Florida Bar News articles from September 2006

Florida Bar News archives from September 2006

Candidates may answer controversial questions: judicial candidates must, however, be careful not to bind themselves with their answers.
September 1, 2006... Judicial candidates may respond to questions that cover such subjects as same-sex marriage, parental notification, and school vouchers, and whether the candidate agrees or disagrees with recent court decisions so long as the candidate clearly...

Lawyers on longboards: Florida attorney catches the perfect wave in Hawaii.(ack Kirschenbaum)
September 1, 2006... Rip that suit and tie off Melbourne lawyer Jack Kirschenbaum. Dress him in floral boardshorts. Plunk him in the ocean atop his 9-foot, 2-inch longboard. Wait for the perfect wave. Make that ocean the Pacific. Let the beach...

Florida's Finney to lead National Bar.(National Bar Association's Linnes Finney)
September 1, 2006... When Linnes Finney was a kid growing up in the segregated South in Milledgeville, Georgia, he would sit in the courtroom and watch trials. "People with money and influence got better justice than others," recalled Finney of those lasting...

Florida Lawyers Assistance can help attorneys get back on track.(Mike Cohen services)
September 1, 2006... Airport security lines can drive any reasonable person to drink. Mike Cohen of Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc., knows that drive well. He knows even better how to resist that urge. It's his job. Cohen is the executive director of FLA, and he's...

Florida lawyers taking advantage of Fastcase.(floridabar.org)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Since Fastcase, the free legal research service available through floridabar.org, went online in June 2005, members have been taking advantage of the benefit at a steady clip. Below is the number of total logins over the free services' first...

Dr. of Law.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2006... The Bar just declared that "lawyers who want to use their law degrees in advertising are limited to using the language on their diplomas, with no translations." ("Bar board settles Dr. of Law debate," August 15, News.) Bar Ethics Counsel...

Reflections of an old lawyer.(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2006... I must admit to being pleasantly shocked to have received the elegant certificate, engraved silver plate, and lapel pin, all proudly congratulating me on having survived 50 years as a lawyer. It caused me to reflect on some of the early...

McGraw petitions for Bar reinstatement.(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2006... Pursuant to Rule 3-7.10. Andrew Reynolds McGraw of Pensacola has petitioned the Supreme Court for reinstatement to The Florida Bar. Any persons having knowledge bearing upon McGraw's fitness or qualifications to resume the practice of law...

In memoriam.
September 1, 2006... Nathan G. Dinitz. Daytona Beach Admitted 1983: Died April 14, 2006 Paul J. Ellenburg, El Paso, TX Admitted 1999; Died August 28, 2005 Joaquin N. Fernandez, Miami Admitted 1977; Died February 4, 2006 Carolyn Goodman, Altamonte...

Disability Mentoring Day scheduled for October 18: Florida lawyers are asked to participate.
September 1, 2006... Florida Disability Mentoring Day--part of a national, broad-based effort to promote career development for students and job seekers with disabilities through hands-on career exploration, job shadowing, internships, or employment...

Wendy S. Loquasto.
September 1, 2006... Caption: WENDY S. LOQUASTO of Tallahassee was recently installed as president of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers by Judge Patricia Seitz. The other newly installed officers on the FAWL Board of Directors include President-elect Sherri...

Poniewaz joins Journal & News.
September 1, 2006... Carrie May Poniewaz has joined The Florida Bar Journal & News as a law clerk. Poniewaz, 29, coordinates and contributes to the book review section of the Journal, edits the substantive law articles, and will write some stories for the...

Cannon supports an independent judiciary.(Dean Cannon on judicial independence)
September 1, 2006... A strong and independent judiciary is essential for democracy, but so are strong and healthy legislative and executive branches, according to state Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park. Cannon, who is scheduled to be House Speaker in the 2010-12...

Help yourself by surveying your clients.(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Although many lawyers feel uncomfortable asking their clients what they think About their service, there is a great deal that can be learned from a "client survey." Some insights that can be determined from a client survey are: * The level...

Dickey, Gewirtz join the Board of Bar Examiners.
September 1, 2006... The Florida Supreme Court recently appointed Michael P. Dickey of Panama City and Jerry M. Gewirtz of Tampa to the Florida Board of Bar Examiners for five-year terms beginning in November. The vacancies were created by the expiration of the...

Colombian American Bar to honor Avalos.
September 1, 2006... The Colombian American Bar Association will host a reception in honor of Broward County Judge Catalina M. Avalos--the first Colombian-born U.S. judge--September 12 at 6 p.m. at the Las Olas Grand in Ft. Lauderdale. For more information...

Suncoast ALAs plan September 19 event.
September 1, 2006... The Suncoast Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators in the Tampa Bay Area is holding its Fourth Annual Vendor Show and Luncheon September 19, from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center in St. Petersburg. ...

