Florida Bar News articles from March 2007

Florida Bar News archives from March 2007

Panel considers reviving CCRC's Northern Region: Crist says it's important to bring oversight to death penalty appeals lawyers.(Criminal Cases Review Commission)(Legislation)
March 1, 2007... Former Gov. Jeb Bush's grand experiment to privatize death penalty appeals should end, Sen. Victor Crist told the Commission on Capital Cases. "To provide ethos and credibility and to assure quality of representation that would not be...

Overdraft protection for trust accounts? But it should never be needed.(Legislation)
March 1, 2007... A Bar committee is working on a recommendation that would clarify that attorneys are prohibited from having overdraft protection on their trust accounts. Board of Governors member Andy Sasso, chair of the Disciplinary Procedure Committee,...

Benches and blackboards.(workshops organised by Florida Judicial College for judges)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... FLORIDA'S 110 NEWEST JUDGES recently attended the 2007 Florida Judicial College in Orlando that included a week of trial skills workshops and a 20-minute videotaped simulated trial proceeding. The trial skills portion of the training included...

Panel sets standards for lawyers appointed to represent children: GAL program to begin using them immediately.
March 1, 2007... When a lawyer agrees to represent an abused or neglected child, it can become a confusing stumble through a bureaucratic maze to get needed special services. Beyond dependency court, the child may need to ask for help at administrative...

Loan repayment bill attempts to stem turnover.(Legislation)
March 1, 2007... Sean Desmond loved being a prosecutor. "That sense of public service was tremendous," said the 32-year-old member of the Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors. Breaking into a grin, he recalled "that feeling like you were doing...

CLER Q&A.
March 1, 2007... Q. My CLE hours no longer appear on the News' mailing label. What happened? A. More current information is now available online at www.floridabar.org. Click on CLE. You may also post your hours to immediately update your CLE record. ...

Can you hear me now?
March 1, 2007... Do Florida's firms provide and pay for their lawyers' cell phones? Yes 67% No 33% Source: The Florida Bar's Research, Planning and Evaluation Department

Proposed Evidence Code amendments.
March 1, 2007... The Florida Bar Code and Rules of Evidence Committee has submitted to the Florida Supreme Court its regular-cycle report concerning recent legislative changes to the Florida Evidence Code. Specifically, the committee recommends that the court...

Proposed changes to how the court certifies the need for additional judges.(Notices)(Law overview)
March 1, 2007... The Commission on Trial Court Performance and Accountability has filed with the Florida Supreme Court a petition to amend Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.240, Determination of Need for Additional Judges. The court invites all...

Proposed Small Claims Rules amendments.
March 1, 2007... The Florida Bar's Small Claims Rules Committee has submitted to the Florida Supreme Court its regular-cycle report proposing new form 7.347 (Satisfaction of Judgment). The court invites all interested persons to comment on the committee's...

Bar investments up, board acts to protect earnings.
March 1, 2007... Following a strong year of earnings on its investment portfolio, the Bar Board of Governors has approved a slight revamping of Bar investing policies aimed at protecting the portfolio in a down market. Investment Committee Chair Ian Comisky...

Proposed amendments to the probate rules.
March 1, 2007... The Florida Bar's Probate Rules Committee has submitted to the Florida Supreme Court a regular-cycle report proposing amendments to the Florida Probate Rules. The Committee proposes amendments to rules 5.040 (Notice); 5.041 (Service of...

FAMU trains students for cap case work.(Florida A and M University College of Law)
March 1, 2007... After Justices Barbara Pariente and Raoul Cantero blasted the low quality of some private registry attorneys handling death penalty appeals, Roger Maas, executive director of the Commission on Capital Cases, appealed to law school deans for...

Private registry lawyers vs. CCRCs.(Criminal Cases Review Commission)
March 1, 2007... On January 29, the Auditor General released a performance review of the operations of the pilot program to determine effectiveness and efficiency of using private attorneys from the registry compared to CCRCs. To sum up 37 pages to the...

Amendments to the Civil Procedure Rules.
March 1, 2007... The Florida Bar's Civil Procedure Rules Committee has submitted to the Florida Supreme Court its regular-cycle report proposing amendments to the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure. The Committee proposes amendments to rules 1.120 (Pleading...

