Florida Bar News articles from December 2008

Florida Bar News archives from December 2008

Con men steal identities, pirate attorney Web sites.
December 1, 2008... The Web site advertises it as "A Different Kind of Law Firm." Is it ever. A few months ago, the entity using the Web address of www. gandsattorneys.com called itself the Gendreau and Seachrist law firm. Next it went by the name of...

FDIC rule creates unlimited protection for IOTA accounts.(Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ruled November 21 that effective immediately client funds deposited in IOTA accounts are eligible for unlimited deposit insurance coverage. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] All funds in an IOTA account,...

Lawyer candidates perform well.(List)
December 1, 2008... Attorneys running for the Florida Legislature were overwhelmingly successful in the November general election, but there will be one less lawyer-legislator in the 2008-10 sessions than in the past two years. According to election results,...

Want to serve on a Bar committee?(Public notice)
December 1, 2008... The annual committee preference forms for Bar members seeking appointments for the presidential term of President-elect Jesse Diner are now available on The Florida Bar's Web site. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The forms will be posted at...

Helping foster kids transition into adulthood.(Independent Living Docket)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Look at these grades! Straight A's!" Second Judicial Circuit Judge Nikki Clark exclaims, as 17-year-old Ashley stands before her at the inaugural Independent Living Docket for aging-out foster kids. Applause...

Picnic serves up advice to law students.
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Who knew the best career advice would happen while standing around roasting pigs? Mike Ruiz, a 24-year-old third-year law student at St. Thomas University, found that out November 1 at the Fifth Minority...

Medal of Honor nominees sought.(Public notice)
December 1, 2008... The Florida Bar Foundation is seeking nominees for its Medal of Honor Awards, the most prestigious recognition given by the organization. Recipients of the Medal of Honor will fall into one of two categories, either a member of The Florida...

Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed's women lawyers hosted the annual Businesswomen's Networking Reception at the firm's Eola office.
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: LOWNDES, DROSDICK, DOSTER, Kantor & Reed's women lawyers hosted the annual Businesswomen's Networking Reception at the firm's Eola office. The event, which facilitates relationship-building among attendees,...

Jeremy Sahn and Jay M. Sakalo of Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod work up a sweat volunteering at Miami's Seymour Gelber Senior Day Care Center.
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: JEREMY SAHN AND JAY M. SAKALO of Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod work up a sweat volunteering at Miami's Seymour Gelber Senior Day Care Center. One hundred Bilzin Sumberg volunteers spent a morning...

Wells to step down in March.(Charles T. Wells)
December 1, 2008... At a meeting November 17, Justice Charles T. Wells notified Gov. Charlie Crist that he will retire from the Florida Supreme Court effective at the close of business on March 3, 2009. "It has been my great privilege to serve the people of...

Carlton Fields supports Mercy Hospital program.
December 1, 2008... Carlton Fields presented a $5,000 donation to Angels of Mercy, a branch of the Mercy Hospital Foundation in Miami. Mercy Hospital CEO John Johnson, and Josie Romano Brown, president of the Mercy Hospital Foundation, were present to receive...

Miami chamber to honor Smith.
December 1, 2008... The Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce will honor civil rights lawyer H.T. Smith at its Annual Holiday Gala, "Diving into an Ocean of Opportunities," December 6 at the Hyatt Regency in Downtown Miami. In addition to Smith, the first black...

Diamond wins William Belcher Award.
December 1, 2008... Sandra and Frank Diamond have been presented the 2008 William Belcher Award by the All Children's Hospital Foundation. Sandra Diamond, chair of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, has been a key supporter of All Children's...

Board of Governors to gather in Orlando in December.
December 1, 2008... A revised ethics opinion that says lawyers must reveal when their criminal clients are using an alias, an advertising appeal on lawyer testimonials by clients, and a new rule allowing senior lawyers facing minor misconduct charges to...

Those who fail to report convictions can expect more serious sanctions.
December 1, 2008... Lawyers who fail to report their felony convictions to the Bar, as required by Bar rules, can expect to receive a more serious disciplinary sanction, according to the Supreme Court. The court recently exceeded a referee's recommended 90-day...

Palm Beach paralegals set holiday charity event.
December 1, 2008... The Palm Beach County Chapter of the Paralegal Association of Florida will hold its 2008 Holiday Charity Event and Party December 3 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at the Palm Beach Airport Hilton on Australian Avenue in West Palm Beach. The proceeds...

