Florida Bar News articles from January 2003

Florida Bar News archives from January 2003

Kelly Overstreet Johnson named president-elect.
January 1, 2003... Tallahassee attorney and Board of Governors member Kelly Overstreet Johnson has become president-elect designate of The Florida Bar. Johnson was the only candidate to file for Bar president in the upcoming 2003 elections. Filing ended 5...

USSC hears IOLTA arguments.
January 1, 2003... The U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to answer the $160 million question: Is the use of pooled interest from lawyers' trust accounts a compensable taking, and, if so, is the only remedy to shut down the IOLTA programs in all 50 states? ...

Ressel retires from FBBE.
January 1, 2003... In 1971,-22-year-old Kathryn Ressel walked in awe through the main doors of the Supreme Court of Florida to interview for a job with the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. With the post-WWII baby boom came a considerable increase in the...

Toting toys for tots.
January 1, 2003... THE FLORIDA BAR'S Tallahassee employees help load a trolley with more than 200 toys they donated to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program, one of the nation's flagship Christmas charitable endeavors and the U.S. Marine Corps'...

Reporters' workshop prepares journalists to cover the courts.
January 1, 2003... Twenty-four reporters from Florida's major daily newspapers and television stations attended The Florida Bar's recent 13th Annual Reporters' Workshop in St. Petersburg. "An unprecedented partnership with the Poynter Institute allowed the...

Letters.
January 1, 2003... Pro Bono With regard to December 1, article "Should Government Lawyers be Exempt from the Pro Bono Plan?," it seems the issue overlooked is whether government attorneys have the requisite legal background to represent the poor in civil...

Errata.
January 1, 2003... An On the Move announcement in the December 1 News contained incorrect information. It should have read: Michael A. Petruccelli and Walter H. Djokic have become partners with McIntosh Sawran Peltz Cartaya & Petruccelli, P.A., with offices...

Bar seeks a public member for the board of Governors. (Notice).
January 1, 2003... Continuing its practice of public involvement, The Florida Bar seeks a new member of the public to serve on its governing board. The board member will replace Royce Walden of Orlando, whose second two-year term expires June 2003. Since...

January appointments to be filled. (Notice).
January 1, 2003... The Board of Governors is seeking applicants for the following vacancies to be filled during its January 31, 2003, meeting: Florida Bar Foundation Board of Directors: Two lawyers to serve three-year terms, commencing July 1,2003, on this...

Foundation seeks seven directors. (Notice).
January 1, 2003... Seven positions on The Florida Bar Foundation's board of directors will be filled this year under the Florida Supreme Court approved governance plan which provides for 18 out of the 29-member Bar Foundation board to be selected equally by the...

Judgment and decrees interest rates announced. (Notice).
January 1, 2003... The Office of the Comptroller has set the rate of interest payable on judgments and decrees for 2003 at 6 percent per annum or .0001644 percent per day. Florida Statute [section]55.03(1) requires the comptroller to set the rate of interest...

There is still time to attend the All Bar Conference. (The Program will Review the Dignity in Law Campaign).
January 1, 2003... The 2003 All Bar Conference will review the Dignity in Law campaign and participants will discuss the need to increase public awareness about the role lawyers play in society. Participants also will earn up to eight hours of continuing...

Florida Federal JNC seeks applicants for U.S. district court judge.
January 1, 2003... Applications are now being accepted by the Florida Federal Judicial Nominating Commission to fill the position of United States District Court judge for the Southern District of Florida (Northern Division). Applications are available from...

Nunes petitions for Bar reinstatement.
January 1, 2003... Pursuant to Rule 3-7.10, David Smith Nunes has petitioned the Florida Supreme Court for Bar reinstatement. Nunes was suspended for three years after being found guilty of violations arising from making disparaging remarks about judges and...

Positions available on jury instruction panel.
January 1, 2003... The Supreme Court's Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases currently has several vacancies. Any lawyer licensed to practice law in Florida and any member of the Florida judiciary may apply for appointment. An application...

Court sets argument.
January 1, 2003... The Florida Supreme Court has set oral arguments for Re: Amendment to The Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, case no. SC02-1574 for 9 a.m. February 5. A maximum of 20 minutes to each side has been allotted for the argument.

Foundation seeks Medal of Honor award nominations.
January 1, 2003... 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...

Board races set for February.
January 1, 2003... Sixteen lawyers are running in seven contested Bar Board of Governors races in the upcoming 2003 elections, while another 16 have been elected or reelected without opposition. Filing for the races closed December 16, and ballots for the...