Bar exam.(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... I read with some dismay a January 1 letter regarding the Florida bar examination. The writer claims the exam does not test an applicant's knowledge of the rules of law, but offers no support for this statement other than that there is an...

State attorney turnover.(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... We applaud State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle for her January 15 letter acknowledging that the issue of prosecutor turnover has reached "epidemic proportions." Fernandez-Rundle, who in a very recent article was quoted as calling...

Board of bar examiners needs members.
March 1, 2007... Florida Board of Bar Examiners Vacancy: Lawyer applicants are being sought to fill three vacancies on the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. The Board of Governors will be selecting nine nominees for three lawyer vacancies at its June 1 meeting....

Volusia County needs a judge.
March 1, 2007... The Seventh Circuit JNC is now accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the Volusia County bench, created by the resignation of Judge Steven deLaroche. Applicants must be registered voters, members of the Bar in good standing for the...

Colitz petitions for reinstatement.
March 1, 2007... Pursuant to Rule 3-7.10, Michael John Colitz, Jr., of Dunedin has petitioned the Supreme Court for Bar reinstatement. Colitz was suspended for a period of three years, nunc pro tunc, June 6, 2003, by a Supreme Court order dated January 20,...

Ferrara petitions for reinstatement.
March 1, 2007... Pursuant to Rule 3-7.10, Joseph A. Ferrara has petitioned the Supreme Court for Bar reinstatement. On October 2, 2006, Ferrara was suspended for 91 days as a result of his misconduct involving the practice of law while suspended and his...

Bar receives a clean audit.(Florida. Bar. Board of Governors)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Audit Committee Chair William Kalish reported to the Board of Governors in January that the auditors gave the Bar a clean bill of health for its 2005-06 fiscal year and found no need to issue management letter. Management letters are advice...

In memoriam.(In memoriam)(Brief article)(List)
March 1, 2007... Joann Ames, Washington, D.C. Admitted 1988; Died April 23, 2006 Thomas Mitchell Barlow, Jr., Melbourne Admitted 1976; Died November 9, 2006 E. Randolph Bentley, Lakeland Admitted 1959; Died December 10, 2006 George Alan Bode, New...

Bar supports court's call for new judges.(Florida Bar )
March 1, 2007... The Florida Bar will actively support the Supreme Court's push for 37 new judges this year, and the Board of Governors has ordered stepped-up support for releasing state funds ahead of time for court-appointed counsel and indigent due process...

Voluntary bar information is at floridabar.org.(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Florida Bar members, voluntary bar leaders, and the general public now have easier access to information about Florida's more than 200 voluntary bars at www.floridabar.org/voluntarybars. The Voluntary Bar Center is an information hub for...

YLD symposium explores the ins and outs of lobbying.(Young Lawyers Division)
March 1, 2007... If you like representing clients and like passionately advocating their causes, but don't enjoy the hassles of a litigation practice, attorney Yolanda Cash Jackson has some advice. Consider lobbying. "When I talk to young lawyers, I...

Florida Bar leads initiative to increase pay for federal judges.
March 1, 2007... The Florida Bar led a successful effort to move the American Bar Association to lobby Congress in support of Chief Justice John Roberts' call to substantially increase federal judges' salaries. Echoing Roberts' statement to Congress before...

Legislative action.(Notice)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Under Rule 2-9.3 (b)-(e), Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, active members of the Bar may file a specific objection to any legislative position adopted by the Board of Governors. Objections properly filed within 45 days of this News issue...

Nominations sought for Crumbley Award.(Notice)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Nominations are now being accepted for the Walter S. Crumbley Practice Management & Development Award, which recognizes a member of Florida's legal community who has distinguished him- or herself professionally. The recipient of the...

Bar must address lawyers' perception of judges: the worst that could happen is if the profession 'becomes a lukewarm torch-bearer' for an independent judiciary.
March 1, 2007... President Hank Coxe is troubled that 40 percent of the Bar says the competency and fitness of the state's judiciary is fair or poor, and that opinion begs the question, "How do we deal with that?" Addressing a gathering of young lawyer...

YLD conference highlights local bar projects.(Young Lawyers Division)
March 1, 2007... Young lawyer groups from across the state gathered recently to share information about their local public service projects at the Young Lawyers Division's Affiliate Outreach Conference on Ponte Vedra Beach. Representatives from local young...

