Florida Bar News articles from May 2007

Florida Bar News archives from May 2007

Kiss the pig for literacy.
May 15, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HOWARD COKER kisses Albert the pig at a recent Jacksonville Suns game as part of the nonprofit adult literacy agency, Learn to Read, Inc.'s "Kiss the Pig for Literacy Campaign." Coker, a former Bar president, was...

Courts see lean budget: first DCA gets new home, less conflict work for private lawyers.
May 15, 2007... There are no salary adjustments for underpaid court employees or low-paid prosecutors and public defenders, no loan repayment help for public defenders, assistant attorneys general, and prosecutors, and no new judges. Also, there will be...

Disabled lawyers want to be full players in the legal profession.
May 15, 2007... "What we need is to have a seat at every table, rather than all the seats at one table." Those words spoken by Ed Lopacki, a Bradenton sole practitioner who uses a wheelchair because he has multiple sclerosis, have become the mantra of the...

Even lawyers can be scammed: from wireless networks to phony IRS agents, attorneys must be vigilant.
May 15, 2007... Lawyers know they have a duty to keep their clients' information private, but in today's high-tech world, pitfalls lurk like bogeymen behind bushes. J.R. Phelps, director of The Florida Bar's Law Office Management Assistance Service,...

Fraud alert: con artists are using Florida lawyers' names.
May 15, 2007... The Florida Bar has received information about a scheme in which callers say they are Florida Bar members and tell recipients they have won or are entitled to large sums of money. Callers then say they will assist in recovering the funds for a...

Fee statements are on the way: members may pay their fees online at floridabar.org.
May 15, 2007... Florida Bar members soon will receive their 2007-08 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. Also included in the fee...

Nine high school students.
May 15, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: NINE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS recently participated in the Palm Beach County Bar Association's first Oratorical Contest for Law Week. The students spoke about the importance of "Liberty Under the Law: Empowering...

Section offers free CLE program.(General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Section's continuing legal education)(Brief article)
May 15, 2007... The General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Section is making its most recent five-hour ethics CLE program available at no charge to its membership as a way of saying "thank you" to its members according to Michael Olexa, the section's chair. ...

Chief to host Criminal Justice Mental Health Summit.
May 15, 2007... The Miami-Dade County Jail has become one of Florida's largest mental health treatment facilities. State agencies have been unable to comply with laws requiring that mentally ill inmates be transferred from jails for treatment. The Department...

OOSPD gets go-ahead to advocate for personal representatives changes: RPPTL contends any changes could subject the laws to further constitutional challenges.
May 15, 2007... The Out of State Practitioners Division has received authorization from the Bar Board of Governors to seek a change in state law that would allow out-of-state Bar members to act as personal representatives in probate cases. [ILLUSTRATION...

Bankruptcy JAs slate educational program for Orlando in October.
May 15, 2007... The Association of Bankruptcy Judicial Assistants will hold its annual educational conference in Orlando in October. Because the ABJA strives to promote and maintain professional standards, it developed a segment specifically for JA's,...

Mental health.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 15, 2007... I congratulate Judge Steven Leifman on his appointment as a special advisor to the chief justice on criminal justice and mental health. There is nobody better able to do this job than he is. I want to call my fellow Bar members' attention...

Thrown for a (hearing) loss.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 15, 2007... Reasonable accommodations for attorneys with disabilities are more likely to be myth than reality, in my experience over 22 years in state and federal courts in Florida. They are disliked here almost as much as affirmative action. ...

50-year members.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 15, 2007... A recent letter suggests that Florida lawyers should not be honored as 50-year members of The Florida Bar if they swore allegiance to the Florida Constitution of 1885, which remained in effect until January 7, 1969. Leaving entirely aside the...

Discipline on the Web.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 15, 2007... Naturally I support the public's right to access lawyers' disciplinary records on The Florida Bar Web site. In the spirit of goose/ gander equality, can the Bar please create a searchable database of individuals who have filed Bar complaints...

