Florida Bar News articles from January 2008

Florida Bar News archives from January 2008

Diner named president-elect.(Jesse Diner)
January 1, 2008... Veteran Bar Board of Governors member Jesse Diner had long thought about running for president of The Florida Bar, but the time had never seemed right. Then one day his wife and law partner, Adele Stone, asked him if he was still...

Foundation grants 'save' state's Innocence Project.
January 1, 2008... Clutching his worldly possessions in one small packet, Chad Heins walked out of the Duval County Jail on December 4 a free man, after spending nearly 14 years locked up for the stabbing death of his sister-in-law he'd insisted from the...

Live Bar CLE Webcasts begin this month.(continuing legal education)
January 1, 2008... In a response to growing demand for distance education, The Florida Bar will begin offering live online Webcast services to all of its sections in January. Members will be able to watch educational programs on the Internet while...

Panel takes a look at sales tax exemptions: legal services are an exempted, not excluded, service under current laws.
January 1, 2008... Florida's Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, the constitutional agency required to examine the state's fiscal underpinnings, is taking a generalized look at sales tax exemptions that could include the exemptions on most services. ...

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas recently spoke to members of the Palm Beach County Bar Association and the Forum Club during a joint membership luncheon at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach.
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] U.S. SUPREME COURT Justice Clarence Thomas recently spoke to members of the Palm Beach County Bar Association and the Forum Club during a joint membership luncheon at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. More than...

Gov. Graham's judicial appointees to be recognized at SCHS dinner.
January 1, 2008... Within the span of more than a quarter of a century, former governor and Sen. Bob Graham had a major impact in shaping the judiciary of Florida and the nation. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] During eight years as Florida governor and 18 years...

Hillsborough paralegals plan meetings.(Paralegal Association of Florida)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... The Hillsborough County Chapter of the Paralegal Association of Florida will meet January 8 at The Tampa Club, located at 101 East Kennedy Blvd., Suite 4200, in Tampa. Robert Stoler will be discussing "Working Up a Case for Trial." ...

Action preventing lawyers from answering online questions nixed: Review Committee on Professional Ethics to review chat room advertising issue.
January 1, 2008... A Bar staff ruling that an attorney online in an Internet chat room could not answer legal questions from other participants has been withdrawn by the Bar Board of Governors. But the board stopped short of saying it is not a violation of a...

11th Circuit praises collaborative model to help settle disputes.
January 1, 2008... The Eleventh Judicial Circuit has adopted a collaborative model for resolving family disputes--a time-tested model that aims to encourage open communication and cooperation between the parties, guiding them toward a negotiated settlement versus...

Senate Judiciary Committee briefed on 'Fabre fix'.
January 1, 2008... After separate House and Senate committees last year passed bills limiting the ability of defendants in personal injury cases to ask jurors to determine the fault of nonparties as part of their deliberations, the Senate Judiciary Committee has...

Courts take mental health reforms to the legislature.
January 1, 2008... Her 19-year-old cousin was walking to a college class in Volusia County, when a strange woman walked up to her, babbled incoherently, "pulled out a gun, and blew out her brains," shared Sen. Mandy Dawson, D-Ft. Lauderdale, about her deceased...

Proposed amendments to jury instructions dealing with evidence and burden of proof.(Notices)
January 1, 2008... The Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases proposes to amend its instructions on the greater weight of evidence and burden of proof on defense issues. The current instruction appears at 3.8, page 4. The proposed...

The University of Florida Trial Team recently brought home a national title at the St. John's University National Civil Rights Trial Competition in Jamaica, NY.(Notices)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA Trial Team recently brought home a national title at the St. John's University National Civil Rights Trial Competition in Jamaica, NY. After a three-day competition, team members Jessica...

Mentors.(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2008... The headline of the December 15 issue "Professionalism's new focus: Change lawyers' bad behavior" and the sidebar about Albert Krieger and his mentor caused me to think back about my mentors, Jackson L. Peters and Joseph V. Niemoeller (both now...

