Florida Bar News articles from October 2004

Florida Bar News archives from October 2004

Justices debate their workers' comp authority.
October 1, 2004... On paper, the Florida Supreme Court was supposed to have oral arguments September 2 on amendments proposed for the procedural rules for workers' compensation cases. But the court never actually got to the suggested changes, spending the...

Court rules that DCAs have the final say in PCAS.
October 1, 2004... The recently adopted Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.330(a) cannot be used to get the Supreme Court to review a case where a district court of appeal has refused to issue an opinion or explanation when it decided an appeal. The high...

Lawyers from Pathman Lewis.
October 1, 2004... LAWYERS FROM PATHMAN LEWIS in Miami and others recently loaded a truck of relief supplies bound for Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Relief efforts stretched statewide.
October 1, 2004... Florida Rural Legal Services lawyers have plenty of experience helping clients deal with crises. But after Hurricane Frances battered Florida's East Coast, employees of the Ft. Pierce FRLS are now without an office to call home and have...

Zahner to lead professionalism effort.
October 1, 2004... Walk into Carl J. Zahner's office at The Florida Bar's Center for Professionalism, and you're struck by artwork on the walls from the Far East and Polynesia, military plaques, a clock made from pallet wood by prison inmates, and a ceramic jar...

Advertising panel offers alterations.
October 1, 2004... A tentative and preliminary report suggesting changes to Bar advertising rules has been approved by the Advertising Task Force 2004 and, as this News reaches Bar members, should be posted on the Bar's Web site for comments. The task force...

We goofed: old mailing labels used on September 15 news.
October 1, 2004... If you noticed your CLE credits and reporting date on the mailing label of the September 15 issue of the News was wrong; or the paper was forwarded from your old address; or you didn't get it; or--if you have been a member of the Bar for less...

Gay adoptions.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... After having read and responded to the initial article over the summer on the gay adoption issue, I am once again concerned at the content of the September follow-up article. As with the first publication, the reporter fails to take any...

Lawyer Advertising.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... I read with dismay that the Bar's Advertising Task Force was considering whether to ban direct mail solicitations to criminal defendants within 30 days of their arrest date. As an attorney who has used such direct mailings for over 10...

Tampa bankruptcy judge needed.
October 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. ...

Judge Sledge seeks reappointment.
October 1, 2004... The current 14-year term of Judge James S. Sledge, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Alabama at Anniston, will expire on June 5, 2005. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit is presently considering Judge Sledge's...

Appointments to be filled in December.(Notice)
October 1, 2004... The Board of Governors is seeking applicants for the following vacancies to be filled during its December 10. Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission: One attorney to serve a six-year term on the 15-member commission, authorized under...

Ivan slows the Journal's press.(Notice)
October 1, 2004... The Florida Bar Journal printing company's plant was hit by a tornado spawned from Hurricane Ivan September 16. "The October issue of the Bar Journal was scheduled to go on press on September 20, but will be delayed several days for cleanup...

First DCA-JNC seeks a judge.(Notice)
October 1, 2004... Applications are being sought to fill a vacancy on the First District Court of Appeal created by the retirement of Judge Anne C. Booth, effective January 3. Applicants must be a resident within the territorial jurisdiction of the court at...

Errata.(Notice)(Correction Notice)
October 1, 2004... Due to a mix-up in names, the September 15 News story on lawyers running for the legislature overlooked Miami attorney Anitere Flores in the Republican primary for Florida House District 114. In a six-way primary, she got 55.5 percent of the...

Court panel seeks comments on the release of electronic records.
October 1, 2004... The Supreme Court Committee on Privacy and Court Records is seeking comments from the public about its work. The committee was created to address issues related to privacy and the electronic dissemination of court records and has been...

Argument rescheduled.
October 1, 2004... Oral amendments to the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar and the Rules of Judicial Administration--Case No. SC04-135 have been rescheduled for November 5. That argument was originally scheduled for September, but was cancelled due to weather...

Goldin Award nominations sought.
October 1, 2004... The Criminal Law Section is seeking nominations for its Selig I. Goldin Memorial Award. Selection is based upon the candidate's outstanding contribution to the criminal justice system of Florida. Last year's recipient was Judge Susan...

Diversionary workshop aims to promote professionalism.
October 1, 2004... There is a new tool in the Bar's disciplinary diversion tool belt--a professionalism workshop tailored to lawyers whose conduct flirts with or just crosses the line into unethical conduct in violation of Bar rules. The new professionalism...

