Florida Bar News articles from February 2003

Florida Bar News archives from February 2003

Attention turns to Art. V funding: young lawyers get up to speed.
February 1, 2003... Revision 7 must be approached as an opportunity to improve the state's trial court system and not just an exercise in maintaining the status quo, according to Rep. Dudley Goodlette, who will play a central role in the House approach to Article...

Attention turns to Art. V funding: Bush offers tight courts' budget.
February 1, 2003... Florida legislators have been warning about a tough budget year. On January 21, as this News went to press, Gov. Jeb Bush put some hard numbers to paper, recommending cuts in some court-related functions. The Bush proposed budget would wipe...

Countering lawyers' bad rap: All Bar Conference focuses on Dignity in Law.
February 1, 2003... Remember this scene from the 1997 movie "The Rainmaker"? Danny DeVito plays the feisty paralegal, Matt Damon plays the fresh young lawyer, and they are about to cruise the hospital looking for prospective clients, the more battered and...

Benson to lead House approach to court funding.
February 1, 2003... Rep. Holly Benson, R-Pensacola, has been named chair of the House Select Committee on Article V, which will oversee the House's approach to the constitutional mandate that the state take over more funding of the trial courts. The first...

House Judiciary Committee takes up UPL.
February 1, 2003... The hot topic at the first meeting of the Florida House Judiciary Committee was the unlicensed practice of law, and specifically, how The Florida Bar and the legislature could work together to better protect Florida residents. Ostensibly,...

17th JNC seeks judicial applicants.
February 1, 2003... The 17th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications for a newly created position on the circuit bench. Applicants must be registered voters, members of The Florida Bar for the past five years and residents of the...

Fifth JNC seeks judicial applicants.
February 1, 2003... The Fifth Judicial Circuit Nominating Commission is seeking applicants to fill two circuit court vacancies created by the legislature. Applicants must be registered voters, members of The Florida Bar for the preceding five years, and live...

10th JNC seeks judicial applicants.
February 1, 2003... Applicants are being sought by the 10th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission for a circuit court vacancy to fill a new seat created by the legislature Those applying must be members of The Florida Bar for the past five years, must be...

Seventh Circuit JNC to fill circuit vacancy.
February 1, 2003... The Seventh Circuit Judicial Nominating Commisssion is now accepting applications to fill a circuit court seat created by the elevation of Judge David Monaco to the Fifth District Court of Appeal. The Seventh Judicial Circuit includes Flagler,...

Workers' comp judge needed in Jacksonville.
February 1, 2003... The Statewide Nominating Commission for Judges of Compensation Claims is now accepting applications for a judge of compensation claims vacancy in District C (Jacksonville), created by the resignation of Judge Wilbur W. Anderson. ...

Medical malpractice. (Viewpoint).
February 1, 2003... It's been labeled a "crisis," and, hyperbole aside, one of the most important public policy issues the 2003 session of the Florida Legislature will confront will be the rapidly growing problem of medical malpractice insurance costs and the...

ABA still fighting to overturn Gramm-Leach-Bliley provision.
February 1, 2003... The American Bar Association recently filed a memorandum arguing that the Federal Trade Commission arbitrarily and mistakenly applied to lawyers the privacy notice provisions of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, contrary to the intent of Congress and...

11th JNC to fill two new circuit seats.
February 1, 2003... The 11th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission is seeking applicants for two new circuit court seats created by the legislature. Those interested must have been members of The Florida Bar for the past five years, registered voters, and...

Negron: return the justice system to a simpler model.
February 1, 2003... State court officials gathered before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Judiciary got a grim fiscal message at the committee's initial gathering: Don't assume any funding is sacrosanct this year. With the state facing a budget...

House to study workers' comp insurance issues.
February 1, 2003... Saying a coming crisis in workers' compensation insurance threatens Florida's economy, House Speaker Johnnie Byrd has appointed a select committee to explore the issue and recommend concrete changes for the spring Regular Session. The new...

Williams named new statewide prosecutor.
February 1, 2003... Peter Williams, director of Florida's Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, has been named the new statewide prosecutor by Attorney General Charlie Crist. Crist's office made the announcement on January 6, the day before he was...

Gambrell nominations sought.
February 1, 2003... Nominations are now open for the 13th Annual E. Smythe Gambrell Professionalism Awards, recognizing law schools, bar associations, law firms and nonprofit organizations for projects that enhance professionalism among lawyers. The ABA...

