Florida Bar News articles from November 2005

Florida Bar News archives from November 2005

Hundreds of comments filed on petition to limit contingency fees; court will hear oral arguments November 30 on proposal to limit fees in medical malpractice cases.
November 1, 2005... The Florida Supreme Court can expect some lively debate during oral arguments November 30 on a petition to amend Bar rules to limit contingency fees in medical malpractice cases. The court received a whopping 218 responses when it requested...

Court revisits legal intern rule; proposal calls for greater scrutiny of applicants.
November 1, 2005... Proposed amendments to Florida's certified legal intern program are drawing opposition from public defenders, state attorneys, law schools, and legal aid agencies. The Supreme Court is taking comments on the proposed changes to Chapter 11...

Measure would end time limits on DNA testing.
November 1, 2005... A House bill to remove the deadline for convicted inmates to request DNA testing in an effort to prove their innocence has cleared its first hurdle. HB 61, sponsored by Rep. John Quinones, R-Kissimmee, unanimously passed the Governmental...

Minority Mentoring Picnic draws hundreds of students.(Picnic With a Purpose)
November 1, 2005... What elevates a picnic to a happening with high purpose? When a thousand picnickers are a veritable who's-who list of Florida's legal elite mingling with minority law students from all over the state hoping to snag a mentor. Amelia...

Brand new lawyers hear words of advice: 'when money becomes more important than the case ... our profession is in danger'.
November 1, 2005... When 80 law school graduates were transformed into 80 new Florida licensed lawyers at a ceremony at the Florida Supreme Court October 10, there was plenty of sage advice to go around. Chief Justice Barbara Pariente said there is "always...

Minority Initiative.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2005... The new Minority Initiative Program being instituted by the Palm Beach County Bar Association (October 1 News), which provides internships for second-and third-year students at firms located in that county, deserves much credit for creating yet...

Katrina's lessons.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2005... Scott M. Solkoff's October 1 letter has it completely backwards if he thinks that Hurricane Katrina proved that we need a big government to protect us. What it showed us is why we need to cut down the size of our overextended and bloated...

Federal JNC.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2005... What we know so far about the 56-member team U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez claims to have created with bipartisan congressional support to make recommendations for future judges, attorneys, even marshals in Florida, to assure all our citizens that the...

The death penalty.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2005... As a Christian who has participated in prison ministry, I would like to address the claims Dale Recinella raises in a October 1 News story. While I applaud Mr. Recinella's ministry, the conclusions he draws are illogical. Mr. Recinella...

Floods, hurricanes, and insurance.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2005... Many types of property insurance policies extend coverage to losses caused by wind or windstorms. Most such policies contain a flood exclusion. The typical "flood" exclusion purports to exclude "loss caused by or resulting from flood, whether...

Fourth DCA JNC has an opening.
November 1, 2005... The Fourth District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications to fill a lawyer vacancy on the commission created by the resignation of Marjorie Gadarian Graham. Applicants must be engaged in the practice...

Middle district judgeship available.
November 1, 2005... Applications are now being accepted to fill the position of United States District Court judge for the Middle District of Florida. Applications are available from Michael J. Grindstaff, chair of the Florida Federal Judicial Nominating...

DOAH offers more online amenities.
November 1, 2005... Florida lawyers registered with the Division of Administrative Hearings may now view their active caseload as well as request and receive subpoenas online. They may also view their dockets, edit and modify their official profile...

Lawyers wanted for Selective Service Board.
November 1, 2005... Lawyers are encouraged to became involved in the Selective Service System. "It is a voluntary position, authorized by the president of the United States," said Col. Hector Mirabile, an SSS deputy director, adding those appointed may serve...

Board to make appointments in December.(Notice)
November 1, 2005... The Board of Governors is seeking applicants for the following vacancies to be filled during its December 16 meeting: Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc., Board of Directors: One attorney to serve a three-year term on its 19-member board of...

Budget Committee sets Bar budget hearings.(Notice)
November 1, 2005... The Budget Committee of The Florida Bar will hold budget hearings in each of districts of the district courts of appeal to receive suggestions from members of the Bar for the preparation of the 2006-2007 budget. The hearings will take...

Comments sought on CHR's effectiveness in enforcing Florida's anti-discrimination laws.
November 1, 2005... The 2005 Florida Legislature has directed the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability to review the Florida Commission on Human Relations. The Commission on Human Relations is responsible for investigating and...

Woman on fire: Lavina Johnson's crusade for justice: passion burns for woman who has become the 'unofficial' spokeswoman for the Kids Deserve Justice plate.
November 1, 2005... When Lavina Johnson was just 10 years old, she gripped a pistol with both hands and placed it in her mouth. Lavina had been sexually molested since she was 2, and she was tired, so very tired. Surely, she thought, it would be better to die than...

