Florida Bar News articles from May 2002

Florida Bar News archives from May 2002

Court budget hangs in the balance. (As Special Session Looms).
May 1, 2002... With a base budget of about $280 million, the Florida court system sought about $11 million in new funding from the Florida Legislature this year. With a special budget session looming, it appears only a fraction of that will be approved...

Ethics Seminar. (Annual Meeting).
May 1, 2002... Boca Raton -- June 19-22 Recognizing and avoiding conflicts of interest will be the subject of the 2002 Masters Ethics Seminar at the June Bar convention at the Boca Raton Resort and Club. The event, titled "Conflicts of Interest: How...

Anstead named Chief Justice.
May 1, 2002... The Jacksonville native's term begins July 1 Born and raised in a single-parent home in Jacksonville's Brentwood housing project during the Great Depression, Harry Lee Anstead began work at a young age, cutting lawns, moving, furniture,...

From gangster to guardian: how a bullet led one man from the streets of NY to law school. (Florida Lawyers).
May 1, 2002... Protecting rights, pursuing justice, promoting professionalism It's hard to think of Azim Ramelize as paralyzed, the way he maneuvers up the courthouse steps on his crutches lickety-split. And there's no stopping his passion to speak up...

Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act could compromise client confidences.
May 1, 2002... A federal law intended to protect consumers' private information could wind up revealing client confidences if--as the Federal Trade Commission asserts it should be -- it is applied to lawyers, according to the ABA. The association has...

Bar to help fill Board of Bar Examiners vacancy.
May 1, 2002... Lawyer applicants are being sought to fill a vacancy on the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. The Board of Governors will be selecting three nominees for one lawyer vacancy at its May 24 meeting. The nominations will then be forwarded to the...

Board of Bar Examiners has openings for public members.
May 1, 2002... Members of the public are invited to volunteer on or before June 14 for a three-year term on the Florida Board of Board Examiners. The Supreme Court of Florida will appoint two public members to serve on the board, which ensures that...

Volusia County Bar to evaluate judges.
May 1, 2002... The Volusia County Bar Association has become the first local voluntary bar in the state to use The Florida Bar's Model Judicial Evaluation Poll. The Volusia County Bar sent the poll. which was recently updated by the Judicial Evaluation...

Supreme Court JNC now accepting applications.
May 1, 2002... The Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission is seeking; applicants to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Major B. Harding effective August 31. According to the state constitution, each of the five appellate...

Bar to fill Third Circuit JNC vacancy.
May 1, 2002... One vacancy exists on the Third Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission due to the recent passing of one of the commissioners, Victor Africano. This vacancy will be filled as a direct appointment by the Board of Governors pursuant to P.S....

Judicial campaign conduct forums set.
May 1, 2002... The Florida Supreme Court and The Florida Bar Board of Governors, in conjunction with the Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee and the state's trial court chief judges, are again sponsoring a series of judicial campaign conduct forums in advance...

Judicial qualifying moved up.
May 1, 2002... A new state law has changed the qualifying period for the state's judiciary, giving those up for election or merit retention two more months of campaigning time. A section of SB 618, which has been signed by Gov. Jeb Bush, moves the...

Free report shows lawyers how to get more clients. (Advertisement).
May 1, 2002... Rancho Sta Margarita, 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...

DPC works to improve advertising rule enforcement.
May 1, 2002... New procedures for reviewing lawyers' ads and a tougher enforcement program for violators continue to be worked on by the Disciplinary Procedure Committee. DPC Chair Bob Brush reported to the Bar Board of Governors last month that the...

February bar exam results posted.
May 1, 2002... Graduates from Florida's two public law schools got the highest passage rate for those taking the February Florida bar exam. The Florida Board of Bar Examiners released the results from the February bar exam April 15. A total of 917...

Board to consider opinion on trust account obligations.
May 1, 2002... When third parties have claims on money held by attorneys in their trust accounts, what are those attorneys' obligations to their clients and the third parties? The Professional Ethics Committee has asked the Board of Governors to...