Hillsborough Bar wins NABE Luminary Award.(Hillsborough County Bar bags the 2008 Luminary Award for Excellence in Regular Publications from the National Association of Bar Executives)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... The Hillsborough County Bar has received a 2008 Luminary Award for Excellence in Regular Publications from the National Association of Bar Executives. The winning publication, LAWYER magazine, is published nine times a year for the 3,700...

Human v. individual rights.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2008... I read with a mixture of horror and bemusement the October 15 letter of one Burke Chester proclaiming his disgust with Yale Law School Dean Harold Koh's speech delivered at the annual Florida Bar convention on the apparently touchy subject of...

Workers' comp.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2008... Having had an opportunity to read the Murray decision, I am concerned that the News' desire to ring the bell of jubilation in the November 15 edition story "Court overturns workers' comp lawyer fee caps" has drowned out the voice of reason. ...

17th JNC to fill a circuit vacancy.(Notices)(Public notice)
December 1, 2008... The 17th Circuit JNC is now accepting applications to fill a vacancy created by the death of Judge Charles Kaplan Applicants must have been members of the Bar for the preceding five years, registered voters, and must reside in the...

Selig Goldin Award nominations sought.(Notices)(Selig I. Goldin Memorial Award)(Public notice)
December 1, 2008... The Criminal Law Section is seeking nominations of deserving candidates to receive the Selig I. Goldin Memorial Award, which recognizes outstanding contribution to Florida's criminal justice system. The section's executive council will...

Taylor petitions for Bar reinstatement.(Notices)(Public notice)
December 1, 2008... Pursuant to Rule 3-7.10, Kevin John Taylor of Ft. Lauderdale has petitioned the Supreme Court for Bar reinstatement. Taylor was suspended for three years pursuant to a September 14, 2006, court order, effective nunc pro tunc December 2,...

Bar to fill foundation vacancies.(Notices)(Public notice)
December 1, 2008... The Board of Governors is seeking applicants for the following vacancy to be filled during its January 30, 2009, meeting: The Florida Bar Foundation Board of Directors: Two lawyers to serve three-year terms, commencing July 1, 2009, on this...

Foundation seeks director applicants.(Notices)(Public notice)
December 1, 2008... The Florida Bar Foundation is seeking eight applicants for its board of directors for terms starting July 2009 under the Florida Supreme Court approved governance plan. The plan calls for 18 members of the Bar Foundation board to be selected...

The case for kinship care.
December 1, 2008... Common sense dictates that, when children are removed from their parents' custody due to abuse or neglect, the state should look to their relatives first to provide them with a safe and nurturing home. The child welfare system is looking to...

Talenfeld to lead Children First.
December 1, 2008... Florida's Children First, a statewide, nonprofit organization that fights for the rights of at-risk children, has reelected Howard Talenfeld its president. Talenfeld is a shareholder with the Ft. Lauderdale law firm Colodny, Fass,...

Cohen Peterfriend--Trial Attorneys.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Cohen Peterfriend--Trial Attorneys of Boca Raton have opened new offices in Miami and Tampa. The firm focuses on insurance defense, commercial litigation, business transactions, and corporate matters in state and federal courts.

Lisa S. Nobo and Mark D. McMann have joined A. Brent Geohagan, P.A., in Lakeland as associates.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Lisa S. Nobo and Mark D. McMann have joined A. Brent Geohagan, P.A., in Lakeland as associates. Nobo practices in the areas of business, contracts, and land use. McMann practices in the areas of business, contracts, and land use.

Daniel W. Hartman, Jeanne B. Curtin, and Ethan Andrew Way have opened Hartman Curtin & Way, P.A.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Daniel W. Hartman, Jeanne B. Curtin, and Ethan Andrew Way have opened Hartman Curtin & Way, P.A., in Tallahassee.

Leslie Wulfsohn Loftus of Sarasota has joined the firm Kirk Pinkerton as a shareholder.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Leslie Wulfsohn Loftus of Sarasota has joined the firm Kirk Pinkerton as a shareholder. She is establishing a family law practice group for the firm while maintaining her civil and commercial litigation practice.

Adam James Ellis has joined Bollinger & Anderson.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Adam James Ellis has joined Bollinger & Anderson in Panama City as an associate.

