Florida Bar News articles from May 2006

Florida Bar News archives from May 2006

Legal diversity must begin early: beginning in the elementary schools, students need to see lawyers.
May 15, 2006... Talk all you want about the need to diversify the legal profession, "but if we don't do better at increasing the number of minorities entering law schools, we are going to be fighting a losing battle." That's the message Chief Justice...

Minority lawyers and their involvement in the bar.
May 15, 2006... When it was pointed out that in 2004 only two of the 78 names the Bar sent to the governor for nominations to the judicial nominating commissions were minorities, President-elect Hank Coxe responded that that was an indefensible position and he...

Bar launches survey of lawyers with disabilities.
May 15, 2006... Florida Bar members with disabilities are being asked to participate in the first statewide survey designed to identify the nature and impact of disabilities on the practice of law. The survey will also gather information on accommodations and...

55 new judges added: but efforts to add two more DCA judges fail.
May 15, 2006... A last-minute compromise on next year's state budget has cut 11 judgeships from the number the legislature was poised to approve in the coming year. Lawmakers had been set to authorize all 66 new judges certified by the Supreme Court, and...

Lawmakers remove DNA evidence testing deadline.
May 15, 2006... After a rocky home stretch in a three-year race against the clock, the legislature removed the deadline for Florida prisoners to request DNA testing to help prove their innocence. Before a unanimous vote in the Senate May 4, the bill's...

Annual fee statements are on the way: members may pay their fees online at floridabar.org.
May 15, 2006... Florida Bar members soon will receive their 2006-07 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 two...

ACT contributions will provide aid and assistance following disasters.
May 15, 2006... While the ravages of Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast were still being widely reported, Florida was for the second year in a row in the midst of a hurricane season that would not only disrupt lives and property here, but also interrupt legal...

Joint and several.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 15, 2006... The News reported that the 2006 Legislature has eliminated "the last vestiges of joint and several liability from the state's tort system." This is an overstatement. Joint and several liability remains the rule as to intentional tortfeasors and...

Constitutional Amendments.(Letter)(Letter to the editor)
May 15, 2006... Concerning the article "Panel passes constitutional interpretation amendment" in the April 15 News, this appears to be an amendment that should be opposed by Florida's legal profession. Proposing a constitutional amendment dictating to the...

Civil courage.(Letter)(Letter to the editor)
May 15, 2006... The Florida Bar has for several years been urging members to be more ethical and courteous in their practices, and more involved in leadership positions in the communities in which they live. Numerous education and public information programs...

Kainen wins 11th circuit BoG runoff.
May 15, 2006... Miami attorney Dennis G. Kainen has won the runoff for Seat 5 representing the 11th Circuit on the Bar Board of Governors. Kainen defeated Miami attorney Robert J. Fiore 1,377 to 1,180 in the April runoff. The two had been the top vote getters...

18th JNC to fill a circuit vacancy.
May 15, 2006... The 18th Circuit JNC is now accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the circuit bench created by the resignation of Judge Gene R. Stephenson. effective May 31. Applicants must have been a member of The Florida Bar for the preceding...

Nonlawyer member needed for bar examiners.(Notice)
May 15, 2006... The Florida Board of Bar Examiners is now accepting applications for a nonlawyer to serve a three-year term on its board. The Supreme Court will appoint the public member. A volunteer public member should possess education or work-related...

Supreme Court sets oral arguments.(Notice)
May 15, 2006... The Florida Supreme Court has set oral arguments in a number of cases. Oral arguments slated for June 5, beginning at 9 a.m.,include" * SCO6-140--In Re: Amendments to the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure. * SCO6-159--In Re:...

Darville petitions for Bar reinstatement.(Notices)
May 15, 2006... Pursuant to Rule 3-7.10, Lionel C. Darville of Belle Glade has petitioned the Supreme Court for reinstatement to The Florida Bar. The Supreme Court suspended Darville for a period of two years for trust accounting improprieties, pursuant to...

In memoriam.(Obituary)
May 15, 2006... Thomas E. Bevis, Deland Admitted 1972; Died March 26, 2006 Richard Stephen Fitzpatrick, Inverness Admitted 1976; Died March 20, 2006 G. Tiny Geiger, Tampa Admitted 1983; Died March 15, 2006 Howell Van Gerbig, Jr., Palm Beach...

