Florida Bar News articles from November 2004

Florida Bar News archives from November 2004

Bar opposes amendment 3: helps fund effort to defeat the measure.
November 1, 2004... The Florida Bar has gone on record as opposing a proposed constitutional amendment on the November 2 ballot that would limit contingency fees in medical malpractice cases and possibly other tort matters. The board also approved donating...

Privacy versus open records: panel seeks middle ground for online court records.
November 1, 2004... A constitutional balancing act is being juggled by the Supreme Court's Committee on Privacy and Court Records--and the group wants to hear from you. In the Florida Constitution, there is both a provision for privacy and for open records....

Bar panel encourages minority attorneys to get more involved.
November 1, 2004... Florida Bar officials and representatives from minority and speciality bar associations agreed recently that more needs to be done to draw a broader cross-section of the Bar's membership into its activities. The best ways to do that...

The future is now.
November 1, 2004... SYLVIA Y. SIMMONS, left, and Lori L. Bethea recently raised their right hands to take the Oath of Attorney at the Florida Supreme Court,. Chief Justice Barbara Pariente made note of the diversity of the 100 or so new graduates eagerly waiting...

Bridging the court technology gap: panel searches for best integrated statewide model.
November 1, 2004... If Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Barbara Pariente wants to send an e-mail to all trial judges across the state, forget it. More than half of Florida's counties are not connected to a central court network. In just the Second...

Utility cutoff statute.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... The recent hurricanes and resulting power outages have left millions of Floridians with the first-hand experience of power shutoff. Most people who have endured such outages would recognize that Florida is not habitable without air...

Gay adoptions.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... Count me among those who oppose the involvement of The Florida Bar, its Family Law Section, or any other section in supporting a change of F.S. [section] 63.042 (3), which provides that no person who is a homosexual is eligible to adopt in this...

Wrongful incarceration.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... I really wanted to weigh in on the ongoing controversy of gay adoptions (which I'm strongly against), but so much has been said about that that I thought I would take this opportunity to take issue with the letter writer who thinks that we, as...

TaxWatch to take another look at court funding.
November 1, 2004... Acting at the request of the Florida Supreme Court, the Bar Board of Governors has approved commissioning another study from TaxWatch on state funding of the trial court system. The board approved the study at its October 15 meeting, and...

Criteria for certifying need for new DCA judges amended.
November 1, 2004... The caseload level for presuming a need for an additional appellate judge has been increased from 250 to 350 filings per judge, in an October 14 opinion issued by the Florida Supreme Court. In case number SC03-1905, the court approved...

Bankruptcy judge needed in Tampa.
November 1, 2004... The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit seeks applications from all highly qualified persons for a 14-year appointment as U.S. bankruptcy judge for the Middle District of Florida at Tampa. The salary is $145,452 annually. Further...

Weitzman seeks Bar reinstatement.
November 1, 2004... Pursuant to Rule 3-7.10, Jack L. Weitzman, has petitioned the Florida Supreme Court for Bar reinstatement. On April 12, 2001, Weitzman was suspended for three years effective nunc pro tune November 14, 2000, due to a felony conviction. On...

New lawyers get briefed.
November 1, 2004... Looking out at the diverse crowd of 100 eagerly waiting to take the oath as new lawyers, Chief Justice Barbara Pariente remembered her own swearing-in as a rookie lawyer 31 years ago. In 1973, she recalled, there were very few women and...

Williams joins the News, Melendez to begin reporting.
November 1, 2004... Natalie Williams, a 23-year-old Florida A&M University graduate, has joined The Florida Bar News as an advertising specialist. Williams, from Statesboro, Georgia, received her bachelor's degree in 2003 from the School of Journalism and...

Following what is becoming.
November 1, 2004... FOLLOWING WHAT IS BECOMING a family tradition, Frank M. Townsend, right, recently stopped by the Bar's Tallahassee headquarters before going over to the Florida Supreme Court to be sworn in as a member of The Florida Bar to view a painting of...

Court amends how e-documents are filed.(Notice)
November 1, 2004... Supreme Court of Florida No. AOSCO4-84 IN RE: MANDATORY SUBMISSION OF ELECTRONIC COPIES OF DOCUMENTS ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER Pursuant to this Court's Administrative Orders dated February 5, 1999, and March 13, 2002, parties in...

Legislative action.(Notice)
November 1, 2004... Under Rule 2-9.3 (b)-(e), Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, active members of the Bar may file a specific objection to any legislative position adopted by the Board of Governors. Objections properly filed within 45 days of this News issue...

