Florida Bar News articles from February 2004

Florida Bar News archives from February 2004

Bush wants more judges, court funds.
February 1, 2004... Florida's courts would get 40 new trial judges and more than $100 million to carry out Revision 7 to Article V of the Florida Constitution, under the 2004-05 budget proposed by Gov. Jeb Bush. The governor also called for budget and staff...

Mattie Belle Davis' Legacy.
February 1, 2004... THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION FOR WOMEN LAWYERS luncheon at the Bar's recent Midyear Meeting in Miami celebrated the life of the pioneering woman lawyer and judge, Mattie Belle Davis, who died this year at the age of 93. Past recipients of the Dade...

Law libraries react to funding uncertainties.
February 1, 2004... When a legal question erupts in the middle of a trial, the judge takes a break and Hialeah lawyer Juan Montes dashes to the Miami-Dade County Law Library to find case law. "Ridiculous!" is the word Montes uses at the thought that the law...

Panel examines the foreclosure industry for UPL.
February 1, 2004... The Bar's Standing Committee on UPL has voted to issue an advisory opinion on what it considers the unlicenced practice of law by mortgage foreclosure assistance companies. The committee voted to make its stand after taking testimony at a...

Lawyers learn how to represent kids.
February 1, 2004... Patrick Neale, a government and land use lawyer in Marco Island, admits when he walked in the door of the seminar offering an overview of how to represent children in court, he was undecided about actually agreeing to take a case. He...

Regier accepts PILS' challenge.
February 1, 2004... A Public Interest Law Section luncheon at The Florida Bar's Midyear Meeting in Miami ended in an extraordinary exchange between lawyers who advocate for children and Jerry Regier, secretary of the Department of Children and Families. ...

Rule of law.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... I have great respect for Chief Justice Harry Lee Anstead, but I think he is wrong when he says 88 new judgeships are needed to "ensure the rule of law in Florida is not compromised." The governor and legislature have already compromised the...

The Gift of life.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... I read the inspiring story about attorney Nancy Lugo's kidney donation in the January 1 News. While not many people have the courage to donate an organ while alive, many of us who have signed organ donor cards would like to give someone a...

Briefly ...(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... I was rather amused to read my brother's letter to the editor in the January 1 News regarding his correction of the citation to Judge Kent's opinion in the November 15 article "Briefly: How not to write one." I found it even more amusing, and...

JNC applications being accepted.(Notice)
February 1, 2004... The Board of Governors is seeking applicants for the following vacancies for nominations to be submitted to Governor Bush on or before June 3: Judicial Nominating Commissions: One lawyer vacancy for each of the 26 JNCs. The Florida Bar...

Board to make appointments in April.(Notice)
February 1, 2004... The Board of Governors is seeking applicants for the following vacancies to be filled during its April 2 meeting: Supreme Court's Bar Admissions Committee: One lawyer to serve a two-year staggered term commencing July 1. This Supreme Court...

Workers' comp judge needed in Miami.(Notice)
February 1, 2004... The Statewide Nominating Commission for Judges of Compensation Claims is now accepting applications for a judge of compensation claims in the Miami District Office. This vacancy has been created by Gov. Jeb Bush's appointment of Judge...

Workers' comp judge needed in Tampa.(Notice)
February 1, 2004... The Statewide Nominating Commission for Judges of Compensation Claims is now accepting applications for a judge of compensation claims vacancy in the Tampa District Office. This vacancy has been created by the announced retirement of Judge...

11th Circuit JNC seeks applicants.(Notice)
February 1, 2004... The 11th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the Dade County bench, created by the elevation of Judge Ellen Venzer to the circuit court. Applications are available from Justin Sayfie or...

Statewide comp claims JNC to fill two vacant positions.(Notice)
February 1, 2004... The Statewide Nominating Commission for Judges of Compensation Claims is now accepting applications to fill two open commission-appointed positions on the panel. One opening requires the appointee to be a qualified person residing in the...

Okaloosa County judgeship available.(Notice)
February 1, 2004... The First Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications for an opening on the Okaloosa County bench, created by the elevation of Judge Kelvin Wells to the circuit bench. Applicants must be registered voters, members...