The media's take on Dignity in Law.
February 1, 2003... When it came time for members of the news media to offer opinions of the Dignity in Law program, a resounding theme was that the public doesn't like journalists much, either, so get over it. Terri Somers, a legal affairs writer for the...

Dignity in Law campaign gets its message out.
February 1, 2003... Media coverage and the public perception of lawyers has changed for the better during the first sixth months of the Bar's Dignity in Law campaign, according to Christine Barney, CEO of rbb, the Coral Gables public relations firm hired to manage...

Lawyers urged to get involved in court system funding debate.
February 1, 2003... Eleventh Circuit Judge Joseph Farina spoke at the 2003 All Bar Conference on January 16 in Miami, inviting all lawyers to get involved in the court funding challenge that faces Florida: "I'm here on behalf of not only the chief judges of...

Board candidates present their views, qualifications.
February 1, 2003... Following are the platform statements of the 10 Florida Bar members running for the four contested seats in the 2003 Board of Governors elections. Ballots will be mailed to Bar members in circuits with contested races on or around February...

YLD board races set.
February 1, 2003... Seventeen lawyers have been elected without opposition to the Bar's Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors, while 16 others are running for seven contested seats. Filing for the seats closed December 16, and ballots will be mailed in...

Free report shows lawyers How To Get More Clients.
February 1, 2003... CA. -- Why do some lawyers get rich while others struggle to pay their bills? The answer, according to, California lawyer David M. Ward, has nothing to do with talent, education, hard work, or even luck. "The lawyers who make the big...

Lawmakers examine death penalty statute: with an eve toward making sure it meets constitutional muster.
February 1, 2003... What is the best way to protect Florida's death penalty? Prohibit judges from overriding a jury's recommendation of life imprisonment -- something that rarely happens? Or leave the law unchanged? That question confronted members of the...

ABA TECHSHOW offers discounts to Florida lawyers.
February 1, 2003... Florida Bar members qualify for a $100 discount, in addition to a second $100 savings for early registration, for the upcoming ABA TECHSHOW 2003. The show is created by lawyers and related legal professionals for the legal community and...

Disciplinary actions.
February 1, 2003... The Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders suspended 17 attorneys, disbarred five, reprimanded five others, accepted the disciplinary resignation of three, enjoined one from practicing law in Florida, and extended by one year the period...

Healthy compliments. (Stresslines).
February 1, 2003... You may have heard the story of the less than gracious teenage boy who was told by concerned parents that his chances with the fairer sex might improve if he could learn to give an occasional compliment. At the next dance, he recalled the...

What keeps clients happy?
February 1, 2003... Can a client be satisfied with his lawyer even if the case is lost? Or is a happy client just a myth? In this January's ABA Journal, satisfied clients speak out about what sets their lawyers apart in the cover story, "What I Like About My...

Lawyers, doctors gather to discuss bioethics.
February 1, 2003... Many people stockpile pills so they have the means to end their life when it becomes unbearable. To qualify for Medicare benefits for hospice care, a terminally ill patient must be within six months of death. Yet life expectancy is not...

Ramelize wins praise for effort to help children.
February 1, 2003... "I'm excited. I'm scared, And I'm a little bit sad," saidAzim Ramelize, his voice crackling over the cell phone from his car somewhere in South Carolina, on the way to Baltimore to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a private philanthropy that...

Patients' rights seminars set.
February 1, 2003... LivinGPromiseS, a nonprofit charitable corporation, is offering, in conjunction with Akerman Senterfitt, two upcoming seminars on the rights of patients with breast or other cancers. The seminar, which has 2.5 CLE credits, will be help...

Miami Beach Chamber. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Rafael Suarez-Rivas, of the city of Miami's attorney's office has been appointed to the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors.

Orlando Regional Chamber's Global Business Network. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Ken Wright, of Baker & Hostetler, LLP, Orlando, has been elected president of the Orlando Regional Chamber's Global Business Network for the 2003 term.

Easter Seals Miami-Dade. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Stephen F. Rossman, of Rossman Baumberger & Reboso was appointed the 2002-2003 chair of Easter Seals Miami-Dade, at the organization's annual installation and awards dinner.

