Florida Bar News articles from January 2004

Florida Bar News archives from January 2004

Bookman named Bar president-elect: he plans to reach out to Bar members, improve court access.
January 1, 2004... Alan B. Bookman didn't get a chance to get a big head about becoming president-elect designate of The Florida Bar. When the call came late on December 15 that Bookman had won the post unopposed, he was in a meeting with clients. "I was...

MJP rules to be sent to the court: package calls for registration and fees for most non-Bar members.
January 1, 2004... Rejecting last minute misgivings from the securities industry and a corporate counsel group, the Bar Board of Governors has approved rule amendments to regulate multijurisdictional practice in Florida. Acting at its December 5 meeting on...

Certification appeal process clarified.
January 1, 2004... A proposal to revamp the certification appeal process has been abandoned in favor of clarified policies, following Bar Board of Governors action last month. The board also accepted the recommendation of the Program Evaluation Committee for...

Bar President.
January 1, 2004... BAR PRESIDENT Miles McGrane presented Sen. Rod Smith, D-Gainesville, and Rep. Holly Benson, R- Pensacola, with The Florida Bar President's Legislative Awards at the Board of Governors recent meeting on Amelia Island for their continuing effort...

Attorney donates a kidney to colleague's suffering daughter.(Florida lawyers: protecting rights, pursuing justice, promoting professionalism)
January 1, 2004... Hooked up to hemodialysis at the hospital for four hours three times a week. Enduring the prick of needles the size of 16-gauge nails. Sapped of energy. Carrying only 86 pounds on her 5-foot-3inch frame. Unable to eat many foods, and forcing...

Briefy: how not to write one.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... I was rather amused to read the November 15 article "Briefly: How not to write one." I found it even more amusing, and rather ironic, that at the end of this article you cited the full text of the Texas decision as "Bradshaw v. Unity Marine...

Payday.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... For attorneys, time is their most valuable commodity. Following the law of supply and demand, the less time that an attorney has to offer, the higher value an attorney will place on that time. What is ironic about the legal profession is that...

Public member applications sought.(Notice)
January 1, 2004... Continuing its practice of public involvement, The Florida Bar is seeking a new member of the public to serve on its governing board. The board member will replace Vivian L. Hobbs, Ph.D., of Tallahassee, whose second two-year term expires...

Board to fill Bar Foundation vacancy.(Notice)
January 1, 2004... The Board of Governors is seeking applicants for the following vacancies to be filled at its January 31, 2004, meeting: Florida Bar Foundation Board of Directors: Two lawyers to serve three-year terms, commencing July 1, 2004, on this...

Foundation seeks board applicants.(Notice)
January 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...

Board of Governors races set for March.
January 1, 2004... Fifteen lawyers have been elected without opposition to The Florida Bar Board of Governors and another 26 are running for eight contested seats, including 10 candidates for one 11th Circuit board seat. Filing closed at 5 p.m. December 15...

Middle District judgeship open.
January 1, 2004... Applications are now being accepted to fill the position of U.S. District Court judge for the Middle District of Florida. Applications are available from Commission Chair Roberto Martinez, 255 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables 33134, telephone...

Jones petitions for readmission.
January 1, 2004... The Florida Board of Bar Examiners is seeking comments on Michael Lee Jones of Tampa. Jones resigned from the practice of law in Florida in lieu of disciplinary proceedings pursuant to the Supreme Court Case No. 81,737. He now has...

Lucas petitions for readmission.
January 1, 2004... The Florida Board of Bar Examiners is seeking comments on Roy Leonard Lucas of Port St. Lucie. Lucas resigned from the practice of law under allegations that discrepancies were found in his use of trust funds under the Supreme Court Order...

Bar earnings are up.
January 1, 2004... A mutual fund company tinged by the ongoing fund scandal has been dropped from the Bar's investment portfolio, although overall Bar earnings continue to be strong. Investment Committee Chair Ian Comisky told the Board of Governors in...

Amendments affecting billing and costs sent to the court.
January 1, 2004... Two proposed Bar rule amendments, one on billing and the other on costs, have passed the Board of Governors and will be forwarded to the Supreme Court. The board at its December meeting followed the recommendation of the Disciplinary...