Ethics to take center stage in Boca Raton.
May 15, 2006... Tricky ethical questions facing practitioners--from conflicts with clients and their creditors to bankruptcy to metadata--will be addressed at the 2006 Masters Seminar on Ethics. The seminar, sponsored by the Professional Ethics Committee,...

Federal Judicial Roundtable set.(Discussion)
May 15, 2006... Science and the law will be the main topic of this year's Federal Judicial Roundtable, set for June 22, beginning at 2:30 p.m., at the Bar's Annual Convention at the Boca Raton Hotel and Club. Florida Bar members also will get a rare...

The Florida law related education association.
May 15, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption:THE FLORIDA LAW RELATED EDUCATION ASSOCIATION recently collaborated with the Florida Supreme Court to administer the Justice Teaching Institute, which annually provides a substantive orientation to the...

Constitutional interpretation bill dies in the Senate.
May 15, 2006... A proposed constitutional amendment directing how the Florida Constitution should be interpreted died in the Florida Legislature after a Senate committee failed to take it up. The item had made it on the agenda of the last meeting of the...

Running for Judge? Plan to attend these candidate forums: the one-hour programs are designed to help judicial candidates understand the rules.
May 15, 2006... Training sessions for people seeking election as judges in 2006 will be held May 18-19 in every circuit with a contested judicial election. Strict rules govern judicial campaigns and the Florida Supreme Court and the Florida Bar Board of...

Porth works to build relationships.(Lawyers in the Legislature)
May 15, 2006... As a prosecutor, Ari Porth has learned the value of advocacy. As a state representative, he has learned the value of building relationships. And he's having a whale of a time doing both. "I have the best two jobs in the world, being a...

Simmons finds a hero in Lincoln.(Lawyers in the Legislature)
May 15, 2006... Relations between the Florida Legislature and the state court system, especially the Supreme Court, have dramatically improved in recent years, but that doesn't mean a little friction between branches of government is something to avoid. ...

A Stetson law student team.
May 15, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: A STETSON LAW STUDENT TEAM placed second worldwide at the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot competition in Vienna on April 13. Last year in March, Stetson Law became the first American...

PAF sets annual seminar for June.
May 15, 2006... The Paralegal Association of Florida, Inc., will hold its 30th Annual Seminar and Membership Meeting at the Eau Gallie Yacht Club in Indian Harbor Beach June 16-17. The theme is "Litigation, Probate, and Estate Planning on the Space Coast." ...

Amendments to Bar rules take effect this month: the changes are based on the new ABA model rules.
May 15, 2006... Changes to Bar rules recommended by The Florida Bar and approved by the Florida Supreme Court in response to the ABA's 2002 overhaul of model rules go into effect May 18. The Bar submission came from a special committee appointed to review...

New certification rules approved.
May 15, 2006... Changes in BLSE rules to allow lawyers to use initials in ads to indicate they are certified and to change trial requirements for business litigation certification and recertification have been approved by the Bar Board of Governors. The...

Children first recognizes lawmakers.
May 15, 2006... Florida's Children First, a nonprofit organization that advocates for the legal rights of foster kids and other at-risk children, honored three Broward lawmakers for their ongoing support of children's issues in Tallahassee at its recent annual...

Partners say corporate America demands diversity.
May 15, 2006... Mark D. Killian Managing Editor Only 4 percent of partners in the private sector are minorities and more than half of all minority lawyers leave their firms within the first three years--two thirds within four years, according to a report...

Removing barriers for disabled lawyers program slated for Annual Convention.
May 15, 2006... The Bar's Equal Opportunities Law Section will present Removing Barriers to the Legal Profession for Lawyers with Disabilities at the Annual Convention June 23 in Boca Raton from 8 a.m. till noon. More than 40 Florida lawyers with...

A diverse Bar is 'right and just'.
May 15, 2006... Those members of The Florida Bar committed to diversity have an opportunity to transform the Bar not by Changing its Structure or appearance or character, but by "giving deeper meaning to the word integration." That's the message Miami...

St. Thomas University law school award winners reflect its diversity.
May 15, 2006... St. Thomas University School of Law has been steadfast in its mission to educate a diverse student population--one which mirrors today's society--in order to bring greater diversity to the legal profession and greater legal representation to...

Get the address right when cutting checks.(Practice Tips)
May 15, 2006... Here's a tip for personal injury attorneys and anyone else who writes checks from a trust account on behalf of clients: Take a minute before writing each check to call the payee to confirm the proper name and address to send the check. ...

