Florida Bar News articles from March 2006

Florida Bar News archives from March 2006

Access to e-records stirs debate.
March 1, 2006... Strong debate and less-than-unanimous agreement marked the work of the Florida Supreme Court committee grappling with electronic access to court records. Passionate positions and clashing views continue, since the court invited public...

Act now to designate an inventory attorney: do it at www.floridabar.org.(Disciplinary Actions)
March 1, 2006... Have you designated an inventory attorney, yet? If not, it is time to do so. To protect clients of an attorney who unexpectedly dies or otherwise becomes unable to practice, the Florida Supreme Court recently amended Bar rules--at the...

Judge's passion is making adoptions happen: Gooding helped whittle down 414 kids available for adoption last year to 258.
March 1, 2006... When David Gooding was a boy, he heard his father on the phone with law enforcement officers, saying, Well, bring them to our house." This was back in the '50s and '60s when Marion Gooding was Duval County's only juvenile court judge, and...

Ezell wins Tobias Simon Pro Bono Service Award.
March 1, 2006... You could say that Katherine Ezell's pro bono spirit was sparked when she was only 7 years old and, along with her friends, founded the Good Deed Club. Saving money earned for doing chores, they would buy clothes and secretly make sure they...

Bush budget provides for lots of judges: would provide $1 million for Civil Legal Assistance Act.
March 1, 2006... All 66 new judges certified by the Supreme Court this year are in Gov. Jeb Bush's proposed 2006-07 budget, as are some staff increases for state attorneys and public defenders to accompany those new judges who are assigned to criminal courts....

Righting wrongs.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2006... I am a criminal defense attorney in Miami. I was a prosecutor here many years ago. I read the story in the February 1 News about Wilton Dedge being released after many years in prison as a result of DNA evidence. I am really glad to see...

IOTA pioneer.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2006... Henry Zapruder passed away January 24. Henry practiced law in Washington, D.C., and was not a Florida lawyer. His contribution to the poor, to law students, and to the administration of justice in Florida was inestimable, however. When the...

Metadata.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2006... I am troubled by the Bar Board of Governors recent pronouncement in the January 1 News that lawyers should not be looking at metadata. Metadata has been around for more than 10 years and is an invaluable tool for ferreting out fraud and...

Lawyer regulation.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2006... Our system of government demands that the legal profession command the public's full trust and confidence. A recent survey by The Florida Bar's Research, Planning and Evaluation Department revealed 68 percent of those surveyed say the public...

Paralegal regulation.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2006... I read with great interest the February 1 letter in the News regarding paralegal regulation. I've worked in the legal profession for approximately 30 years, working my way up through the ranks. I received my CLA/CP certification a few years...

Applicants needed for bar examiners board.(Notice)
March 1, 2006... Florida Board of Bar Examiners Vacancy: Lawyer applicants are being sought to fill two vacancies on the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. The Board of Governors will be selecting six nominees for two lawyer vacancies at its June 2 meeting. The...

Lawyer advertising rule changes draw few comments.
March 1, 2006... After nearly two years of study by the Advertising Task Force, a detailed report to the Board of Governors, and spirited debate both by the task force and by board members, the Supreme Court asked Florida lawyers for their comments on proposed...

Fifth DCA is in need of a judge.
March 1, 2006... The Fifth District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission is accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the Fifth DCA. Applicants must have been members of the Bar in good standing for the preceding l0 years, registered voters, and...

Workers' Comp judges needed.
March 1, 2006... The Statewide Nominating Committee for Judges of Compensation Claims is now accepting applications for judge positions in the Miami and Ft. Myers districts. Qualified applicants must submit one original completed application and one copy...

Lawyer needed for admissions panel.(Notice)
March 1, 2006... The Board of Governors is seeking applicants for the following vacancy to be filled during its April 7 meeting: Supreme Court's Bar Admissions Committee: One lawyer to serve a two-year term commencing July 1. This committee coordinates the...