Reverse mentoring.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2008... I suggest The Florida Bar implement a mandatory reverse-mentoring program. Pursuant to this program, all middle-aged lawyers would be required to have a mentor for one year. The pool of mentors would be chosen from those lawyers with less than...

PI reform.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2008... The Florida Bar needs to form a task force to recommend new guidelines and rules in order to better police unethical personal injury attorneys. Having been the victim of two serious accidents, it has been my experience that many unethical...

Judicial evaluations.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2008... Justice Charles Wells makes a fine case but still misses the mark in his December 15 column, "The inherent danger of judicial evaluation commissions." I think differently as a result of reading the article, but I can not agree that nothing...

Remembering John B. Kelley.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2008... I met attorney John Kelley in 1988 at a American Immigration Law Association meeting, and he touched my professional and personal heart by his very caring nature, outstanding conviction for the law, and above all respect for all human beings no...

17th JNC accepting judicial applications.(Letters)(Public notice)
January 1, 2008... The 17th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications to fill a circuit court vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Dorian Damoorgian to the Fourth District Court of Appeals. Applicants must have been members of...

Clark petitions for Bar reinstatement.(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Pursuant to Rule 3-7.10, Christopher Laing Clark of Miramar has petitioned the Supreme Court for Bar reinstatement. In a September 21, 2006, order, the court suspended Clark for 91 days, effective 30 days from the date of the opinion, for...

Exoneree Emergency Fund established: money will be used to provide transitional services.
January 1, 2008... Without even a bus ticket to send him home to Wisconsin, Chad Heins was released from 14 years of wrongful incarceration for murder. Larry Bostic went from prison, where he was serving time for a rape he did not commit, to a homeless...

The Florida State Mock Trial Team in November placed first in the ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law's 2007 Trial Advocacy Competition in Miami.
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE FLORIDA STATE MOCK TRIAL TEAM in November placed first in the ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law's 2007 Trial Advocacy Competition in Miami. "We are all very proud of our mock trial team's victory," said...

11th Circuit Historical Society honors South Florida 'legends'.
January 1, 2008... The 11th Judicial Circuit Historical Society awarded 12 of South Florida's "legal legends" at the historic Olympia Theater at Gusman Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Miami. The inaugural awards were given to those that have made...

Some of the justice teaching volunteers in Marion County recently met to share their classroom experiences after completing a half-year of school activity.
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SOME OF THE JUSTICE TEACHING volunteers in Marion County recently met to share their classroom experiences after completing a half-year of school activity. Those volunteers include, from the left, Steve Bairston,...

Proposed instructions regarding resisting an officer with violence.(Notices)
January 1, 2008... The Supreme Court Committee On Standard Jury Instructions In Criminal Cases submits the following amended instruction to the Florida Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases for comment. The committee proposes the following amended...

Florida Bar President Frank Angones takes his turn on Santa's lap at a holiday party for foster care kids co-sponsored by the Nassau County Bar Association.
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FLORIDA BAR President Frank Angones takes his turn on Santa's lap at a holiday party for foster care kids co-sponsored by the Nassau County Bar Association. Members of the Bar's Board of Governors were invited to the...

Steven Appel.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2008... Steven Appel of Appelrouth, Farah & Co., in Coral Gables spoke on "Taxation, Accounting, and Financial Management of Trusts and Estates" for National Business Institute programs in Miami and West Palm Beach. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

St. Petersburg Free Clinic.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2008... James B. Thompson, Jr., of Thompson Goodis Thompson Groseclose & Richardson was elected president of the St. Petersburg Free Clinic Board of Directors. Beth Houghton of St. Petersburg was elected vice president of the board.

Boys and Girls Clubs.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Kevin Lamb of Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart in West Palm Beach was appointed to the board of directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County.

Victoria E. Heuler.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2008... Victoria E. Heuler of McConnaughhay, Duffy, Coonrod, Pope & Weaver in Tallahassee was recently inducted as president of the Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys.