Board approves funds for grievance process survey: and staff time for advertising rules review.
January 1, 2004... Money for surveys for the Bar's ongoing review of its grievance process and staff time transfers for a new advertising task force have been approved by the Bar Board of Governors, acting on recommendations of the Budget Committee. Both...

Board makes appointments.
January 1, 2004... A Jacksonville attorney has been named to the U.S. 11th Circuit Judicial Conference among several appointments made by the Bar Board of Governors last month. E. Lanny Russell was chosen by the board for a four-year term on the conference,...

Practicing with professionalism changes suggested: including ending the government lawyer deferment.
January 1, 2004... Under the plan, PWP is being reduced to one day, with the number of basic skills courses required increased to three. Government lawyers would maintain their deferment from taking the basic skills courses but be mandated to take PWP along with...

Tax lawyers, CPAs to tip-off: at halftime of a Miami Heat basketball game.
January 1, 2004... Tax attorneys and CPAs will square-off January 20 for a little round ball action at halftime of the Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics game at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami. The contest is part of Florida Bar Tax Section Night at the NBA...

Bar receives favorable audit.
January 1, 2004... The Florida Bar received a favorable audit for its 2002-03 fiscal operations, according to the Audit Committee. Committee member Warren Lindsey told the Board of Governors last month that the Bar's auditors have finished the fiscal review...

Proposed PWP rules.(Notice)
January 1, 2004... The Board of Governors of The Florida Bar hereby gives notice of filing with the Supreme Court of Florida, on or about January 30, a petition to amend the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar. Rule 1-112.1, Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, governs...

Bill would prevent prisoners from harassing federal officials.
January 1, 2004... It was a bit unsettling for Santa Rosa County Sheriff Wendell Hall's wife to open the mail and discover that a lien had been filed against their property. It really took them aback to see that the person who had filed the lien was a...

Free report shows lawyers how to get more clients.
January 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...

Senate Judiciary passes DNA testing bill.
January 1, 2004... Should there be a statute of limitations on innocence claims using DNA testing? At the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Skip Campbell, D-Tamarac, recounted a conversation he had with Sen. Rod Smith, D-Gainesville. "I read him a quote...

Preference form deadline nears.
January 1, 2004... The annual committee preference form for Bar members seeking appointments for the presidential term of President-elect Kelly Overstreet Johnson are now available on The Florida Bar's Web site. The forms are posted at www.flabar.org. If...

Videos added to Bar Web site.
January 1, 2004... Under a new program, Bar members can now view video clips from Board of Governors meetings via the Bar's Web site at www.flabar.org. Items from the board's December 5 meeting in Amelia Island have now been added to the site. Visitors can...

Sotolongo petitions for Bar reinstatement.
January 1, 2004... Pursuant to Rule 3-7.10, Felipe Sotolongo has petitioned the Florida Supreme Court for Bar reinstatement. Sotolongo was suspended for 91 days for misconduct including misdemeanor criminal charges and neglect of, and lack of communication...

Novo petitions for Bar reinstatement.
January 1, 2004... Pursuant to Rule 3-7.10, Jesus Novo III has petitioned the Florida Supreme Court for Bar reinstatement. Novo was suspended for 18 months, nunc pro tunc to August 31, 2001. Anyone having knowledge bearing upon Novo's fitness or...

Disciplinary actions.
January 1, 2004... The Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders suspended 14 attorneys, reprimanded five, disbarred two, and accepted the resignation of two attorneys. The following lawyers are disciplined: Maldrick Elaine Bright, P.O. Box 3513,...

LexisNexis makes push in Florida.(Member Benefits Update)
January 1, 2004... LexisNexis continues to boost its market share in Florida by winning a number state contracts. LexisNexis recently contracted with the state to provide legal research services to: * 1,500 judges and their staff members statewide,...

Benson: legislature committed to preserving the court system.
January 1, 2004... Florida lawmakers are committed to maintaining the quality of the state's court system as they take over more funding of trial courts and they welcome input from the legal community, according to state Rep. Holly Benson, R-Pensacola. ...