Florida's failing grade.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 15, 2007... April 24, the Associated Press released an article based on the Washington child advocacy group First Star, reporting that Florida is among the worst states regarding representation for children in abuse and neglect proceedings and was given an...

Errata.(Letters)(Correction notice)
May 15, 2007... A May 1 News notice of proposed amendments to the multijurisdictional practice rules contained an error. The correct number of the Florida Rule of Judicial Administration being amended is 2.510, not 2.061, as stated in the notice. The text of...

Amendments to the Rules of Criminal Procedure.(Notice)
May 15, 2007... The Florida Supreme Court recently amended Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure, 3.704, The Criminal Punishment Code, and 3.922, Criminal Punishment Code Scoresheets. See In re: Amendments to Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure--Rule 3.704 and...

Lynch steps down as UM law school dean.
May 15, 2007... Dennis O. Lynch, dean of the University of Miami School of Law, plans to step down at the end of the academic year and rejoin the faculty. Lynch has served as dean since 1999. "Dennis Lynch has been a terrific leader of our law...

Palm Beach paralegals to discuss real estate laws.
May 15, 2007... The Palm Beach County Chapter of Paralegal Association of Florida, Inc., will meet June 13 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Belvedere Road in West Palm Beach. Charles W. Edgar III will discuss real estate, homeowners' association and condo...

Nova Southeastern University.
May 15, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY Law School graduates Beverly Vesel, left, class of 1979, of Ft. Lauderdale, and Eunice Tall Baros, right, class of 1980, of North Palm Beach, were honored recently by the NSU...

Phillip Yorston.(Brief article)
May 15, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: PHILLIP YORSTON, the 2006-07 Florida Kiwanis governor, recently received a State of Florida Cabinet proclamation congratulating him on his year as governor, reminding Florida citizens of the good works and...

Cooke, Dr. Lambert to receive Foundation's Medal of Honor.(Hamilton Cooke and Walter F. Lambert)
May 15, 2007... Jacksonville attorney A. Hamilton "Ham" Cooke and Miami physician Dr. Walter F. Lambert will receive The Florida Bar Foundation's Medal of Honor Award at the Foundation's 31st Annual Reception and Dinner June 28 at the Orlando Marriott World...

The Southern Legal Counsel.(Brief article)
May 15, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: THE SOUTHERN LEGAL COUNSEL Board of Directors recently hosted a reception to honor former federal Judge Joseph Hatchett on his retirement from the SLC board. The reception was held in the Miami offices of...

Reno wins Barkett Achievement Award.(Janet Reno)(Brief article)
May 15, 2007... Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno will become the recipient of FAWL's 2007 Rosemary Barkett Outstanding Achievement Award during a presentation that will be made June 29 in Orlando at FAWL's annual joint luncheon with the Equal...

[Cartoon].(Cartoon)
May 15, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I've got it all figured out, Mr. Barnes. Our fallback position will be for you to confess.

Bar Leaders Conference set for Orlando July 27-28.(2007 Voluntary Bar Leaders Conference)(Brief article)
May 15, 2007... Voluntary bar leaders will head to Central Florida in July to network and discuss the successes and challenges faced by attorneys who volunteer in their local bar associations. The 2007 Voluntary Bar Leaders Conference is set for July 27-28...

Ethics seminar aims to keep attorneys on the right path.
May 15, 2007... Helping lawyers keep their footing on slippery ethical slopes is the primary focus of the 2007 Masters Seminar on Ethics. The seminar, sponsored by The Florida Bar's Standing Committee on Professional Ethics, will take place from 8:45-11:30...

Learn how to use Fastcase, earn CLE.(Brief article)
May 15, 2007... Learn how to accelerate your legal research with Fastcase and at the same time get one hour of general CLE credit. A Web-based tutorial on Fastcase will be offered at www.floridabar.org June 19, from 2-3 p.m. Used by more than 250,000...