Court staff attorneys, clerks lack diversity.
March 1, 2006... When the Supreme Court's Committee on Fairness and Diversity surveyed the state's judicial staff, it said what it found was disturbing--"there were only one black male and one Asian male staff attorney in the entire courts system." The...

Promoting fairness and diversity.
March 1, 2006... Representatives from the Cuban American Bar raised questions about the disparate treatment faced by those with language barriers. The Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers brought up slights often directed toward black litigants and lawyers. The...

Campbell wants to give back.(Lawyers in the Legislature)
March 1, 2006... According to Sen. Walter G. "Skip" Campbell, D-Tamarac, it's all the fault of his wife, Lynn. He was a pre-med student at the University of Florida and they were dating. But according to the future lawyer, Bar Board of Governors member,...

Saunders values public service.(Lawyers in the Legislature)
March 1, 2006... As a physics major in college, working part time in NASA's Langley Research Center, Burt Saunders came to a conclusion during his senior year. "I felt that being in a physics lab all my life was not what I wanted to do," he said. "My older...

Thirty-four past presidents.(Lawyers in the Legislature)
March 1, 2006... THIRTY-FOUR PAST PRESIDENTS of the Orange County Bar recently gathered for a past presidents' dinner, hosted by current OCBA President Bill Sublette, who recognized each of the past presidents, saying that their preeminence was achieved, in...

At the Orange County Bar Association's January luncheon, the Young Lawyers Section presented the American Red Cross with a check for $6,000 to benefit Hurricane Katrina relief.(Lawyers in the Legislature)
March 1, 2006... AT THE ORANGE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION'S January luncheon, the Young Lawyers Section presented the American Red Cross with a check for $6,000 to benefit Hurricane Katrina relief. The donation was made possible by the YLS' 2005 Charity Golf...

The Distinguished Judicial Service Award 2006.(Pro Bono Awards)
March 1, 2006... Presented by the Chief Justice A judge is in a unique position to contribute to the improvement of the law, the legal system, and the administration of justice. The support of pro bono services improves the judicial system as a whole. This...

The law firm commendation.(Pro Bono Awards)
March 1, 2006... Presented by the Chief Justice The purpose of the Law Firm Commendation is to recognize, when appropriate, a law firm which has demonstrated a significant contribution in the delivery of legal services to individuals or groups on a pro...

The Voluntary Bar Association Pro Bono Service Award.(Pro Bono Awards)
March 1, 2006... Presented by the Chief Justice The purpose of the Voluntary Bar Association Pro Bono Service Award is to recognize, when appropriate, a voluntary bar which has demonstrated a significant contribution in the delivery of legal services to...

The Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award.(Pro Bono Awards)
March 1, 2006... The Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award was established in 1981. Its purpose is twofold: "to further encourage lawyers to volunteer free legal services to the poor by recognizing those who make such public service commitments, and to...

The Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award Recipients.(Pro Bono Awards)
March 1, 2006... Michael J. Stebbins Pensacola, Florida First Judicial Circuit Michael J. Stebbins was born in Framingham, Mass. He received his B.A. cure laude from Brandeis University in 1978 and his J.D. from Western New England College School...

St. Johns County legal aid.(Pro Bono Awards)
March 1, 2006... ST. JOHNS COUNTY LEGAL AID and the St. Johns County judges recently presented 2005 pro bono awards to Alex Christine, Charles Pellicer, Debbie Alexander, and Toby Guilluca. Awards for outstanding contribution went to St. Johns County Legal...

Family law rules amendments.(Notice)
March 1, 2006... The Family Law Rules Committee invites comment on proposed out-of-cycle amendments to the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure shown below. The full text of the proposals can be found on The Florida Bar's Web site at www.FloridaBar.org....

Disciplinary actions.
March 1, 2006... The Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders disciplined the following lawyers: Peter Victor Calviera, P.O. Box 1082, Boca Raton, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 91 days, effective 30 days following a December 1, 2005,...

Senate panel orders constitution streamlining bill drafted.
March 1, 2006... After exacting another pledge from the chair that radical policy changes will be excluded, the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously ordered an amendment drafted to streamline the Florida Constitution. In a procedural step February 8, the...