Journal directory errors noted.(Notice)
November 1, 2004... A number of corrections to the 2004 Bar Journal directory have been noted to the editorial staff. To set the record straight: Jennifer Lynn Charak's e-mail address is jjacobs@prtc.net (p. 113). Maria V, Feliu Maurrasse should have been...

Dispatches from Iraq.
November 1, 2004... Editor's note: The Bar News reprinted a column by Capt. Greg Weiss from the University of Florida newsletter FlaLaw in its October 15 issue. In civilian life, Weiss is an associate with Wicker, Smith, O'Hara, Mccoy, Graham, and Ford in West...

Hurricane help continues: out-of-state members lend their support to the effort.
November 1, 2004... Florida lawyers have responded to the state's four hurricanes this year with generous donations of time and money, but even more are needed, Young Lawyers Division President Michael Faehner reported to the Bar Board of Governors last month. ...

Attorneys exchange: an opportunity for attorneys to exchange legal experiences and enhance their practice through referrals.
November 1, 2004... ADOPTION LAW Mark R. Miller provides expertise in all areas of adoption law. As an adoptive parent and an adoption intermediary, he is experienced in representing adopting parents, birth parents or any other party affected by adoption in...

Proposed guidelines for taxation of costs.(Notice)
November 1, 2004... The Florida Bar Civil Procedure Rules Committee has filed with the Florida Supreme Court a report proposing new Statewide Uniform Guidelines for Taxation of Costs in Civil Actions to replace the existing guidelines. The report was filed in...

Bay Area Legal Services helps children obtain their education.
November 1, 2004... A new program at Bay Area Legal Services is providing educational advocacy for children in the dependency and/or delinquency systems by an education law attorney. Children with current or historical involvement with either delinquency or...

Proposed ethics advisory opinion.(Notice)
November 1, 2004... The Professional Ethics Committee has issued Proposed Advisory Opinion 00-2 (Reconsideration) reprinted below. Pursuant to Rule 4(c) and (d) of The Florida Bar Procedures for Ruling on Questions of Ethics, comments from Florida Bar members are...

Bar rules proposals to be filed.(Notice)
November 1, 2004... The Board of Governors of The Florida Bar published a notice in the October 15 News of filing with the Supreme Court of Florida, on or about November 15, a petition to amend the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar. The amendments reflect changes...

More are paying dues online.(Notice)
November 1, 2004... More than 8,000 Florida Bar members took advantage of the option of paying their 2004-2005 annual Bar fees online via the Bar's Web site, a 28 percent increase over a year ago. While that is still only slightly more than 10 percent of the...

Ethics panel takes up title company rating disclosure.
November 1, 2004... A subcommittee to examine whether attorneys must tell clients the financial rating of the title insurance company being used in their real estate transaction has been set up by the Professional Ethics Committee. The committee met October 1...

Web site to get a fresh look: Communications Committee to utilize Citizens Forum.
November 1, 2004... Bids will soon be sent out for redesigning the Bar's Web site and efforts are already underway to make better use of the Bar's Citizens Forum, according to Communications Committee Chair Mike Glazer. Reporting at the board's October 15...

Disciplinary actions.
November 1, 2004... The Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders suspended 11 attorneys, reprimanded two, disbarred two, and accepted the resignation of one attorney. The following lawyers are disciplined: Burton Louis Bruggeman III, 311 E. Morse Blvd.,...

Nourish your soul as you go along.(Stresslines)
November 1, 2004... I have become increasingly aware of the general level of satisfaction experienced by lawyers these days and it is best summed up in the words "not very." I base this perception, in part, after recently co-presenting a CLE program touching...

Covey to highlight Miami professionalism program.
November 1, 2004... Dr. Stephen R. Covey, author of "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," will be the speaker January 7 at a professionalism seminar in Miami. This will be Covey's second trip to Florida to promote legal professionalism, as he...

Attorneys participate in clinic for South Florida foster teens.
November 1, 2004... While many in Florida's foster care system face bleak prospects after "aging out" of the Department of Children and Families' care, a new South Florida initiative is working to brighten those prospects by providing essential life-skills...

Supreme Court acts on motions to disqualify.(Technology)
November 1, 2004... Emphasizing the need for an immediate ruling when a motion to disqualify a trial judge is made during a hearing or trial, the Florida Supreme Court adopted amendments proposed by the Rules of Judicial Administration Committee. Florida Rule...

National Association of Women Business Owners.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2004... Nanci Landy, of Landy & Asselta, P.A. in North Miami Beach, has been elected president of the National Association of Women Business Owners, Ft. Lauderdale/Broward County Chapter.