Capital Case Seminar set for June in Orlando.(Eighth Annual Advanced Capital Cases Seminar)(Brief article)
May 15, 2007... The Eighth Annual Advanced Capital Cases Seminar, sponsored by the Florida Legislature's Commission on Capital Cases, will focus on the judicial perspective in capital cases. The one-day seminar is scheduled for Friday, June 15, at the Swan and...

John F. Eversole III.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2007... John F. Eversole III of Eversole & Associates in Miami, and of counsel to Zisser, Brown, Robison, Nowlis & Maciejewski in Jacksonville, lectured on the new Montreal Convention at the Aviation Law Certification Exam Review Course in Orlando. ...

Michael J. Kessler.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2007... Michael J. Kessler of the Kessler Law Firm in Ft. Pierce co-authored The DUI Book, Florida Edition, A Citizen's Handbook on Fighting a Drunk Driving Case, with William C. Head. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Franklin Zemel.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2007... Franklin Zemel of Arnstein & Lehr in Ft. Lauderdale was honored at the Hollywood Community Synagogue-Chabad's Annual Journal Dinner at Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus in Aventura.

John "Jack" Scarola.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] John "Jack" Scarola of Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley joined the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.

Brenna Durden, Isabelle Lopez and Melissa Gross-Arnold of Lewis, Longman & Walker 's Jacksonville office recently presented a seminar titled "Zoning and Land Development Law in Florida," in Jacksonville.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2007... Brenna Durden, Isabelle Lopez and Melissa Gross-Arnold of Lewis, Longman & Walker 's Jacksonville office recently presented a seminar titled "Zoning and Land Development Law in Florida," in Jacksonville. Gross-Arnold also led two discussions...

Steven Lesser.(News and Notes)(Conference notes)
May 15, 2007... Steven Lesser of Becker & Poliakoff presented "The Twelve Deadly Sins: An Owner's Guide to Avoiding Liability for Implied Obligations During the Construction of a Project" at the ABA's Forum on the Construction Industry Annual Conference in San...

Edgel C. Lester.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Edgel C. Lester of Carlton Fields' Tampa office was recently inducted into the American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers.

Association of Attorney Mediators.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2007... Robert Dietz of Zimmerman, Kiser & Sutcliffe in Orlando was elected to the board of directors of the Association of Attorney Mediators. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Isabelle C. Lopez.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2007... Isabelle C. Lopez of Lewis, Longman & Walker in Jacksonville was certified by the Supreme Court as a county and circuit court mediator.

Thomas A. Dye.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Thomas A. Dye of Carlton Fields' West Palm Beach office organized and presented two programs titled "When a Key Player Defects... Winning Strategies in Non-Compete and Trade Secret Litigation," and "The Last Laugh:...

Republican Party of Florida.(News and Notes)
May 15, 2007... Jason Gonzalez of Ausley & McMullen in Tallahassee was appointed general counsel to the Republican Party of Florida. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Sachs & Sax.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... F. Sheyin-Stevens has become an associate at Sachs & Sax in Boca Raton. Sheyin-Stevens will practice in the areas of estate planning and trusts, probate, and wealth planning.

Michael Tschupp joined Kluger Peretz Kaplan & Berlin.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Michael Tschupp joined Kluger Peretz Kaplan & Berlin to practice in the areas of intellectual property protection and commercialization.

Kim Cunzo joined the Kessler Law Firm in Ft. Pierce.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Kim Cunzo joined the Kessler Law Firm in Ft. Pierce where she will head their family law division.

Blanca Valle joined Richman Greer.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Blanca Valle joined Richman Greer as an associate.

Damien A. Orato joined Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell's Orlando office.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Damien A. Orato joined Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell's Orlando office as an associate practicing in casualty defense, product liability, and securities litigation.