Becker & Poliakoff.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Becker & Poliakoff has promoted Michael Gongora, Sanjay Kurian, Kevin Miller, and David Muller to shareholding attorney status and has promoted Mark Friedman to senior attorney.

Ronald E. Stump and Walter W. Norton have joined the Coral Gables.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Ronald E. Stump and Walter W. Norton have joined the Coral Gables office of Nicklaus & Associates.

Tyrina D. Blomer has joined Universal American Corp.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Tyrina D. Blomer has joined Universal American Corp., as vice president of compliance operations and will serve as a compliance officer within the managed care division in the Houston office.

Joshua J. Faett and Rex Darrow have opened Faett and Darrow in Naples.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Joshua J. Faett and Rex Darrow have opened Faett and Darrow in Naples. The firm will limit its practice to criminal law in the Collier, Lee, Glades, Hendry, and Charlotte counties.

Sanford N. Reinhard, P.A.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Sanford N. Reinhard, P.A., has relocated offices to 1290 Weston Road, Suite 201, Weston, 33326. Phone: (954) 389-8900; Fax: (954) 389-8777.

Travis D. Kemp, Emily R. Katz, and Jonathan E. Wright have become associated with the law firm of Grower, Ketcham, Rutherford, Bronson, Eide & Telan.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Travis D. Kemp, Emily R. Katz, and Jonathan E. Wright have become associated with the law firm of Grower, Ketcham, Rutherford, Bronson, Eide & Telan with offices in Maitland.

Christopher B. Cortez has joined Jones, Foster, Johnston & Stubbs.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Christopher B. Cortez has joined Jones, Foster, Johnston & Stubbs as an associate.

Robert L. Cowles and Thomas M. Kastelz announce the relocation of their two offices to Kingsouth Office Park.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Robert L. Cowles and Thomas M. Kastelz announce the relocation of their two offices to Kingsouth Office Park, 9310 Old Kings Road South, Suite 1601, Jacksonville 32257.

Brett D. Sahm has joined Zimmerman Kiser Sutcliffe in Orlando as an associate in the litigation practice group.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Brett D. Sahm has joined Zimmerman Kiser Sutcliffe in Orlando as an associate in the litigation practice group. Sahm will be representing insurance companies as well as corporate clients.

Jessica DeBianchi and Anne Falk have joined Gunster Yoakley in Ft. Lauderdale as associates.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Jessica DeBianchi and Anne Falk have joined Gunster Yoakley in Ft. Lauderdale as associates. DeBianchi is a member of both the corporate practice and the technology and emerging companies practice groups, while Falk joins the business...

Leslie M. Kroeger has joined Leopold~Kuvin.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Leslie M. Kroeger has joined Leopold~Kuvin in Palm Beach Gardens as one of its consumer justice attorneys.

Daniel Fridman has joined Holland & Knight.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Daniel Fridman has joined Holland & Knight in Miami as a partner in its South Florida litigation group.

John Kozak has joined Robbins Equitas as a senior litigator.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... John Kozak has joined Robbins Equitas as a senior litigator. His practice areas include civil litigation, insurance coverage disputes, and construction law.

MacDonald Training Center.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Veronica S. Prostko has been named director of external affairs at the MacDonald Training Center in Plant City. The ranch trains adults with developmental disabilities.

Miami-Dade Expressway Authority.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Pamela S. Leslie, former general counsel for the Florida Department of Transportation, was recently named general counsel for the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority.

Allison S. Bernstein has joined Butzel Long in Palm Beach as a senior attorney.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Allison S. Bernstein has joined Butzel Long in Palm Beach as a senior attorney. She has extensive experience in civil litigation, appeals and arbitration, including legal malpractice, medical malpractice, nursing home defense, real estate...

Stewart H. Lapayowker has moved his practice to the Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport area and established the law firm of Stewart H. Lapayowker, P.A.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Stewart H. Lapayowker has moved his practice to the Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport area and established the law firm of Stewart H. Lapayowker, P.A. Lapayowker devotes his practice to business aircraft transactions and counsels clients on...

Ariadna Hernandez has joined Berger Singerman.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Ariadna Hernandez has joined Berger Singerman in Miami as an associate and will practice with the dispute resolution team.

Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson.(On the Move)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Carlos J. Canino, Lauren Young Cantor, Peter D. Lopez, Gordon McRae Mead, Jr., and Bonnie A. Navin have been promoted to shareholders with Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson in Miami. Canino is a member of the litigation...

