Florida Bar News articles from December 2007

Florida Bar News archives from December 2007

Part of your permanent record: board returns to administering public reprimands.
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ties are straightened. Blouses are smoothed. Suit jackets are donned. Pens are capped, and cells phones are turned off. The Florida Bar Board of Governors is seated in a hotel meeting room at tables formed into a...

Court OKs registration program for paralegals.
December 1, 2007... The Florida Supreme Court approved creation of the Florida Registered Paralegal Program, which provides for voluntary registration of paralegals who meet minimum educational, certification, or work experience criteria, and agree to abide by an...

Report urges reform of the state's mental health system: courts and jails are ill-equipped to be mental health providers.
December 1, 2007... Florida's system of warehousing the mentally ill behind bars is insane. That was the stark conclusion of a 170-page study report initiated by Chief Justice Fred Lewis. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When 11th Circuit Judge Steve Leifman...

Want to serve on a Bar committee? Preference forms available online.
December 1, 2007... The annual committee preference form for Bar members seeking appointments for the presidential term of President-elect Jay White are now available on The Florida Bar's Web site. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The forms will be posted at...

FloridaBar.org.
December 1, 2007... The Bar's Web site had 136,073 unique visitors during the month of Octoberl 94,415 of those visited once, while 41,658 returned to the site more than once. Below are the top five destinations by pages viewed. Attorney Search 1.6...

Angones implores all lawyers to support the rule of law in Pakistan.
December 1, 2007... Florida Bar President Frank Angones is calling on Bar members to speak out and support Pakistan's lawyers, judges, and legal system which has been under attack since President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency November 4. ...

Court rules circuit mediators no longer have to be lawyers.
December 1, 2007... Certified circuit court mediators no longer must be lawyers under mediation rules approved by the Florida Supreme Court. However, judges must appoint a lawyer-mediator if either party requests it, the court said. The court, ruling November...

U.S.S.C. halts Florida execution, ABA renews call for moratorium.
December 1, 2007... While the first death warrant signed by Gov. Charlie Crist was stayed by the U.S. Supreme Court until it decides the constitutionality of lethal injection procedures, the ABA has renewed its call for a national moratorium on the death penalty...

FAMU law hosts ABA accreditation site visit.
December 1, 2007... In the words of optimistic new Dean Le-Roy Pernell, the problems at Florida A&M University law school present "a fantastic opportunity to make some positive developments in a short period of time." While Pernell finishes up his decade-long...

Learn how to use Fastcase, earn CLE.
December 1, 2007... Learn how to accelerate your legal research with Fastcase--and at the same time get one hour of general CLE credit. A Web-based tutorial on Fastcase will be offered at www.floridabar.org December 11, from noon to 1 p.m. Used by more than...

Remembering Dr. Smith.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2007... Two of the most important leaders of The Florida Bar are not attorneys. They are residents of Florida and are appointed by the Florida Supreme Court to serve on the Board of Governors as full voting and participating members. These individuals,...

Diversity.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2007... Reading the politically correct pages of the News, one cannot escape the conclusion that "diversity," as it has come to be known, is a social good that is so desirable that it must be pursued at all costs. The views presented by the News...

Pakistan's lawyers.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2007... In William Shakespeare's Henry VI, Shakespeare's character Dick the Butcher urges, "The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers." This quote is often used, incorrectly, in what has become a popular American pastime, lawyer-bashing....

Crime and technology.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2007... Advances in computer and information technology are presenting our society with challenges we ignore at our own peril. These challenges extend to everyone, and the legal community has an inherent responsibility to face them head-on....

Board to meet December 14: perjury, advertising, section legislative requests on the agenda.
December 1, 2007... A rule comment on a criminal defense attorney's duty when his or her client commits perjury will be before the Bar Board of Governors at its December 14 meeting at Amelia Island. The board will also consider several ethics and advertising...

Five Tallahassee area.
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FIVE TALLAHASSEE AREA law firm managers have earned the designation of "Certified Legal Manager" from the Association of Legal Administrators, which has more than 10,000 members. Of those, just two percent have...