Workers' comp book update now complete.
October 1, 2004... Curious about the complex ins and outs of Florida's workers' compensation law? And how did this system develop the way it did? Rafael Gonzalez is providing the answers. The former chair of the Bar's Workers' Compensation Section and a...

Fifth annual capital cases seminar slated for October.
October 1, 2004... Three Supreme Court justices, will be among the speakers at the Fifth Annual Advanced Capital Cases Seminar, sponsored by the legislature's Commission on Capital Cases. The seminar is set for October 21-23 at the Embassy Suites hotel in...

General Practice Section schedules Bermuda seminar for April 15-22.
October 1, 2004... The Bar's General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Section will present "Bermuda: Fun With Arbitration Education" April 1522, at the Elbow Beach Resort in Hamilton, Bermuda. The seminar will include a visit to the Bermuda courts and The...

Proposed juvenile procedure rules.(Notice)
October 1, 2004... The Florida Bar's Juvenile Court Rules Committee has filed an out-of-cycle petition to amend the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure to conform the rules to the Florida Statutes in light of amendments made by the 2004 legislature. The...

Proposed PWP amendments.
October 1, 2004... The Florida Bar has filed a petition to amend the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar. The Bar proposes to amend the rules to alter the components of the Practicing with Professionalism program and to remove the deferment for certain full-time...

Family law procedures amendments.
October 1, 2004... The Florida Bar's Family Law Rules Committee has filed an out-of-cycle petition to amend the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure to create new rule 12.525, Motions for Costs and Attorneys' Fees. The court invites all interested persons to...

Section makes donation to defeat Amendment 3: the measure would limit contingency fees.
October 1, 2004... The Bar's Trial Lawyers Section has donated $50,000 to a consumer group to help in its campaign against a proposed constitutional amendment that would limit contingency fees in medical malpractice cases. The section's contribution to the...

Court adopts unbundled legal forms.
October 1, 2004... The Florida Supreme Court has adopted several new forms to help carry out the delivery of unbundled legal services in family law cases. The court approved the forms, recommended by the Family Law Rules Committee, on September 15, and also...

Stetson student wins scholarship.
October 1, 2004... Second-year Stetson University College of Law student Sarah Grosse has been awarded the Joseph C. Mason, Jr., Scholarship, which provides approximately $1,250 a year to a student with a demonstrated interest in becoming a patent attorney. ...

Lawyer provides a home for orphans: Casa de Luz will serve children with severe disabilities.
October 1, 2004... Five years ago, Miami lawyer O. Frank Valladares was shocked by the sight of malnourished orphans with severe disabilities, abandoned at birth, and warehoused in squalor in the Dominican Republic, one boy kept in a 3-foot-by-4-foot cage. ...

Spam filters may block bar e-mails.
October 1, 2004... Could your computer's spam filter be blocking important e-mails sent to you by The Florida Bar? Quite possibly, says David Burley, developmental manager of Information Systems at the Bar, who has witnessed an increase in kicked-back...

Parts of General Meeting rescheduled for October.
October 1, 2004... Several Bar committees forced to postpone their General Meeting gatherings when Hurricane Frances threatened have rescheduled their meetings for October 1-2. The meetings will be at the Tampa Airport Marriott Hotel, as was the scheduled...

Court extends DNA testing.
October 1, 2004... Consistent with legislation signed by Gov. Jeb Bush, the Florida Supreme Court agreed to extend the deadline for inmates requesting post-conviction DNA testing to prove their innocence until October 1, 2005. The per curiam September 15...

Attorneys exchange: an opportunity for attorneys to exchange legal experiences and enhance their practice through referrals.
October 1, 2004... AD VALOREM TAX LITIGATION John W. Chapman, Jr., Board Certified in business litigation, thirteen years experience representing property owners and properly appraisers in ed valorem tax matters, including homestead and other exemptions,...

Heart attack! You are having one!(Stresslines)
October 1, 2004... I have wondered why attorneys refuse to recognize their risk for a heart attack. I think I've found the reason: day-planners. I've checked, there's no section for down time due to heart attack. Whether you are a trial lawyer, office...

How to improve your research skills.(Tips for the Young Lawyer)
October 1, 2004... Lawyers often complain that law school did not teach them how to be lawyers. Maybe it taught them how to do research, how to write, but not how to practice law. The fact is, we lawyers don't know how to research, how to really research, until...