Proposed workers' comp rules reworked.
January 1, 2003... Proposed procedural rules for workers' compensation cases -- which caused substantial concern for the Bar's Workers' Compensation Section -- have been substantially revised from the initial draft and have been posted on the Internet. Scott...

Governor's workers' comp panel to meet this month.
January 1, 2003... As it moves to wrap up its business and make recommendations later this month, a special gubernatorial commission on workers' compensation heard calls for drastic changes in the compensation system and the way cases are heard. At meetings...

AG-elect makes appointments.
January 1, 2003... Attorney General-elect Charlie Grist recently announced the first appointments to the team that will manage the operations of the Attorney General's Office and the Department of Legal Affairs. In addition to the appointment of new managers,...

Statewide prosecutor nominations made.
January 1, 2003... Six attorneys, including the incumbent, have been nominated by the Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission for the next term as statewide prosecutor. The commission met December 9 to interview eight finalists it had selected from the...

Language snafu snares relocating lawyer.
January 1, 2003... When friends ask Lydia Boesch, a California-licensed lawyer who moved to North Carolina in 2001, if she's taken the bar exam in her new home yet, she has a rueful answer. "I say, 'No, and you don't want to know why,"' Boesch said. The...

In memoriam.
January 1, 2003... Anthony J.J. Beisler, Ft. Lauderdale Admitted 1956; Died August 18, 2002 Gabriel Bellon, Miami Admitted 1998; Died May 4, 2002 John Eugene Benito, Tampa Admitted 1974; Died April 8, 2002 Colonel Morrie Benson, Winter...

Court modifies Rules of Criminal Procedure.
January 1, 2003... Appointed lawyers for defendants facing misdemeanor or municipal charges cannot always be dismissed even if it's certified a conviction will not bring jail time. The Supreme Court made modifications to Rule of Criminal Procedure December 5...

Foundation awards $9 million in legal aid grants.
January 1, 2003... The Florida Bar Foundation awarded more than $9 million in IOTA grants in December to Florida legal aid providers to help meet the legal needs of the poor. The grants represent an approximately four percent cut in Foundation funding for...

Burton Award nominations sought.
January 1, 2003... The Bar's Military Affairs Committee is now accepting nominations for its Clayton B. Burton Award of Excellence. The award 'is given 'annually to those who demonstrate character and leadership promoting the quality of legal services...

Orange county YLS awards scholarship.
January 1, 2003... The Young Lawyers Section of the Orange County Bar Association recently awarded its annual OCBA YLS Scholarship to Herlande Moise. Originally from Haiti, Moise recently came to Florida unable to speak or understand English. Through hard...

Kise named solicitor general.
January 1, 2003... Tampa attorney Chris Kise will have a dual role in Tallahassee, serving as Florida's Solicitor General as well as the Richard W. Ervin Visiting Professor at the Florida State University College of Law. "Chris Kise is a remarkable lawyer and...

Proposed Board of Governors actions. (Notice).
January 1, 2003... Pursuant to Standing Board Policy 1.60, the Board of Goyemors of The Florida Bar hereby publishes notice of intent to consider or take final action at its January 29-31 meeting on the following items. These matters are additionally governed by...

Free report shows lawyers How To Get More Clients.
January 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...

Advertising update: prepared by the staff of the standing committee on advertising.
January 1, 2003... Recent Decisions of The Board of Governors on Advertising The Board of Governors of The Florida Bar considers appeals from opinions of the Standing Committee on Advertising. The Board's decisions on advertising issues at its most recent...

Katie Couric warns lawyers about colon cancer.
January 1, 2003... Medical researchers call it the "Couric Effect" - a dramatic 20-percent increase in colonoscopies nationwide after Katie Couric, co-anchor of NBC's "Today" show, underwent the colon-cancer screening test on live television two years ago to show...

Guardian ad litem training scheduled for Pinellas County.
January 1, 2003... Each year, the fate of thousands of abused, neglected or abandoned children is decided in a system where they have no voice. That's why the Sixth Judicial Circuit's Guardian ad Litem Program has set guardian training classes in Pinellas...

Staesser joins the Bar Journal & News.
January 1, 2003... Daniel Staesser is the newest member of the Bar Journal & News staff, serving as assistant editor in charge of News & Notes and Qn the Move. He will also write stories for the Bar News and help edit 'articles for the Journal. Staesser, 23,...

Law school debt on the rise.
January 1, 2003... Results of a recent nationwide survey conducted among third year law students reveals that 94 percent of respondents have financed their studies through school loans and 50 percent graduated this year with law school loan debts of $75,000 or...

