Florida Bar News articles from September 2004

Florida Bar News archives from September 2004

Gay adoption request sidelined for now: Family Law Section hopes to drum up greater support.
September 1, 2004... Faced with the prospect it would be rejected as deeply divisive among Florida Bar members, two Bar sections have postponed their request for permission to lobby for the repeal of the state law that bans adoption by gays. The issue did not...

Bar seeks calm after Charley's storm; work underway to get court system back up and running.
September 1, 2004... A jail without air-conditioning became a makeshift courtroom in Charlotte County, where Hurricane Charley aimed its most ferocious winds. There, amid the heat and humidity, Charlotte County Judge Walter Wayne Woodard orchestrated emergency...

Volunteer lawyers needed: young lawyers crank up disaster relief plan.
September 1, 2004... It won't be long after the victims of Hurricane Charley secure the necessities of life--food, clothing, shelter-that their thoughts will turn to the legal questions as they begin to rebuild their lives and communities. To provide the...

Revision 7 transition: so far so good.
September 1, 2004... On July 1, the lights came on, the doors were unlocked, and Florida's trial courts opened for business, albeit with a new scheme that has the state taking over most of the expenses from the counties. And in the first weeks since then, by...

Jason Hawkins.
September 1, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: JASON HAWKINS was recently presented the Lion of Justice Trophy for winning The Florida Bar Standing Committee on Professionalism's annual Law Student Professionalism Essay Contest. Supreme Court Justice...

Lawyer advertising.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... In an August 1 story you stated that the lawyers' ad "1-800-PIT-BULL" is an example of what many see as ads that "provoke public hostility toward the profession and legal system." This is like saying that displaying red lights in the...

Gay adoptions.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... I am writing to point out a simple, though to some readers a significant, misstatement in the August 1 article "ABA Model Rules, gay adoptions on board's agenda." The article states that, under current Florida law, "gay couples can be foster...

Treatment of prisoners.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... The American Bar Association stood up recently for our soldiers posted around the world now and in the future. We urged our government to treat our prisoners the way we want other governments to treat our people who fall captive to them,...

Katims petitions for reactivation.(Letters)
September 1, 2004... Pursuant to Rule 3-7.10, Neil A. Katims has petitioned the Florida Supreme Court for Bar reinstatement. Katims was classified as an inactive member pursuant to Rule 3-7.13. Placement on the inactive list was effective 30 days from August...

Gailey petitions for reinstatement.(Letters)
September 1, 2004... Pursuant to Rule 3-7.10, James Robert Gailey has petitioned the Florida Supreme Court for Bar reinstatement from a rehabilitative suspension. The suspension was effective January 28, 2000, and was for a period of three years resulting from...

Gonzalez petitions for reinstatement.(Letters)
September 1, 2004... Pursuant to Rule 3-7.10, Hilario Gonzalez II has petitioned the Florida Supreme Court for Bar reinstatement from a rehabilitative suspension. This suspension was effective October 27, 2000, and was for a period of 18 months resulting from...

Nominees sought for YLD pro bono award.(Letters)
September 1, 2004... The Bar's Young Lawyer's Division is now accepting nominations for its YLD Pro Bono Award. The Florida Bar YLD Pro Bono Award recognizes public service or legal aid performed by a young lawyer (under the age of 36 or one who has not...

Applicants sought for jury instructions panel.(Letters)
September 1, 2004... The Florida Supreme Court's Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases will have up to seven vacancies at the end of 2004. Any lawyer licensed to practice law in Florida and any member of the Florida judiciary may apply for...

In memoriam.(Letters)
September 1, 2004... Francis K. Buckley, Ft. Lauderdale Admitted 1939; Died July 20, 2004 Frank G. Cibula, Jr., West Palm Beach Admitted 1968; Died June 27, 2004 Robert Allen Delegal, Oakland Park Admitted 1985; Died January 30, 2004 John...

New Bar member? Don't forget to take your required CLE courses.(Letters)
September 1, 2004... New members of The Florida Bar need to make sure they have met the Supreme Court mandated Basic Skills Course Requirement. There are two phases: * New members must take the Young Lawyers Division sponsored Practicing with...

ABA awards FIU, FAMU provisional accreditation.
September 1, 2004... The American Bar Association delivered doubly good news to Florida's pair of new law schools. Both Florida A&M University in Orlando and Florida International University in Miami were granted provisional accreditation by the ABA House of...

Animal Law Committee gets okayed: Board of Governors also renews Education Law Committee.
September 1, 2004... Creation of a new Animal Law Committee for The Florida Bar and the renewal of the Education Law Committee have been approved by the Board of Governors. The board acted on the recommendation of the Program Evaluation Committee at its August...