Michael Hoefges.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2004... Michael Hoefges of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill recently published a co-authored article titled "Privacy Rights Versus Disclosure Policy: The 'Uses and Effects' Double Standard in Access to Personally Identifiable Information...

Dennis J. Wall.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2004... Dennis J. Wall of Orlando had published an article entitled "Recent Expert Witness Opinions in Property Insurance Cases." The article was published by the ABA in the September, 2004 issue of Property Insurance Newsletter of the Torts and...

Seth Marmor.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2004... Seth Marmor of Greenspoon, Murder, Hirshfeld, Rafkin, Ross & Berger in Ft. Lauderdale spoke on asset protection at the Broward County Estate Planning Council's dinner meeting.

Loyola University.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2004... Stephen M. Barbas, of Barbas, Koenig, Nunez, Sanders, and Butler, P.L., in Tampa, has been appointed to the board of trustees of Loyola University, New Orleans, LA.

Florida Conflict Resolution Consortium.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2004... Christopher M. Shulman of Christopher M. Shulman, P.A., Alternative Dispute Resolution Services in Tampa, joined the panel of mediators for the Florida Conflict Resolution Consortium.

Christopher Bopst.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2004... Christopher Bopst of Sacher, Zelman, Van Sant, Paul, Beiley, Hartman, Rolnick & Waldman, P.A., in Miami presented his paper "Machiavelli and Modern Business: Realist Thought in Contemporary Corporate Leadership Manuals," at The Oxford Centre...

Broward County Board of County Commissioners.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2004... Rafael Suarez-Rivas, of the Miami City Attorney's Office, has been appointed as a hearing officer for procurement matters by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners.

David Pratt.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2004... David Pratt of Pratt & Bucher, LLP, in Boca Raton spoke at the Joint Meeting of the Tax and Real Property, Probate and Trust Law sections of the ABA in Boston; his topic was "The Anatomy of the (New) Federal Gift Tax Return."

Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2004... Dean Colson of Colson Hicks Eidson in Coral Gables was elected chair of the Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission.

David Aronberg.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2004... David Aronberg of Greenspoon, Murder, Hirschfeld, Rafkin, Ross & Berger in Ft. Lauderdale received a Legislative Recognition Award for his work on behalf of the Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section of The Florida Bar.

Beacon Council.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2004... Burton Landy of Akerman Senterfitt in Miami was elected to a three-year term on the board of directors of the Beacon Council economic development organization.

American Immigration Lawyers Association.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2004... Elizabeth Ricci of Rambana & Ricci, P.A., in Tallahassee was appointed chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Association Central Florida Chapter's Essay Contest Committee.

Melvin Belli Society.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2004... Ira Leesfield of Leesfield Leighton Rubio Boyers in Miami was elected as an officer to the Melvin Belli Society. Leesfield received the Melvin Belli Jurisprudence Award. Additionally, Leesfield received the Al J. Cone Lifetime Achievement Award...

Consultants' Training Institute of the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2004... Jim Atkins of Longwood will serve as an instructor for the Consultants' Training Institute of the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts. Atkins also taught "Effective Report Writing in Litigation" in Boston, and "Advanced...

Robert D. Peltz.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2004... Robert D. Peltz of McIntosh, Sawran, Peltz, Cartaya & Petrucelli, P.A., co-wrote the two-volume book Florida Pretrial Practice, published by the James Publishing Company.

Florida Coalition.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2004... Joseph Jackson, professor at the Levin College of Law at the University of Florida in Gainesville, was named 2004 Outstanding Advocate for the Homeless at the 2004 annual meeting of the Florida Coalition for the Homeless in Tampa.

State of Florida's Division.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2004... Bruce A. Blitman of Ft. Lauderdale was certified by the State of Florida's Division of Florida Land Sales, Condominiums and Mobile Homes as a mediator in the area of community association operations.

Scott Mager.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2004... Scott Mager of Mager Law Group, P.A., in Ft. Lauderdale addressed a seminar on "Developing Themes for Litigation" at the Defense Research Institute's Nursing Home and Assisted Living Facility Litigation Seminar in Boston.

Danielle Brewer.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2004... Danielle Brewer of Becker & Poliakoff in West Palm Beach was recognized by the Federal Bar Association for her outstanding service as chair of the Federal Bar Association's labor and employment section at their recent national meeting in...

Joaquin Mendez announces the opening of the Law Office of Joaquin Mendez.(On the Move)
November 1, 2004... Joaquin Mendez announces the opening of the Law Office of Joaquin Mendez, P.A., located at 100 Southeast 2nd Street, Suite 2700, Miami 33131; phone (305) 375-0886. The law firm concentrates on all aspects of federal and state criminal defense.