Tacher petitions for reinstatement.(Notice)
February 1, 2004... Pursuant to Bar Rule 3-7.10, Mario Tacher has petitioned the Florida Supreme Court for Bar reinstatement. Tacher was suspended for 18 months nunc pro tunc January 17, 2001, pursuant to an October 11, 2001, court order as a result of his...

Rodriguez petitions for reinstatement.(Notice)
February 1, 2004... Pursuant to Bar Rule 3-7.10, Joseph Marcelo Rodriguez has petitioned the Florida Supreme Court for Bar reinstatement. Rodriguez was suspended for three years nunc pro tunc February 15, 2001, pursuant to court order dated January 3, 2002, as...

Wells petitions for reinstatement.(Notice)
February 1, 2004... Pursuant to Bar Rule 3-7.10, William Pena Wells has petitioned the Florida Supreme Court for Bar reinstatement. Wells was suspended for three years, nunc pro tunc to October 22, 1998. Any persons having knowledge bearing upon Wells'...

Errata.(Correction Notice)
February 1, 2004... The story in the January 1 Bar News on proposed multijurisidictional practice rules erroneously said that non-Bar members who handle matters in Florida must register with the Supreme Court. The story should have said that those lawyers who come...

Hawkins wins board seat.(After opponent withdraws)
February 1, 2004... There won't be a contested Bar Board of Governors race in the 15th Circuit, since one candidate dropped out after moving his practice from Palm Beach County. Daniel Morman informed the Bar he had stopped practicing in Palm Beach County...

ABA Techshow set for March, discounts available to members of The Florida Bar.(Notice)
February 1, 2004... The ABA Techshow's early bird registration deadline is February 26. Held March 25-27 at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel, the ABA Techshow is the place to go to get up-to-speed on the latest in legal technology. Those who register by...

Business Law Section rallies to support full Art. V funding.
February 1, 2004... The Business Law Section is imploring its members to join the fight for full funding of the court system by educating their clients on what is at stake. Meeting in Miami at the Bar's Midyear Meeting, Chair-elect Maxine Master Long told the...

Fourth DCA initiates e-filing as a step toward going paperless.
February 1, 2004... The Fourth District Court of Appeal anticipates moving toward a paperless system in the near future and is testing the concept by first initiating an e-filing procedure. While paper filings are not yet going away, Fourth DCA Judge Martha...

Proposed judicial rules amendments.(Notice)
February 1, 2004... The Florida Bar Rules of Judicial Administration Committee has filed with the Florida Supreme Court an out-of-cycle report proposing amendments to Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.160, Disqualification of Trial Judges. The committee...

Red Mass set for Tallahassee.(Notice)
February 1, 2004... A 700-year-old tradition will be observed in Tallahassee March 3, when the Catholic Bishops of Florida will gather with area judges, lawyers, and others to celebrate "The Red Mass of the Holy Spirit." The Red Mass--a longtime annual event...

Roberts to discuss 'Black Club Women' at FSU's law school.(Notice)
February 1, 2004... Northwestern University law Professor Dorothy Roberts will deliver the 2004 Mason Ladd Lecture at the Florida State University College of Law February 16. The annual lecture, named for the college's founding dean, is set for 3:30 p.m. in...

Orkin to lead the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office.
February 1, 2004... Angela H. Orkin has been named the executive director of the newly created Statewide Guardian Ad Litem Office. Appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush, Orkin will serve as the office's first executive director. Orkin, 32, of Tallahassee, comes to...

The Lee County Young Lawyers Section.
February 1, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: THE LEE COUNTY YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION was awarded $500.00 for its "Senior Saturday" project by The Florida Bar's Young Lawyers Division at its recent Affiliate Outreach Conference in Tampa. The project...

A Seminole County Teen.
February 1, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: A SEMINOLE COUNTY TEEN'S bedroom may never be the same after this year's Barrister's Cup Golf Tournament. The eighth annual event, hosted by Page & Eichenblatt, raised more than $14,000 for The Make-A-Wish...