Janelle A. Neal has joined Thorn / Lawrence, P.L. in Tampa as an associate.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Janelle A. Neal has joined Thorn | Lawrence, P.L. in Tampa as an associate. She will concentrate her practice in the areas of business, commercial, and health care litigation.

Mindy McLester has joined Alvarez, Sambol, Winthrop & Madson in Orlando as an associate.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Mindy McLester has joined Alvarez, Sambol, Winthrop & Madson in Orlando as an associate. McLester will focus on commercial litigation.

Eric Bluestein has joined Freidin Dobrinsky in Miami.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Eric Bluestein has joined Freidin Dobrinsky in Miami, where he will concentrate his practice on plaintiff's personal injury and complex commercial civil litigation.

Stephanie Reed Traband has become a special counsel with Jones Walker.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Stephanie Reed Traband has become a special counsel with Jones Walker in Miami in the business and commercial litigation practice group.

Sean A. Steele has joined Damian & Valori.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Sean A. Steele has joined Damian & Valori in Miami and will concentrate his practice on the areas of business and employment litigation.

Gary Glassman has become of counsel with Brown, Garganese, Weiss & D'Agresta in Orlando.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Gary Glassman has become of counsel with Brown, Garganese, Weiss & D'Agresta in Orlando. He was formerly senior assistant city attorney for Tampa and assistant county attorney for Orange County. Glassman also has experience in commercial and...

Jennifer Christianson, Andrew D. Manko, and Nicole R. Neustein have joined Carlton Fields as associates in the Miami office.(On the Move)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Jennifer Christianson, Andrew D. Manko, and Nicole R. Neustein have joined Carlton Fields as associates in the Miami office. Christianson's experience includes complex commercial litigation, health care, and white collar criminal defense. Manko...

Frank J. Sinagra has become of counsel to Rasco, Reininger, Perez, Esquenazi & Vigil in Coral Gables.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Frank J. Sinagra has become of counsel to Rasco, Reininger, Perez, Esquenazi & Vigil in Coral Gables. Sinagra is a commercial litigation attorney.

Larry A. Klein has joined Holland & Knight in West Palm Beach as a partner in the litigation department.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Larry A. Klein has joined Holland & Knight in West Palm Beach as a partner in the litigation department. Klein had served on the Fourth District Court of Appeal since 1993.

Melissa A. Volk has joined McConnaughhay, Duffy, Coonrod, Pope & Weaver in Sarasota.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Melissa A. Volk has joined McConnaughhay, Duffy, Coonrod, Pope & Weaver in Sarasota. She will focus her practice in the area of workers' compensation defense.

John Hargrove and Gordon James, together with the shareholders and associates of Gordon, Hargrove and James in Ft. Lauderdale, have joined the international firm of Sedgwick, Detert, Moran and Arnold.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... John Hargrove and Gordon James, together with the shareholders and associates of Gordon, Hargrove and James in Ft. Lauderdale, have joined the international firm of Sedgwick, Detert, Moran and Arnold. Sedgwick's southeast office will be located...

Christina Pardieck, Gerry Bryant, and Erin Hope Barker have joined Pennington, Moore, Wilkinson, Bell & Dunbar in Tallahassee.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Christina Pardieck, Gerry Bryant, and Erin Hope Barker have joined Pennington, Moore, Wilkinson, Bell & Dunbar in Tallahassee. Pardieck's practice focuses on civil litigation. Bryant's practice focuses on general commercial law. Barker's...

State Board of Administration.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Calvin J. Livingston has been appointed general counsel to the State Board of Administration, and Maureen Hazen was promoted from assistant general counsel to deputy general counsel.

Florida's Insurance Consumer Advocate.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... Sean Shaw of Tallahassee has been appointed Florida's Insurance Consumer Advocate by Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink.

J.W. Webb and Joseph Peduzzi have formed Webb/Peduzzi, P.A.(On the Move)
December 1, 2008... J.W. Webb and Joseph Peduzzi have formed Webb|Peduzzi, P.A., phone (877) 653-8003; on the Internet at TheInjuryTeam. com, with offices located at 390 N. Orange Avenue, 23rd Floor, Orlando 32801 and 4400 Northcorp Parkway, Palm Beach Gardens...

