hubbard & Reed in Miami was appointed to serve as the Florida regional president of the Hispanic National Bar Association.

Kenneth J. McKenna.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2005... Kenneth J. McKenna of Dellecker, Wilson, King, McKenna & Ruffler served as a faculty co-presenter for the National Business Institute's seminar on "Dealing with Destruction: Spoliation of Evidence in Florida."

Law Offices of Glen J. Torcivia.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2005... The Realtors Association of the Palm Beaches recently presented an award to the Law Offices of Glen J. Torcivia for partnering with the association to organize and sponsor the Belle Glade Economic Development Tour.

College of Labor and Employment Lawyers: Victor A. Cavanaugh.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2005... Victor A. Cavanaugh was elected as a fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.

Palm Beach County Bar Association's Personal Injury and Wrongful Death CLE Committee.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2005... Jason Guari was appointed chair of the Palm Beach County Bar Association's Personal Injury and Wrongful Death CLE Committee for 2005.

Miami-Dade County Expressway Authority.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2005... Carlos A. Lacasa of Ruden McClosky in Miami was appointed to a four-year term on the Miami-Dade County Expressway Authority by Gov. Jeb Bush.

Jason M. Murray.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2005... Jason M. Murray of Carlton Fields in Miami spoke on "Records Management and Retention Systems, Money Management and Self-Compensation Systems, Real Estate, and Insurance Matters" at a seminar held by the Florida District of The Soul Saving...

Environmental Litigation Committee of the Litigation Section of the ABA.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2005... Paul L. Nettleton of Carlton Fields in Miami was appointed co-chair of the Environmental Litigation Committee of the Litigation Section of the ABA.

U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2005... P. Michael Villalobos of Cape Coral was elected regional director for the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Construction Committee of the Litigation Section of the ABA.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2005... Patricia H. Thompson of Carlton Fields in Miami was appointed co-chair of the Construction Committee of the Litigation Section of the ABA.

Bruce Harris.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2005... Bruce Harris of Harris, Harris, Bauerle & Sharma in Orlando is the new co-owner of Urban Think! bookstore.

David Gist.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2005... David Gist of Malloy & Malloy mediated a discussion roundtable for the International Trademark Association on trademark licensing.

Jonathan S. Coleman.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2005... Jonathan S. Coleman of Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns in Tampa had his article "Judicial Activism, Gartenberg, and Fiduciary Duty under the Investment Company Act of 1940" published in the Fall 2005 edition, Vol. 33/3 of the Securities...

Bankruptcy Bar Association of the Southern District of Florida, Inc.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2005... Ross R. Hartog of Markowitz, Davis, Ringel & Trusty in Miami was elected first vice president of the Bankruptcy Bar Association of the Southern District of Florida, Inc.

Standing Advisory Committee for the Study of the Rules of Practice and Internal Operating Procedures of the Court.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2005... Thomas M. Messana HARTOG and Katie A. Lane of Ruden McClosky in Ft. Lauderdale were appointed to one-year terms on the Standing Advisory Committee for the Study of the Rules of Practice and Internal Operating Procedures of the Court.

Guttenmacher & Bohatch has expanded its office to 7301 S.W. 57th Court, Suite 560, Miami 33143.(On the Move)
December 1, 2005... Guttenmacher & Bohatch has expanded its office to 7301 S.W. 57th Court, Suite 560, Miami 33143; phone (305) 666-1040; fax (305) 666-1020 and will be known as Guttenmacher, Bohatch & Baringo-Burch.

Nancy E. Kemner is pleased to announce the opening of the Law Offices of Nancy E. Kemner located in the Village Square at Fleming Island Plantation, 2245 Plantation Center Drive, Suite 57, Orange Park 32003; phone (904) 278-1178; fax (904) 278-3220; e-mail nekemner@bellsouth.net.(On the Move)
December 1, 2005... Nancy E. Kemner is pleased to announce the opening of the Law Offices of Nancy E. Kemner located in the Village Square at Fleming Island Plantation, 2245 Plantation Center Drive, Suite 57, Orange Park 32003; phone (904) 278-1178; fax (904)...

Zimmerman, Kiser & Sutcliffe.(On the Move)
December 1, 2005... Kevin P. Robinson of Zimmerman, Kiser & Sutcliffe is now an associate in the commercial litigation department, representing commercial clients, insurance companies, self-insured corporations, and private individuals.