Council of Sections wants to participate in board meetings.
May 15, 2006... The relationship between the Bar and its sections has improved in the past year, thanks largely to efforts by Bar President Alan Bookman, and one way to augment that would be for the Council of Sections to participate in the Board of Governors...

House: jury unanimity in death cases not needed.
May 15, 2006... A resolution declaring that Florida's public policy should not require unanimous jury recommendations for death sentences cleared the Florida House April 24. The resolution, sponsored by Rep. Bruce Kyle, R-Ft. Myers, is in response to...

Legislature passes 'last say' bill: compromise recognizes Supreme Court's authority.
May 15, 2006... A law that rewrites a criminal procedural role in which the defense has been given the last say in some cases for more than 150 years was amended in the last days of the Florida Legislature to recognize the Florida Supreme Court has final...

Board of Governors to meet June 2.
May 15, 2006... A final look at the Bar's 2006-07 budget and debating a plan to recognize and regulate paralegals will await the Bar Board of Governors at its June 2 meeting in Key West. The board will also make a variety of appointments, get a wrap-up...

Move to repeal a criminal procedure rule fails: Senate lets die a measure that would have altered when retardation is determined in death cases.
May 15, 2006... A bill to overturn a criminal procedural rule on when to determine whether a murder defendant is retarded cleared the Florida House April 25, but died when the Senate failed to take it up as the legislative session wound down. ...

Capital Cases Seminar set.
May 15, 2006... The Seventh Annual Advanced Capital Cases Seminar, sponsored by the Florida Legislature's Commission on Capital Cases, will focus on the complicated area of mental retardation. The one-day seminar is scheduled for Friday, June 16, at the Swan...

FL Historical Society recognizes Judge Hitt for his historical novel.
May 15, 2006... The Florida Historical Society has honored Senior Judge Fredric M. Hitt with the Patrick D. Smith Award for Best Florida Fiction for his historical novel, Wekiva Winter. The award will be presented to Judge Hitt at the society's annual...

Proposed board actions.(Notice)
May 15, 2006... 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 June 2, 2006 meeting in Key West on the following items. These matters are...

Should lawyers call themselves doctors of law? Board of Governors consider that and other advertising issues.
May 15, 2006... "My mother always wanted me to be a doctor," mused Bar Board of Governors member David Rothman. The question before the board at its April 7 meeting in Coral Gables was whether the holder of a juris doctor degree could call himself or...

Expanded member profiles planned for Bar's Web site.
May 15, 2006... Florida Bar members later this year will be able to add substantial information about themselves and their practices to their attorney profiles in the Find-a-Lawyer section of the Bar's Web site. The Board of Governors has approved the...

U.S. Middle District to amend local rules.(Notice)
May 15, 2006... Pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 83, Fed.R.Crim.P. 57, and 28 U.S.C. [section] 2071, notice is hereby given of proposed amendments to the following Local Rules for the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida. A copy of the...

Florida lawyers are federalized; four sections sponsor CLE event in Washington, D.C.
May 15, 2006... Greeted by blooming flowers and sunshine, four Florida Bar groups hosted The Federal Seminar 2006 in Washington, D.C., in April. The three-day program, jointly sponsored by the Government Lawyer, Environmental and Land Use Law, Appellate...

Ask-a-Lawyer.(Legal Roundup)
May 15, 2006... T+he Carrollwood Community Bar Association held an "Ask-a-Lawyer" pro bono session at the North Tampa Library May 2. Members of the association donated their time to provide free consultations in all areas of the law.

HCBA reads to kids.(Legal Roundup)
May 15, 2006... Attorneys with the Hillsborough County Bar's Lawyers for Literacy committee read to children attending local Head Start programs recently. Each year, members donate funds to purchase books for children that attend local Head Start classrooms....

CBA-CF plans ball.(Legal Roundup)
May 15, 2006... The Caribbean Bar Association's Central Florida Chapter has slated Frederick Morton, senior vice president and general manager of TEMPO, an MTV Networks Channel, as its keynote speaker at CBA-CF's 2006 Barrister's Ball, set for Orlando, June...

Orange County Law Day.(Legal Roundup)
May 15, 2006... Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty proclaimed May 1 as "Law Day" and recognized Orange/ Osceola Public Defender Bob Wesley and the Orange County Bar Association's efforts to educate Orange County citizens on the legal system. Public Defender Bob...