Registry attorneys may be allowed to handle more death penalty cases.
March 1, 2006... Private registry attorneys handling death penalty appeals could take more cases from the state, but would have to meet tougher experience criteria and meet stiffer educational standards under a bill that has cleared committees in both chambers....

Proposed juveniles rules changes.(Notice)
March 1, 2006... The Florida Bar's Juvenile Court Rules Committee has filed with the Florida Supreme Court its regular-cycle report of proposed amendments to the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure. The committee proposes amendments to rules 8.045 (Notice to...

DNA bills move in both chambers.(Notice)
March 1, 2006... Bills that would eliminate the deadline for DNA testing, and allow even those who entered guilty pleas to try to prove their innocence, sailed through committees in both chambers February 8. SB 186, sponsored by Sen. Alex Villalobos,...

Board of bar examiners plan for bad weather.
March 1, 2006... Not once in the past 50 years has the Florida Board of Bar Examiners had to cancel an exam. But the past two hurricane seasons has gotten the board thinking it is time to prepare for just such an eventuality. FBBE Chair Terry Rigsby said...

Florida Bar CLE audio/video tapes.
March 1, 2006... DIRECT PHONE LINE: (850) 561-5629 www.flabar.org KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS--CERTIFICATION CREDIT HOURS AD = Admiralty and Maritime AP = Appellate Practice AT = Antitrust AV = Aviation BL = Business Litigation CA...

Florida Bar presidents.
March 1, 2006... FLORIDA BAR PRESIDENTS past, present, and future attended the recent installations of Miami attorney Corali Lopez-Castro as president of Cuban American Bar Associations in January. Pictured from left are Bar President-elect Designate Frank...

Cherry black women lawyers to host reception.
March 1, 2006... The Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association will host a Women's History Reception March 28 from 6-8 p.m. at the Mellon Financial Center in Miami. The event will honor the spirit of the diverse women who have contributed to the...

Senate panel to introduce bill to compensate wrongly convicted.
March 1, 2006... A bill to create a system for compensating people wrongly convicted and imprisoned in Florida was ordered drafted by the Senate Judiciary Committee February 8. The panel got a look at a proposed committee bill on the subject and ordered it...

Proposed appellate rules amendments.(Notice)
March 1, 2006... The Florida Bar's Appellate Court Rules Committee has filed with the Florida Supreme Court an out-of-cycle report of proposed amendments to the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure. The committee proposes amendments to rules 9.120...

Bill to allow gay foster parents to adopt doesn't have the votes.
March 1, 2006... A proposal to allow gay foster parents to adopt the children they care for received its first public hearing since Florida's antigay parenting law was first enacted in 1977. It was standing-room only at the Senate Children & Families...

Criminal procedure rules amendments.(Notice)
March 1, 2006... The Florida Bar's Criminal Procedure Rules Committee has filed with the Florida Supreme Court its regular-cycle report of proposed amendments to the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure. The committee proposes amendments to rules 3.170 (Fleas);...

Proposed traffic court rules amendments.(Notice)
March 1, 2006... The Florida Bar's Traffic Court Rules Committee has filed with the Florida Supreme Court its regular-cycle report of proposed amendments to the Florida Rules of Traffic Court. The committee proposes amendments to rules 6.040 (Definitions);...

Perry Binder.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Perry Binder of Georgia State University received the 2005 Teaching Excellence Recognition Award from the Robinson College of Business. Binder was also a finalist in the National ALSB Master Teaching Competition.

Becker & Poliakoff.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Michael C. Gongora of Becker & Poliakoff in Miami was reappointed as a special master for the City of Miami Beach. In addition, Gongora was elected as president-elect of the Miami Beach Bar Association for 2006.

Judge Dorian K. Damoorgian.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... The American Board of Trial Advocates, Ft. Lauderdale Chapter, awarded Judge Dorian K. Damoorgian of the 17th Judicial Circuit its 2005 Outstanding Judge Award.

Tony Argiz.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Tony Argiz of Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra was awarded the Excellence In Accounting Award in the litigation support category.