Maura K. Anderson has relocated from the Atlanta office of Smith, Currie & Hancock to the Ft. Lauderdale office.(On the Move)
December 1, 2005... Maura K. Anderson has relocated from the Atlanta office of Smith, Currie & Hancock to the Ft. Lauderdale office. Anderson represents owners, contractors, subcontractors, and surety companies in every phase of the construction process.

R. Evan Bassett has opened Bassett Law Offices located at 696 First Ave. N., Suite 304, St. Petersburg 33701; phone (727) 898-1221; e-mail rebassett@bassettlawoffices.com.(On the Move)
December 1, 2005... R. Evan Bassett has opened Bassett Law Offices located at 696 First Ave. N., Suite 304, St. Petersburg 33701; phone (727) 898-1221; e-mail rebassett@bassettlawoffices.com. The firm focuses primarily in the arena of civil litigation and trial...

Bush Graziano & Rice.(On the Move)
December 1, 2005... Lorien Smith Johnson joined Bush Graziano & Rice in Tampa as an associate. Johnson concentrates in the areas of long-term care, medical malpractice, and environmental litigation.

GrayRobinson.(On the Move)
December 1, 2005... Alissa McKee Ellison joined GrayRobinson in Tampa as an associate. Ellison focuses her practice in the areas of commercial litigation and banking law.

Katz Barron.(On the Move)
December 1, 2005... Susan R. Geiger joined Katz Barron in Miami. She concentrates on representing retail and development clients on matters involving leasing, acquisition, development, and disposition of real property.

Sam A. Mackie.(On the Move)
December 1, 2005... Sam A. Mackie has relocated to 122 South Bumby Avenue, Suite A, Orlando 32803; phone (407)894-0820. Mackie concentrates in the areas of business, corporate, administrative, governmental, and professional services law.

Atkinson, Diner, Stone, Mankuta & Ploucha.(On the Move)
December 1, 2005... Joseph Warren Kniskern has relocated to 1020 Stradshire Drive, Raleigh, N.C. 27614-8364; phone: (919) 847-8973; fax: (919) 847-8974; e-mail: kniskernlw@aol.com. Kniskern also has joined Atkinson, Diner, Stone, Mankuta & Ploucha as of counsel....

Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell.(On the Move)
December 1, 2005... Richard L. Allen, Jr., joined the Orlando office of Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell as a partner. He focuses his practice in the areas of insurance defense and professional liability.

Nason, Yeager, Gerson, White & Lioce.(On the Move)
December 1, 2005... Andrew Berger and Leonard Townsend joined Nason, Yeager, Gerson, White & Lioce in West Palm Beach as associates.

Donna L. Kirk announces the opening of the Law Offices of Donna L. Kirk practicing in the areas of family law, special education law, wills, personal injury, real estate, and business law.(On the Move)
December 1, 2005... Donna L. Kirk announces the opening of the Law Offices of Donna L. Kirk practicing in the areas of family law, special education law, wills, personal injury, real estate, and business law. The firm is located at 1000 E. Robinson Street, Suite...

Dean Mead.(On the Move)
December 1, 2005... Paul J. Mokris joined Dean Mead in Orlando as of counsel in the firm's real estate department and W. Michael Black has joined the firm as an associate in the tax department.

Morgan Lewis.(On the Move)
December 1, 2005... Derek E. Leon of Morgan Lewis in Miami was promoted from associate to partner.

Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart.(On the Move)
December 1, 2005... Robert Malinoski joined Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart in Ft. Lauderdale as an associate in the real estate department. Malinoski focuses his practice on environmental and administrative law, environmental litigation, contamination and remediation...

Akerman Senterfitt.(On the Move)
December 1, 2005... Todd Engelhardt has joined Akerman Senterfitt as an associate in the Tallahassee office's litigation group. Additionally, Adam D. Friedenberg joined the firm as an associate in the Ft. Lauderdale office's litigation group.

Abbey, Adams, Byelick, Kiernan, Mueller & Lancaster.(On the Move)
December 1, 2005... Burks A. Smith and Veronica D. Vellines joined Abbey, Adams, Byelick, Kiernan, Mueller & Lancaster as associates.

Brennan, Manna & Diamond.(On the Move)
December 1, 2005... Matt Jackson joined Brennan, Manna & Diamond in the firm's litigation and government relations groups.

Office of Legal Counsel for the Pennsylvania Department of Health.(On the Move)
December 1, 2005... Robert T. Datorre joined the Office of Legal Counsel for the Pennsylvania Department of Health as assistant legal counsel.