Marlene Gordon.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2008... Marlene Gordon, vice president and assistant general counsel for Burger King Corp., has joined the board of directors of the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Elizabeth Ricci.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2008... Elizabeth Ricci of Rambana & Ricci in Tallahassee gave the Barry University adult and continuing education address to graduates in December on the importance of effectuating change through volunteerism and participation in the elections...

Michael S. Hooker.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2008... Michael S. Hooker of Glenn Rasmussen Fogarty & Hooker in Tampa received this year's Judge George C. Carr Memorial Award, presented by the Federal Bar Association's Tampa Bay Chapter.

Laura R. Seidman.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2008... Laura R. Seidman, general counsel for Broward Health, joined the member editorial board of The Governance Institute. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

American Board of Trial Advocates.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2008... Kurt M. Spengler of the Orlando office of Wicker, Smith, O'Hara, McCoy & Ford was named to the American Board of Trial Advocates.

Mary Quinlan.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Hillsborough County Bar awarded Mary Quinlan of Trenam Kemker its James M. "Red" McEwen Memorial Award for outstanding service to the bar and the community for devoting hundreds of hours in connection with the...

Florida Independent Living Council.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2008... Peter S. Sachs of Sachs & Sax law firm has been elected president of the statewide Florida Independent Living Council, which promotes independent living opportunities for persons with disabilities. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Junior Achievement.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2008... Jeffrey D. Weinstock of Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs in Boca Raton has been appointed to the board of directors of Junior Achievement of South Florida. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Tampa Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2008... A. Brian Albritton of Holland & Knight's Tampa office was installed as president of the Tampa Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.

Broward Community College Foundation.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2008... Robert Nicholson of Broad and Cassel, was elected to the Broward Community College Foundation Board of Directors. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Gordon & Doner.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2008... Gordon & Doner in Palm Beach Gardens, its employees, and the Lake Park Fire Fighters collaborated in a united effort to present Toys for Tots to the underprivileged children in the community.

Tampa Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2008... Kevin J. Napper of Carlton Fields' Tampa office was named president-elect of the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Catherine F. Hoffman.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2008... Catherine F. Hoffman of Mayback & Hoffman, presented "Protecting Your Intellectual Property in the United States" to business owners and industrial companies in the Wuppertal, Solingen, and Remscheild region of Germany. Hoffman also...

Erin L. Deady.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Erin L. Deady of Lewis, Longman & Walker passed the comprehensive planning exam necessary to join the American Planning Association's professional institute called the American Institute of Certified Planners.

William D. Matthewman.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2008... William D. Matthewman of Coral Springs lectured on recurring issues relating to federal capital cases at the 2007 Regional Federal Death Penalty Training Seminar in San Juan Puerto Rico. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Appellate Judges Conference.(News and Notes)(Conference news)
January 1, 2008... Judge Martha C. Warner of the Fourth District Court of Appeal was elected vice chair of the Appellate Judges Conference of the ABA during the annual meeting of the ABA in San Francisco.

Bruce A. Blitman.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Bruce A. Blitman of Ft. Lauderdale presented "The Mediation Advantage: Getting Ahead by Getting Along in Business" at the Southwest County Regional Library in Boca Raton.

Higher Education Facilities Financing Authority.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2008... Richard T. Cotter of Ft. Myers Beach was appointed to serve as a director on the Higher Education Facilities Financing Authority by Gov. Charlie Crist.

Community Foundation of Collier County.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2008... Jeanette M. Lombardi of Hahn Loeser & Parks was appointed co-chair of the personal advisors committee and member of the audit committee of the Community Foundation of Collier County. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

David W. Henry.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2008... David W. Henry of Allen, Dyer, Doppelt, Milbrath & Gilchrist presented "Transitioning Your Practice--Helping Law Firms Prepare for Big Changes" in Washington, D.C.

Robert J. Merlin.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Robert J. Merlin of Coral Gables spoke on collaborative family law in Gainesville.

Ed Kinberg.(News and Notes)
January 1, 2008... Ed Kinberg of Kinberg & Associates in Melbourne presented "Best Practices in Construction Law and Litigation" to the Brevard Paralegal Association.