Lawmakers discuss funds for new judges, legal aid.
February 1, 2004... The January 8 meeting of the Senate Subcommittee on Article V Implementation and Judiciary technically wasn't about appropriating money for the legal system for the 2004-05 budget year. But in discussing changes to its plan for assuming...

Senate panel gets to work on Art V funding issues.
February 1, 2004... "We're getting down to some big, tall decisions in a short period of time." That's how Sen. Rod Smith, D-Gainesville, summed up challenges facing the Senate Subcommittee on Article V Implementation and Judiciary, at the end of the...

Foundation seeks board applicants.
February 1, 2004... Seven positions on The Florida Bar Foundation's board of directors will be filled this year under the Foundation's governance plan which provides for 18 out of the 29-member Bar Foundation board to be selected equally by the Supreme Court, The...

Construction contractors in Florida are incorporating.(In Practice)
February 1, 2004... A stock certificate, minutes electing officers, articles of incorporation, and other legal forms are being signed by construction contractors all over Florida. The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation sent a notice to 130,000...

Governor has no plans to suspend 17th JNC member.
February 1, 2004... Gov. Jeb Bush has no plans to suspend or remove 17th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission member Rev. O'Neal Dozier in the wake of published reports alleging he asked inappropriate and offensive questions to those applying for judgeships,...

Foundation seeks Medal of Honor Award nominations.
February 1, 2004... The Florida Bar Foundation is seeking nominations for its annual Medal of Honor Awards. The Foundation has two categories for the Medal of Honor Award. A nominee for the first category must be a member of The Florida Bar who has...

Free report shows lawyers how to get more clients.
February 1, 2004... 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...

The President's message.
February 1, 2004... I am pleased to report the Foundation's progress during 200203 in awarding grants of more than $11.1 million. In that endeavor, it has been my great pleasure to work with the devoted and enthusiastic staff of the Foundation and the...

Grants for Legal Assistance for the Poor.
February 1, 2004... The Foundation's Legal Assistance for the Poor (LAP) grant program, supported primarily by IOTA funds, provides general support and special purpose grants to a network of organizations providing free civil legal services to the poor. Together,...

Foundation Legal Assistance for the Poor grants: support a wide variety of Pro Bono services by members of The Florida Bar.
February 1, 2004... Pro bono hours donated by members of The Florida Bar through organized pro bono programs in 2002 represented 17% of all cases--nearly 18,000--closed by Foundation legal aid grantees. Foundation funds primarily support the intake and referral of...

Family Matters: 37,483 Cases (36%).(How Legal Assistance Grantees Have Helped This Year)
February 1, 2004... A mother of three suffering from multiple sclerosis was abandoned by her husband who also refused to provide any financial support for her or their children. A social service agency from which she bad sought financial help referred her to legal...

Housing Matters: 18,074 Cases (17%).(How Legal Assistance Grantees Have Helped This Year)
February 1, 2004... An elderly widow sought assistance from legal aid after being threatened with eviction by her homeowners' association for using an "illegal" wheelchair ramp. Legal aid filed a fair housing complaint and negotiated a settlement that ensured her...

Individual Rights Matters: 16,043 Cases (15%).(How Legal Assistance Grantees Have Helped This Year)
February 1, 2004... A 41-year old immigrant fled his home country of Guatemala after being kidnapped, beaten and tortured because of his political activities. Legal aid advocated on his behalf before the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and he was granted...

Consumer Matters: 8,832 Cases (8%).(How Legal Assistance Grantees Have Helped This Year)
February 1, 2004... Faced with foreclosure, an 84-year-old woman living on a small, fixed income came to legal aid for help. Several months earlier, she had been contacted by a contractor who advised her that a government program would pay for repairs to her home....

Income Maintenance Matters: 7,878 Cases (7%).(How Legal Assistance Grantees Have Helped This Year)
February 1, 2004... A woman's request for a car to help her move from welfare to work was denied by the local workforce board. Although cars and other supporting services were available, there was no formal application, review or appeals process. Two legal aid...