Judge Rodgers honored.(Legal Roundup)
May 15, 2006... The Episcopal Lawyers of Palm Beach County recently honored retired Judge Edward Rodgers with the organization's inaugural Servant of Justice Award, to be presented annually to a member of the Palm Beach County Bar who has exemplified his or...

More than 225 attorneys and 50 judges from the Orlando area attended the recent annual Evening with the Judiciary.(Legal Roundup)
May 15, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: MORE THAN 225 attorneys and 50 judges from the Orlando area attended the recent annual Evening with the Judiciary, hosted by the Young Lawyers' Section of the Orange County Bar. Pictured are Wayne Helsby,...

William G. Christopher joined the Maglio Law Firm in Sarasota.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... William G. Christopher joined the Maglio Law Firm in Sarasota. The firm is now called the Maglio Christopher & Toale Law Firm and is located at 2480 Fruitville Rd., Ste. 6, in Sarasota, 34237. The phone and fax numbers remain the same.

Thomas P. Wert joined Roetzel & Andress' Orlando office as a partner.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... Thomas P. Wert joined Roetzel & Andress' Orlando office as a partner. Wert practices civil litigation focusing on general commercial and construction law.

Fowler White Boggs Banker.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... Carol Todd Thomas was named chief marketing officer at Fowler White Boggs Banker and will focus on their business development and strategic marketing plans.

Jeffrey M. Thompson became a shareholder at Alvarez, Sambol, Winthrop & Madson.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... Jeffrey M. Thompson became a shareholder at Alvarez, Sambol, Winthrop & Madson. Thompson practices in the areas of commercial litigation, construction, general liability/premises, health care, medical malpractice, and nursing home/long-term...

Gabriel A. Couriel joined Revilla & Goldstein as an associate.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... Gabriel A. Couriel joined Revilla & Goldstein as an associate and will focus his practice on immigration and nationality law.

Linda Frazier joined the Miami office of Adorno & Yoss and will represent public and private companies.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... Linda Frazier joined the Miami office of Adorno & Yoss and will represent public and private companies concerning entity formation, governance equity, debt financing, and mergers and acquisitions.

Abel Band opened its Tallahassee office in the Ashley Center at 2367 Centerville Rd. 32317.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... Abel Band opened its Tallahassee office in the Ashley Center at 2367 Centerville Rd. 32317. The phone number is (850) 599-9122 and the fax number is (850) 599-0103.

Stephan A. Pendorf joined Akerman Senterfitt's intellectual property practice.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... Stephan A. Pendorf joined Akerman Senterfitt's intellectual property practice in West Palm Beach as of counsel.

Paul S. Ginsberg joined Mintz Truppman and will handle first and third party insurance cases.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... Paul S. Ginsberg joined Mintz Truppman and will handle first and third party insurance cases for plaintiffs and defendants including liability and coverage matters.

Katz Barron.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... Mercedes M. Sellek was named as an associate at Katz Barron's Miami office and will practice in the real estate department.

William P. Sklar joined Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge's West Palm Beach office.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... William P. Sklar joined Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge's West Palm Beach office as counsel in the real estate department.

Frank Ashton joined Hardesty, Tyde & Green.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... Frank Ashton joined Hardesty, Tyde & Green in Jacksonville.

Hollie A. Morgan opened Mount Dora Title Services, Inc.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... Hollie A. Morgan opened Mount Dora Title Services, Inc. The phone number is (352) 483-5200 and the fax number is (352) 483-5233.

Michael J. Kapperman joined Grimsley, Marker & Iseley in Jacksonville.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... Michael J. Kapperman joined Grimsley, Marker & Iseley in Jacksonville and will focus his practice on administration, litigation, and estate and trust planning.

deBeaubien, Knight, Simmons, Mantzaris & Neal opened a branch office at 500 N. Westshore Blvd., Ste. 940.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... deBeaubien, Knight, Simmons, Mantzaris & Neal opened a branch office at 500 N. Westshore Blvd., Ste. 940, in Tampa, 33609. The phone number is (813) 288-9650 and the fax number is (407) 992-3593.

Nick A. Ortiz joined the Soloway Law Firm in Pensacola as an associate.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... Nick A. Ortiz joined the Soloway Law Firm in Pensacola as an associate. He will focus his practice on accidental injury, civil rights, disability law and Social Security.