Anthony F. Sos.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2008... Anthony F. Sos of Dellecker, Wilson, King, McKenna & Ruffier in Orlando served as a panelist for a seminar on "Professionalism and Ethics" presented by the American Association for Justice. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Tampa Bay Builders Association.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2008... James M. Craig with Thompson, Sizemore, Gonzalez & Hearing in Tampa has been elected vice president/secretary of the Tampa Bay Builders Association.

Rhea F. Law.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Rhea F. Law of Fowler White Boggs Banker in Tampa has been inducted into the Stetson University College of Law's Hall of Fame.

Charles Andrew Tharp, Houston S. Park, and Robert J. Cousins of Stephens, Lynn, Klein, LaCava, Hoffman & Puya.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2008... Charles Andrew Tharp, Houston S. Park, and Robert J. Cousins, of Stephens, Lynn, Klein, LaCava, Hoffman & Puya, presented the seminar "Legal Malpractice and How to Avoid It" to the Hillsborough County Bar Association.

Second District Court of Appeal.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2008... Judge Nelly N. Khouzam was recently appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist to the Second District Court of Appeal. Prior to joining the Second DCA, she served for 14 years as a Sixth Circuit judge. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Sen. Steven A. Geller.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sen. Steven A. Geller, D-Cooper City, was recently featured as the luncheon keynote speaker at the fourth annual Florida Gaming Summit at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood.

Robert A. Goldman.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2008... Robert A. Goldman of Fox, Wackeen, Dungey in Stuart spoke at the National Business Institute "Real Property Foreclosure" workshop in Miami and West Palm Beach.

Miami City Ballet Board of Trustees.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2008... Alexander I. Tachmes of Shutts & Bowen has been appointed to the Miami City Ballet Board of Trustees. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Business Development Board of Palm Beach County.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2008... Charles E. Rutherford of Rutherford Mulhall in Palm Beach Gardens has been appointed to the board of directors of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County.

Melanie E. Damian.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Melanie E. Damian of Damian & Valori in Miami participated in a Florida Association for Women Lawyers panel discussion titled "Be Your Own Boss --Women Opening Their Own Law Firms" at The Bankers Club in Miami.

Michael K. Wilson.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2008... Michael K. Wilson of Broad and Cassel in Orlando spoke at a Lorman construction seminar on "The Fundamentals of Construction Contracts: Understanding the Issues" in Kissimmee.

EEO Regional Liaison Committee of the ABA Labor & Employment Section's EEO Committee.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2008... William P. Cassidy, Jr., of Shutts & Bowen in Tampa was appointed cochair of the EEO Regional Liaison Committee of the ABA Labor & Employment Section's EEO Committee. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Peter Quinter.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2008... Peter Quinter of Becker & Poliakoff in Ft. Lauderdale was recognized at the ASIS International, Miami Chapter, conference for his continued support as a mentor/instructor of the Certified Protection Professional Education Program.

Judge Catherine Peek McEwen.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2008... Judge Catherine Peek McEwen of the U.S. Middle District of Florida won the Hillsborough County Bar's Jimmy Kynes Pro Bono Service Award.

Richard J. Fidei.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2008... Richard J. Fidei of Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate in Ft. Lauderdale was featured in a national A.M. Best hosted podcast to discuss the recently adopted Reinsurance Collateral Rule in Florida. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Josh Spoont and Ethan Wall of Richman Greer presented at the Student Bar Initiative's "Secrets to Passing the Bar Exam".(News and Notes)
December 1, 2008... Josh Spoont and Ethan Wall of Richman Greer presented at the Student Bar Initiative's "Secrets to Passing the Bar Exam" seminar at Nova Southeastern University.

Sharon R. Bock.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sharon R. Bock, Palm Beach County clerk and comptroller, spoke at Oracle OpenWorld 2008 in San Francisco about "Managing Large Projects in the Public Sector."

Ted Leopold.(News and Notes)
December 1, 2008... Ted Leopold of Leopold~Kuvin in Palm Beach Gardens spoke at the Florida Justice Association seminar in West Palm Beach and Tampa about "Shielding your Client from HMO Abuse." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Anthony Pelle and Donna K. Knapton of Carlton Fields in Miami recently published "The World of Evolving Annuity Products".(News and Notes)
December 1, 2008... Anthony Pelle and Donna K. Knapton of Carlton Fields in Miami recently published "The World of Evolving Annuity Products" in the September 2008 edition of For The Defense magazine, a publication of the Defense Research Institute.