Legal Aid Advocates Fellowship program.(How Legal Assistance Grantees Have Helped This Year)
February 1, 2004... Since 1999, the Foundation and its Florida funding partners have provided matching funds for 32 Florida Fellows. Fellows have designed and led legal assistance projects in affordable housing, welfare to work, domestic violence, special...

The Florida Bar Foundation Legal Aid Advocates Fellowships Class of 2003-2005.(How Legal Assistance Grantees Have Helped This Year)
February 1, 2004... Host Legal Aid Program Fellow Project Name University of Miami Tammy Wilsker Legal advocacy and outreach Children and Youth Law to older foster youth Clinic Florida Institutional Kristen...

Checking off for justice--Lawyers' Challenge for Children.(How Legal Assistance Grantees Have Helped This Year)
February 1, 2004... As you complete your Annual Bar Fee Statement next spring, please consider contributing to the Foundation's Children's Legal Services Grant Program through the Lawyer's Challenge for Children. Just add your gift to your Bar Fee Statement total....

Law school Loan Repayment Assistance Program.(How Legal Assistance Grantees Have Helped This Year)
February 1, 2004... After surveying its legal assistance grantees, the Foundation re-established its Loan Repayment Assistance Program in 2002-03 to improve recruitment and retention of staff legal aid attorneys. The survey showed that a significant number of...

Children's Legal Services.(How Legal Assistance Grantees Have Helped This Year)
February 1, 2004... Since 1999, The Florida Bar Foundation has funded special annual grants for legal assistance to children. Starting in 2000-01, gifts from attorneys to the Foundation from the Lawyer's Challenge for Children on the annual Florida Bar Fee...

Law Student Assistance Grants.
February 1, 2004... Foundation Law Student Assistance Grant Programs promote the concept of public service and provide financial assistance to eligible students at Florida's accredited law schools. Public Service Fellows Program Program Goals * To...

Legal Services Summer Fellowship Program.
February 1, 2004... In cooperation with Florida's fully accredited law schools, the Foundation administers a Summer Fellowship Program for first- and second-year law students at Foundation-funded legal assistance programs in Florida. In 2002-03, $120,500.00 was...

Medal of Honor Awards.
February 1, 2004... The Florida Bar Foundation Medal of Honor Award Program was established in 1977 to recognize outstanding achievements in improving the administration of justice in Florida. Two categories of award recipients have been designated. The first...

Improvements in the Administration of Justice Grant Program.
February 1, 2004... Grantmaking Philosophy A goal of The Florida Bar Foundation is to focus grants in areas where the funding can have a measurable impact. Toward that end, the Foundation concentrates grants for improvements in the administration of justice...

Steven M. Goldstein Award for Excellence.
February 1, 2004... This award was established by The Florida Bar Foundation board of directors to honor the memory of Steven M. Goldstein. Goldstein, a former legal services attorney and professor at Florida State University College of Law, was a fireless...

Fellows Program & Endowment Trust.
February 1, 2004... The Fellows of The Florida Bar Foundation are concerned with improving Florida's legal system and share a common interest in supporting the charitable purposes of the Foundation. Fellows contribute $1,000 to become life members of the...

Investing in justice.
February 1, 2004... Our mission is to provide greater access to justice. We do that primarily by providing leadership and funding for legal aid in Florida. We also fund projects to improve Florida's justice system, including innovations in court operation, and to...

Making a difference.(From the Executive Director)
February 1, 2004... Making a Difference I think that there are at least three reasons organizations succeed. Great volunteers. Great staff. And a great partnership between the two. The Florida Bar Foundation has all three. In his President's Message, Bill...

Financial information.
February 1, 2004... 2002-03 Revenues $15,548,593 IOTA 79.5% $12,353,404 Florida Civil Legal Assistance Act Contract 12.6% $1,956,138 Investment Income 3.2% $499,141 Miscellaneous...

IOTA revenues increase slightly in FY 2002-2003.
February 1, 2004... In spite of continually declining interest rates, annual IOTA revenues in FY 2002-03 at $12.3 million were slightly ahead of 2001-02 due to implementation of revisions to the IOTA Rule and increases in Florida legal activity. To increase...