19th JNC seeks judge applicants.
September 1, 2004... The 19th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications for a circuit judge position. Applicants must be a registered voter, live within the 19th Circuit, and have been a member of The Florida Bar for the past five...

What lawyers should do after a hurricane.
September 1, 2004... Realizing that once basic human needs are met and employees safely located, law firms will need office survival answers, the Law Of rice Management Assistance Service staff of The Florida Bar started contacting experts throughout the country...

Assistance to lawyers available.
September 1, 2004... Many lawyers have been displaced from their offices in the aftermath of Hurricane Charley, and are in acute need of assistance. Bar President Kelly Overstreet Johnson said the Bar's Law Office Management Assistance Service is organizing and...

Hurricane Charley resources now on the Bar's Web site at www.flabar.org.
September 1, 2004... The following information is available on the Bar's Web site--www.flabar.org--in English and Spanish: * Government assistance toll-free numbers. * Legal assistance information for Charley victims who cannot afford to hire a lawyer. ...

Your donation can make a difference.
September 1, 2004... Florida Attorneys Charitable Trust (ACT) is a 501(c)(3) disaster relief fund that offers Florida's attorneys an avenue for making donations to victims of disasters, including members of The Florida Bar. ACT seeks to provide aid and...

Personal solicitation of storm victims is a Bar rules violation.
September 1, 2004... Florida lawyers are being strongly cautioned against engaging in solicitation of hurricane victims. Solicitation, whether by the lawyer personally or by someone else on behalf of the lawyer, is prohibited by Rule 4-7.4(a), according to...

FLS offers assistance after Hurricane Charley.
September 1, 2004... Since Florida Rural Legal Services employees had no power in Hurricane Charley's path in Charlotte, Lee, and DeSoto counties, Kent Spuhler sat in his Tallahassee office organizing the legal help effort. Spuhler, executive director of...

Language and civility.
September 1, 2004... Editor's Note: The Florida Bar Standing Committee on Professionalism recently presented Jason Hawkins the Lion of Justice Trophy for winning its annual Law Student Professionalism Essay contest. Hawkins is in his second year of law school at...

Court clerks object to oversight by chief judges.
September 1, 2004... The Bar Board of Governors has asked the Rules of Judicial Administration Committee to modify a proposed rule about circuit chief judge oversight of court clerks before it is submitted to the Supreme Court. At stake are suggested revisions...

2004 general meeting of committees and sections.(Calendar)
September 1, 2004... 2004 General Meeting of Committees and Sections September 8-11 * Tampa Airport Marriott * Tampa International Airport * Tampa, Florida Wednesday, September 8 Family Law Section * Adoption/Juvenile Law/Special Needs of Children...

Newly Board Certified Florida Lawyers.
September 1, 2004... One hundred and seventeen Florida attorneys recently were Board Certified by The Florida Bar as having special knowledge, skills, and proficiency in various areas of law. Only attorneys who have achieved certification may identify themselves as...

Education Law Committee sets September 10th CLE program.
September 1, 2004... The Bar's Education Law Committee will present a CLE program September 10 at the Tampa Airport Marriott beginning at 1:30 p.m., immediately following the committee's business meeting. The presentors will include Bob Minnix, associate...

Board approves ethics rules changes.
September 1, 2004... With some final, minor modifications, the Bar Board of Governors has approved amendments to Bar rules based on the ABA's Ethics 2002 report. The board at its August 13 meeting in Ponte Vedra Beach, gave final approval to the changes, which...

Citizens Forum to help out with Bar communications.
September 1, 2004... The Communications Committee is looking at ways to better utilize the Bar's Citizens Forum, a mostly nonlawyer group that reviews and advises on Bar-related activities. Glazer told the Board of Governors at its Ponte Vedra Beach meeting...

How to sue an LLC member: without piercing the corporate veil.(In Practice)
September 1, 2004... For business owners who think they can form a limited liability company and avoid personal liability, a Florida appellate court has a message: Think again! Just as an individual corporate officer may be held personally liable for negligence, so...

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

Disciplinary actions.
September 1, 2004... The Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders suspended 11 attorneys, reprimanded three, accepted the resignation of two attorneys, disbarred one, and placed one attorney on probation. The following lawyers are disciplined: Eduardo...

Wm. Scott Patterson.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2004... Wm. Scott Patterson presented a CLE program titled, "Representing Policyholder in Insurance Coverage Disputes" at the MICPEL Insurance Law Institute in Columbia, Maryland.