FAWL honors Gov. Bush for his judicial selections.
May 1, 2002... Gov. Jeb Bush was recently honored by the Florida Association for Women Lawyers for his commitment to achieving fair representation of women and minorities in Florida's judiciary, and in support of his record on judicial appointments. ...

Professionalism seminar set for June at the Bar's Annual Meeting in Boca.
May 1, 2002... Do you see yourself, professionally speaking, as the wry and probing Jimmy Stewart in "Anatomy of a Murder," or the courtly and idealistic Gregory Peck in "To Kill a Mockingbird?" Or maybe the hustling, overwhelmed, but good on his feet Joe...

Local bars receive outreach grants.
May 1, 2002... Seven local bar associations have been awarded funds from The Florida Bar's Voluntary Bar Community Outreach Grants, which are aimed at supporting local public service work that will also enhance the public perception of the profession. ...

In Memoriam.
May 1, 2002... J. Victor Africano, Jr., Live Oak Admitted 1963; Died March 8, 2002 Marc Lee Barbakoff, Miami Admitted 1976; Died November 1, 2001 William A. Dicus, Dunedin Admitted 1949; Died August 22, 2001 Gary B. Garson,...

Bar Leaders Workshop set for Ponte Vedra Beach.
May 1, 2002... The Annual Bar Leaders Workshop is moving north to sun-kissed beaches and pristine golf courses to Ponte Vedra Beach, that is -- home of the PGA Tour Headquarters and The Players Championship on the Sawgrass Stadium Course. Workshop...

Dees to speak at Bedell luncheon.
May 1, 2002... Legendary civil rights lawyer Morris Dees, co-founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center more than 30 years ago, will be the speaker at the Trial Lawyers Section's Chester Bedell Memorial Luncheon at the Bar's upcoming Annual Meeting. The...

Second DCA to share space at Stetson.
May 1, 2002... For judges at the Tampa branch of the Second District Court of Appeal, it's a case of it never being too late to go back to school. In this instance, it's the new Tampa campus of the Stetson University College of Law. But it's not for...

Aronovitz to address Stetson grads.
May 1, 2002... Florida Bar President-elect Tod Aronovitz will address graduates at Stetson University College of Law's spring commencement ceremony on May 11, which begins at 9 a.m. on the college's outdoor courtyard. More than 150 students are expected...

Advertising update.
May 1, 2002... Prepared by the Staff of The Standing Committee on Advertising 1. Compliance Review Program As part of its duties designated by the Board of Governors, each year the Standing Committee on Advertising directs staff to review yellow...

Local bar associations gear up for Law Week.
May 1, 2002... Forty-five years ago, ABA President Charles S. Rhyne created a special day for celebrating our legal system: Law Day. Since that time, countless legal organizations across the country have observed the holiday, and, in many cases, the day...

Naples captures state mock trial crown.
May 1, 2002... "Objection, your Honor!" These words rang through the Orange County Courthouse recently, but they were not the words of experienced trial attorneys; these were the words of high school students participating in the 2002 Florida High School Mock...

Law school applications are up.
May 1, 2002... There was an increase of nearly 2,500 students seeking basic law degrees at ABA-approved law schools in fall 2001 compared with the previous year, but that reflects in part the addition of a number of newly approved schools. The number of...

FAMU law names its 'founding faculty'.
May 1, 2002... Florida A&M University College of Law has announced its "founding faculty" as it continues to prepare for its inaugural class, which is scheduled to begin in August at its Orlando home. "The founding faculty members are individuals of...

Cowles Legal Systems, Inc. (New Products).
May 1, 2002... Cowles Legal Systems, Inc., announces the 11.0 version release of the Trust Plus estate planning system and the Trust Terminator post-mortem system, which includes extensive new customization and client information import features. Cowles Legal...

MicroPatent, a subsidiary of Information Holdings Inc. (New Products).
May 1, 2002... MicroPatent, a subsidiary of Information Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IHI) a provider of global intellectual property information, announces the launch of WPT-X, the World Patent & Trademark Exchange, for listing and searching IP available for...