In memoriam.
January 1, 2004... John Royce Agner, Ft. Lauderdale Admitted 1962, Died September 6, 2003 Jan Harmon Anderson, Lakeland Admitted 1975; Died September 26, 2003 George S. Barnard, Pompano Beach Admitted 1978; Died September 23, 2003 ...

What can nonlawyer form preparation services do?(UPL Update)
January 1, 2004... Nonlawyers are allowed to provide certain limited services to the public but Cannot give legal advice or do anything which constitutes the practice of law. Generally speaking, they can sell blank legal forms and act as a secretarial service,...

Proposed board actions.(Notice)
January 1, 2004... Pursuant to Standing Board Policy 1.60, the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar hereby publishes this notice of intent to consider or take final action at its January 30 meeting on the following items. These matters are additionally governed...

Proposed MJP rules.(Notice)
January 1, 2004... The Board of Governors of The Florida Bar hereby gives notice of filing with the Supreme Court of Florida, on or about January 30, a petition to amend the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar. Rule 1-12.1, Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, governs...

Stetson's Tampa campus to open.
January 1, 2004... The Stetson University Tampa Law Center and Campus will open January 8 with the start of spring semester classes. Located at 1700 N. Tampa St., just off Interstate 275, it will be the first law school in Tampa. "This is a milestone in...

Proposed amendments to the Code of Judicial Conduct.(Notice)
January 1, 2004... The Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee has filed a report in the Florida Supreme Court recommending an amendment to the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct. In response to this court's request in In re Kinsey, 842 So. 2d 77 (Fla. 2003), the...

The Florida Bar's 2004 midyear meeting: January 14-17 * Hyatt Regency Miami * 400 S.E. Second Avenue * Miami, Florida.(Calendar)
January 1, 2004... Wednesday, January 14 Business Law Section--Judicial Liaison Committee 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Florida Supreme Court--Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Florida Supreme...

J. Eric Virgil.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... J. Eric Virgil, of Coral Gables, recently presented Mastering Real Estate Titles and Title Insurance in Florida at a National Business Institute seminar for lawyers and paralegals.

Tampa Bar Trial Lawyers Association.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Kent G. Whittemore of Whittemore, Denson P.A., has been elected president of the Tampa Bar Trial Lawyers Association.

John R. Kancilia.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... John R. Kaneilia, of GrayHarris in Melbourne, recently spoke at the American Medical Group Association Southern Regional Meeting on Automated External Defibrillators in Clinics: Is It Worth the Expense?

Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association Board of Directors.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Paul S. Kimsey of Kimsey Law Group, Tampa, has been appointed to the Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association Board of Directors. He also serves on the TBTLA Ethics and Professionalism Committee.

Steven Turner.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Steven Turner of Broad and Cassel in Tallahassee, who practices trial and appellate law in civil and administrative cases, has been invited to be an adjunct professor at the Florida State University School of Law.

Russel Lazega.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Russel Lazega of North Miami has published the 2003 edition of West Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law (P.I.P.), a nationally distributed treatise on automobile insurance law. Lazega also recently presented a seminar on the 2003 automobile...

Marina A. Choundas.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Marina A. Choundas of the Tampa office of Foley & Lardner has been elected to the Board of Directors of the National Conference of Community and Justice, Tampa Bay Region, which promotes understanding and respect among all races, religions, and...

Maria Elena Abate.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Maria Elena Abate of Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky, & Abate, recently spoke on bad faith claims, including statutory bad faith liability, statutory damages, common law bad faith liability, and common law damages at the Ft. Lauderdale...

H.T. Smith.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... H.T. Smith of Miami recently received the "Lawyers in Leadership Award" from the University of Miami School of Law Center for Ethics and Public Service. The award recognizes members of the Bar and bench who have established an important...

Luis A. de Armas.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Luis A. de Armas of Shutts & Bowen, Miami, has been elected chair of the Dade Marine Institute's board, a non-profit rehabilitation program for youthful offenders.

Thomas M. Messana.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Thomas M. Messana of Ruden, McClosky, Smith, Schuster & Russell, P.A., Sarasota, recently moderated a panel at the ABA's Business Law meeting in San Diego on bankruptcy crimes.