Meaningful communication. (Stresslines).
January 1, 2003... Except for dyed-in-the-wool schizoids and the occasional zenophobic, most of us relish the prospect of deep connections in our closest relationships. Comfort sets in with the sense of having a history with someone, of being known and...

Chief Justice awards honor service to the legal system.
January 1, 2003... Chief Justice Harry Lee Anstead recently recognized a number of lawyers, judges, and court employees for thier extraordinary service to the judicial branch. "We need to emphasize how much we do in the courts that is truly above and beyond...

August & Kalunas, P.A. (News and Notes).
January 1, 2003... Jerald David August of August & Kalunas, P.A., West Palm Beach, was selected by the American Bar Association Section of Taxation to participate in a live webcast and teleconference, as he was one of three nationally recognized tax expert...

Janet W. Behnke, P.A. (News and Notes).
January 1, 2003... Janet W. Behnke, a sole practitioner at Janet W. Behnke, P.A., Ocala, has been appointed to membership on the Florida Board of Bar Examiners by the Supreme Court of Florida, to succeed retiring member C. Jeffrey McInnis of Ft. Walton Beach.

Gabriel Imperato. (News and Notes).
January 1, 2003... Gabriel Imperato of Broad and Cassel, Ft. Lauderdale, led a panel on the PhRMA Code Guidelines on marketing and sales practices and what they mean for pharmaceutical companies and physicians, at the Health Care Compliance Association's...

LCB International. (News and Notes).
January 1, 2003... Yvonne Loggins-Coleman, president of LCB International, a business consulting firm, has been reappointed by the Supreme Court of Florida to a second term on the Florida Board of Bar Examiners.

De la O & Marko. (News and Notes).
January 1, 2003... Miguel M. de la O, managing partner of de la O & Marko, Miami, has been appointed to membership on the Florida Board of Bar Examiners by the Supreme Court of Florida, to succeed retiring member Gary Fox of Miami.

Lorman Educational Services. (News and Notes).
January 1, 2003... G. Mark Shalloway of Shalloway and Shalloway, P.A., West Palm Beach, presented "Medicaid and Elder Law Issues in Florida" for Lorman Educational Services.

Gloretta Hankins Hall. (News and Notes).
January 1, 2003... Gloretta Hankins Hall of Gary, Williams, Parenti, et al., Stuart, was elected to the position of vice chair of the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. Hall becomes the first African-American woman to chair the board.

Levine Brown Klingensmith & Thomison, P.A. (News and Notes).
January 1, 2003... Stuart J. Levine, founding shareholder of Walters Levine Brown Klingensmith & Thomison, P.A., Sarasota, has been selected by the president of the Sarasota County Bar Association to be the chair of the circuit civil committee.

Tampa Theatre, Inc. (News and Notes).
January 1, 2003... Kevin J. Napper, a shareholder with Carlton Fields, in Tampa, was elected to a second term as chair of the board of the Tampa Theatre, Inc.

Panter & Sampedro, P.A. (News and Notes).
January 1, 2003... David Sampedro of Panter, Panter & Sampedro, P.A., in Miami, presented "A Practical Refresher on Litigating the Florida Auto Injury Case" on behalf of the National Business Institute in Miami.

Barnhart & Shipley, P.A. (News and Notes).
January 1, 2003... Chris Searcy of Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A., West Palm Beach, spoke at the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers' 2002 Fall Convention. He spoke on the topic of "Advanced Trial Skills: A Trial Demonstration by the Masters."

Florida Defense Lawyers Association. (News and Notes).
January 1, 2003... David B. Pakula of Ft. Lauderdale has received the 2002 Amicus Award from the Florida Defense Lawyers Association.

Kirk & Caldwell. (News and Notes).
January 1, 2003... Frank Sheppard of Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell, Orlando, was named a member of the community advisory board at the hospice of the Comforter, a community-based, nonprofit Hospice serving terminally ill patients in Seminole, Orange, and Osceola...

Kirk & Caldwell, P.A. (News and Notes).
January 1, 2003... E. Thom Rumberger, founding partner of Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell, P.A., Tallahassee, was recently appointed chair of the Study Committee on Public Records by Gov. Jeb Bush.

Florida Hospital Association. (News and Notes).
January 1, 2003... Mike Segal and Joanne Erde of Broad and Cassel, Miami, addressed the Florida Hospital Association Annual Meeting on Corporate Governance Issues After Enron.

Baker & McKenzie. (News and Notes).
January 1, 2003... Lee Stapleton Mil-ford, a former federal prosecutor and partner at Baker & McKenzie, Miami, has been appointed to the editorial board of the legal journal Litigation, published by the American Bar Association.