An open invitation to judge the judges: some see it as a useful tool, others think any comments posted should be taken with a 'grain of salt'.
December 1, 2007... When returning from court, check your phone messages, read your e-mail, and then log-on to a Web site to anonymously rate your judge's performance. That's what Nicholas G. Kaizer, a Florida Bar member practicing federal criminal defense...

Book traces the history of Dade's juvenile court.
December 1, 2007... When children go bad, who do we blame? In his new book On Behalf of Children, Senior Judge Seymour Gelber paints a picture of the history of juvenile court in Dade County, which began in 1921. Where a community may have failed to meet the...

Key Largo lawyer rescues Cuban migrants.
December 1, 2007... A law firm retreat at Joe Zumpano's Key Largo oceanfront home was interrupted by the riveting rescue of 22 Cuban migrants stranded on an offshore island during a stormy night. The most thrilling moment during the four-hour ordeal was when...

Douglas A. Cherry joined Abel Band's Sarasota office.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Douglas A. Cherry joined Abel Band's Sarasota office as an associate and chair of the intellectual property and technology law Practice Group.

Gary J. Spahn, Jr., joined the law firm of Cabaniss, Smith, Toole & Wiggins.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Gary J. Spahn, Jr., joined the law firm of Cabaniss, Smith, Toole & Wiggins as an associate.

Justin Sauer, Allison Imber, Jeremy Berman, and David Magana joined Allen, Dyer, Doppelt, Milbrath & Gilchrist in Orlando.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Justin Sauer, Allison Imber, Jeremy Berman, and David Magana joined Allen, Dyer, Doppelt, Milbrath & Gilchrist in Orlando as associates.

David M. Buckner joined Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton as a shareholder.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... David M. Buckner joined Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton as a shareholder in the complex commercial litigation department.

Robert Arzonetti joined the West Palm Beach office of Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Robert Arzonetti joined the West Palm Beach office of Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart and concentrates his practice in securities, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, taxation, and general corporate law.

Cristina Papanikos joined the West Palm Beach office of Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Cristina Papanikos joined the West Palm Beach office of Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart and concentrates her practice on estate, trust and guardianship litigation, and employment litigation.

Laura Leslie-Schuemann joined the Stuart office of Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Laura Leslie-Schuemann joined the Stuart office of Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart and concentrates her practice on trusts and estates, tax preparation, and estate planning.

Erin M. Berger joined Snell Legal.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Erin M. Berger joined Snell Legal in Ormond Beach.

Karen M. Buesing joined Akerman Senterfitt in Tampa as a shareholder.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Karen M. Buesing joined Akerman Senterfitt in Tampa as a shareholder and Michelle Boyd joined as an associate.

Richard W. Ervin III joined Fox & Loquasto as of counsel in its Tallahassee office.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Richard W. Ervin III joined Fox & Loquasto as of counsel in its Tallahassee office where he is concentrating on appellate practice and mediation.

Guy S. DiMartino and Kevin J. McAllister joined McIntosh, Sawran, Peltz & Cartaya as associates.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Guy S. DiMartino and Kevin J. McAllister joined McIntosh, Sawran, Peltz & Cartaya as associates; DiMartino in the Orlando/ Maitland office and McAllister in the Ft. Lauderdale office.

Rebecca Kibbee and William Simonitsch joined Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Rebecca Kibbee and William Simonitsch joined Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis in Miami as associates.

Brian M. Karpf joined Young, Berman, Karpf & Gonzalez as an associate.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Brian M. Karpf joined Young, Berman, Karpf & Gonzalez as an associate in the family law and commercial litigation practice.

Ryan S. Copple joined Pineiro, Wortman & Byrd in Jupiter.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Ryan S. Copple joined Pineiro, Wortman & Byrd in Jupiter where he will focus his practice in the area of commercial litigation.

Lauren E. Catoe, E.W. (Bill) Collins, and J. Derek Kantaskas joined Carlton Fields' Tampa office, all as associates.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Lauren E. Catoe, E.W. (Bill) Collins, and J. Derek Kantaskas joined Carlton Fields' Tampa office, all as associates. Catoe joined the firm's real estate and finance practice group; Collins joined the appellate practice and trial support...