Elizabeth M. Hernandez and Rafael E. Suarez-Rivas each presented topics at the legal seminar.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Elizabeth M. Hernandez and Rafael E. Suarez-Rivas each presented topics at the legal seminar "What You Need to Know About Public Records and Open Meetings in Florida."

Joan Nelson Hook.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Joan Nelson Hook of New Port Richey spoke to the Pasco Guardianship Council, Inc., on legislative and end-of-life decisions.

Rene D. Harrod of Berger Singerman and Jacqueline Howe of Ruden McCloskey gave a presentation at the monthly luncheon of the Broward County Women Lawyers' Association.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Rene D. Harrod of Berger Singerman and Jacqueline Howe of Ruden McCloskey gave a presentation at the monthly luncheon of the Broward County Women Lawyers' Association, The presentation was tided "The Attorney-Client Relationship: Avoiding...

Alexis M. Yarbrough.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Alexis M. Yarbrough of Tripp Scott was selected to participate in the Tillie Fowler Excellence in Public Service Series.

Christopher C. Copeland.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Christopher C. Copeland of Carlton Fields in West Palm Beach spoke at the "Preventing Employment Discrimination, Harassment and FLSA Claims" seminar, sponsored by the National Business Institute.

Florida Supreme Court.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Jeffrey C. Fulford of Stuart was appointed by the Florida Supreme Court to the Civil Jury Instruction Committee for a three-year term.

Intellectual Property Law Association of Florida.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Jeff Kamenetsky of Christopher & Weisberg in Ft. Lauderdale was named president of the Intellectual Property Law Association of Florida.

East Central Florida Regional Planning Council.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Jon Rawlson of Akerman Senterfitt was reappointed by Gov. Jeb Bush to serve as a member of the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, Region Six.

Laurel M. Isicoff.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Laurel M. Isicoff of Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton in Miami has been selected to be inducted as a fellow in the American College of Bankruptcy.

Greater Pinellas Young Republicans Club, Inc.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Justin Zinzow of Ruden McClosky in St. Petersburg was elected treasurer of the Greater Pinellas Young Republicans Club, Inc., and is also serving as special counsel to the organization.

Carlton Fields participated as one of three co-hosts at the Counsel to Counsel forum in Atlanta.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Carlton Fields participated as one of three co-hosts at the Counsel to Counsel forum in Atlanta. Robert W. Pass of Tallahassee and Alison Danaceau of Atlanta spoke at the forum titled "Managing Discovery in the Digital Age."

Cuban American Bar Association.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Luis E. Suarez of Boles, Schiller & Flexner was elected to the board of directors of the Cuban American Bar Association.

Marian Pearlman Nease.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Marian Pearlman Nease of Berger Singerman spoke about the impact of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act on the governance of nonprofit boards at a seminar hosted by Moore Stephens Lovelace.

Young Lawyers Subcommittee of the Environmental Litigation Committee of the ABA.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Stewart D. Fried of Kilpatrick Stockton in Washington, D.C., has been appointed co-chair of the Young Lawyers Subcommittee of the Environmental Litigation Committee of the ABA. Fried was also selected as general counsel of the Florida State...

Judge Robert N. Scola, Jr.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Judge Robert N. Scola, Jr., of the 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida was honored with the Judge Steven Levine Award, presented by the Dade County Trial Lawyers Association.

Administration of Justice Committee of The Florida Bar Foundation.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... W. Edward McIntyre of Bunnell, Woulfe, Kirschbaum, Keller, McIntyre, Gregoire & Klein was appointed to the Administration of Justice Committee of The Florida Bar Foundation.

David Pratt.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... David Pratt of Proskauer Rose spoke at the Southern Nevada Estate Planning Council meeting. His topic was gift tax returns.

Michael G. Whelan.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Michael G. Whelan of Ogletree Deakins in Miami spoke on "The Force v. The Dark Side" at the Florida Public Employers Labor Relations Association's 32nd annual training conference in Orlando.

Charles H. Lichtman.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Charles H. Lichtman of Berger Singerman in Ft. Lauderdale was asked to serve on the Amicus Curiae Committee of the Equipment Leasing Association.