West's Florida Motor Vehicle . (News and Notes).
January 1, 2003... Russel Lazega, James Underwood, and Christopher Tuccitto of the Law Office of Russel Lazega have published West's Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law-PIP," a new introduction to West's Florida Practice Series.

Rosenberg & McAuliffe, PL. (News and Notes).
January 1, 2003... Robin Rosenberg, a partner in Rosenberg & McAuliffe, PL, West Palm Beach, was honored as a finalist for the Arthur E. Turner Excellence in Entrepreneurship Awards sponsored by Northwood University.

Florida Academy of Professional Mediators. (News and Notes).
January 1, 2003... Charles N. Castagna was sworn in as president of the Florida Academy of Professional Mediators at the recent Florida Supreme Court Dispute Resolution Center annual conference in Orlando.

Forizs & Dogali, P.L. (News and Notes).
January 1, 2003... Zola L. Forizs, a co-founder and president of Forizs & Dogali, P.L., Tampa, has been appointed to membership, on the Florida Board of Bar Examiners by the Supreme Court of Florida, to succeed retiring member John A. Yanchums of Tampa.

Annual Intellectual Property Law Institute. (News and Notes).
January 1, 2003... Rebecca O'Dell Townsend of GrayHarris, Tampa, recently spoke on a panel with Don Fehr of the Major League Baseball Player's Association regarding "The Future of Amer-ica's Favorite Pastime," at the 14th Annual Southern Regional Entertainment...

Cohen & Grigsby. (News and Notes).
January 1, 2003... Hugh W. Nevin, Jr., a partner and member of the international business group at Cohen & Grigsby, with Naples, was recently elected as director of the German American Business Chamber-Southwest Florida Chapter, which promotes international trade...

Roselli & Roselli-Trial Lawyers. (On the Move).
January 1, 2003... Richard Roselli and Robert Roselli announced that they have teamed up to form a new law firm, Roselli & Roselli-Trial Lawyers, with offices at 3471 N. Federal Highway, Ste. 600, Ft. Lauderdale 33306, telephone (954)568-0700. The firm...

Loop, & Kendrick, LLP. (On the Move).
January 1, 2003... Andrea T. Tullo, formerly of Tullo & DiBia-s, LLP, in Tampa, has joined Shumaker, Loop, & Kendrick, LLP, with offices at 101 Kennedy Blvd., Ste. 2800, Tampa 33602, telephone (813)229-7600. She concentrates in intellectual property and...

Lamont and Neiman, P.A. (On the Move).
January 1, 2003... A. Stephen Kotler, former associate of Lamont and Neiman, P.A., in Miami, has joined Akerman Senterfitt, with offices at One S.E. Third Ave., 28th floor, Miami 33131, telephone (305)374-5600. He is of counsel in the firm's capital transactions...

Canton Fields. (On the Move).
January 1, 2003... Christopher Smart has joined Canton Fields, with offices located at One Harbour Place, 777 S. Harbour Island Blvd., Tampa 33602, telephone (813)223-7000. He practices in the areas of government law and consulting.

Marjorie A. Baron. (On the Move).
January 1, 2003... Marjorie A. Baron, former assistant general counsel and special assistant to the chief judge of the 11th Judicial Circuit, announces the relocation of her offices to One S.E. Third Ave., Ste. 1450, Miami 33l3l, telephone (305)374-8880. She...

Doolittle & Burroughs, LLP. (On the Move).
January 1, 2003... Michael G. Platner, former shareholder with Gunster Yoakley, has joined Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLP, with offices at 2500 N. Military Trail, Ste. 480, Boca Raton 33431, telephone (561)241-0414. He practices in the areas of public....

Marks Gray, P.A. (On the Move).
January 1, 2003... Kristen L. Grauer has joined Marks Gray, P.A., with offices at 1200 Riverplace Blvd., Ste. 800, Jacksonville 32207, telephone (904)398-0900. The firm practices in all areas of civil and commercial litigation and transactions.

Peter A. Chiabotti. (On the Move).
January 1, 2003... Peter A. Chiabotti has joined Akerman Senterfitt, with offices at the Esperante Building, 222 Lakeview Ave., Ste. 400, West Palm Beach 33401, telephone (561)653-5000. He concentrates in the areas of intellectual property litigation and patent...

Tamela Wiseman, P.A. (On the Move).
January 1, 2003... Tamela Wiseman announces the opening of Tamela Wiseman, P.A., with offices located at 350 Fifth Ave. S., Ste. 203, Naples 34102, telephone (239)434-9888. She concentrates her practice in the areas of real estate closings, including issuance of...