Orlando Jeffrey.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2004... Orlando Jeffrey of Thompson, Caroline Cranton and Lawrence Kolin of Alvarez, Sambol, Winthrop & Madson, P.A., in Orlando spoke on "Medical Litigation Involving the Frail Elderly" at the Seventh Annual Summer Conference for Geriatric Medicine...

Peter J. Tucci.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2004... Peter J. Tucci of Piper Rudnick was recently awarded the Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor by President Chirac of the French Republic.

School Law Reporter.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2004... Michael G. Dyer of Doran, Wolfe, Rost & Ansay in Daytona Beach has been appointed to serve as a reporter for the Education Law Association's School Law Reporter for the Atlantic region and as an adjunct professor at the Nova Southeastern...

Florida Brownfields Association.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2004... Michael R. Goldstein of Akerman Senterfitt in Miami, has been elected chair of the board of directors of the Florida Brownfields Association for a second term.

Trent H. Cotney.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2004... Trent H. Cotney, a construction attorney at Glenn Rasmussen Fogarty & Hooker, P.A., hosted the 1st Annual West Coast Roofing Contractors' Association continuing education seminar, where he spoke on topics relating to construction contracts.

Hillsborough Community College Foundation Board of Directors.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2004... Thomas J. Ellwanger, a shareholder with the law firm of Fowler White Boggs Banker, has been elected to the Hillsborough Community College Foundation Board of Directors.

Gary Resnick.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2004... Gary Resnick of Weiss Serota Helfman Pastoriza Guedes Cole & Boniske spoke about local governments' perspective with respect to communications services in Florida at the Florida Telecommunications Industry Association's Annual Conference in...

Spencer Aronfeld.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2004... Spencer Aronfeld of Coral Gables spoke about selecting the right client, preparing both the client and himself for the stress of trial, among other topics, at the Florida Academy of Trial Lawyers' 2004 Auto Negligence Seminar.

The Sterling Aventura.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2004... Bruce A, Blitman of Ft. Lauderdale has been appointed to the advisory board of The Sterling Aventura, an assisted living community in Aventura.

William E. Curphey.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2004... William E. Curphey of William E. Curphey & Associates in Clearwater recently returned from a month in India where he conducted a series of seminars on business consulting and collaborative negotiation to the Indian employees of U.S. based...

Andre D. Pierre.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2004... Andre D. Pierre of Douthit, Murray & Pierre, P.A., in Miami spoke at the Haitian Lawyers Association town forum on "How Crimes/Arrests May Jeopardize Your Immigration Status."

Legal Aid Society.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2004... Scott C. Murray, partner of Ricci Leopold, P.A., joined the Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Society in Palm Beach County.

Barr, Murman, Tonelli, Slother & Sleet.(On the Move)
September 1, 2004... Hector J, Rivera has become associated with Barr, Murman, Tonelli, Slother & Sleet. Rivera concentrates in matters of civil litigation. Offices are located at 201 E. Kennedy Blvd., Ste. 1700, Tampa 33602, phone: (813) 223-3951.

Fowler, White, Boggs, Banker.(On the Move)
September 1, 2004... Lawrence S. McDowell and Michael E. Goodbread, Jr., have joined Fowler, White, Boggs, Banker. McDowell has joined the Ft. Myers office as an associate and focuses in state and federal trial courts, business litigation, including contract...

John F. Schutz.(On the Move)
September 1, 2004... John F. Schutz has opened his new law office at 500 S. Australian Ave., Ste. 636, West Palm Beach 33401, phone: (561) 7918535, fax: (561) 791-8532. Schutz concentrates in family law.

Kahan & Associates.(On the Move)
September 1, 2004... Guy M. Shir, formerly of Becker & Poliakoff, P.A., has joined Kahan & Associates as partner to lead its litigation practice group, with offices at 1800 N.W. Corporate Blvd., Suite 102, Boca Raton 33431. Shir concentrates in matters of...

10th Circuit Public Defenders Office.(On the Move)
September 1, 2004... Alisa M. Smith has joined the 10th Circuit Public Defenders Office's appellate division and Stacey H. McNelis and Kristie Williamson joined the PD's Barrow office's trial division.

Lytal, Reiter, Clark, Fountain & Williams.(On the Move)
September 1, 2004... Dana L. Keen, formerly of Stephens, Lynn, Klein, LaCava, Hoffman & Puya, has joined Lytal, Reiter, Clark, Fountain & Williams in West Palm Beach as an associate, with offices at the Northbridge Center, 10th Floor, 515 N. Flagler Drive, West...