International Cruise Victims Association, Inc.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Brett Rivkind of Miami was selected as legal counsel to International Cruise Victims Association, Inc.

Joe Englander.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Joe Englander of Christopher and Weisberg lectured on copyright and trademark law at the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale.

James P. Dawson.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... James P. Dawson of Fox Rothschild in West Palm Beach participated as a judge in the The Florida Bar Tax Section's 2006 National Tax Court Moot Competition in St. Petersburg.

Mikki Canton.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Mikki Canton of Gunter Yoakley & Stewart in Miami was presented with the Valor Award from the American Diabetes Association. Additionally, Canton was honored as the event-opening speaker at the 2006 Midyear Meeting of the Florida Association...

Palm Beach County Trial Lawyers Association.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Harry A. Shevin of Searcy Denney Scarola CANTON Barnhart & Shipley in West Palm Beach was elected treasurer of the Palm Beach County Trial Lawyers Association. Additionally, Jack Hill was elected to the PBCTLA board of directors, and Emilio...

St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Dennis G. Corrick of Dean, Mead, Minton & Zwemer in Ft. Pierce was elected to the board of directors of the St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce.

Stephen R. Looney.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Stephen R. Looney of Dean Mead in Orlando led a panel discussion titled "Redemptions and Purchases of S Corporation Stock" at the ABA Tax Section's S Corporations Committee at the 2006 midyear meeting in San Diego.

Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Luis Lauredo of Hunton & Williams in Miami was elected to the board of directors of the Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, Lauredo was awarded the "Gran Cruz de la Orden Al Merito por Servicios Distinguidos" by the government of Peru...

Judge Thomas H. Bateman III.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Judge Thomas H. Bateman III received second place honors in the Judge Edward R. Finch Law Day Speech Award competition for 2005, awarded by the ABA Standing Committee on Public Education. His speech was titled, "Juror Justice: Enhancing Jury...

Palmetto Bay Charter Revision Committee.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2006... Thomas Ringel of Markowitz, Davis, Ringel & Trusty in Miami was appointed chair of the Palmetto Bay Charter Revision Committee.

The Law Offices of Nora Staum.(On the Move)
March 1, 2006... The Law Offices of Nora Staum has relocated to The Coral Springs Professional Campus, 5421 N. University Dr., Ste. 102, Coral Springs 33067; phone (954) 344-3535; fax (954) 340-6859.

Bilzin Sumberg.(On the Move)
March 1, 2006... Jay M. Sakalo and Monalee Zarapkar were elected partners of Bilzin Sumberg in the Miami office.

Podhurst Orseck.(On the Move)
March 1, 2006... Ramon A. Rasco joined Podhurst Orseck as an associate. His practice will focus on complex civil litigation in federal and state courts.

Akerman Senterfitt.(On the Move)
March 1, 2006... Alan S. Lederman joined Akerman Senterfitt as of counsel in the firm's Miami office. Lederman's practice focuses on international taxation, corporate acquisition and finance, real estate syndication, and international law.

Jennis Bowen & Brundage.(On the Move)
March 1, 2006... Michael Brundage joined Jennis & Bowen in Tampa as a partner. The firm will now be known as Jennis Bowen & Brundage.

Gunster Yoakley.(On the Move)
March 1, 2006... Neisen Kasdin of Gunster Yoakley in Miami was named a chair of the firm's land use practice group.

Stearns Weaver Miller.(On the Move)
March 1, 2006... Tina M. Fischer joined Stearns Weaver Miller in Tampa.

Beasley Hauser Kramer Leonard & Galardi.(On the Move)
March 1, 2006... Joseph Galardi was named a shareholder of Beasley Hauser Kramer Leonard & Galardi in West Palm Beach.

GrayRobinson.(On the Move)
March 1, 2006... Mary S. Lingerfeldt joined GrayRobinson in Ft. Lauderdale as a shareholder. Lingerfeldt is a civil trial lawyer and concentrates her practice in medical malpractice defense litigation and health care law.