LexisNexis. (New Products).
May 1, 2002... Users of the LexisNexis version of Time Matters practice management software will now enjoy new features designed to enhance their ability to store, recall, and track legal research conducted using LexisNexis at lexis.com. The new features...

Boda petitions for Bar reinstatement.
May 1, 2002... Pursuant to Bar Rule 3-7.10, Craig Stephen Boda has petitioned the Florida Supreme Court for Bar reinstatement. Boda was suspended from the practice of law for three years, nunc pro tune May 14, 1998, as a result of being convicted of the...

Tauler petitions for Bar reinstatement.
May 1, 2002... Pursuant to Bar Rule 3-7.10, Elena C. Tauler has petitioned the Florida Supreme Court for Bar reinstatement. Tauler was suspended for three years nunc pro tunc, pursuant to a November 22, 2000 court order, as a result of the...

Greenfield petitions for reinstatement.
May 1, 2002... Pursuant to Bar Rule 3-7.10, Scott M. Greenfield has petitioned the Florida Supreme Court for Bar reinstatement. Greenfield was suspended pursuant to a court order dated October 25, 2001, for practicing law while being an inactive member of...

Spittler petitions for Bar reinstatement.
May 1, 2002... Pursuant to Bar Rule 3-7.10, John Joseph Spittler has petitioned the Supreme Court for Bar reinstatement. Spittler was suspended for nine months pursuant to a court order dated May 17, 2001, as a result of his misconduct in the filing of...

F. Robert Radel II. (News and Notes).
May 1, 2002... F. Robert Radel II of Butler, Burnette, Pappas, LLP, in Tampa served as program chair of the DRI Nursing Home Conference in San Francisco. He also acted as program chair and spoke at the DRI Sexual Torts Seminar.

Alfred Truesdell and Joel Blitch. (News and Notes).
May 1, 2002... Alfred Truesdell and Joel Blitch of Brown, Ward, Salzman & Weiss, P.A., in Orlando recently presented a series of seminars on Electronic Communications Systems Law to the City of Winter Springs.

Stephen H. Siegel. (News and Notes).
May 1, 2002... Stephen H. Siegel of Ruden, McClosky, Smith, Schuster & Russell, P.A., in Miami recently presented "What You Need to Know to Implement HIPAA: Security, Confidentiality and Privacy of Personal Health Data" and "The Elements of a Compliance Plan...

Cora C. Molloy. (News and Notes).
May 1, 2002... Cora C. Molloy of Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., in Ft. Myers has been elected as a member of the newly formed West Coast Advisory Council of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida.

William J. Romanos III. (News and Notes).
May 1, 2002... William J. Romanos III of Nason, Yeager, Gerson, White & Lioce, P.A., in West Palm beach was recently elected to the board of directors of the Friends of Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Inc.

Berkeley Technology Law Journal. (News and Notes).
May 1, 2002... Andrew C. Greenberg or Carlton Fields in Tampa, along with Matthew J. Conigliaro of Tallahassee, recently published "Foreseeability in Patent Law in the Fall 2001 issue of Berkeley Technology Law Journal.

Hodgson Russ, LLP. (News and Notes).
May 1, 2002... Hodgson Russ, LLP, in Boca Raton received a gold award from Internet Marketing Attorney.com for having one of the top 25 Web sites in a rating of the nation's top 250 law firms' Web sites.

Howard D. Rosen. (News and Notes).
May 1, 2002... Howard D. Rosen of Donlevy-Rosen & Rosen, PA, in Coral Gables recently presented "The Hows and Whys of Offshore Trusts in Asset Protection Planning" for the Estate Planning Council of Lee County.

John W. Perloff. (News and Notes).
May 1, 2002... John W. Perloff of Doumar, Allsworth, Curtis, Cross, Laystrom, Perloff, Voigt, Wachs & Mac Iver, LLP, in Ft. Lauderdale has been appointed the Southeast Regional Board of Directors of Canine Companions for Independence for a two-year term.