Manuel A. "Alex" Reboso, of Rossman Baumberger Reboso & Spiel, addressed the annual meeting of The Association of Trial Lawyers of America in Boston.(News and Notes)
October 1, 2004... Manuel A. "Alex" Reboso, of Rossman Baumberger Reboso & Spiel, addressed the annual meeting of The Association of Trial Lawyers of America in Boston. The theme of his July 6 speech before ATLA's Professional Negligence Section was, "Holding...

Joseph Hernandez, of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, has been named chair of the board.(News and Notes)
October 1, 2004... Joseph Hernandez, of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, has been named chair of the board of Junior Achievement of Greater Miami.

Sia Baker-Barnes, of Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A, was elected to the board of directors of the Young Lawyers Section of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers.(News and Notes)
October 1, 2004... Sia Baker-Barnes, of Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A, was elected to the board of directors of the Young Lawyers Section of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers. Baker-Barnes also was recently elected secretary of the F. Malcolm...

David W. Singer will be one of the "Jews of Broward County" in an exhibit at the Jewish Museum Of Florida.(News and Notes)
October 1, 2004... David W. Singer will be one of the "Jews of Broward County" in an exhibit at the Jewish Museum Of Florida. The exhibit runs through January 30, 2005.

Jill Riola, of Baker & Hostetler, LLP, was named to the panel of certified mediators for the U.S. District Court.(News and Notes)
October 1, 2004... Jill Riola, of Baker & Hostetler, LLP, was named to the panel of certified mediators for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

Paul S. Jones, of Luks, Santaniello, Perez, Petrillo & Gold, recently spoke on "Automotive Liability--PIP".(News and Notes)
October 1, 2004... Paul S. Jones, of Luks, Santaniello, Perez, Petrillo & Gold, recently spoke on "Automotive Liability--PIP" at a legal seminar sponsored by the CEU Institute.

Richard M. Benrubi, of Liggio, Benrubi & Williams, recently lectured at the Seventh National Advanced Forum on Litigation Disability Insurance Claims.(News and Notes)
October 1, 2004... Richard M. Benrubi, of Liggio, Benrubi & Williams, recently lectured at the Seventh National Advanced Forum on Litigation Disability Insurance Claims in Boston on bad faith and punitive damages.

Ernest J. Myers, of Marcus, McMahon & Myers, P.L., recently lectured on the topics of the insurance contract.(News and Notes)
October 1, 2004... Ernest J. Myers, of Marcus, McMahon & Myers, P.L., recently lectured on the topics of the insurance contract, first party coverage, ethical considerations, and elements of bad faith at the Insurance Coverage Law in Florida Seminar, presented by...

Michael G. Whelan, of the Ogletree Deakins Law Firm, was elected to the Hands On Miami Executive Committee.(News and Notes)
October 1, 2004... Michael G. Whelan, of the Ogletree Deakins Law Firm, was elected to the Hands On Miami Executive Committee at its annual board meeting in June.

Cynthia Crofoot Rignanese of the Law Offices of J. Kelly Kennedy presented "A Probate Primer for Public Accountants".(News and Notes)
October 1, 2004... Cynthia Crofoot Rignanese of the Law Offices of J. Kelly Kennedy presented "A Probate Primer for Public Accountants" to the Polk County Accounting Society at its August meeting.

Blue Ribbon Panel on Education.(News and Notes)
October 1, 2004... Charlie Gray, founding partner of GrayRobinson, has been appointed by local government officials to serve on the Blue Ribbon Panel on Education, which will evaluate the Orange County school district and offer recommendations for improvement.

Frank N. Tobolsky presented "Commercial Lease Hot Spots" through the Pennsylvania Bar Institute.(News and Notes)
October 1, 2004... Frank N. Tobolsky presented "Commercial Lease Hot Spots" through the Pennsylvania Bar Institute. The seminar comprised part of PBI's "A Day on Real Estate" program.

International Association of Defense Counsel.(News and Notes)
October 1, 2004... Mercer K. Clarke, of Clarke, Silverglate & Campbell, was appointed chair of the Drug, Device and Biotech Committee of the International Association of Defense Counsel, for which he will serve a one-year term.

Youth Ethics Initiative, Inc.(News and Notes)
October 1, 2004... Roy B. Gonas of Miami has been selected president and co-chair of Youth Ethics Initiative, Inc.