Allison R. Day of Joblove & Battista, P.A., and an adjunct professor at Barry University in Miami spoke on how to handle complex consumer bankruptcy issues at a program of the National Business Institute in Miami.(News and Notes)
February 1, 2004... Allison R. Day of Joblove & Battista, P.A., and an adjunct professor at Barry University in Miami spoke on how to handle complex consumer bankruptcy issues at a program of the National Business Institute in Miami. Day focuses her practice in...

Francisco J. Gonzalez of Adorno & Yoss, P.A., has been appointed to the Jay Malina International Trade Consortium.(News and Notes)
February 1, 2004... Francisco J. Gonzalez of Adorno & Yoss, P.A., has been appointed to the Jay Malina International Trade Consortium representative for the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.

Daniel A. Weiss with the Miami office of Tannebaum, Planas & Weiss spoke at a continuing legal education seminar titled "Property Tax Law in Florida" in Miami.(News and Notes)
February 1, 2004... Daniel A. Weiss with the Miami office of Tannebaum, Planas & Weiss spoke at a continuing legal education seminar titled "Property Tax Law in Florida" in Miami. Weiss concentrates in property taxes, land use and zoning issues,

Eric S. Adams of Carlton Fields in Tampa has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Bay Area Legal Services, Inc.(News and Notes)
February 1, 2004... Eric S. Adams of Carlton Fields in Tampa has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Bay Area Legal Services, Inc. by the Hillsborough County Bar Association Board.

Jay Cohen of Grossman and Roth in Hollywood has been named president for the 2004 term of the Broward County chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates.(News and Notes)
February 1, 2004... Jay Cohen of Grossman and Roth in Hollywood has been named president for the 2004 term of the Broward County chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Cohen represents patients and their families against healthcare providers and...

Phil Landau of Akerman Senterfitt in Ft. Lauderdale has published an article in the current edition of the Norton Annual Survey of Bankruptcy Law.(News and Notes)
February 1, 2004... Phil Landau of Akerman Senterfitt in Ft. Lauderdale has published an article in the current edition of the Norton Annual Survey of Bankruptcy Law. The article, "The Future of Bankruptcy: Asset Sales under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code,"...

Jan Wichrowski has been honored with an award from theNinth Judicial Circuit Public Defender's Office.(News and Notes)
February 1, 2004... Jan Wichrowski has been honored with an award from the Ninth Judicial Circuit Public Defender's Office for services as a community partner.

Henry M. Cooper of Fogel & Cohen in Boca Raton has published an article on tips to prevent online fraud which was recently featured in Document Magazine.(News and Notes)
February 1, 2004... Henry M. Cooper of Fogel & Cohen in Boca Raton has published an article on tips to prevent online fraud which was recently featured in Document Magazine. Cooper concentrates in corporate, intellectual property, and technology law.

Bruce A. Blitman of Ft. Lauderdale spoke with volunteers fromServing Health Insurance Needs Of Elders (S.H.I.NE.).(News and Notes)
February 1, 2004... Bruce A. Blitman of Ft. Lauderdale spoke with volunteers from Serving Health Insurance Needs Of Elders (S.H.I.NE.) about the Managed Care Ombudsmen Committee for Broward County.

Dennis J. Wall of Orlando has been selected by the American Bar Association to publish an article for Coverage magazine. .(News and Notes)
February 1, 2004... Dennis J. Wall of Orlando has been selected by the American Bar Association to publish an article for Coverage magazine. Wall's article, entitled "Does Insurance Coverage For A Duty to Defend Depend On Causes of Action And Claims Alleged, Or On...

Maria L. Rubio of Leesfield, Leighton, Rubio, Mahfood & Boyers, P.A., in Miami has been elected to the board of directors of the Cuban American Bar Association for the 2004-05 term.(News and Notes)
February 1, 2004... Maria L. Rubio of Leesfield, Leighton, Rubio, Mahfood & Boyers, P.A., in Miami has been elected to the board of directors of the Cuban American Bar Association for the 2004-05 term. She concentrates in medical malpractice, unfair insurance...