William K. Stevens. (News and Notes).
May 1, 2002... William K. Stevens of Fowler, White, Myers, Krause, in Naples has been appointed to the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel's International Estate Planning Committee for 2002-03.

Matthew W. Dietz. (News and Notes).
May 1, 2002... Matthew W. Dietz of Miami was a featured speaker at the Issues in Disability Law seminar in Ft. Lauderdale.

Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart. (News and Notes).
May 1, 2002... Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart was recognized recently by the Legal Aid Service of Broward County as the Broward Lawyers Care Attorney of the Month. During the past four years, the firm's Broward County office has donated nearly $35,000 to Broward...

Lerner & Greenberg, P.A. (News and Notes).
May 1, 2002... Lerner & Greenberg, P.A. at Hollywood was ranked number 31 on the "2002 Top Patent Firms" list by Intellectual Property Today magazine.

Carlton Fields. (News and Notes).
May 1, 2002... Carlton Fields was awarded the Athena Society's 2002 "Level Playing Fields Award," honoring the firm's family-friendly policies and practices.

Joseph G. Jarret. (News and Notes).
May 1, 2002... Joseph G. Jarret, Assistant Polk County Attorney, has been appointed to the Southeastern College School of Social Work program council.

Building your practice one satisfied client at a time. (Practice Tips).
May 1, 2002... Clients are the lifeblood of every law firm and in order to remain in business, all entrepreneurs need a steady stream of consumers to purchase their products and services. What can lawyers do to develop an endless stream of referrals that will...

Jeffrey P. Weiland and James H. McNeil, Jr., have become of counsel to Akerman Senterfitt. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... Jeffrey P. Weiland and James H. McNeil, Jr., have become of counsel to Akerman Senterfitt, with offices at 255 S. Orange Ave., 17th Fl., Orlando 32801, telephone (407)843-7861. They concentrate in the area of real estate law.

Andrew Hulsh has joined Bilzin, Sumberg, Dunn, Baena, Price & Axelrod, LLP. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... Andrew Hulsh has joined Bilzin, Sumberg, Dunn, Baena, Price & Axelrod, LLP, with offices at 200 S. Biscayne Blvd., Ste. 2500, Miami 33131, telephone (305)374-7580. He concentrates in the areas of corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions.

Michael Love has joined Fifth Third Bank. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... Michael Love has joined Fifth Third Bank in Southfield, Michigan, as vice president and trust manager.

Terryn H. Burnett has joined the Law Offices of Lansky & Courtney, P.L. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... Terryn H. Burnett has joined the Law Offices of Lansky & Courtney, P.L., with offices at 337 E. Robertson St., Brandon 33511 and 512 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa 33602, telephone (813)657-1995. She concentrates in the areas of marital and family...

Adriana Mourad, Allison Brady Colvin, and Nicole Pegues have become assistant state attorneys with the Ninth Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... Adriana Mourad, Allison Brady Colvin, and Nicole Pegues have become assistant state attorneys with the Ninth Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office, with offices at 415 N. Orange Ave., Orlando 32802, telephone (407)836-2400.

Michael D. Karsch has joined Sachs, Sax & Klein, P.A. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... Michael D. Karsch has joined Sachs, Sax & Klein, PA., with offices at 301 Yamato Rd., Ste. 4150, Boca Raton 33431, telephone (561)994-4499. He concentrates in the area of corporate and securities law.

Pedro A. Jimenez has become associated with Kozyak, Tropin & Throckmorton, P.A. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... Pedro A. Jimenez has become associated with Kozyak, Tropin & Throckmorton, PA, with offices at 200 S. Biscayne Blvd., Ste. 2800, Miami 33131, telephone (305)372-1800. He concentrates in the area of bankruptcy law.

Greenberg Traurig, LLP. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... Jeffrey S. Kahn, Richard H. Waxman, and Brandon G. Feingold, formerly of Kahn & Waxman, P.A., have become shareholder, of counsel, and associate, respectively, of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, with offices at 2255 Glades Rd., Ste. 419A, Boca Raton...