United Way's Young Leaders.(News and Notes)
October 1, 2004... David M. Seifer, with Stearns, Weaver, Miller, Weissler, Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A. in Miami, has been appointed to serve as chair of United Way's Young Leaders for 2004-2005.

Yolanda L. Fox of Ft. Lauderdale has become a Florida Supreme Court.(News and Notes)
October 1, 2004... Yolanda L. Fox of Ft. Lauderdale has become a Florida Supreme Court certified county and family mediator.

Marc John Randazza, with Weston, Garrou & DeWitt in Altamonte Springs, wrote an article titled, "Secretary of State Kiffmeyer and the Savaging of Vote-Pairing.".(News and Notes)
October 1, 2004... Marc John Randazza, with Weston, Garrou & DeWitt in Altamonte Springs, wrote an article titled, "Secretary of State Kiffmeyer and the Savaging of Vote-Pairing," published in Minnesota Law and Politics.

Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel.(News and Notes)
October 1, 2004... Lewis F. Collins was named president-elect of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel.

ABA's Committee on Corrections and Sentencing.(News and Notes)
October 1, 2004... James E. Felman, of Kynes, Markman & Felman, P.A. in Tampa, has been appointed co-chair of the ABA's Committee on Corrections and Sentencing.

South Palm Beach County Bar Association Labor and Employment Committee.(News and Notes)
October 1, 2004... Eric A Gordon, of Arnstein & Lehr LLP, has been named co-chair of the South Palm Beach County Bar Association Labor and Employment Committee.

George Meyer of Carlton Fields has been elected to the following positions.(News and Notes)
October 1, 2004... George Meyer of Carlton Fields has been elected to the following positions: Governing Committee for the ABA Forum on the Construction Industry; fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers; and president of the Ronald McDonald House...

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

ABA Forum.(News and Notes)
October 1, 2004... Dennis Wieczorek, of Piper Rudnick, LLP, has been chosen as the next chair of the ABA Forum on Franchising for a two-year term.

Florida Defense Lawyers Association.(News and Notes)
October 1, 2004... Spencer Silverglate, of Clarke, Silverglate, Campbell, Williams & Montgomery, has been elected president of the Florida Defense Lawyers Association for the term of one year.

Lara Donlon, of the Law Office of Glen J. Torcivia and Associates, P.A., recently spoke at the Florida Association of Special Districts Conference in Orlando.(News and Notes)
October 1, 2004... Lara Donlon, of the Law Office of Glen J. Torcivia and Associates, P.A., recently spoke at the Florida Association of Special Districts Conference in Orlando regarding "Personnel-Employment Management," discussing the new fair pay regulations...

Greater New York Region.(On the Move)
October 1, 2004... Alan Hirschfeld of Northern Trust Personal Financial Services was appointed vice president and senior personal trust relationship manager for the Greater New York Region.

Forizs & Dogali, P.L.(On the Move)
October 1, 2004... Lee Wm. Atkinson has become a partner with Forizs & Dogali, P.L., in Tampa, and will concentrate his practice in the areas of litigation, appeals, and environmental and land use law. Bradley A. Tobin has joined the firm as an associate and will...

Genovese, Joblove & Battista., P.A.(On the Move)
October 1, 2004... Joseph C. Madalon has joined Genovese, Joblove & Battista, P.A.; in Miami as an associate. Madalon handles a variety of commercial litigation matters.

Eckert, Seamans, Cherin & Mellott, LLC.(On the Move)
October 1, 2004... Robert A. Graci, former judge of the Pennsylvania Superior Court, has joined Eckert, Seamans, Cherin & Mellott, LLC, as special counsel in the firm's Harrisburg, PA, office.

Ward, Damon & Posner, P.A.(On the Move)
October 1, 2004... Carl T. Williams and Jared N. Quartell have joined Ward, Damon & Posner, P.A., in West Palm Beach. Williams will focus his practice in real estate and corporate law. Quartell will focus his practice in business and commercial litigation.

Walters, Levine, Brown, Klingensmith & Thomison, P.A.(On the Move)
October 1, 2004... Walters, Levine, Brown, Klingensmith & Thomison, P.A., announced the relocation of its Sarasota offices to South Trust Bank Building, 1800 Second St., Suite 808, Sarasota 34236. The firm focuses on construction law, business and corporate law,...