Gunster Yoakley. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... George S. LeMieux, of Gunster Yoakley, has been selected to serve as deputy attorney general for the State of Florida.

Lewis B. Freeman & Partners, Inc. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Daniel J. Stermer of Lewis B. Freeman & Partners, Inc., Plantation, has been elected as a city commissioner in Weston, where he will serve the remaining unexpired term of a former commissioner.

The Association of Florida Trial Lawyers Women's Caucus, and has also been elected secretary of the Association of Florida Trial Lawyers Young Lawyers Section. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Jennifer Kolinski Millis of the Law Office of W.C. Gentry, Jacksonville, has been elected chair of the Association of Florida Trial Lawyers Women's Caucus, and has also been elected secretary of the Association of Florida Trial Lawyers Young...

American Bar Association. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Jeffrey Michael Cohen of Canton Fields, Miami, was a speaker on the subject of fidelity insurance bonds at a seminar entitled "Keeping Pace with Fidelity: Age Old Crime with New Age Problems," held by the American Bar Association in Washington,...

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Robert W. Murray, of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, Miami, has been re-elected to his third three-year term on the board of directors of Hands on Miami, a nonprofit organization that promotes volunteer work throughout Miami-Dade County.

Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Dan Mitchell of GrayHarris, Tampa, has been elected a member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, a prominent national defense organization.

Christopher M. Kise. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Christopher M. Kise, a shareholder with GrayHarris, Tampa, has been appointed by Attorney General Charlie Crist as Florida's solicitor general.

Economic Development Commission of Mid-Florida's Technology Advisory Council. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Jill Riola, of Baker & Hostetler, LLP, Orlando, has been appointed to the Economic Development Commission of Mid-Florida's Technology Advisory Council.

Asian American Chamber of Commerce. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Robert Yee, of Baker & Hostetler, LLP, Orlando, has been elected president of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce.

Mediation Case Law Update and Their Impact on Mediator Ethics. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Bruce A. Blitman, of Fort Lauderdale, presented "Mediation Case Law Update and Their Impact on Mediator Ethics" at the University of Miami School of Law's Education Seminar for Circuit Civil Mediators in Coral Gables.

Central Florida chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Mark Lieblich of Baker & Hostetler, LLP, Orlando, has been elected president of the Central Florida chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties.

Broad & Cassel. (On the Move).
February 1, 2003... Franklin Zemel has become a partner with Broad & Cassel, at 1 Financial Plaza, Suite 2700, Ft. Lauderdale 33394, telephone (954)764-7060. He concentrates in appellate practice, business law, complex civil litigation, and labor and employment...

Brian S. Adler and Deborah R. Mayo. (On the Move).
February 1, 2003... "Brian S. Adler and Deborah R. Mayo have been named partners of Bilzin, Sumberg, Dunn, Baena, Price & Axeirod, LLP, with offices at 200 S. Biscayne Blvd., Ste. 2500, Miami 33131, telephone (305)374-7580. Adler concentrates on municipal zoning...

David W. Henry. (On the Move).
February 1, 2003... David W. Henry has become a shareholder with Allen, Dyer, Doppelt, Milbrath, & Gilchrist, P.A., with offices at 255 5. Orange Ave., Ste. 1401, Orlando 32801, telephone (407)841-2330. He concentrates in intellectual property, professional...

Brian G. Rich. (On the Move).
February 1, 2003... Brian G. Rich has become a shareholder with Berger Singerman, with offices at 200 S. Biscayne Blvd., Ste. 2950, Miami 33131, telephone (954)4944828. He practices in reorganization, bankruptcy, and avoidance action litigation.

Coane and Associates. (On the Move).
February 1, 2003... Monica Roisman has joined Coane and Associates, with offices at 201 5. Biscayne Blvd., 28th floor, Miami 33131, telephone (305)913-7533. The firm concentrates in immigration law and labor and employment law.

Baker & Hostetler, LLP. (On the Move).
February 1, 2003... Mark Mohier has been elected as a partner of Baker & Hostetler, LLP, with offices at 200 S. Orange Ave., Ste. 2300, Orlando 32801, telephone (407)6494031. He practices in business transactions, taxation, and mergers and acquisitions.

Angela B. Green. (On the Move).
February 1, 2003... Angela B. Green announces the relocation of Angela B. Green, P.A., to 8527 S.E. 71st Ave., Ocala 34472, telephone (352)347-9038. She concentrates in telecommunications law.