Michael Schlesinger announces the opening of The Law Offices of Michael Schlesinger.(On the Move)
November 1, 2004... Michael Schlesinger announces the opening of The Law Offices of Michael Schlesinger, located at 501 Brickell Key Drive, Suite 506, Miami 33131; phone (305)373-8993; e-mail: mjs@mjsjd.com. Schlesinger focuses in probate and business litigation...

Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.(On the Move)
November 1, 2004... Kelly Whiter joined the Ft. Landerdale office of Becker & Poliakoff, P.A., as head of the Real Estate Group. Whiter concentrates her practice on complex commercial real estate transactions including acquisitions, dispositions, financing,...

Genovese Joblove & Battista, P.A.(On the Move)
November 1, 2004... Genovese Joblove & Battista, P.A. in Miami announced Carlos E. Sardi and Bradley J. Kaplan have joined the firm as associates. Both practice in the areas of bankruptcy, creditor's rights and commercial litigation.

Office of General Counsel for the City of Jacksonville.(On the Move)
November 1, 2004... William B. Burkett and R. William Crowe have been appointed as assistant general counsel with the Office of General Counsel for the City of Jacksonville. Burkett joined the tort litigation department and may be reached at (904) 630-1814 or...

Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP.(On the Move)
November 1, 2004... April E. Rolle, Bradley T. Guldalian, and Horace N. Moore, Jr., joined Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP. Rolle joined the Miami office and focuses her practice on labor and employment law, general liability litigation, and insurance litigation....

McCumber, Inclan, Daniels, Valdez, Buntz & Ferrera, P.A.(On the Move)
November 1, 2004... McCumber, Inclan, Daniels, Valdez, Buntz & Ferrera, P.A., announced the relocation of its Tampa office to One Urban Centre, located on the corner of Westshore and Kennedy Boulevard at 4830 W. Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 300, Tampa 33609.

Tracy Belinda Newmark.(On the Move)
November 1, 2004... Fixel, La Rocco & Newmark announced the addition of Tracy Belinda Newmark as a partner. The firm practices in the areas of marital and family law, civil litigation, and appellate practice with its office at 3850 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 300,...

Marshall T. Bower and Paul E. Liles announce the opening of Bower & Liles.(On the Move)
November 1, 2004... Marshall T. Bower and Paul E. Liles announce the opening of Bower & Liles, P.A., located at 4315 Metro Parkway, Suite 510, Ft. Myers 33916. In addition to their general civil litigation and criminal defense practice at the trial and appellate...

Quarles & Brady, LLP.(On the Move)
November 1, 2004... Susan B. Kubar was elected partner in Quarles & Brady, LLP, in Naples. Kubar concentrates her practice primarily on estate planning and estate administration. including preparation of estate planning documents, and overseeing both estate and...

Law Office of C. Michael Barnette.(On the Move)
November 1, 2004... Carol Peake Passman has become an associate with the Law Office of C. Michael Barnette in Daytona Beach. Passman will concentrate on criminal law, juvenile, family law and appeals. Their office is located at 244 N. Ridgewood Avenue, Daytona...

Jeffrey H. Tromberg announces the relocation of Tromberg & Associates, P.A.(On the Move)
November 1, 2004... Jeffrey H. Tromberg announces the relocation of Tromberg & Associates, P.A., to 1900 W. Commercial Blvd., Suite 152. Ft. Lauderdale 33309. Phone (954)535-9905: fax (954)337-8500. The firm concentrates in consumer bankruptcy and foreclosure...

Walters, Levine, Brown, Klingensmith & Thomison, P.A.(On the Move)
November 1, 2004... Thomas C. Valentine has joined Walters, Levine, Brown, Klingensmith & Thomison, P.A., in Sarasota as an associate. Valentine focuses on commercial litigation, construction, and insurance disputes.

Fisher, Rushmer, Werrenrath, Dickson, Talley & Dunlap, P.A.(On the Move)
November 1, 2004... Susan E. Gibbons, Christopher M. Harne and Sandi J. Hamburg have joined Fisher, Rushmer, Werrenrath, Dickson. Talley & Dunlap, P.A., in Orlando as associates.

Sessums, Mason & Black, P.A.(On the Move)
November 1, 2004... Alex Caballero has been named shareholder with Sessums, Mason & Black, P.A., in Tampa. Caballero is certified in marital and family law.

Broad and Cassel.(On the Move)
November 1, 2004... Sacha Brown-Taylor and Thomas R. Stutler have joined Broad and Cassel in Tampa, in the firm's commercial litigation practice group.