Clayton Thomas Joy joined Mulvana, de Angeli & Associates in Bangkok, Thailand.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... Clayton Thomas Joy joined Mulvana, de Angeli & Associates in Bangkok, Thailand. The firm focuses on real estate, resorts, and hotels. The Web address is www.MulvanadeAngeli. com.

W. Gregory Golson opened W. Gregory Golson, P.A., at 1724 E. 5th Ave., Tampa 33605.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... W. Gregory Golson opened W. Gregory Golson, P.A., at 1724 E. 5th Ave., Tampa 33605. The telephone number is (813) 241-0900. The firm represents clients in commercial law matters including business transactions, corporate law, contracts, real...

Gary C. Matzner joined Akerman Senterfitt's corporate practice group.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... Gary C. Matzner joined Akerman Senterfitt's corporate practice group as a shareholder in the Miami office.

Christen C. Ritchey joined Sachs & Sax as an associate in the Boca Raton office.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... Christen C. Ritchey joined Sachs & Sax as an associate in the Boca Raton office to practice commercial litigation.

Michael R. Diliberto joined ADR Services, Inc., as a mediator and arbitrator where he resolves business.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... Michael R. Diliberto joined ADR Services, Inc., as a mediator and arbitrator where he resolves business, intellectual property, entertainment, employment, real estate, and serious injury matters.

Rod Rodriguez joined Appelrouth, Farah & Co., as manager of litigation and valuation.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... Rod Rodriguez joined Appelrouth, Farah & Co., as manager of litigation and valuation. Rodriguez will manage commercial litigation matters including forensic and fraud investigations, as well as assisting with family law matters.

Tasha K. Dickinson became a partner with the Morris Law Group.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... Tasha K. Dickinson became a partner with the Morris Law Group in Boca Raton.

Fisher & Sauls.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... Peter J. Vasti was elected partner at Fisher & Sauls and will continue practicing real estate, banking and commercial finance estate administration, trust administration, estate planning, corporate law, and taxation.

John E. Terrel opened the Law Office of John E. Terrel, P.A.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... John E. Terrel opened the Law Office of John E. Terrel, P.A., at 1700 N. Monroe St., Ste. # 11-116, Tallahassee 32303. The phone number is (850) 339-2617; the fax number is (850) 562-0031; and e-mail address is johnterrel@yahoo.com.

Edward L. Holloran III joined the Indianapolis office of Locke Reynolds.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... Edward L. Holloran III joined the Indianapolis office of Locke Reynolds, concentrating his practice in product liability, insurance, pharmaceutical, medical malpractice, and general tort litigation.

Foley & Lardner opened an office in the Bank of America Tower at 100 S.E. Second St. in Miami.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... Foley & Lardner opened an office in the Bank of America Tower at 100 S.E. Second St. in Miami. The office will include William Davis, Guillermo Fernandez-Quincoces, Leslie Smith, Roy Barquet, Mark Neuberger, Darin Zenov, Alan Seagrave, Laura...

Carmen Johnson joined JM Family Enterprises, Inc., in Deerfield Beach.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... Carmen Johnson joined JM Family Enterprises, Inc., in Deerfield Beach as vice president of human resources and total rewards.

Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... Andrew S. Bolin and Jeffrey W. Gibson were named shareholders with Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen in Tampa. Bolin concentrates on medical malpractice, professional liability, business litigation, and premises liability. Gibson concentrates on...

David Bailey joined Carlton Fields' Tampa office.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... David Bailey joined Carlton Fields' Tampa office as the director of information systems.

Jenny L. Shane joined Stephens, Lynn, Klein, LaCava, Hoffman & Puya's Ft. Lauderdale office.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... Jenny L. Shane joined Stephens, Lynn, Klein, LaCava, Hoffman & Puya's Ft. Lauderdale office as an associate where she will work in the professional liability and insurance litigation division.

Anthony Reeves formed Reeves Law Firm at 310 E. Main St. in Bartow 33830.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... Anthony Reeves formed Reeves Law Firm at 310 E. Main St. in Bartow 33830. The telephone number is (863) 533-0000; the fax number is (863)533-9235; and the firm's Web site is www.reevesfirm.com. The firm will concentrate on Social Security,...