Matthew J. Conigliaro. (On the Move).
February 1, 2003... Matthew J. Conigliaro, former deputy solicitor general for the state of Florida, has re-joined Canton Fields, with offices at 200 Central Ave., Ste. 2300, St. Peters burg 33701, telephone (727)821-7000.

Beth Ann Cronin. (On the Move).
February 1, 2003... Beth Ann Cronin has been named a partner of Ruden, McClosky, Smith, Schuster & Russell, P.A., with offices at 401 E. Jackson St., Tampa 33602, telephone (813)222-6630. She concentrates in general commercial litigation.

Paul B. Ranis. (On the Move).
February 1, 2003... Paul B. Ranis has been named a partner of Ruden, McClosky, Smith, Schuster & Russell, P.A., with offices at 200 E. Broward Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale 33302, telephone (954)764-6660. He concentrates in employment and commercial litigation.

Jon L. Swergold. (On the Move).
February 1, 2003... Jon L. Swergold has been named a partner of Ruden, McClosky, Smith, Schuster & Russell, P.A., with offices at 222 Lakeview Ave., Ste. 800, West Palm Beach 33401, telephone (561)838-4521. He practices in commercial and general civil litigation.

Michael S. Budwick. (On the Move).
February 1, 2003... Michael S. Budwick has become a partner with Meland, Russin, Hellinger & Budwick, P.A., with offices at 3000 Wachovia Financial Center, 200 5. Biscayne Blvd., Miami 33131. He practices in real estate, bankruptcy, and commercial litigation.

R. Eric Bilik. (On the Move).
February 1, 2003... R. Eric Bilik has become a partner with McGuire Woods, LLP, with offices at 50 N. Laura St., Ste. 3300, Jacksonville 32202, telephone (904)798-3200. He practices in litigating and arbitrating business torts, distribution and franchising...

Rodger L. Hochman. (On the Move).
February 1, 2003... Rodger L. Hochman has become of counsel to Ferrell, Schultz, Carter, Zumpano & Fertel, with offices at 201 5. Biscayne Blvd., Ste. 3400, Miami 33131, telephone (305)371-8585. He practices in health care matters and corporate transactions.

G. Andrew Gracy. (On the Move).
February 1, 2003... G. Andrew Gracy has joined Peebles Gracy, P.A., with offices located at 826 Broadway, Dunedin 34698, telephone (727)736-1411. He practices in estate planning, probate, real estate, and family law.

Jacob C. Dykxhoorn. (On the Move).
February 1, 2003... Jacob C. Dykxhoorn has become a shareholder with Peterson & Myers, P.A., with offices located at 130 E. Central Avenue, Lake Wales 33859, telephone (863)676-7611. He practices in the areas of real estate, condominiums, mobile home law, and...

Kingsford and Rock, P.A. (On the Move).
February 1, 2003... Mark A. Humphrey, Lynn S. Alfa no, Soobadra C. Gauthier, and Joseph L. Larrinaga have become associated with Kingsford and Rock, P.A., with new offices located at Westshore Place I, 4350 W. Cypress St., Ste. 200, Tampa 33607, telephone...

Edward J. Carbone and Scott C. Davis. (On the Move).
February 1, 2003... Edward J. Carb one and Scott C. Davis have been promoted to shareholder of Buchanan Ingersoll, with offices at 401 E. Jackson St., Tampa 33602-5233, telephone (813)222-8180. Carbone concentrates in healthcare, medical malpractice, and residents...

Landis Graham French, PA. (On the Move).
February 1, 2003... Arthur Graham has become a shareholder with Landis Graham French, PA., with offices located at 543 5. Ridgewood Ave., Daytona Beach 32114, telephone (386)252-4717. He concentrates in civil litigation, insurance defense, and mediation.

MPS Group, Inc. (On the Move).
February 1, 2003... Marc M. Mayo, former senior vice president and general counsel of MPS Group, Inc., has become a shareholder with Rogers, Towers, Bailey, Jones & Gay, P.A., with offices at 1301 Riverplace Blvd., Ste. 1500, Jacksonville 32207, telephone...