Baker & Hostetler, LLP.(On the Move)
November 1, 2004... Anthony Scaletta, Nick Campbell, David Evans, Sarah Gabriel and Rafael Ribiero joined Baker & Hostetler, LLP, in Orlando. Scaletta is of counsel and practices in the tax, personal planning, and employee benefits group with an emphasis in...

R. Kent Lilly announces the formation of Lilly, O'Toole & Brown, LLP, which represents a merger of three firms.(On the Move)
November 1, 2004... R. Kent Lilly announces the formation of Lilly, O'Toole & Brown, LLP, which represents a merger of three firms. The merger brings together the Law Offices of Kent Lilly, P.A. in Lakeland, Lake Wales, Winter Haven and Haines City; the Law...

Law Offices of Mark F. Dahle, P.A.(On the Move)
November 1, 2004... Thomas J. Guilt joined the Law Offices of Mark F. Dahle, P.A., in Lakeland. Gallo concentrates on Estate Planning and Medicaid Planning. The office is located at 5150 South Florida Avenue, Building A, Suite 105, Lakeland; phone (863) 648-0100.

Harris Corporation.(On the Move)
November 1, 2004... Gene Cavallucci of the Harris Corporation in Melbourne was named vice president-general counsel. The company also promoted Scott T. Mikuen to vice president-associate general counsel and corporate secretary; and John D. Gronda to vice...

Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A.(On the Move)
November 1, 2004... Dan Richardson joined Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A., in Jacksonville and practices environmental litigation.

Baker & McKenzie, LLP.(On the Move)
November 1, 2004... Roy J. Larson of the Miami office of Baker & McKenzie, LLP, was named managing partner and James H. Barrett was named financial partner. Larson concentrates on mergers and acquisitions, public and private equity offerings and corporate...

Abbey, Adams, Byelick, Kiernan, Mueller & Lancaster, LLP.(On the Move)
November 1, 2004... Abbey, Adams, Byelick, Kiernan, Mueller & Lancaster, LLP, in St. Petersburg and Tampa announced Deborah L. Slowik-Eldridge has joined the firm as an associate. The firm concentrates in the defense areas of liability, malpractice, workers'...

Page, Eichenblatt, Bernbaum & Bennett, P.A.(On the Move)
November 1, 2004... Sheri L. Freeman joined Page, Eichenblatt, Bernhaum & Bennett, P.A., in Orlando as an associate. Freeman represents plaintiffs in the areas of personal injury, medical malpractice, nursing home neglect, commercial litigation, and workers'...

Kimsey Law Group.(On the Move)
November 1, 2004... Jeffrey R. Shelquist joined the Kimsey Law Group, located at 3816 W. Linebaugh Avenue, Suite 412, Tampa. The firm focuses in matters of personal injury, disability insurance litigation, and automobile insurance fraud.

Hill, Ward & Henderson, P.A.(On the Move)
November 1, 2004... Aragon E. Beard, Christopher S. Branton, Eric E. Page, David C. Peters, W. Christopher Rabil, J. Scott Slater and Christopher J. Stephens joined Hill, Ward & Henderson, P.A., in Tampa. Branton, Page and Slater are associates in the firm's...

Ruden McClosky.(On the Move)
November 1, 2004... Ben Weinberger joined Ruden McClosky in Ft. Lauderdale as information technology director.

Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A.(On the Move)
November 1, 2004... John Rawicz and Nicole Sayfie were named shareholders of Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A., in Miami. Both Rawicz and Sayfie practice in the firm's Real Estate Department.

Gary Resnick of Weiss, Serota, Helfman, Pastoriza, Guedes, Cole & Boniske, presented on local governmental management of the public rights-of-way.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2004... Gary Resnick of Weiss, Serota, Helfman, Pastoriza, Guedes, Cole & Boniske, presented on local governmental management of the public rights-of-way at the annual Conference of the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors.

Nancy J. Van Sant of Sacher, Zelman, Van Sant, Paul, Beiley, Hartman, Rolnick & Waldman, P.A., in Miami participated in a panel discussion.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2004... Nancy J. Van Sant of Sacher, Zelman, Van Sant, Paul, Beiley, Hartman, Rolnick & Waldman, P.A., in Miami participated in a panel discussion at the 10th Annual Securities Litigation and Regulatory Practice Seminar in Atlanta.

American Resort Developer Association's (ARDA) Privacy Committee.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2004... Robby Birnbaum of Greenspoon, Marder, Hirschfeld, Rafkin, Ross & Berger in Ft. Lauderdale has been appointed to the American Resort Developer Association's (ARDA) Privacy Committee.