Robert A. Goldman, Shelly J. Stirrat and Debra Spungin have joined Fox, Wackeen, Dungey.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... Robert A. Goldman, Shelly J. Stirrat and Debra Spungin have joined Fox, Wackeen, Dungey. Goldman, a partner, will focus on civil litigation and Stirrat, also a partner, will focus on civil litigation and appellate law. Spungin joined as an...

Paul E. Liles joined Alvarez, Sambol, Winthrop & Madson as the resident attorney in the Ft. Myers office.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... Paul E. Liles joined Alvarez, Sambol, Winthrop & Madson as the resident attorney in the Ft. Myers office. The firm has also relocated its Ft. Myers office to 4315 Metro Pkwy in Ft. Myers and can be reached at (888) 877-7488.

Scott K. Petersen joined Kirk Pinkerton.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... Scott K. Petersen joined Kirk Pinkerton and will practice commercial, construction and probate litigation and criminal law.

Andrew Lennox joined Jennis Bowen & Brundage.(On the MOve)
May 15, 2006... Andrew Lennox joined Jennis Bowen & Brundage. Lennox has experience in business, civil, bankruptcy and commercial litigation.

Jose Angel Rodriguez became an associate at Longwell & Gentle.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... Jose Angel Rodriguez became an associate at Longwell & Gentle and will focus his practice on family law matters.

Morris G. "Skip" Miller joined Ruden McClosky's West Palm Beach office.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... Morris G. "Skip" Miller joined Ruden McClosky's West Palm Beach office as of counsel focusing on public finance and non-profit entities.

John C. "Jack" Shawde joined Berger Singerman's Miami office as a shareholder.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... John C. "Jack" Shawde joined Berger Singerman's Miami office as a shareholder and will focus his practice on creditor's rights, bankruptcy and government procurement disputes.

Robert G. Minnich joined Hahn Loeser & Parks.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... Robert G. Minnich joined Hahn Loeser & Parks' Naples office.

Holland & Knight.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... Martin "Marty" Alexander was appointed to serve as executive partner of Holland & Knight's West Palm Beach office. Alexander practices general commercial and corporate litigation.

Jane A. Houk and Jeffrey M. Oshinsky joined Stearns Weaver Miller's Miami office as shareholders.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... Jane A. Houk and Jeffrey M. Oshinsky joined Stearns Weaver Miller's Miami office as shareholders. Houk will work in the tax department and Oshinsky will work in the firm's corporate office.

Laurie Uustal Mathews joined Hunton & Williams' Miami office.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... Laurie Uustal Mathews joined Hunton & Williams' Miami office as a partner and will focus on complex commercial and business litigation and corporate compliance.

James L. Nulman opened Nulman Mediation Services, Inc. on 5100 S. Cleveland Ave.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... James L. Nulman opened Nulman Mediation Services, Inc. on 5100 S. Cleveland Ave., Ste. 318--PMB 391 in Ft. Myers, 33907. The phone number is (239) 433-3539 and the fax number is (239) 433-0067.

Christopher Thorne and Edward Storey formed Thorne & Storey at 212 Pasadena Place in Orlando.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... Christopher Thorne and Edward Storey formed Thorne & Storey at 212 Pasadena Place in Orlando, 32803; phone (407) 488-1222, fax (407) 488-1221. They will focus on real estate, personal injury, workers' compensation and corporate matters.

Kathy M. Klock and Jonathan B. Butler joined Fowler White Burnett's West Palm Beach office.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... Kathy M. Klock and Jonathan B. Butler joined Fowler White Burnett's West Palm Beach office. Both will focus their practice on securities arbitration, litigation, and regulatory matters.

Rodger L. Hochman joined Coel & Warren.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... Rodger L. Hochman joined Coel & Warren and will focus his practice on relationships within the health care field.

George W. Powell, Jr. established Powell Law at 6645 Willow Park Dr. Ste. 100 in Naples, 34109.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... George W. Powell, Jr. established Powell Law at 6645 Willow Park Dr. Ste. 100 in Naples, 34109. Powell will concentrate his practice in the areas of eminent domain/condemnation and real property taxation.

Michele R. Clancy and Eric D. Kuper joined Sachs Sax Klein as associates.(On the Move)
May 15, 2006... Michele R. Clancy and Eric D. Kuper joined Sachs Sax Klein as associates. Clancy will focus on collections, homeowner and condo association and construction lien law. Kuper will focus on commercial litigation and corporate and transactional...