Peter A. Quinter.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Peter A. Quinter of Becker & Poliakoff, Miami, has been appointed to co-chair the ABA's Customs Law Committee for the upcoming year.

John E. Brown.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... John E. Brown of Waiters Levine Brown Klingensmith & Thomison, P.A., has been appointed as legal counsel for the Gulf Coast Builders Exchange, a trade organization for commercial builders and subcontractors.

Edith G. Osman.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Edith G. Osman of Carlton Fields, Miami, has been appointed to the ABA Standing Committee on Bar Activities and Services for a three-year term.

Fisher, Rushmer, Werrenrath, Dickson, Talley & Dunlap, P.A., Orlando, was recently presented the "My Boss is a Patriot" certificate of appreciation from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Fisher, Rushmer, Werrenrath, Dickson, Talley & Dunlap, P.A., Orlando, was recently presented the "My Boss is a Patriot" certificate of appreciation from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense National Committee for Employer Support of...

Jason M. Murray.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Jason M. Murray of Carlton Fields, Miami, recently spoke on the rise of mediation options at the ABA's 26th Annual Forum on Franchising in Hollywood.

Frank N. Tobolsky.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Frank N. Tobolsky of Frank N. Tobolsky, P.C., Philadelphia; recently served as course planner and speaker for "Drafting and Negotiating Pennsylvania Commercial Real Estate Leases" for the National Business Institute.

Bruce Charles King.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Bruce Charles King of Carlton Fields, Miami, recently spoke at a Sterling Education Services seminar in Miami, titled "Water Intrusion and Mold Claims in Florida." The seminar addressed current scientific, regulatory, and legal developments...

Steven J. Brodie.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Steven J. Brodie of Carlton Fields, Miami, has been elected to the Greater Miami Jewish Federation Board of Directors and Executive Committee for the 2003-2004 campaign year.

Laurie Levin.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Laurie Levin, of counsel at Baker & Hostetler, L.L.P., Orlando has been reappointed as vice chair of the Committee on Law and Medicine of the Tort and Insurance Section of the American Bar Association. Levin also recently chaired and...

Leslie J. Lott.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Leslie J. Lott of Lott & Friedland, P.A., Coral Gables, conducted a presentation on "Resolving Trademark Disputes Through Arbitration and Mediation" at the Worldwide Forum on Trademark Protection in Geneva, Switzerland. Lott was also appointed...

Sam Stafford.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Sam Stafford, director of the Eighth Judicial Circuit General Master/Hearing Officer Programs, was appointed by Florida Senate President Jim King to the Florida Commission on Marriage and Family Support Initiatives.

Howard P. Ross.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Howard P. Ross of Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & Wein, St. Petersburg, has been named to the American Arbitration Association's National Committee Roster of Neutrals.

John Newton.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... John Newton, senior assistant attorney general in the Attorney General's Civil Rights and Economic Crimes Units, was elected to the board of directors of the Tallahassee Museum of History and Natural Science.

Pearline Blackwood.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Pearline Blackwood recently spoke on immigration and U.S. national security at an event at Callahan Center on the St. Francis College campus in Brooklyn, New York.

Robert G. Amsel.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Robert G. Amsel of Robbins, Tunkey, Ross, Amsel, Raben, Waxman, & Eiglarsh P.A., Miami, recently lectured on vacating state court convictions to avoid deportation, at a luncheon hosted by the South Florida Chapter of the Immigration Lawyers...

William M. Sharp, Sr.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... William M. Sharp, I Sr., of Sharp, Smith & Harrison, P.A., in Tampa, co-wrote an article with the Nishith Desai Associates law firm in India on the Internal Revenue Service's recent attention to Indians with U.S. links and which was published...

Edward M. Ricci.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Edward M. Ricci of Ricci-Leopold, P.A., Palm Beach Gardens, has been appointed to the board of directors of the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County.

Kelley Geraghty Price.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Kelley Geraghty Price of Cohen & Grigsby, P.C., Naples, has been appointed to the Florida Gulf Coast University Justice Studies Advisory Board.