Bonnie M. Mitchell joined the West Palm Beach office of Stephens, Lynn, Klein, LaCava, Hoffman & Puya as an associate.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... Bonnie M. Mitchell joined the West Palm Beach office of Stephens, Lynn, Klein, LaCava, Hoffman & Puya as an associate. Mitchell will work in the firm's professional liability and insurance litigation division.

Jennifer B Safren and Marissa H. Samuel joined the Law Office of Michael J. Schlesinger.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... Jennifer B Safren and Marissa H. Samuel joined the Law Office of Michael J. Schlesinger in Miami.

Richard B. Graves joined Robbins Equitas' St. Petersburg office.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... Richard B. Graves joined Robbins Equitas' St. Petersburg office to practice intellectual property.

Jana Montiel, Kenn Goff, and Tracy A. Mitchell joined Becker & Poliakoff.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... Jana Montiel, Kenn Goff, and Tracy A. Mitchell joined Becker & Poliakoff. Montiel and Goff joined the firm's Miami office and Mitchell joined the Ft. Lauderdale office.

Daniela Fonseca joined Shutts & Bowen's Miami office.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... Daniela Fonseca joined Shutts & Bowen's Miami office as an associate to work in the firm's international dispute resolution group.

J. Albert Johnson joined Ellis, Ged & Bodden's Boca Raton office.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... J. Albert Johnson joined Ellis, Ged & Bodden's Boca Raton office as of counsel.

Sam Rothman became of counsel to Carmel & Carmel.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... Sam Rothman became of counsel to Carmel & Carmel in Washington, D.C.

Lori V. Vaughan joined Trenam Kemker's Tampa office.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... Lori V. Vaughan joined Trenam Kemker's Tampa office to work in the firm's business reorganization and bankruptcy practice group.

Siegfried, Rivera, Lerner, De La Torre & Sobel.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... Roberto Blanch was promoted to shareholder at Siegfried, Rivera, Lerner, De La Torre & Sobel in Coral Gables.

Luna Phillips joined Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart as of counsel in its Ft. Lauderdale office.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... Luna Phillips joined Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart as of counsel in its Ft. Lauderdale office. Phillips' practice areas include environmental and land use law, and administrative and governmental law.

Matthew J. Ryan joined McCumber, Daniels, Buntz, Hartig & Puig as an associate in its Tampa office.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... Matthew J. Ryan joined McCumber, Daniels, Buntz, Hartig & Puig as an associate in its Tampa office and will practice in the areas of medical malpractice, nursing home defense litigation, and professional and general liability defense.

Alexandra Kantlehner and Scott Silver joined Greenspoon Marder's Ft. Lauderdale office.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... Alexandra Kantlehner and Scott Silver joined Greenspoon Marder's Ft. Lauderdale office as associates.

John C. Vetter joined Akerman Senterfitt's intellectual property practice group as of counsel in the West Palm Beach office.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... John C. Vetter joined Akerman Senterfitt's intellectual property practice group as of counsel in the West Palm Beach office. Vetter's practice focuses on patent litigation matters in federal courts and in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

The McCall Moody Law Firm in Tallahassee moved to 2940 Kerry Forest Pkwy., Ste. 103, Tallahassee 32309.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... The McCall Moody Law Firm in Tallahassee moved to 2940 Kerry Forest Pkwy., Ste. 103, Tallahassee 32309. The phone number is (850) 656-7753; the fax number is (866) 675-3869; and the Web address is www.mccallmoodylaw.com.

Scott T. Lyon joined Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen in Tampa.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... Scott T. Lyon joined Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen in Tampa. He will practice commercial litigation, real property litigation, labor and employment law, and construction litigation.

Richard S. Loudermilk became a shareholder with Abel Band in Sarasota.(On the Move)
January 1, 2008... Richard S. Loudermilk became a shareholder with Abel Band in Sarasota. Loudermilk focuses his practice on creditors' rights and commercial debt collection.