Fergeson, Skipper, Shaw, Keyser, Baron & Tirabassi, P.A.(On the Move)
October 1, 2004... Nicolle M. Smith has joined Fergeson, Skipper, Shaw, Keyser, Baron & Tirabassi, P.A., in Sarasota. Smith will concentrate on real estate law.

GrayRobinson, P.A.(On the Move)
October 1, 2004... David O. Doyle, Jr., joined GrayRobinson, P.A., in its Orlando office as a shareholder. Doyle will continue practicing medical defense litigation and health care law.

Cummings & Lockwood, LLC.(On the Move)
October 1, 2004... Stephen C. Pierce re-joined Cummings & Lockwood, LLC, in its Naples office. Pierce concentrates in the areas of real estate development, acquisition and disposition of real estate, and financing.

Sen. Burt Saunders, R-Naples, has become of counsel with GrayRobinson's Tampa office.(On the Move)
October 1, 2004... Sen. Burt Saunders, R-Naples, has become of counsel with GrayRobinson's Tampa office and will practice in the areas of health care, land use, and state and local government law.

Ruden McClosky.(On the Move)
October 1, 2004... Jennifer DeSantis and Elana Sbarro have joined Ruden McClosky as associates. DeSantis has joined the West Palm Beach Office where she focuses on real estate, corporate, trusts and estates, and litigation matters. Sbarro has joined the Ft....

Rutherford Mulhall, P.A.(On the Move)
October 1, 2004... Karen J. Orlin, Lazaro J. Mur, and Robert T. Rigal have joined Rutherford Mulhall, P.A., as associates. Areas of concentration include corporate law, securities, international tax, estate planning, business and civil litigation, government law...

Tew Cardenas, LLP.(On the Move)
October 1, 2004... Teri Donaldson joined Tew Cardenas, LLP, as a partner in Tallahassee. Donaldson formerly served as general counsel to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Hackley & Serrone.(On the Move)
October 1, 2004... James D. Goldman, former Miami immigration and naturalization director, has become associated with Hackley & Serrone in Weston.

Zimmerman, Kiser & Sutcliffe, P.A.(On the Move)
October 1, 2004... Jo Ann Guerrero has joined Zimmerman, Kiser & Sutcliffe, P.A., in Orlando. Guerrero will practice in the firm's Litigation section.

Bavol Judge, P.A.(On the Move)
October 1, 2004... Brian R. Denney has joined Bavol Judge, P.A., as a shareholder. Denney concentrates in the areas of civil litigation in all state and federal courts, class actions, defense of product liability claims, medical malpractice, construction and...

Trenam Kemker.(On the Move)
October 1, 2004... Gerry Thomas joined Trenam Kemker as an associate in Tampa. Thomas will practice in the areas of real estate transactions and lending, construction law, and corporate and business transactions.

Fowler White Boggs Banker.(On the Move)
October 1, 2004... Matthew B. Wheeley has joined Fowler White Boggs Banker as a shareholder in Ft. Myers. Wheeley practices in the area of trial and appellate practice representing exclusively the defense of employer, carder, and servicing agents.

Piper Rudnick, LLP.(On the Move)
October 1, 2004... Yoon S. Ham joined the Reston office of Piper Rudnick, LLP, in the firm's intellectual property practice group.

Stearns, Weaver, Miller, Weissler, Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A.(On the Move)
October 1, 2004... John Herin, Jr., Richard E. Deutch, Jr., and Richard L. Richards joined Stearns, Weaver, Miller, Weissler, Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A., in Miami. Herin and Deutch joined as shareholders in the real estate department. Richards joined the firm as...

Baker & McKenzie.(On the Move)
October 1, 2004... Robert H. Moore joined Baker & McKenzie as an associate in Miami. Moore joined the firm's tax practice group and will concentrate on general tax planning.

Dimond, Kaplan & Rothstein, P.A.(On the Move)
October 1, 2004... Lorenz Michel Pruss joined Dimond, Kaplan & Rothstein, P.A., as an associate in Miami. Pruss focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, securities litigation and arbitration, and class action litigation.

James F. Johnson has become a shareholder in GrayRobinson, P.A, in Orlando.(On the Move)
October 1, 2004... James F. Johnson has become a shareholder in GrayRobinson, P.A, in Orlando. Johnson practices in the areas of state and local government matters, land use, and utilities in the firm's public law department.

Akerman Senterfitt.(On the Move)
October 1, 2004... Jason S. Lichtstein joined Akerman Senterfitt as an associate in the real estate group in the Miami office, where he will practice environmental law.