Lopez and Skokos, PA. (On the Move).
January 1, 2003... Darren Inverso, a former associate of Blalock, Landers, Walters, & Vogler, in Bradenton, has joined Norton, Hammersley, Lopez and Skokos, PA., with offices located at 1819 Main St., Ste. 610, Sarasota 34236, telephone (941)954-4691. He...

Stacey Dorvilus. (On the Move).
January 1, 2003... Stacey Dorvilus has joined Akerman Senterfitt with offices located at One S.E. Third Ave., 28th floor, Miami 33131, telephone (305)374-5600. She practices in the firm's corporate department.

Ranana M. Hustey. (On the Move).
January 1, 2003... Ranana M. Hustey has joined Sachs Sax Klein, with offices located at 301 Yamato Rd., Boca Raton 33431, telephone (561)994-4499. He concentrates in community association, lien, and foreclosure law.

Smith Clark Delesie Bierley Mueller & Kadyk. (On the Move).
January 1, 2003... Louis I. Mussman became associated with Smith Clark Delesie Bierley Mueller & Kadyk, with offices located at 100 N. Tampa St., Ste. 2120, Tampa, 33602, telephone (813)226-1880. He practices inbankruptcy, commercial law, estates and trusts, and...

Christopher S. Polaszek. (On the Move).
January 1, 2003... Christopher S. Polaszek has joined Gray Harris with offices at Ste. 2200, 201 N. Franklin St., Tampa 33602, telephone (813)273-5000. He practices in complex commercial litigation.

U.S. Court of Appeals in Atlanta. (On the Move).
January 1, 2003... Randy Murrell has been reappointed by the Eleventh Circuit. U.S. Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Georgia, to serve another four year term as the Federal Public Defender for the Northem District of Florida.

Canning & Kamula, P.A. (On the Move).
January 1, 2003... David R. Canning and Matthew R. Kamula announce the opening of their new firm, Canning & Kamula, P.A., located at 9500 5. Dadeland Blvd., Suite 710, Miami FL 33156, telephone (305)670-4499. The firm practices in the areas of insurance defense...

Greenberg Traurig, LLP. (On the Move).
January 1, 2003... Charles M. Auslander, former district administrator of the Florida Department of Children and Families, has rejoined Greenberg Traurig, LLP, with offices at 1221 Brickell Ave., Miami 3313, telephone (305)579-0500. He practices in the firm's...

Holland & Knight, LLP. (On the Move).
January 1, 2003... Danielle C. Casey, Erika B. Engelson, Gregory A. Haile, Laura L. Peck, and David Shahoulian have become associated with Holland & Knight, LLP, with offices at 701 Brickell Ave., Ste. 3000, Miami 33131, telephone (305)3492253. Casey practices in...

National Commercial Services. (On the Move).
January 1, 2003... Clay Stephens has joined Land America National Commercial Services with offices located at 450 S. Orange Ave., Suite 170, Orlando 32801, telephone (407)839-1561. He serves as underwriting counsel.

Thomas Roddenberry. (On the Move).
January 1, 2003... Thomas Roddenberry has joined Akerman Senterfltt, with offices at 1 S.E. 3rd Ave., 28th Fl., Miami 33131, telephone (305)374-5600. He practices in the firm's corporate department.

Brown Security and Law Group, P.A. (On the Move).
January 1, 2003... Alvin K. Brown, formerly with the Central Intelligence Agency, has formed Brown Security and Law Group, P.A., with offices located at 6560 1st Ave. N., St. Petersburg 33710, telephone (727)322-1491. The firm concentrates in the areas of fraud,...

Thomas J. Wilkes, Jr. (On the Move).
January 1, 2003... Thomas J. Wilkes, Jr., former Orange County Attorney, has rejoined Gray Harris, with offices at 301 E. Pine St., Ste. 1400, Orlando 32801, telephone (407)843-8880. He concentrates in the areas of state and local government, taxation and...

Fowler White Boggs Banker. (On the Move).
January 1, 2003... Robert H. Waltuch, formerly with Holland and Knight LLP, has joined Fowler White Boggs Banker, with offices at 501 E. Kennedy Blvd., Ste. 1700, Tampa 33602, telephone (813)228-7411. He becomes the statewide trusts and estates practice group...

Fiduciary Trust International of the South. (On the Move).
January 1, 2003... Eric D. Sachs has been appointed assistant vice president of new business development for Fiduciary Trust International of the South, with offices at 100 S.E. Second St., Ste. 2300, Miami 33131, telephone (305)372-1260. He advises prospects and...