Scott J. Edwards joined Carlton Fields' Orlando office as an associate.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Scott J. Edwards joined Carlton Fields' Orlando office as an associate in the products and toxic tort liability practice group.

Tricia A. Spivey has returned to Henderson Franklin as a stockholder in the Ft. Myers office.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Tricia A. Spivey has returned to Henderson Franklin as a stockholder in the Ft. Myers office, concentrating her practice in the area of divorce, marital, and family law.

Michael D. Crosbie joined Carlton Fields' Orlando office as a shareholder.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Michael D. Crosbie joined Carlton Fields' Orlando office as a shareholder in the business litigation and trade regulation practice group.

Adam Karron joined Wachovia Wealth Management as a vice president and relationship manager.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Adam Karron joined Wachovia Wealth Management as a vice president and relationship manager in the legal specialty group.

Annika D. Wallace joined Smith Hulsey & Busey's corporate department.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Annika D. Wallace joined Smith Hulsey & Busey's corporate department, Julia B. Herron joined the firm's environmental department, and Tara Zimmerman joined the firm's litigation department.

Stacy J. Borisov joined Pohl & Short in Winter Park.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Stacy J. Borisov joined Pohl & Short in Winter Park as an associate.

Michael H. Johnson joined Jeffery H. Tromberg's Florida Debt Relief Center.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Michael H. Johnson joined Jeffery H. Tromberg's Florida Debt Relief Center and will focus in the areas of consumer bankruptcy and foreclosure defense.

Amy Avalos joined Blank Rome's Boca Raton office as an associate.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Amy Avalos joined Blank Rome's Boca Raton office as an associate in the general business group.

Slade V. Dukes joined Sniffen Law Firm in Tallahassee.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Slade V. Dukes joined Sniffen Law Firm in Tallahassee and will focus his practice in the areas of labor and employment law, administrative law, commercial litigation, and elections law.

Ostrzenski & Stricklin.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Ostrzenski & Stricklin moved to 900 E. Hillsboro Blvd., Ste. A, Deerfield Beach 33441. The firm will continue its practice in the areas of general civil litigation, commercial litigation, real estate litigation and transactions, home/condo...

Alina C. O'Connor joined McIntosh, Sawran, Peltz & Cartaya's Miami office.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Alina C. O'Connor joined McIntosh, Sawran, Peltz & Cartaya's Miami office as an associate.

Clifford M. King joined Dunlap & Moran's Sarasota office as a shareholder.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Clifford M. King joined Dunlap & Moran's Sarasota office as a shareholder. King practices estate planning, tax and business transactions, and real estate matters.

Frank Mayernick and Tracy Hogan Mayernick joined Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Frank Mayernick and Tracy Hogan Mayernick joined Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate as governmental consultants in the Tallahassee office.

Jamie M. Coco, Justin B. Kaplan, and Amy K. Eroh joined Kluger Peretz Kaplan & Berlin.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Jamie M. Coco, Justin B. Kaplan, and Amy K. Eroh joined Kluger Peretz Kaplan & Berlin's Miami office.

Bobby Reynolds joined Gallagher & Associates as an associate.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Bobby Reynolds joined Gallagher & Associates as an associate and will concentrate his practice on construction litigation, commercial litigation, and consumer law.

D. Ian Bristol joined Moskowitz & Meredith in Toronto, Canada.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... D. Ian Bristol joined Moskowitz & Meredith in Toronto, Canada, as a foreign legal consultant where he will provide legal advice, opinions, and services with respect to the U.S. federal income tax aspects of cross-border mergers, acquisitions,...

Edward Montoya and Jorge Lopez formed Montoya Lopez at 4960 S.W. 72nd Ave., Ste. 303, Miami 33155.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Edward Montoya and Jorge Lopez formed Montoya Lopez at 4960 S.W. 72nd Ave., Ste. 303, Miami 33155. The telephone number is (305) 665-5353 and the fax is (305)665-6130. The firm's Web site is www.montoyalopez. com. Also, Joseph Devera and Juan...