A. Stephen Kotler, formerly with Akerman Senterfitt in Miami, has joined Fowler White Boggs Banker as of counsel in its Naples office.(On the Move)
September 1, 2004... A. Stephen Kotler, formerly with Akerman Senterfitt in Miami, has joined Fowler White Boggs Banker as of counsel in its Naples officeA. Stephen Kotler, formerly with Akerman Senterfitt in Miami, has joined Fowler White Boggs Banker as of...

Baker & Hostetler.(On the Move)
September 1, 2004... Seth King, formerly an assistant city attorney for Orlando, has joined Baker & Hostetler in its land use planning and development practice area.

Pleat & Perry, P.A.(On the Move)
September 1, 2004... Sarah R. Hamilton, a recent Florida State University College of Law graduate, has joined Pleat & Perry, P.A., in Destin with offices at 4477 Legendary Drive, Suite 202, Regatta Commons, phone (850) 6500599. She will be assisting the firm in...

Law Office of A. Scott Toney, P.A.(On the Move)
September 1, 2004... A. Scott Toney, formerly with the Goldberg Law Office, announces the opening of the Law Office of A. Scott Toney, P.A., located at the Metro Corp Center, Suite 500, 4210 NW 37 Place, Gainesville 32606, phone (352) 376-6500. Toney focuses his...

Stephen M. Lawler, formerly with Groelle & Salmon in Tampa, has joined Fowler White Boggs Banker as an associate and will practice in the general trial practice group in the firm's St. Petersburg office.(On the Move)
September 1, 2004... Stephen M. Lawler, formerly with Groelle & Salmon in Tampa, has joined Fowler White Boggs Banker as an associate and will practice in the general trial practice group in the firm's St. Petersburg office. He will concentrate his practice in the...

Kirk Pinkerton.(On the Move)
September 1, 2004... David W. Hall has joined Kirk Pinkerton as a real estate associate in the firm's Bradenton office and Cindy H. Ford has joined the firm as an associate in the firm's Sarasota Office. Ford's practice will focus on commercial litigation.

Liggio Benrubi & Williams.(On the Move)
September 1, 2004... Edrick E. Barnes has joined Liggio Benrubi & Williams as an associate, with offices at the Barristers Bulding, Suite 3-B, 1615 Forum Pl., West Palm Beach 33401, phone (561) 616-3333. Barnes will concentrate his practice in the areas of bad...

Moyle, Flanigan, Katz, Raymond & Sheehan, P.A.(On the Move)
September 1, 2004... Jessica L. Koch has joined Moyle, Flanigan, Katz, Raymond & Sheehan, P.A., as an associate with offices at 625 North Flagler, Dr., West Palm Beach, 33401, telephone (561) 659-7500.

GrayRobinson.(On the Move)
September 1, 2004... GrayRobinson has added Gary S. Salzman as a shareholder and Douglas Lambert as of counsel to its Orlando office. Both attorneys were formerly with Brown, Salzman, Weiss & Garganese, in Orlando. Salzman practices in the areas of litigation,...

Robert "Chip" Birthisel.(On the Move)
September 1, 2004... Robert "Chip" Birthisel, formerly a partner at Williams Mullen in Norfolk, Virginia, has joined the Tampa office of GrayRobinson in its maritime, environmental, and transportation practice groups. He handles both transactional and litigation...

Cohen & Grigsby.(On the Move)
September 1, 2004... Carl E. Westman, formerly of Steel Hector & Davis, has joined Cohen & Grigsby in its newly expanded Naples office as a director in its estates and trusts group. Westman concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning, charitable...

LECG, LLC.(On the Move)
September 1, 2004... David P. Bloch, formerly assistant chief litigation counsel in the Securities and Exchange Commission's Division of Enforcement, has joined LECG, LLC as a principal of the national forensic accounting practice in Washington, D.C. He consults in...

Office of General Counsel for the City of Jacksonville.(On the Move)
September 1, 2004... Mark Miller, formerly a law clerk for U.S. District Judge Henry Adams of the Middle District, has been appointed an assistant general counsel with the Office of General Counsel for the City of Jacksonville and works in the litigation...

Schwarzberg & Associates.(On the Move)
September 1, 2004... Timothy W. Schulz has become an associate with Schwarzberg & Associates, with offices at the Esperante Building, 222 Lakeview Avenue, Suite 210, West Palm Beach 33401, telephone (561) 659-3300. He concentrates his practice in complex business...

Halim & Pratt, LLC.(On the Move)
September 1, 2004... Steven A. Halim and Kenneth D. Pratt, both former assistant public defenders, have formed a new partnership--Halim & Pratt, LLC, with offices at 207 East Hillcrest Street, Orlando 32801, telephone (407) 650-9044. The firm will concentrate in...