Update: Kids Deserve Justice.
November 1, 2005... The Kids Deserve Justice specialty license plate is a new project from The Florida Bar and The Florida Bar Foundation to raise funds for children's legal services. Since the plate's April debut, more than $11,000 has been raised through sales...

Counsel to focus on lawyer ad cases.
November 1, 2005... In its latest move to improve enforcement of its advertising rules, The Florida Bar has created a new grievance prosecutor position that focuses entirely on advertising cases. Arne Vanstrum, a long-time assistant ethics counsel, has been...

Colleagues remember Ehrlich's wit and warmth.
November 1, 2005... Routinely the first in to work in the morning and the last to leave at night, former Chief Justice Raymond Ehrlich's mastery of the law and his work ethic were legendary. But when friends and colleagues gathered at the Supreme Court recently to...

Should the jury be unanimous to impose death? Court asks the legislature to consider it.
November 1, 2005... In a death row case addressing other issues, the Florida Supreme Court has called on the legislature to consider requiring a unanimous jury to impose the death penalty. The October 12 majority opinion, written by Justice Raoul Cantero,...

Children from the Northwest unit.
November 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: CHILDREN FROM THE NORTHWEST UNIT of Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami recently spent the morning at the Federal Courthouse in Miami and visited with U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck. The kids learned about the...

Criminal procedure rules amendments.(Notice)
November 1, 2005... The Criminal Procedure Rules Committee invites comment on the proposed two-year cycle amendments to the Florida Criminal Procedure Rules shown below. After reviewing comments received in response to this publication, the committee will make its...

Court seeks volunteers to serve as tour guides.
November 1, 2005... The Florida Supreme Court is seeking volunteers to serve as tour guides at the court. "Tour volunteers fill the important role of educating our many visitors, mostly students, about the judicial branch of government and its critical role...

Judiciary adopts nine principles of professionalism.
November 1, 2005... Florida's judges have adopted nine principles of professionalism in an effort to encourage judges to serve as role models for the attorneys who appear before them. "We, as judges, cannot ask attorneys to hold themselves to a higher...

Dade-attorneys come to the aid of paralyzed clerk.
November 1, 2005... Miami-Dade County Court Clerk Gemma Stafford has a talent for helping lawyers not take themselves so seriously. Her easy, fun-loving ways help people relax in tense trials. No matter what side of a case you me on, she has a nickname for...

The art of chairing a judicial nominating commission; training for JNC chairs touches on how to avoid pitfalls and what the governor expects of the JNCs.
November 1, 2005... Gov. Jeb Bush is not interested in a judicial nominee's strongly held personal, political, or religious beliefs--he only wants to make sure those he appoints to the bench can set those issues aside and rule according to the law. That's the...

The Fifth Judicial Circuit.
November 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT recently hosted its 2005 Conference on Professionalism in Ocala in an effort to promote within the legal community the highest standards of professionalism and ethics. Among the...

Bulgarian bartender falls in love with the law; 'I needed a challenge. I needed something to nourish my soul'.
November 1, 2005... As soon as new lawyers take the "Oath of Attorney," the tradition is to crowd onto the steps of the Florida Supreme Court for a group picture with the justices. After the professional photographer packs up and leaves, proud families and...

Robert A. Kasky of Boca Raton.
November 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: ROBERT A. KASKY OF BOCA RATON was an invited guest at the investiture of John G. Roberts, Jr., as the chief justice of the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington, D.C. Kasky, a friend of Chief...

Appellate rules amendments.(Notice)
November 1, 2005... The Appellate Court Rules Committee invites comment on proposed amendments to the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure shown below. The full text of the proposals can be found on The Florida Bar's Web site at Floridabar.org. Interested persons...

Disciplinary actions.
November 1, 2005... The Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders suspended 10 attorneys. The following lawyers are disciplined: Alan Lowell Arons, 1701 W. Hillsboro Blvd., Ste. 303, Deerfield Beach, suspended from practicing law in Florida for three...

Court removes Judge Henson.
November 1, 2005... A judge who signed up a client before leaving the bench and then advised the client to flee the country to avoid prosecution has been removed from the bench by the Florida Supreme Court. In an October 6 order, the court removed Ninth...

Sarasota Bar honors volunteers.
November 1, 2005... More than 120 people gathered at a recent Sarasota County Bar Association luncheon to recognize the important role of nonprofit organizations in the community and the contribution of attorneys who sit on nonprofit boards. Representatives...

Court acts on Bar rules amendment package.
November 1, 2005... Bar members will have to designate an inventory attorney, and lawyers who give up their law licenses while facing disciplinary problems will soon be designated as disbarred. Those and other changes were approved by the Florida Supreme Court...