Cory B. Kravit joined Sachs & Sax.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Cory B. Kravit joined Sachs & Sax as an associate who practices in the areas of community association and real estate law.

Conrad & Scherer.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Maxine K. Streeter was named partner at Conrad & Scherer in Ft. Lauderdale.

Trescott, Drucker & Schoen.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Robert L. Trescott and Jonathan M. Drucker have announced that Joshua E. Schoen has become a partner and the firm will now be known as Trescott, Drucker & Schoen.

Jennifer R. Cowan joined Lewis, Longman & Walker's Bradenton office.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Jennifer R. Cowan joined Lewis, Longman & Walker's Bradenton office as an associate where she will represent public and private clients in environmental, land use, local government, and litigation matters.

Lee E. Nelson joined Shutts & Bowen's Tampa office.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Lee E. Nelson joined Shutts & Bowen's Tampa office as a partner and will head the real estate group.

Stacie K. Daley joined Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Stacie K. Daley joined Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs an associate in the Boca Raton office.

Ferraro & Ferraro, P.A., changed its name to the Ferraro Law Group, P.L.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Ferraro & Ferraro, P.A., changed its name to the Ferraro Law Group, P.L., and Joshua D. Ferraro joined the firm as a shareholder practicing in the areas of appellate advocacy and probate litigation.

Jorge Lopez joined Littler Mendelson's Miami office.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Jorge Lopez joined Littler Mendelson's Miami office as a shareholder.

Rosenthal & Levy.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Rosenthal & Levy moved its Port St. Lucie office to 1660 N.W. St. Lucie West Blvd., Ste. 300, Port St. Lucie.

Phyllis C. Smith joined Zimmerman, Kiser & Sutcliffe.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Phyllis C. Smith joined Zimmerman, Kiser & Sutcliffe as an associate who will represent clients in the area of estate planning.

Richard L. Winston joined Hughes Hubbard & Reed's Miami office.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Richard L. Winston joined Hughes Hubbard & Reed's Miami office to practice in the area of corporate and international taxation.

Fox Rothschild.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Cathryn A. Mitchell became a partner in Fox Rothschild's Princeton office.

Reginald "Tony" Moss, Jr., opened the Criminal Justice Center of South Dade, P.A.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Reginald "Tony" Moss, Jr., opened the Criminal Justice Center of South Dade, P.A., at 1450 N. Krome Ave., Ste. 101-G, Florida City 33034. The phone number is (786) 219-5467, and the fax number is (305) 545-4893. The firm concentrates on...

Christopher L. Mellott joined Rogers Towers.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Christopher L. Mellott joined Rogers Towers as an associate in the firm's corporate and tax department.

R. Diane Senkowski formed the Law Office of R. Diane Senkowski, P.A.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... R. Diane Senkowski formed the Law Office of R. Diane Senkowski, P.A., at 10 Suntree Pl., Melbourne 32940. The telephone number is (321) 749-0640, and the fax number is (321) 784-1342. The firm's practice areas include family, dependency,...

Patrick J. Malone.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Patrick J. Malone relocated to 1242 Lambeth Way S.E., Conyers, Ga 30013, where he will continue to practice in all aspects of Florida workers' compensation law as well as probate and estate law. The telephone number is (770) 761-3400 and the...

Richard Rosenbaum joined Arnstein & Lehr's Ft. Lauderdale office.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Richard Rosenbaum joined Arnstein & Lehr's Ft. Lauderdale office as a partner.

Mark Bonacquisti and John A. Moffa formed Moffa & Bonacquisti, P.A., which concentrates in bankruptcy law, commercial litigation, and general civil practice.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Mark Bonacquisti and John A. Moffa formed Moffa & Bonacquisti, P.A., which concentrates in bankruptcy law, commercial litigation, and general civil practice. The firm can be reached by telephone at (954) 6344733, by fax at (954) 634-4741, or...