Greenspoon, Marder, Hirschfeld, Rafkin, Ross & Berger, P.A.(On the Move)
September 1, 2004... Rebecca L. Henderson and Dave Aronberg will help Greenspoon, Marder, Hirschfeld, Rafkin, Ross & Berger, P.A., open its second Palm Beach County office located at One Clearlake Centre, 250 South Australian Avenue. Henderson focuses her practice...

The Law Office of Raul Cabrera and Associates.(On the Move)
September 1, 2004... Raul Cabrera, formerly of Meeks, Lewis and Cabrera, has opened The Law Office of Raul Cabrera and Associates in Tampa. The firm concentrates in matters of criminal defense, personal injury, Social Security, and workers' compensation. Office...

Cohen, Chase, Hoffman & Schimmel, P.A.(On the Move)
September 1, 2004... Sheri Lessne Farbish has joined Cohen, Chase, Hoffman & Schimmel, P.A., in Miami, practicing in the area of estate planning.

Trenam, Kemker, Scharf, Barkin, Frye, O'Neill & Mullis.(On the Move)
September 1, 2004... Shyam N.S. Dixit, Jr. joined the firm Trenam, Kemker, Scharf, Barkin, Frye, O'Neill & Mullis as an associate in the litigation department. He will continue concentrating in commercial litigation, patent, trademark and copyright law, insurance...

Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLP.(On the Move)
September 1, 2004... Scott J. Topolski, formerly of Rutherford Mulhall, P.A., has joined Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLP, where he is a partner resident in the firm's litigation practice group in Boca Raton. Topolski will handle commercial premium...

Eleventh Circuit Judge Eugene J. Fierro has written Chapter 2--Organization and Development of the Case, published in Florida Civil Practice Before Trial--7th Edition.(Benchmarks)
September 1, 2004... Eleventh Circuit Judge Eugene J. Fierro has written Chapter 2--Organization and Development of the Case, published in Florida Civil Practice Before Trial--7th Edition. Judge Fierro also administers the 11th Circuit and Dade County Bar's "Put...

Broward County Judges Jay Spechier and Thomas M. Lynch IV recently attended a workshop on "Judges Philosophy of Law and Judging," put on by the American Academy of Judicial Education in San Diego.(Benchmarks)
September 1, 2004... Broward County Judges Jay Spechier and Thomas M. Lynch IV recently attended a workshop on "Judges Philosophy of Law and Judging," put on by the American Academy of Judicial Education in San Diego. The judges' attendance was supported by a...

Hillsborough County Bar Association.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2004... William J. Schifino, Jr., of Tampa has been elected president of the Hillsborough County Bar Association.

Robert A. Kingsford.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2004... Robert A. Kingsford of Kingsford & Rock, P.A., was a co-presenter of the seminar "Demystifying Health Care Billing" at the recent Florida Insurance Fraud Education Committee conference in Orlando.

Lee W. Marcus and Ernest J. Myers of Orlando presented "Avoiding Bad Faith in the Fraud Investigation".(News and Notes)
September 1, 2004... Lee W. Marcus and Ernest J. Myers of Orlando presented "Avoiding Bad Faith in the Fraud Investigation" as part of a Florida Insurance Fraud Education Committee event in Orlando.

Florida Academy of Trial Lawyers.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2004... Manuel Dobrinsky of Miami's Freidin & Brown, P.A., has been elected to the board of directors of Florida Academy of Trial Lawyers for a two-year term.

Michael J. McGirney.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2004... Michael J. McGirney of Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin in Tampa spoke to a Miami chapter of the American Society for Home Inspectors on "The Effect of Liability Limitation and Arbitration Clauses in Home Inspector's Contracts."

Civil Trial Advocacy.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2004... Richard C. McCrea, Jr., of Zinober & McCrea in Tampa, has become board certified in Civil Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

Roy M. Hartman.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2004... Roy M. Hartman of Miami spoke on the topic of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the corresponding SEC rules, and the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board at the 18th Annual CPA-Attorney Continuing Education Seminar.

St. Petersburg Bar's Young Lawyers Division.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2004... Hunter W. Carroll of Carlton Fields in St. Petersburg has been fleeted chair of the St. Petersburg Bar's Young Lawyers Division.

Hale E. Sheppard.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2004... Hale E. Sheppard of Sharp, Smith, & Harrison, P.A., in Tampa had the following articles published: "The Impact of Recent Events on Section 911: Rocking the Boat or Capsizing the Vessel?" in Tax Notes International and Worldwide Tax Daily; "The...