YLD hands out affiliate awards.(Young Lawyers Division )(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... The Young Lawyers Division presented its annual outstanding young lawyer affiliates, public service projects, and member service projects awards at its February Affiliate Outreach Conference in Ponte Vedra Beach. The Sarasota County Bar...

Proposed board actions.(Notice)
March 1, 2007... 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 March 30 meeting in Tampa on the following items. These matters are additionally...

Rosenthal & Levy.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2007... Jonathan T. Levy of Rosenthal & Levy was elected secretary of the Palm Beach County Trial Lawyers Association Board of Directors

Amy Zipper.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2007... Amy Zipper of Gunster Yoakley spoke at the 2007 Midyear Meeting for the ABA Section of Taxation in Hollywood.

Young Israel of Bal Harbour.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2007... Daniel W. Courtney of Miami was re-elected to the board of directors of Young Israel of Bal Harbour.

Michael Joblove.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2007... Michael Joblove of Genovese Joblove & Battista spoke on "The Basics of Franchise Law," including franchisor's regulatory obligations, at The Franchise Expo South in Miami Beach.

Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2007... The law firm of Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate hosted the Florida 2006 State of the Market Summit in Orlando.

Joseph G. Jarret.(News and Notes)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Joseph G. Jarret, county attorney for Polk County, was invited to present a paper on behalf of a disaster preparedness symposium sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Further, he...

Bay Area Legal Services Board of Directors.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2007... Eric S. Adams was reappointed to the Bay Area Legal Services Board of Directors.

John V. Tucker.(News and Notes)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... John V. Tucker of Tucker & Ludin in Clearwater presented "Navigating the Mind Field of ERISA Liens After the Supreme Court's Decision in Sere Boff v. MAMSI" at the 2007 Florida Justice Association Collateral Source Seminar in both Tampa and...

Daniel E. Gonzalez.(News and Notes)(speech on commercial arbitration)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Daniel E. Gonzalez of Hogan & Hartson's Miami office spoke on "Dealing with Challenges in International Commercial Arbitration: A Comparative Approach" during the International Commercial Arbitration Symposium on International and Comparative...

S. Grier Wells.(News and Notes)
March 1, 2007... S. Grier Wells of Gray-Robinson was inducted as president of the Jacksonville chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates.

March of Dimes Florida Chapter.(News and Notes)(elects Robert H. Dellecker )(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Robert H. Dellecker of Dellecker, Wilson, King, McKenna & Ruffi er's Orlando office was elected to the board of directors of the Central Florida Division of the March of Dimes Florida Chapter.

Odette Bendeck.(News and Notes)(gave a speech on advice to parents when the children marry)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Odette Bendeck of Fisher & Bendeck in West Palm Beach gave a speech titled "Advice to Parents When the Children Marry" to members of The Kiwanis Club of Flagler Sunrise.

Robert B. Judd.(News and Notes)(receives Diva Impresario Award)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Robert B. Judd of Gunster Yoakley was honored by the Florida Grand Opera at the Diva Impresario Awards gala where he was recognized for his long-time support of the organization and his continuous efforts in helping identify and develop...

The Palm Beach County Trial Lawyers Association.(News and Notes)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... The Palm Beach County Trial Lawyers Association recently elected the following officers: President Richard Benrubi of Liggio, Benrubi & Williams; President-elect Harry A. Shevin of Searcy, Denney, Scarola, Barnhart & Shipley; Treasurer Fred...

Cuban American Bar Association Board of Directors.(News and Notes)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Annie Hernandez of Pathman Lewis was re-elected for a two-year term on the Cuban American Bar Association Board of Directors. Hernandez was also elected secretary to the CABA board for 2007. Nancy La Vista of Lytal, Reiter, Clark, Fountain and...

Gary T. Stiphany.(News and Notes)(speech on intellectual property)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Gary T. Stiphany of Garbett, Bronstein, Stiphany, Allen & Roza spoke at the United States Patent & Trademark Office Seminar for the Judiciary on the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights on "Litigating Civil Infringement Cases,"...

Supreme Court's Judicial Management Council.(News and Notes)(appoints Melanie Ann Hines)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Melanie Ann Hines, of counsel at Berger Singerman, was appointed to the Supreme Court's Judicial Management Council. Scott N. Richardson of West Palm Beach was reappointed by Chief Justice R. Fred Lewis to a three-year term on the Florida...