Michael S. Singer of Comiter & Singer in Palm Beach Gardens delivered the closing speech at the annual conference of the Florida Medical Directors Association in Orlando.(News and Notes)
February 1, 2004... Michael S. Singer of Comiter & Singer in Palm Beach Gardens delivered the closing speech at the annual conference of the Florida Medical Directors Association in Orlando. He covered the topics of risk management, asset protection, and the...

Steven Sloane Newburgh of Fowler White Burner P.A., has been elected chair of the West Palm Beach Parks.(News and Notes)
February 1, 2004... Steven Sloane Newburgh of Fowler White Burner P.A., has been elected chair of the West Palm Beach Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

David Pratt of Boca Raton co-chaired The Florida Bar Tax Section Seminar on family limited partnerships in Tampa.(News and Notes)
February 1, 2004... David Pratt of Boca Raton co-chaired The Florida Bar Tax Section Seminar on family limited partnerships in Tampa. He presented "Bad Facts Are Making Bad Law: Putting Our clients in a Defensive Posture in Order to Avoid a Successful IRS Attack...

Terry Delahunty of Foley & Lardner in Orlando has recently been appointed to the Parramore Task Force.(News and Notes)
February 1, 2004... Terry Delahunty of Foley & Lardner in Orlando has recently been appointed to the Parramore Task Force. The task force will develop coordinated action strategies to help restore the city's historic Parramore neighborhood.

Sidney J. Wartel of Delray Beach has joined theWorld Intellectual Property Organization(WIPO) Arbitration and Mediation Center.(News and Notes)
February 1, 2004... Sidney J. Wartel of Delray Beach has joined the World Intellectual Property Organization(WIPO) Arbitration and Mediation Center as a nuetral.

David J. Lillesand of Miami presented "Sophisticated Elder Law IX- SSI Developments, a National Perspective.(News and Notes)
February 1, 2004... David J. Lillesand of Miami presented "Sophisticated Elder Law IX- SSI Developments, a National Perspective," an advanced level program for New Jersey elder law specialists at The Law Center of the New Jersey State Bar Institute.

Joseph G. Jarret, Polk County attorney, completed a series of lectures on behalf of Southeastern College and Webber International University on emerging issues in the practice of law.(News and Notes)
February 1, 2004... Joseph G. Jarret, Polk County attorney, completed a series of lectures on behalf of Southeastern College and Webber International University on emerging issues in the practice of law. In addition, he published, "Reducing the Frequency and...

David Alschuler of Miami has recently been elected president .(News and Notes)
February 1, 2004... David Alschuler of Miami has recently been elected president of the Miami Beach Bar Association.

Prakash I. Khatri has been appointed ombudsman ofCitizenship and Immigration Services.(News and Notes)
February 1, 2004... Prakash I. Khatri has been appointed ombudsman of Citizenship and Immigration Services at the Department of Homeland Security by Secretary Tom Ridge.

David W. Singer received the annual Community Service Award from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.(News and Notes)
February 1, 2004... David W. Singer received the annual Community Service Award from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Singer concentrates in the area of personal injury law.

Tami Foley Conetta of Ruden, McClosky, Smith, Schuster & Russell, P.A., has been selected 2003-Woman of the Year by the Sunrise Chapter of the American Business Women's Association in Sarasota.(News and Notes)
February 1, 2004... Tami Foley Conetta of Ruden, McClosky, Smith, Schuster & Russell, P.A., has been selected 2003-Woman of the Year by the Sunrise Chapter of the American Business Women's Association in Sarasota. Conetta concentrates her practice in estate...

C. Daniel Motsinger of Krieg DeVault in Indianapolis, has been re-appointed chair of the Marketing Committee.(News and Notes)
February 1, 2004... C. Daniel Motsinger of Krieg DeVault in Indianapolis, has been re-appointed chair of the Marketing Committee of the American Board of Certification for 2004.

Peter Prieto of Holland & Knight in Miami has been elected to the board of directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami.(News and Notes)
February 1, 2004... Peter Prieto of Holland & Knight in Miami has been elected to the board of directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami. Prieto practices in the areas of white-collar criminal and complex civil litigation.