Derek R. Young joined Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs as an associate.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Derek R. Young joined Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs as an associate in the West Palm Beach office.

Heidi Ann Calhoun-Lopez (nee Schulz), an active duty captain in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, is now serving as contract and fiscal law attorney.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Heidi Ann Calhoun-Lopez (nee Schulz), an active duty captain in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, is now serving as contract and fiscal law attorney for the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Multi-National Division-Baghdad.

Endowment fund helps keep prosecutor/PD trial training program going strong.(On the Move)
December 1, 2007... Since 1979, the University of Florida College of Law and the Criminal Law Section bring together young assistant public defenders and assistant state attorneys from across the state for a week to work on trial skills. Most have between six...

Foundation seeks director applicants.(Notices)
December 1, 2007... The Florida Bar Foundation is seeking six applicants for its board of directors for terms starting July 2008 under the Florida Supreme Court approved governance plan. The plan calls for 18 members of the Bar Foundation board to be selected...

Board to make JNC nominations.(Notices)
December 1, 2007... Judicial Nominating Commissions: One lawyer vacancy 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, 2008....

Board to make Foundation appointments.(Notices)
December 1, 2007... The Board of Governors is seeking applicants for the following vacancy to be filled during its February 1, 2008, meeting: The Florida Bar Foundation Board of Directors: Two lawyers to serve three-year terms, commencing July 1, 2008, on this...

National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws.(News and Notes)(Conference news)
December 1, 2007... Scott L. Baena of Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod was appointed to serve a four-year term on the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws by Gov. Charlie Crist. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Business Development Board of Martin County.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2007... John S. Yudin of Guy & Yudin in Stuart became president-elect for the Business Development Board of Martin County.

Historical Museum of the 11th Judicial Circuit Historical Society.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2007... Brian Tannebaum of Miami was named chair of the Historical Museum of the11th Judicial Circuit Historical Society. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Georgia Bar Tax Section.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2007... Hale E. Sheppard of Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Martin in Atlanta was elected treasurer and executive committee member of the Georgia Bar Tax Section; was appointed to the IRS-Practitioner Liaison Committee; became a member of the...

Town of Sewall's Point.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Glen J. Torcivia of The Law Office of Glen J. Torcivia and Associates was recently appointed town attorney for the Town of Sewall's Point.

Florida Justice Association.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2007... Steve Yerrid of Tampa has been named recipient of the 2007 Perry Nichols Award, the Florida Justice Association's highest honor, given to members who have fought for justice throughout their lives. Yerrid was nominated for the award by Gov....

Florida Elections Commission.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2007... Jorge L. Cruz-Bustillo of Diaz, Reus, Rolff & Targ has been appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist as chair of the Florida Elections Commission. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Carlos A. Kelly of Henderson Franklin in Ft. Myers addressed the topic of "Preparing Experts to Defend Their Charges at Fee Hearings" at the Association of Eminent Domain Professionals' Annual Meeting.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2007... Carlos A. Kelly of Henderson Franklin in Ft. Myers addressed the topic of "Preparing Experts to Defend Their Charges at Fee Hearings" at the Association of Eminent Domain Professionals' Annual Meeting in Ruskin in November. [ILLUSTRATION...

Florida Defense Lawyers Association.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2007... Caryn L. Bellus of Kubicki Draper's Miami office was appointed chair of the amicus committee of the Florida Defense Lawyers Association.

Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2007... Joseph G. Santoro of Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart in West Palm Beach has been appointed to a three-year term on the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Anne Bloom, Laura Bonn, and Jocelyn Poole, all of Agree to Disagree Mediation, completed the REDRESS[R] mediation program.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2007... Anne Bloom, Laura Bonn, and Jocelyn Poole, all of Agree to Disagree Mediation, completed the REDRESS[R] mediation program, the United State Postal Service's alternative dispute resolution mediation program.

Pinellas Community Foundation.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Louie N. Adcock, Jr., of Fisher & Sauls in St. Petersburg was recently elected to the board of directors of the Pinellas Community Foundation.

Association of Family Law Professionals.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2007... Gilbert Perez of Henderson Franklin was named president of the Association of Family Law Professionals.