Kathy A. Metzger has joined the legal department of Florida Crystals Corporation. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... Kathy A. Metzger has joined the legal department of Florida Crystals Corporation, with offices at OneN. Clematis St., Ste. 200, West Palm Beach 33401.

William E. Ruffier, formerly of McEwan, Martinez, Dukes & Ruffier, P.A., has joined Dellecker, Wilson & King, P.A. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... William E. Ruffier, formerly of McEwan, Martinez, Dukes & Ruffler, PA, has joined Dellecker, Wilson & King, PA., with offices at 719 Vassar St., Orlando 32804, telephone (407)423-8571. He concentrates in the area of personal injury law.

Baker & McKenzie. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... Baker & McKenzie announces the opening of offices in Antwerp, Belgium, as a result of a merger with Liedekerke, Wolters, Waelbroeck, Kirkpatrick & Cerfontaine. The firm also maintains an office in Brussels, Belgium.

Andrea McMillan announces the opening of the Law Offices of Andrea D. McMillan, P.A. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... Andrea McMillan announces the opening of the Law Offices of Andrea D. McMillan, PA., with offices at 1615 Forum Place, Ste. 500, West Palm Beach 33401, telephone (561)712-0201. She concentrates in the areas of personal injury and wrongful...

Kyle D. Pence. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... Kyle D. Pence announces the opening of Kyle D. Pence, PA., with offices at 800 SE Third Ave., Fourth Fl., Ft. Lauderdale 33316, telephone (954)525-2300.

Lara Donlon has joined the Law Offices of Glen J. Torcivia, P.A. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... Lara Donlon has joined the Law Offices of Glen J. Torcivia, PA, with offices at 701 Northpoint Pkwy., Ste. 209, West Palm Beach 33407, telephone (561)686-8700. She concentrates in the area of employment litigation.

Linda L. Snelling has become a partner with Sachs, Sax & Klein, P.A. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... Linda L. Snelling has become a partner with Sachs, Sax & Klein, PA., with offices at 301 Yamato Rd., Ste. 4150, Boca Raton 33431, telephone (561)994-4499. She concentrates in the areas of estate planning and probate law.

Joseph A. Vecchio, Jr., and William F. Beggs. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... Joseph A. Vecchio, Jr., and William F. Beggs announce the dissolution of their partnership, and Vecchio will continue to practice as Joseph A. Vecchio, Jr., PA., with offices at 2929 B. Commercial Blvd., Penthouse Ste. A, Ft. Lauderdale 33308,...

Celeste Marcks has become associated with Broad & Cassel. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... Celeste Marcks has become associated with Broad & Cassel, with offices at One Clematis St., Ste. 500, West Palm Beach 33401, telephone (561)832-3300. She practices in the firm's commercial litigation and dispute resolution practice groups.

Robert E.V. Kelley, Jr., formerly of Holland & Knight, LLP, has joined Hill, Ward & Henderson, P.A. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... Robert E.V. Kelley, Jr., formerly of Holland & Knight, LLP, has joined Hill, Ward & Henderson, PA, with offices at 101 E. Kennedy Blvd., Ste. 3700, Tampa 33602, telephone (813)221-3900. He concentrates in the areas of eminent domain and ad...

Janet M. Strickland of Landis, Graham, French, P.A., has become a policy issuing agent of Attorneys' Title Insurance Fund, Inc. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... Janet M. Strickland of Landis, Graham, French, P.A., has become a policy-issuing agent of Attorneys' Title Insurance Fund, Inc., with offices at 543 5. Ridgewood Ave., Daytona Beach 32114, telephone (386)252-4717.

Robert M. Dees, formerly of Holland & Knight, has become a shareholder with Milam & Howard, P.A. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... Robert M. Dees, formerly of Holland & Knight, has become a shareholder with Milam & Howard, PA., with offices at 50 N. Laura St., Ste. 2900, Jacksonville 32202, telephone (904)357-3660. He concentrates in the areas of commercial litigation and...

J. Reid Bingham has become a partner with Genovese, Joblove & Battista. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... J. Reid Bingham has become a partner with Genovese, Joblove & Battista, with offices at 100 SE 2nd St., Ste. 3600, Miami 33131, telephone (305)349-2312. He concentrates in the areas of corporate and banking law.

Kluger, Peretz, Kaplan & Berlin. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... Robert P. Charbonneau has been named a partner with, Peter E. Shapiro has become of counsel to, and Robyn J. Spalter has become associated with Kluger, Peretz, Kaplan & Berlin, with offices at 201 5. Biscayne Blvd., 17th Fl., Miami 33131,...

Paul E. Lund has been named interim dean of Appalachian School of Law. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... Paul E. Lund has been named interim dean of Appalachian School of Law, P.O. Box 2825, Grundy, Virginia 24614, telephone (276)935-4349.

Gregory Tendrich, P.A. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... Gregory Tendrich, former vice president and counsel to First Union Securities, Inc., announces the opening of Gregory Tendrich, PA., with offices at 3652 5. Seacrest Blvd., Boynton Beach 33435, telephone (561)733-5113. The firm concentrates in...

John Cautero, formerly of Abbey, Adams, Byelick, Mueller & Lancaster, LLP, has joined the Law Offices of David A. Eaton, P.A. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... John Cautero, formerly of Abbey, Adams, Byelick, Mueller & Lancaster, LLP, has joined the Law Offices of David A. Eaton, PA., with offices at 8801 Ninth St. N., St. Petersburg 33702, telephone (727)521-2211. He concentrates in the areas of...

Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... Christopher Hopkins, Aram Megerian, and Barry Postman have become partners with Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A., with offices at 1390 Brickell Ave., Fl. Three, Miami 33131, telephone (305)350-5300. Postman practices in the firm's West Palm Beach...

Leesfield, Leighton, Rubio, Mahfood & Boyers, P.A. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... Robert B. Boyers has become a named partner with Leesfield, Leighton, Rubio & Mahfood, P.A., and the firm will now be known as Leesfield, Leighton, Rubio, Mahfood & Boyers, P.A., with offices in Miami and Key West. The firm concentrates in the...

Karen L. Trafford has joined Ruden, McClosky, Smith, Schuster & Russell, P.A. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... Karen L. Trafford has joined Ruden, McClosky, Smith, Schuster & Russell, PA., with offices at 401 E. Jackson St., Tampa 33602, telephone (813)222-6630. She practices in the firm's labor and employment and litigation practice groups.

Morgan, Colling & Gilbert, P.A. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... Joshua Drechsel, formerly of the state attorney's office in Clearwater, David Bromley, formerly of the Bleakley Law Firm in Tampa, former Tampa circuit court judge Dick Greco, Jr., and Adam Brum, formerly of Fowler, White, Boggs & Banker in...

Bloom, Ballen & Freeling. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... Michael A. Freeling has become a partner with Bloom & Ballen, and the firm will now be known as Bloom, Ballen & Freeling, with offices at 299 Camino Gardens Blvd., Boca Raton 33432, telephone (561)864-0000. The firm concentrates in the areas of...

The Law Offices of Darrin T. Mish, P.A. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... The Law Offices of Darrin T. Mish, PA., announces the relocation of its Tampa offices to 100 S. Edison Ave., Ste. A, Tampa 33606, telephone (813)229-7100. The firm concentrates in the areas of criminal law and IRS problem resolution.

Reininger, Perez & Esquenazi, P.L. (On the Move).
May 1, 2002... Alfonso J. Perez, formerly of Haley, Cingara & Perez, P.A., Salomon B. Esquenazi, and Rachel A. Camber have joined Rasco, Reininger & Perez, PA, and the firm will now be known as Rasco, Reininger, Perez & Esquenazi, P.L., with offices at 283...