William H. Stafford American Inn of Court.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... John Newton of the Attorney General's Office has been accepted as a master lawyer in the William H. Stafford American Inn of Court.

Palm Beach Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... John M. Howe of Lavalle, Brown, Ronan & Soff in Boca Raton was elected president of the Palm Beach Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Howe Will also serve another term on the board of directors of the Florida Association of Criminal...

Jason M. Murray.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Jason M. Murray of Carlton Fields in Miami presented "The Enforcement of Covenants Against Competition" at the American Bar Association's 28th Annual Forum on Franchising. Additionally, Murray was appointed to serve a three-year term as...

American Bar Endowment.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Christopher L. Griffin of Foley & Lardner in Tampa was elected to serve a five-year term as a member of the board of directors of the American Bar Endowment.

Community Foundation of Greater St. Petersburg.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... David R. Punzak of Carlton Fields in St. Petersburg was elected to the board of the Community Foundation of Greater St. Petersburg, a division of the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, Inc.

Dinah Stein.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Dinah Stein of Hicks & Kneale in Miami spoke at the First Professional Insurance Company 2005 Defense Council Conference in Orlando. Her topic was "Preserving the Trial Record for Appeal and Filing Proposals for Settlement." Additionally, Stein...

Thomas M. Ramsberger.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Thomas M. Ramsberger of the Ramsberger Law Group was elected to the St. Petersburg Bar Association Executive Committee and is chair of the St. Petersburg Bar Association Real Property Section.

Morgan Lewis.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Morgan Lewis in Miami received a Platinum 2005 "Careers and Lifelong Learning Partner" award from the Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... R. Mason Blake of Dean Mead was recently elected chair-elect of the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast beginning in October.

Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Michael A. Haggard of Haggard, Parks, Haggard & Lewis in Coral Gables was reelected to serve on the board of directors of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers. Additionally, Haggard served as a guest speaker at the Al J. Cone Trial Advocacy...

Florida Commission on Ethics.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Thomas P. Scarritt, Jr., was elected chair of the Florida Commission on Ethics.

National Black Prosecutors Association.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Bruce Terry Brown of Ft. Lauderdale was elected to a third term as president of the National Black Prosecutors Association at its annual convention in Philadelphia.

William K. Crispin.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... William K. Crispin of the Florida Keys presented at the annual meeting of the American Agricultural Law Association in Kansas City. Crispin s presentation was titled "Federal Crop Insurance--Handling a Client's Denied Claim."

David Pratt.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... David Pratt of Pratt & Bucher spoke at the 31st Annual Notre Dame Tax and Estate Planning Institute. Pratt also spoke on "Circular 230" at the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County Roundtable.

Michael Cohen.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Michael Cohen of Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc., was the keynote speaker at the Virginia Lawyers Helping Lawyers 20th Annual Dinner in Richmond. His topic was "How Lawyers Helping Lawyers Save Lives, Families, and Careers."

Gerald Davis.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Gerald Davis of Holland & Knight in St. Petersburg received the Guardian ad Litem Community Advocate of the Year Award for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Pinellas and Pasco counties.

J. Jerome Miller.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... J. Jerome Miller of Miller & Ansley in Destin was honored with the "Paul S. Buchman Award--Municipal Attorney of the Year" presented by the Florida Municipal Attorneys Association.

Duane D. Draper.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Duane D. Draper of Bryant, Miller & Olive in Tampa was elected to participate in Leadership Florida in 2005-2006.

The Florida Holocaust Museum.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Nathaniel L. Doliner of Carlton Fields in Tampa was elected to the board of trustees of The Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg.

Jewish Community Services of South Florida.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Robert J. Merlin of Merlin & Hertz was elected for a second term as chair of Jewish Community Services of South Florida.

Robert S. Turk.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Robert S. Turk of Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson was a guest speaker at the Risk Management and Regulatory Compliance Conference in Naples. Turk offered solutions for complex human resources scenarios during the annual...

Raymond Dix.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Raymond Dix of St. Petersburg announces the publication of his novel Death Row Defender by Hard Shell Word Factory.

Gary Resnick.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Gary Resnick of Weiss Serota Helfman Pastoriza Cole & Boniske presented 'Utilities and the Municipalities to the Florida Municipal Attorney's Association 24th Annual Seminar. Additionally, Resnick spoke at the Florida League of Cities' Annual...

Miami-Dade County Asian-American Advisory Board.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... William Simontisch of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham in Miami was appointed by Miami-Dade County Commissioner Dorrin B. Rolle to serve on the Miami-Dade County Asian-American Advisory Board.

Pine Crest School.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Mark Dern of Dern Capital Management Corporation in Boca Raton was appointed to them board of advisors and the finance committee for the Pine Crest School.