Haynsworth Baldwin Johnson & Greaves LLC. (On the Move).
February 1, 2003... JC Miller has joined Haynsworth Baldwin Johnson & Greaves LLC, with offices at 1301 Riverplace Blvd., Ste. 800, Jacksonville 32207. She has also been appointed as the managing partner of the Jacksonville office. She concentrates in labor and...

Florida House. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Rep. Marco Rubio, R-Miami, of Becker and Poliakoff, Miami, was named Majority Leader of the Florida House of Representatives.

Coalition of Port Orange Homeowners Association. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Neal McCulloh of Clayton & McCulloh, Maitland, was the guest speaker for the Coalition of Port Orange Homeowners Association's monthly meeting, speaking on recent developments in community law and case law.

Dade County Bar Association Young Lawyers Section Seminar. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Jonathan Wald of Goldfarb, Gold, Gonzalez & Wald, P.A., Miami, lectured on jury selection at the Dade County Bar Association Young Lawyers Section Seminar.

Tuwana J. McMillan. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Tuwana J. McMillan, shareholder at Zimmerman, Shuffield, Kiser & Sutcliffe, P.A., Orlando, was recently certified by the Supreme Court of the State of Florida as a circuit mediator.

The Art of the Deal: How to Buy, Sell, and Value a Funeral Home. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Miguel Maspons of Carlton Fields, Miami, spoke at a seminar for funeral-home owners and managers entitled "The Art of the Deal: How to Buy, Sell, and Value a Funeral Home," held in Las Vegas, Nevada.

American Law Institute. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Henry Latimer of Greenberg Traurig, Ft. Lauderdale, was elected to membership of the Council of the American Law Institute.

Lorman Education Services. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Jonathan S. Leiderman, an associate with Markowitz, Davis, Ringel & Trusty, P.A., was a featured speaker on the topic of "Filing a Collection Lawsuit" at the Lorman Education Services seminar, "Introduction to Collection Law in Florida," held...

South Broward Hospital. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Jay Cohen, of Grossman and Roth, Ft. Lauderdale, gave a presentation to the South Broward Hospital District, where he spoke about medical malpractice issues and cases. Cohen also spoke to Universal Health Services at their risk management...

Lillesand & Associates. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... David J. Lillesand of Lillesand & Associates, Miami, facilitated a session on Special Needs Trusts and SSI at the AFELA Unprogram in Orlando.

Petosa & Fernandez, P.L. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Frank M. Petosa, of Petosa & Fernandez, P.L., with offices in Boca Raton and Tampa, served on a panel of legal experts to discuss legal issues facing individuals with developmental disabilities at the annual meeting of Florida's Voice on Mental...

Dade County Bar Association. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Candis Trusty, a shareholder with Markowitz, Davis, Ringel & Trusty, P.A., Miami, was a featured speaker at the seminar "Probate: A View from the Bench and Bar," sponsored by the Probate and Guardianship Committee of the Dade County Bar...

Family Law Issues for the CPA. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Carolyn S. Zisser, of Carolyn S. Zisser, P.A., Jacksonville, lectured at the CPA continuing education at Smoak, Davis & Nixon, LLP, on the subject of "Family Law Issues for the CPA."

American Bar Association. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Hilarie Bass, Greenberg Traurig, Miami, has been appointed a member of the American Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession.

Asset Protection Planning. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Howard D. Rosen, with the Law Offices of Donlevy-Rosen & Rosen, P.A., Coral Gables, co-authored a revision of his 1994 BNA Tax Management Portfolio "Asset Protection Planning."

United States naval Academy. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Frank A. Kreidler of Lake Worth, has been awarded the Director's Award by the director of admissions for the United States Naval Academy, for his service and support as a Naval Academy information officer.

Redlands Christian Migrant Association. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... E. John Dinkel III, of MacFarlane, Ferguson & McMullen, Tampa, has been elected by the board of the Redlands Christian Migrant Association to serve a two-year term as president of the organization.

The Judge John M. Scheb American Inn of Court. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Carol W. Wood, a partner with Judd, Shea, Ulrich, Oravec, Wood & Dean, P.A., Sarasota, has been elected master emeritus of The Judge John M. Scheb American Inn of Court by unanimous vote of the masters.

Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. (News and Notes).
February 1, 2003... Garrett J. Biondo of Goldfarb, Gold, Gonzalez & Wald, P.A., Miami, was elected to the board of directors of Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc.