Florida Bar News articles from May 2005

Florida Bar News archives from May 2005

More funding and new judges are on the way.
May 15, 2005... Florida courts appeared headed for increased funding while the number of new judges for next year remained in limbo as the Florida Legislature wound down its work for the 2005 legislative session. The legislature was scheduled to end its...

$5 million appropriated for Civil Legal Assistance Act.
May 15, 2005... The legislature has provided funding to take the Civil Legal Assistance Act statewide. House and Senate budget proposals--expected to be approved as this News went to press--contain $5 million each to expand the program that provides legal...

Panel favors online posting of court records; comments sought on Internet records recommendations.
May 15, 2005... As Florida enters the new world of the digital age, the general public should have access to court records over the Internet--just as anyone does walking up to the counter at the court clerk's office--but only after measures to safeguard...

Bar's annual fee statements are on the way: members may now pay their fees online at www.flabar.org.
May 15, 2005... Florida Bar members soon will receive their 2005-06 fee statements, reflecting no increase in annual fees and only minor modifications to the form. The fees are payable July 1 and are late after August 15. Members will receive one of...

Putting words into action: symposium explores recruiting and retaining a diverse work force.
May 15, 2005... JUDGE CHARLES R. WILSON, right, of the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, was the keynote speaker at the 2005 Annual Diversity Symposium. Wilson addressed Bar leaders on key issues concerning minorities, and commended the efforts of the Bar,...

LeRoy Collins.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
May 15, 2005... I want to voice my support for Steve Uhlfelder's idea in his April 15 letter to the News to honor former Florida Gov. LeRoy Collins with a state holiday. Aside from being a progressive and principled governor during a difficult,...

Judicial independence.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
May 15, 2005... This letter is not about Terri Schiavo, for whom we collectively pray will rest in peace. This letter is about denouncing as deplorable and unjustified the relentless attacks on the judiciary in the wake of her tragic case. Just how...

Gay adoption.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
May 15, 2005... I strongly believe that The Florida Bar must allow the Family Law Section to lobby for HB 633 and SB 1534. These are good bills that, if enacted into law, would allow state approved foster parents to adopt regardless of their sexual...

Florida's the best.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
May 15, 2005... Last July I took and eventually passed the Florida Bar exam. I have been practicing here in Michigan since November of 2000. I am very proud of my Florida Bar membership, and have taken notice of all the bad press the Florida legal system has...

Lawyer advertising.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
May 15, 2005... I fully support Public Defender James Purdy's position on lawyer advertising in the April 15 News. Once again the Board of Governors displays its lack of understanding of what it means to actually practice law. I have been to seminars regarding...

Magistrate Scriven seeks reappointment.
May 15, 2005... The current term of office of U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary S. Scriven, who is located in Tampa, is due to expire on December 18. The U.S. district court is required by law to establish a panel of citizens to consider reappointment of the...

Magistrate Spaulding seeks reappointment.
May 15, 2005... The current term of office of U.S. Magistrate Judge Karla R. Spaulding, who is located in Orlando, is due to expire December 28. The U.S. district court is required by law to establish a panel of citizens to consider reappointment of the...

DPC seeks comments on petition to limit medical malpractice fees.
May 15, 2005... The Bar's Disciplinary Procedure Committee is seeking comments concerning the petition of 50 members to amend Rule 4-1.5(f)(4)(B) to conform the Rules of Professional Conduct to the provisions set forth in Amendment 3, which limits contingency...

Bethel, Pettis set for 17th Circuit runoff.
May 15, 2005... Two Broward County lawyers are in a runoff for the 17th Circuit's seat 3 on the Bar Board of Governors following voting in an April special election. Eugene K. Pettis led the four-candidate race with 726 votes, or 42.5 percent. Allison K....

More than 70% of those who took the latest bar exam passed.
May 15, 2005... Florida International University had the highest passing rate for those taking the February Florida bar exam--100 percent. But then FIU only had one graduate sit for the exam. However, when it came to the Multistate Professional Responsibility...

It's Middle District Bar renewal time.
May 15, 2005... Notice is hereby given that on or about June 1 annual renewal forms and instructions will be provided by U.S. mail to all active members of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida Bar. After June 1, annual renewal forms...

Wiss petitions for Bar reinstatement.
May 15, 2005... Pursuant to Rule 3-7.10, Scott Lawrence Wiss of Massapequa, New York, has petitioned the Florida Supreme Court for Bar reinstatement. On November 29, 2004, the Florida Supreme Court suspended Wiss for 91 days nunc pro tunc to March 1, 2004,...

Bar headquarters participates in recycling effort.
May 15, 2005... The Florida Bar's headquarters in Tallahassee recently participated in the Earth Day recycle program that resulted in more than 16 tons of books being recycled. Bar Facilities Director Don Gary said the Bar joined with City of Tallahassee...

Florida Lawyers Assistance adds services; volunteers and staff responded to over 850 hotline calls last year.
May 15, 2005... A part-time clinician and new support groups are a few of the newest services offered by Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc., an organization dedicated to supporting and rehabilitating law professionals with addictions and other disorders. ...

In memoriam.
May 15, 2005... Brian Howard Blacher, Milwaukee, WI Admitted 1979; Died February 1, 2003 James J. Boyle, Miami Admitted 1949; Died June 25, 2004 Thomas Adelbert Bustin, Lutz Admitted 1966; Died January 17, 2005 Ollie Ben Butler, Jr., Tampa...

Board to take up fees, ads, budget, and section funding.
May 15, 2005... A member-generated petition to amend Bar rules on contingency fees in medical malpractice cases, a decision on section' funding issues, and revisiting issues stemming from advertising rule revisions will be on the Board of Governors agenda for...

City, County and Local Government Section sets public finance seminar.
May 15, 2005... The City, County and Local Government Law Section will present its biennial seminar "Public Finance in Florida" July 29-30 at the Ritz Carlton in Manalapan. This year's seminar includes presentations about the local government lawyer's...

Late fee for CLE reporting approved.
May 15, 2005... Bar members who delay seeking approval for unapproved CLE courses until just before their three-year CLE reporting deadline will soon find themselves paying a $50 late fee. The Board of Governors okayed in April a recommendation from the...

Justice Peggy Quince.
May 15, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: JUSTICE PEGGY QUINCE led a book club discussion in Tallahassee with 60 students at PACE Center for Girls by asking the girls to explain which of the main female characters they felt they shared...

Stetson scores victory in Vienna: with a little help from the International Law Section.
May 15, 2005... With a boost from the International Law Section, Stetson University College of Law became the first American law school since 1996 to win the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot competition held recently in Vienna, Austria....

Applicants sought for jury instructions panel.
May 15, 2005... The Florida Supreme Court's Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases will have up to eight vacancies at the end of 2005. Any lawyer licensed to practice law in Florida and any member of the Florida judiciary may apply for...

There's more work to be done.
May 15, 2005... While there has been significant progress and increased opportunities for minorities, they continue to be significantly under-represented in all levels of the legal profession--and that is still a concern, according to Judge Charles R. Wilson...

Young Lawyers Division.
May 15, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION President Michael Faehner, right, presented The Florida Bar YLD 2005 Diversity Award to Diego "Woody" Rodriguez. The award recognizes an attorney who has demonstrated a strong...

Paralegals set annual seminar.
May 15, 2005... The Paralegal Association of Florida, Inc., will hold its 28th Annual Seminar and Membership Meeting at the Delray Beach Marriott June 3-4. The seminars are held as general-session and double-track sessions on elder care and real estate....

Board continues debating section funding issues.
May 15, 2005... The Bar Board of Governors has received a detailed briefing on proposals to revamp the way the Bar provides fiscal support for its sections, including the split with the Bar of CLE course revenues. But the vote on the proposal was delayed...

Bar continues to study recording JNC interviews; concerns arise over who should pick up the tab.
May 15, 2005... A recommendation to have all judicial nominating commission interviews recorded has been referred to the Bar's Judicial Independence Committee for further study. The move came at the Board of Governors April meeting in Tallahassee after...

New unbundled legal services rules get mostly positive initial reviews.
May 15, 2005... Most family law lawyers and judges haven't had any personal experience with new rules that allow the delivery of unbundled legal services in family law cases, but those who have like the rules. Bar Unlicensed Practice of Law Counsel Lori...

Disciplinary actions.
May 15, 2005... The Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders suspended seven, reprimanded four, disbarred three, and accepted the resignation of one attorney. The following lawyers are disciplined: Michael Henry Bloom, 3225 Aviation Ave., Ste....

The Florida Guardian ad Litem Association.
May 15, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: THE FLORIDA GUARDIAN AD LITEM ASSOCIATION honored Rep. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, with its "Legislative Voice for Children" award-presented annually to a legislator who has positively impacted the lives of abused...

UF trial teams garner high honors.
May 15, 2005... The trial team at the University of Florida's Levin College of Law won high honors in this year's statewide trial team competitions. UF's trial team won both first and second place in the Trial Lawyers Section's Chester Bedell Mock Trial...

Courts section added back into the Journal directory.
May 15, 2005... For at least the 2005 issue, the Bar Journal directory will include the popular section on judges and related officials. As part of a long-term goal to eventually phase out the printed directory as the same information becomes available on...

Juliet Murphy Roulhac.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Juliet Murphy Roulhac of Miami recently served as a presenter on a panel which discussed ethical dilemmas during The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division's Practicing with Professionalism Seminar held in April in Miami.

Jack Brandon.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Jack Brandon recently hosted a luncheon for present and prospective Florida Bar Foundation Fellows at the Lakeland Yacht Club, which was underwritten by the Boswell & Dunlap; GrayRobinson; Lily, O'Toole & Brown; Peterson & Myers; and Straughn,...

Million Dollar Advocates Forum.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Pete Cardillo of the Cardillo Law Firm in Tampa was recently admitted to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

Matthew J. Lampke.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Matthew J. Lampke of the Ohio Attorney General's Office received the Ohio State Bar Foundation Community Service Award for lawyers 40 and under.

Elsa Jaramillo-Velez, Maria Santovenia and Rafael Suarez-Rivas of the City of Miami served as judges.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Elsa Jaramillo-Velez, Maria Santovenia and Rafael Suarez-Rivas of the City of Miami served as judges at the FILl College of Law Oral Arguments held at the Third District Court of Appeal.

Kimberly Kolback.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Kimberly Kolback moderated the panel "Thinking Outside the Box: New Avenues in Entertainment Law" during the Entertainment and Sports Law Symposium held at the University of Miami School of Law. Kolback also co-chaired a Steinway & Sons/BMI...

Katherine E. Giddings.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Katherine E. Giddings of the Tallahassee office of Akerman Senterfitt spoke at the fifth annual "How to Succeed as Staff Counsel" CLE program presented by the American Bar Association, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section Staff Counsel...

Matt Firestone.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Matt Firestone of Pohl & Stewart in Winter Park participated in a presentation to the Or ange County Homeowners' Association Alliance concerning recent statutory amendments affecting homeowners' associations.

P. Bruce Culpepper.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... P. Bruce Culpepper of Akerman Senterfitt in Tallahassee participated in the "Corporate Governance-Sarbanes-Oxley Act and More in Florida" seminar and panel discussion on reporting and enforcement issues.

Suzette M. Marteny.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Suzette M. Marteny of Carlton Fields was selected to serve on the board of Tampa Crossroads.

J. Richard Caldwell, Jr., and A. Courtney Cox of Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell in Tampa co-wrote the Florida chapter.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... J. Richard Caldwell, Jr., and A. Courtney Cox of Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell in Tampa co-wrote the Florida chapter of the Products Liability Defenses: A State-by-State Compendium of the DRI Defense Library Series.

John Vento.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... John Vento of Trenam Kemker completed 30 years of active and reserve service with the United States Air Force. Vento retired as a full colonel and was awarded the Legion of Merit.

Samuel Poole.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Samuel Poole of Berger Singerman in Miami spoke at the Alcoa Leadership Panel, held at Florida International University's Graham University Center. Poole discussed universal leadership challenges and lessons from the Everglades restoration...

Michael T. Haire.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Michael T. Haire of Fisher, Rushmer, Werrenrath, Dickson, Talley & Dunlap was the moderator of the Lorman Educational Services seminar, "Construction Insurance, Bonding and Liens in Florida" in Miami. Additionally, Haire spoke to the Orange...

International Network of Boutique Law Firms.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Gregory L. Mayback of Feldman Gale in Miami was appointed president of the Miami chapter of the International Network of Boutique Law Firms.

Louie N. Adcock, Jr..(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Louie N. Adcock, Jr., of Fisher & Sauls was honored by the All Children's Hospital Foundation with the William S. Belcher Award.

United Way of the Big Bend, Inc..(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Karen Walker of Holland & Knight was elected chair of the board of directors of the United Way of the Big Bend, Inc.

Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Jeanne Seewald of Fowler White Boggs Banker was elected to the board of directors for The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce for a three-year term.

Lawrence M. Watson, Jr., and Michael S. Orfinger of Upchurch, Watson, White & Max Mediation conducted a CLE seminar.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Lawrence M. Watson, Jr., and Michael S. Orfinger of Upchurch, Watson, White & Max Mediation conducted a CLE seminar for the Sarasota County Bar Association, "Practical Advices for Attorneys, re: Ethics and Use of Mediation."

Laura Holm.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Laura Holm of Berger Singerman was a featured panelist at a dinner meeting presented by the Association of Public Corporations and National Investor Relations Institute, South Florida Chapter.

Eric A. Gordon of Arnstein & Lehr in Boca Raton and Sheila Noel of Trilium Partners presented a seminar.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Eric A. Gordon of Arnstein & Lehr in Boca Raton and Sheila Noel of Trilium Partners presented a seminar titled, "You're Hired! How to Legally and Artfully Find and Qualify Applicants and Grow Your Company in 2005."