National Black Prosecutors Association: Winifred L. Acosta.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Winifred L. Acosta NeSmith of Tallahassee was elected vice president of long-term planning for the National Black Prosecutors Association.

Statewide Nominating Commission.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... John T. "Tim" Leadbeater of Ausley & McMullen in Tallahassee was appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush to the Statewide Nominating Commission,

Richard F. Woodford, Jr.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Richard F. Woodford, Jr., of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Inspector General, presented "Prohibited Personnel Practices, Do's and Don'ts for Federal Managers" at the 14th annual Office of Government Ethics Conference in New...

Enola Brown.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Enola Brown of Tampa was awarded the Stephens/Register Memorial Award by the Environmental and Land Use Section of The Florida Bar.

Brett Alan Panter.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Brett Alan Panter of Panter, Panter & Sampedro was a speaker at a seminar sponsored by the National Business Institute in Miami. Panter lectured on the issue of Winning Your First Trial in Florida, What They Didn't Teach You in Law School."

Rotary Club of Weston.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Brad E. Coren was appointed sergeant at arms for the Rotary Club of Weston.

ABA.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Thomas G. Pelham of Fowler White Boggs Banker in Tallahassee was elected to the executive council of the State and Local Government Law Section of the ABA.

Andrew C. Greenberg.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Andrew C. Greenberg of Carlton Fields in Tampa was a guest speaker at a program hosted by Inside Digital Media, Inc. Greenberg spoke on matters of the "Zen" patent and its meaning to MP3 player manufacturers, including iPod related...

National Black Prosecutors Association: Harold Bennett of Bartow and Edtrik Baker of Miami.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Harold Bennett of Barrow and Edtrik Baker of Miami were appointed representatives for the state of Florida to the National Black Prosecutors Association.

Broward County Bar Association.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Nancy L. Bennett of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. was elected to the board of directors of the Broward County Bar Association.

Chief Judge James E.C. Perry.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Chief Judge James E.C. Perry of the 18th Judicial Circuit was as the guest speaker at Issues Forum 2005 hosted by Florida Coastal School of Law's Center for Law and Public Policy. His topic was "Ethics in Action-Practical Advice for Lawyers...

Kenneth A. Cutler.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Kenneth A. Cutler of Goldman, Daszkal, Cutler, Bolton & Kirby in Deerfield Beach was inducted to the 2005 National Youth Court Center's Hall of Honor by the Broward County Teen Court Program.

Michael A. Lampert.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Michael A. Lampert of West Palm Beach was presented with the Thelma Starks Distinguished Service Award by the Greater Palm Beaches Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Work Oriented Rehabilitation Center/United Cerebral Palsy of East Central Florida.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Christene Ertl of Snell Legal in Ormond Beach was elected the board of directors for Work Oriented Rehabilitation Center/United Cerebral Palsy of East Central Florida.

Bernard Perlmutter.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Bernard Perlmutter of the University of Miami, School of Law was selected as the recipient of the "Champion for Children" award presented by The Children's Trust.

Broward County Women Lawyers' Association.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Jennifer Anzalone of Fowler White Burnett was installed as president of the Broward County Women Lawyers' Association.

The Florida Bar Foundation.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Michael J. Faehner of Abel Band in Sarasota was named to the board of directors of The Florida Bar Foundation for a one-year term.

Leonard Strickman.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Leonard Strickman, founding dean of Florida International University law school, was honored by Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart in Miami.

Judge Bradford L. Thomas.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Judge Bradford L. Thomas of the First District Court of Appeal attended the Logic and Opinion Writing Conference, sponsored by the National Judicial College.

William W. Corry.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... William W. Corry of Tallahassee served as moderator at the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyer's "2005 Legislative and Case Law Update Seminar" in Orlando.

John W. Salmon and Robert A. Dulberg of Salmon & Dulberg Mediation Services in Miami presented a seminar on "Managing Impasse: Before, During, and After Mediation.".(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... John W. Salmon and Robert A. Dulberg of Salmon & Dulberg Mediation Services in Miami presented a seminar on "Managing Impasse: Be fore, During, and After Mediation" at the 14th Annual Conference for Mediators and Arbitrators in Orlando.

Nicole C. Kibert.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Nicole C. Kibert of Carlton Fields was awarded the Judy Florence Memorial Outstanding Service Award for her efforts with the Access to Justice Committee related to environmental justice.

Eugene G. Beckham of Miami was reappointed chair of the ABA Section Officers Conference Membership Committee and will also serve as an SOC liaison to the ABA Standing Committee Membership.(News and Notes)
November 1, 2005... Eugene G. Beckham of Miami was reappointed chair of the ABA Section Officers Conference Membership Committee and will also serve as an SOC liaison to the ABA Standing Committee Membership. Additionally, Beckham was appointed as a member of the...