Michael Mattimore and Rob Larkin, both of Allen, Norton & Blue.(News and Notes)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Michael Mattimore and Rob Larkin, both of Allen, Norton & Blue, addressed essential workplace issues such as discrimination and retaliation in the workplace, and creating healthy employment relationships.

Richard T. Sahuc joined Dimond Kaplan & Rothstein as an associate in the firm's Miami office.(On the Move)
March 1, 2007... Richard T. Sahuc joined Dimond Kaplan & Rothstein as an associate in the firm's Miami office where he will focus on commercial and class action litigation.

Ellen M. Leibovitch joined Schwarzberg Spector Duke Schulz & Rogers.(On the Move)
March 1, 2007... Ellen M. Leibovitch joined Schwarzberg Spector Duke Schulz & Rogers in West Palm Beach.

Kara L. MacCullough, Laurie Green, and Esther L. Moreno joined Holland & Knight's securities.(On the Move)
March 1, 2007... Kara L. MacCullough, Laurie Green, and Esther L. Moreno joined Holland & Knight's securities and M&A practices in South Florida.

Eric Martuza joined Meckler Bulger and Tilson in Chicago.(On the Move)
March 1, 2007... Eric Martuza joined Meckler Bulger and Tilson in Chicago as a partner in its insurance practice group.

Latham, Shuker, Barker, Eden & Beaudine.(On the Move)
March 1, 2007... Irina G. Dolinskiy became a partner at Latham, Shuker, Barker, Eden & Beaudine.

Gronek & Latham changed its name to Latham, Shuker, Barker, Eden & Beaudine.(On the Move)
March 1, 2007... Gronek & Latham changed its name to Latham, Shuker, Barker, Eden & Beaudine. The new Web site is www.lsbeblaw.com.

Danielle Tharpe joined Gus Vincent Soto to form the law firm of Soto & Tharpe.(On the Move)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Danielle Tharpe joined Gus Vincent Soto to form the law firm of Soto & Tharpe, located at 1284 Timberlane Rd., Tallahassee 32308. The telephone number is (850) 893-7252.

John H. Holley joined Shutts & Bowen's Tallahassee office.(On the Move)
March 1, 2007... John H. Holley joined Shutts & Bowen's Tallahassee office as an attorney and governmental affairs consultant.

McGuire Woods'.(On the Move)
March 1, 2007... Jason E. Campbell and Christopher J. Thanner were elected partners at Mc-Guire Woods' Jacksonville office.

Beverly P. Lewis joined Sachs & Sax as an associate who practices in the areas.(On the Move)
March 1, 2007... Beverly P. Lewis joined Sachs & Sax as an associate who practices in the areas of commercial real estate and corporate law.

Katzman Wasserman & Bennardini.(On the Move)
March 1, 2007... Craig A. Rubinstein was named partner at Katzman Wasserman & Bennardini. Rubinstein focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation.

Bardi Mediation Group, Inc.(On the Move)
March 1, 2007... Leslie Longshore joined Whitney Bardi Mediation Group, Inc.'s panel of mediators.

McIntosh, Sawran, Peltz & Cartaya.(On the Move)
March 1, 2007... McIntosh, Sawran, Peltz & Cartaya moved to 101 Southhall Ln., Ste. 190, in Maitland.

Christina C. Pappas joined Danahy & Murray.(On the Move)
March 1, 2007... Christina C. Pappas joined Danahy & Murray as an associate practicing first party insurance litigation.

Cheryl B. Flowers and Alicia Paulino-Grisham formed Flowers Paulino-Grisham, P.L.(On the Move)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Cheryl B. Flowers and Alicia Paulino-Grisham formed Flowers Paulino-Grisham, P.L. The firm is located at 1111 Hypoluxo Rd., Ste #110, Lantana 33462. The telephone number is (561) 202-9170, and the fax is (561) 202-9194. The firm focuses its...

Alex Chris Costopoulos joined Pohl & Short.(On the Move)
March 1, 2007... Alex Chris Costopoulos joined Pohl & Short, where he will practice in the area of commercial litigation.

Sachs & Sax.(On the Move)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Sachs & Sax announced its new name and the expansion of its Tallahassee office. Formerly Sachs Sax Klein, the firm adopted the new name as former partner Ron Klein becomes a U.S. Congressman for District 21. Bruce Culpepper and M.B. Adelson...