American College of Trial Lawyers.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... David T. Knight of Hill, Ward & Henderson has become a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Raymond Dix.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Raymond Dix of St. Petersburg has signed a contract for publication of his novel, Death Row Defender. Hard Shell Word Factory will publish the novel in e-book and trade paperback this fall.

The American Seniors Golf Association.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Roy C. Young of Young van Assenderp of Tallahassee was elected president of The American Seniors Golf Association.

William W. Corry.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... William W. Corry of the Law Offices of William W. Corry in Tallahassee received the 2005 "In Defense of Justice" Award from the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers.

Asian Pacific American Bar Association.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Suzan Jo of Akerman Senterfitt in Miami was elected to the board of directors and vice president of membership of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of South Florida.

Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... John W. Weihmuller and W. Douglas Berry of Butler Pappas Weihmuller Katz Craig in Tampa were elected to the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel.

Mark Heise.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Mark Heise of Boise, Schiller & Flexner spoke at the Palm Beach County Bar Association's seminar on Class Actions. Heise spoke on the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005.

Howard J. Hollander.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Howard J. Hollander of Howard J. Hollander, P.A., in Miami lectured on Miller Act claims and dispute resolution at the Construction Law Certification Review Course in Orlando.

Attorney's Title Insurance Fund.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Stephen H. Reynolds of Macfarlane, Ferguson & McMullen was recently re-elected by the Attorney's Title Insurance Fund as trustee for the 13th Judicial Circuit.

William S. Boshnick.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... William S. Boshnick of Greenblum & Bernstein in Reston was the featured speaker at the CEO Forum, hosted by the Korea Electronics Association in Seoul, Korea. Boshnick spoke about cor porate patent licensing strategies in the U.S.

The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Randy M. Kammer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida in Jacksonville was elected president of The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida.

Jonathan E. Perlman.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Jonathan E. Perlman of Genovese Joblove & Battista gave a seminar titled "Securities Arbitration" that explained changes to the arbitration rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers for attorneys litigating in that area.

John Arrastia, Jr..(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... John Arrastia, Jr., of Adorno & Yoss in Miami presented a lecture regarding the use of expert witnesses and consultants in criminal and quasi-criminal actions at the Second Annual Congress Against Organized Crime, Terrorism, and Corruption.

Albert J. Dotson, Jr..(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Albert J. Dotson, Jr., of Bilzin Sumberg in Miami received the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce's National Business Leader of the Year award.

Colombian American Service Association.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Julio Jaramillo of Abadin, Jaramillo, Cook & Heffernan in Miami was re-elected as vice president of the Colombian American Service Association.

WMFE Community Advisory Board.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Lawrence H. Kolin of Alvarez, Sambol, Winthrop & Madson in Orlando was selected to serve a two-year term on the WMFE Community Advisory Board.

Allison R. Day.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Allison R. Day of Genovese Joblove & Battista gave a presentation on "Advanced Consumer Bankruptcy Issues in Florida" at the National Business Institute's seminar in Miami.

Disney/SBA National Entrepreneurial Center Advisory Board.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Lynn B. Aust of Orlando was appointed to the Disney/SBA National Entrepreneurial Center Advisory Board.

American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Louis Nostro of Shutts & Bowen in Miami was elected to the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.

U. S. District Court.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Patrick S. Montoya of Colson Hicks Eidson was appointed by Chief United States District Judge William J. Zloch to the Ad Hoc Committee on Rules and Procedure for the U. S. District Court, Southern District of Florida.

Broward County Metropolitan Planning Organization.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Daniel J. Stermer of Lewis B. Freeman & Partners was elected vice chair of the Broward County Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Robert J. Stovash of Stovash, Case & Tingley in Orlando was named to the board of governors of the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Catholic Charities Legal Services Archdiocese of Miami.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Vance E. Salter of Hunton & Williams was named president of the board of directors for Catholic Charities Legal Services Archdiocese of Miami.

Bruce A. Blitman.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Bruce A. Blitman of Ft. Lauderdale presented, "If I Knew Then, What I Know Now: Mediation Lessons Learned the Hard Way" at the Association of South Florida Mediators' Annual Educational Seminar in Ft. Lauderdale.

West Palm Beach.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Sia Baker-Barnes of Searcy, Denney, Scarola, Barnhart & Shipley in West Palm Beach was elected president of the West Palm Beach of The Links.

Mitchell C. Fogei and Saara J. Pekale were each named a Designated SBA 504 Loan Closing Attorney.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Mitchell C. Fogei and Saara J. Pekale were each named a Designated SBA 504 Loan Closing Attorney by the United States Small Business Administration.

American Seniors Golf Association.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2005... Roy C. Young of Young van Assenderp was recently elected president of the American Seniors Golf Association in Osterville, Mass.