Roger Slade.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2007... Roger Slade of Pathman Lewis spoke on "How Federal Privacy Law Impacts the Direct Mail Industry" to members of the Florida Direct Marketing Association. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

American Inns of Court.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2007... Dale Appell of Dale Appell, P.A., in Tampa has been appointed to the American Inns of Court.

Monique D. Hayes of Genovese Joblove & Battista participated as a bankruptcy career paths panelist for the NCBJ/NBA Liaison Committee Outreach Project.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2007... Monique D. Hayes of Genovese Joblove & Battista participated as a bankruptcy career paths panelist for the NCBJ/NBA Liaison Committee Outreach Project in conjunction with the 81st Annual Convention of the National Conference of Bankruptcy...

Robert J. Sniffen of Sniffen Law Firm presented "Eleventh Circuit Employment Law Update" at the 33rd Annual Public Labor Relations Forum.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2007... Robert J. Sniffen of Sniffen Law Firm presented "Eleventh Circuit Employment Law Update" at the 33rd Annual Public Labor Relations Forum in Orlando.

Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2007... Richards H. Ford of Wicker, Smith, O'Hara, McCoy & Ford's Orlando office was named to the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Robert C. Josefsberg of Podhurst Orseck was selected to receive the 11th Judicial Circuit Historical Society.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2007... Robert C. Josefsberg of Podhurst Orseck was selected to receive the 11th Judicial Circuit Historical Society's inaugural 2007 Legal Legends Award. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Robert J. Cousins, Charles Andrew Tharp, and Houston S. Park, partners with Stephens, Lynn, Klein, LaCava, Hoffman & Puya, P.A., presented the seminar "Legal Malpractice and How to Avoid It".(News and Notes)
December 1, 2007... Robert J. Cousins, Charles Andrew Tharp, and Houston S. Park, partners with Stephens, Lynn, Klein, LaCava, Hoffman & Puya, P.A., presented the seminar "Legal Malpractice and How to Avoid It" to the Lee County Bar Association.

Back Inn School Program Research Committee.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Richard H. Levenstein of Kramer, Sopko & Levenstein in Stuart was appointed chair of the American Inns of Court Foundation's Back Inn School Program Research Committee.

Steve Fahlgren spoke on "Defamation and the Fair Credit Reporting Act" at the 2007 Florida Chapter.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2007... Steve Fahlgren spoke on "Defamation and the Fair Credit Reporting Act" at the 2007 Florida Chapter of the National Employment Lawyers Association conference in Orlando.

Jason M. Murray of Carlton Fields' Miami office spoke on "Minority Leaders in the Legal Profession: Navigating the Road to Success".(News and Notes)
December 1, 2007... Jason M. Murray of Carlton Fields' Miami office spoke on "Minority Leaders in the Legal Profession: Navigating the Road to Success" with the University of Miami School of Law Center For Ethics & Public Service and UM's Black Law Students...

Heidi Ann Calhoun-Lopez, currently serving in Baghdad, was awarded the Combat Action Badge after being engaged by indirect fire by the enemy in December 2006..(News and Notes)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Heidi Ann Calhoun-Lopez, currently serving in Baghdad, was awarded the Combat Action Badge after being engaged by indirect fire by the enemy in December 2006. Calhoun-Lopez and her unit are scheduled to return to...

Gary Betensky of Richman Greer sponsored and led a leadership conference for the American Jewish Committee in Boca Raton..(News and Notes)(Conference news)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gary Betensky of Richman Greer sponsored and led a leadership conference for the American Jewish Committee in Boca Raton. Betensky also participated in an American Jewish Committee Leadership Mission to Washington,...

United States Chief Bankruptcy Judge Emeritus Alexander L. Paskay received the Lawrence P. King Award.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2007... United States Chief Bankruptcy Judge Emeritus Alexander L. Paskay received the Lawrence P. King Award for Excellence in the Field of Bankruptcy.

International Amicus Subcommittee.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2007... Joseph Englander of Christopher & Weisberg was appointed to the International Trademark Association's Canada & Latin America Amicus Subcommittee of the International Amicus Committee. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]