David G. Budd has joined Grant, Fridkin, Pearson, Athan & Crown in Naples.(On the Move)
March 1, 2007... David G. Budd has joined Grant, Fridkin, Pearson, Athan & Crown in Naples, but will be continuing his established Naples practice as senior counsel.

Nicholas A. Shannin joined the Carlyle Appellate Law Firm as a shareholder.(On the Move)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Nicholas A. Shannin joined the Carlyle Appellate Law Firm as a shareholder. Shannin practices complex appellate litigation in state and federal courts, and handles circuit and appellate mediations.

Glenn Saks joined Assouline & Berlowe as of counsel.(On the Move)
March 1, 2007... Glenn Saks joined Assouline & Berlowe as of counsel, where he will be working in the Coconut Grove office.

Matthew J. Carson joined Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell's Tallahassee office as an associate practicing commercial litigation.(On the Move)
March 1, 2007... Matthew J. Carson joined Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell's Tallahassee office as an associate practicing commercial litigation, employment and labor law, and appellate work.

Francisco J. Garcia has joined Fox.(On the Move)
March 1, 2007... Francisco J. Garcia has joined Fox, Wackeen, Dungey, Beard, Sobel, Bush & McCluskey.

Michael J. Keller became partner at Lott & Friedland's Ft. Lauderdale office.(On the Move)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Michael J. Keller became partner at Lott & Friedland's Ft. Lauderdale office, where he heads the biomedical practice group, which performs intellectual property protection and opinion work for therapeutic, diagnostic, and medical device...

Jorge A. Lopez joined the MiamiDade County School Board Attorney's Office.(On the Move)
March 1, 2007... Jorge A. Lopez joined the MiamiDade County School Board Attorney's Office as senior attorney for litigation and risk management.

J. Michael Huey, William E. Williams, and Amy Schrader joined GrayRobinson.(On the Move)
March 1, 2007... J. Michael Huey, William E. Williams, and Amy Schrader joined GrayRobinson's Tallahassee office.

Park, Ossian, Barnaky & Park changed the name of the firm to include the following new shareholders.(On the Move)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Park, Ossian, Barnaky & Park changed the name of the firm to include the following new shareholders: J. Brent Barnaky, who concentrates on family law, personal injury, and civil litigation, and Michael J. Park, who concentrates on appellate...

B. Kyle Morley is now an associate in the West Palm Beach office of The George Hartz Law Firm.(On the Move)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... B. Kyle Morley is now an associate in the West Palm Beach office of The George Hartz Law Firm. Morley's practice areas focus on insurance defense, including medical malpractice, products liability, and construction litigation. Bradford T....

Louis C. Norvell joined Hand Arendall, where he practices civil litigation.(On the Move)
March 1, 2007... Louis C. Norvell joined Hand Arendall, where he practices civil litigation, bankruptcy, and creditor's rights in the Mobile office.

The Law Office of Camfield & Santomauro Moved.(On the Move)
March 1, 2007... The Law Office of Camfield & Santomauro moved to 4740 Dairy Rd., Ste. 101, Melbourne. The telephone number remains (321) 953-6565.

Marla Grant joined Lash & Goldberg as an associate.(On the Move)
March 1, 2007... Marla Grant joined Lash & Goldberg as an associate. Grant's primary practice areas are civil, commercial, and health care litigation.

Richard E. Douglas.(On the Move)
March 1, 2007... Richard E. Douglas moved to 2771 Executive Park Dr., Ste. 3, Weston 33326. The new telephone number is (954) 306-0375 and the fax number is (954) 306-0811. The e-mail address remains redpa@bellsouth. net.

Thomas Holden joined the Law Office of A.J. Rohe in Tavares.(On the Move)
March 1, 2007... Thomas Holden joined the Law Office of A.J. Rohe in Tavares as an associate and will practice family law.

Constangy, Brooks & Smith welcomes associate Jennifer Ann Misciagna to its Jacksonville office, and associate Tishia A. Green to its Tampa office.(On the Move)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Constangy, Brooks & Smith welcomes associate Jennifer Ann Misciagna to its Jacksonville office, and associate Tishia A. Green to its Tampa office. Misciagna focuses her practice on employment litigation and Green focuses her practice on labor...