Hubert J. Bell, Jr.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Hubert J. Bell, Jr., of Smith, Currie & Hancock, L.L.P., Atlanta, has been elected chair of the ABA's Section of Public Contract Law.

Bill T. Smith, Jr.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Bill T. Smith, Jr., the former mayor of Boca Raton, has been appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush as a State of Florida representative to the newly created South Florida Transportation Authority.

Leonard L. Kleinman.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Leonard L. Kleinman, Of Counsel to the Tampa office of Ruden, McClosky, Smith, Schuster & Russell, P.A., was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the United Jewish Communities.

Kevin W. Crews.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Kevin W. Crews, of KLEINMAN the Naples office of Wicker, Smith, O'Hara, McCoy, Graham & Ford, P.A., recently presented a speech on nonbinding arbitration to the Florida Medical Malpractice Claims Council in Ft. Lauderdale. Kevin also recently...

Joel Hirschhorn.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Joel Hirschhorn of Hirschhorn & Bieber, P.A., Coral Gables, has been appointed to the Board of Bar Examiners Review Committee of the Wisconsin State Bar Association.

Gerald A. Rosenthal.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Gerald A. Rosenthal of Rosenthal & Weissman, P.A., West Palm Beach, addressed the Florida Workers' Advocates New Law Seminar. His topic was "Compensability, Additional & Alternative Causes of Action."

John Cyril Malloy III.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... John Cyril Malloy III of Malloy & Malloy, P.A., Miami, has been appointed chair of the International Trademark Association's the Model State Trademark Bill subcommittee, which is responsible for presenting revised trademark legislation in...

Stephen H. Siegel.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Stephen H. Siegel of Ruden, McClosky, Smith, Schuster & Russell, P.A., Miami, recently wrote "Developing Effective Compliance Plans Critical to Companies," for the October. edition of Atlantic Coast In-House.

Craig J. Trocino.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Craig J. Trocino, Miami, co-director of the Florida Innocence Project at Nova Southeastern University, appeared on MSNBC's "The Dan Abrams Report," discussing post-conviction DNA testing for Florida inmates.

Eli A. Franks.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Eli A. Franks, of Rosenthal & Weissman in West Palm Beach, has been named vice president of the Treasure Coast Food Bank. Also, Eric S. Lakind, of the firm's Port St. Lucie office, was named to the board of the Latin Chamber of Commerce of the...

Michael D. Joblove.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Michael D. Joblove of Miami's Genovese Joblove & Battista, P.A., recently spoke at the ABA's Franchise Forum. He discussed defending franchisors against vicarious liability claims from third parties, arising from the actions of franchisees.

Kristen David Adams.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Kristen David Adams has written a book titled "The Practice of Law School: Getting In and Making the Most of Your Legal Education."

Dale R. Hightower.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Dale R. Hightower of Hightower, Weiser & Pozo, P.A., recently spoke on "Trial and Settlement of Uninsured Motorist Actions" at an Orlando event hosted by the National Business Institute.

Eduardo Lacasa.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... Eduardo Lacasa, of the Miami office of Ruden, McClosky, Smith, Schuster & Russell, P.A., has been elected chair of the Florida State Boxing Commission. Appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush, Lacasa has been a member of the commission since 1999.

Fifteenth Circuit celebrates National Adoption Day.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2004... In November, many circuits throughout the United States held court and finalized adoptions for children in foster and relative care. Many community members--and agencies such as the Guardian Ad Litem Program, Childrens Home Society,...

Mitchell B. Rothman, formerly of the Rothman Law Offices in Tampa, has recently earned his Colorado law license and has opened The Rothman Law Firm with offices in the Sky Adventures Building at Walker Field, 817 Falcon Way, Suite 210, Grand Junction, Colorado 81506, telephone (888) 256-4824.(On the Move)
January 1, 2004... Mitchell B. Rothman, formerly of the Rothman Law Offices in Tampa, has recently earned his Colorado law license and has opened The Rothman Law Firm with offices in the Sky Adventures Building at Walker Field, 817 Falcon Way, Suite 210, Grand...