Richard A. Moore.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Richard A. Moore moved his offices to 10800 Biscayne Blvd., Ste. 570, Miami 33161. His new telephone number is (305) 895-2220, and his fax number is (305) 8954443. Moore can be reached by e-mail at Ramesq@yahoo.com, and his Web site is...

Timothy C. Nies joined McIntosh, Sawran, Peltz & Cartaya.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Timothy C. Nies joined McIntosh, Sawran, Peltz & Cartaya as an associate in the Ft. Lauderdale office.

Upchurch Watson White & Max.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Gary F. Canner of Upchurch Watson White & Max was appointed to the firm's mediation panel.

Jeffrey Alexander, Lara Dabdoub, Sergio Llopiz, and Paula J. Parisi joined Cole, Scott & Kissane.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Jeffrey Alexander, Lara Dabdoub, Sergio Llopiz, and Paula J. Parisi joined Cole, Scott & Kissane as associates.

Terry J. Harmon joined Sniffen Law Firm as an associate.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Terry J. Harmon joined Sniffen Law Firm as an associate. Harmon will focus his practice on labor and employment law, commercial litigation, and administrative law.

Suzanne M. Boy joined Henderson Franklin as an associate in the Ft. Myers office.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Suzanne M. Boy joined Henderson Franklin as an associate in the Ft. Myers office. Boy will concentrate her practice in the area of commercial litigation.

Donna K. Knapton joined Carlton Fields.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Donna K. Knapton joined Carlton Fields' Miami office.

Jeffrey Bercow and Michael Radell announced that partner Ben Fernandez has become a name partner of the firm.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Jeffrey Bercow and Michael Radell announced that partner Ben Fernandez has become a name partner of the firm, which will now be known as Bercow Radell & Fernandez.

Resource Consulting Group.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Michael H. Davis of Resource Consulting Group in Orlando was named chief executive officer of the company. Davis was formerly president of the group.

Akerman Senterfitt.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... James S. Bramnick was named managing shareholder of Akerman Senterfitt's Miami office.

Rachel R. May joined Carlton Fields' Tampa office.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Rachel R. May joined Carlton Fields' Tampa office as an associate in its white collar crime and government investigation practice group.

The Law Offices of J. Gary McMakin, P.A.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... The Law Offices of J. Gary McMakin, P.A., has moved to 1211 N. Westshore Blvd., Ste. 409, Tampa 33607. The phone number is (813) 207-2540, and the fax number is (813) 207-2542. Send e-mail to mcmakinmediation@ verizon.net, and visit the Web...

McDermott Will & Emery.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Joshua M. Kaye of McDermott Will & Emery was named hiring partner for the firm's Miami office.

Sarah Slaughter joined Greenspoon Marder.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Sarah Slaughter joined Greenspoon Marder's Orlando office as an associate.

Arturo Ross joined Littler Mendelson.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Arturo Ross joined Littler Mendelson's Miami office as a shareholder.

Gabriela Kepecz joined Levin Tannenbaum as an associate.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Gabriela Kepecz joined Levin Tannenbaum as an associate. Her areas of concentration include foreign investments, business-based immigrant visas, employment-based permanent residence, and family-based immigration.

Armando Rodriguez-Feo joined the Department of Justice.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Armando Rodriguez-Feo joined the Department of Justice's civil division's commercial litigation branch as a trial attorney.

Erin Kinney joined Carlton Fields.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Erin Kinney joined Carlton Fields' Miami office as an associate in the firm's appellate practice and trial support practice group.

Basha V. Hicks joined Carlton Fields.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Basha V. Hicks joined Carlton Fields' Miami office as an associate in the firm's real estate and finance practice group.

Raymond G. Robison joined Fox, Wackeen, Dungey, Beard, Sobel, Bush & McCluskey.(On the Move)
May 15, 2007... Raymond G. Robison joined Fox, Wackeen, Dungey, Beard, Sobel, Bush & McCluskey, where he concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial real estate and business organization.