Rosenthal & Levy.
September 1, 2006... Caption: ROSENTHAL & LEVY recently helped sponsor three weeklong creative arts summer camps put on by an affiliate organization of New Life Christian Centre, the Firehouse Youth Center in Ft. Pierce. The centre provides assistance to youth in...

Rules sent to the court: the Civil Procedure, Small Claims, and Probate rule amendments were endorsed by the Bar's board.
September 1, 2006... Three-year cycle rule amendments for Civil Procedure, Small Claims, and Probate have been endorsed by the Bar Board of Governors and will be forwarded to the Supreme Court by February 1, 2007. The board reviewed the amendments, proposed by...

Lawyer discipline information may soon be on the Internet.
September 1, 2006... The Bar's Communications Committee is continuing to work on details of publishing member disciplinary information on the Bar's Web site. Committee Chair Tim Sullivan, reporting to the Board of Governors recently, said the panel has agreed...

Stetson's courtroom caters to the elderly: every detail was designed to provide the ultimate in access.
September 1, 2006... See that step up to the witness box? Seems small, unless you can't bend your knees, and then it might as well be a mountain to climb. Put that witness box at floor level. That podium in the center of the courtroom looks mighty tall to...

Martinez honored by Florida's public defenders: the Cuban immigrant's impoverished childhood helps him relate to clients.(Public Defender Association with the Craig Stewart Barnard Award to Carlos Martinez )
September 1, 2006... When a Freedom Flight delivered 9-year-old Carlos Martinez from Cuba in 1969, he started the fifth grade in Miami not knowing a word of English. His father, Celedonia Martinez, had endured two years of forced labor in camps in order to...

Shackled juveniles will be debated at General Meeting.
September 1, 2006... The girl was only 3-foot-7-inches tall and 11 years old, but she was shackled as she was led to juvenile court at Tallahassee's Leon County Courthouse. Not just handcuffs, but a belly chain connected to both handcuffs and to leg...

Disciplinary actions.
September 1, 2006... The Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders suspended nine and disbarred seven attorneys. The following lawyers are disciplined: Daniel Everett Abrams, 4800 N. Federal Hwy., Ste. 208A, Boca Raton, suspended from practicing law in...

Revised Bar ethics opinion makes it easier to represent elected officials.
September 1, 2006... It will be easier for attorneys representing elected city and county commissions to represent a single commissioner on an ethics complaint under a revised ethics opinion approved by the Bar Board of Governors. The board had directed Bar...

Newly Board Certified Florida lawyers.
September 1, 2006... The Florida Bar recently certified 131 Florida lawyers as specialists in 19 areas of legal practice. Board certification recognizes attorneys' special knowledge, skills and proficiency in various areas of law and professionalism and ethics in...

JWLA will host annual reception.
September 1, 2006... The Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association will host its Annual Opening Reception September 6 at The Cellar Grill at the Jacksonville Landing from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The cost is free for JWLA members and $15 for nonmembers. For more...

Proposed board actions.(Notice)
September 1, 2006... Pursuant to Standing Board Policy 1.60, the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar hereby publishes this notice of intent to consider or take final action at its September 29, 2006 meeting in Ponte Vedra Beach on the following items. These...

Andrew Needle.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2006... Andrew Needle of Needle & Ellenberg in Miami spoke on jury selection in the medical malpractice tort reform era at Lorman Education Services' Seminar, 'Tort Reform's Impact on Medical Malpractice Litigation in Florida: A User's Guide."

Bruce A. Blitman.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2006... Bruce A. Blitman of Ft. Lauderdale presented "Ten Ways to Promote Your Mediation Practice Inexpensively, Ethically and with Dignity," in a telephone seminar sponsored by the Association for Conflict Resolution.

William W. Corry.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2006... William W. Corry of Tallahassee moderated the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers 2006 Member Appreciation Luncheon at the Governor's Club.

Howard P. Ross.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2006... Howard P. Ross of Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & Wein was recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus by the Stetson Lawyers Association for Professional Achievement.

Florida Association for Women Lawyers.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2006... Carolyn C. Coukos of Fowler White Boggs Banker was installed as treasurer of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.

Miami-Dade Expressway Authority.(appoints Justin Sayfie)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Justin Sayfie of Blosser & Sayfie in Miami was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority by Gov. Jeb Bush. Sayfie will serve a four-year term.

Anne-Marie L. Bowen.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2006... Anne-Marie L. Bowen of Orlando recently spoke on Ethics at the American Bankruptcy Institute Southeast Bankruptcy Workshop on Amelia Island.

Brett Alan Panter.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2006... Brett Alan Panter of Panter, Panter & Sampedro in Miami will serve on the Professionalism Committee of the Dade County Bar Association.

The Spring of Tampa Bay.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2006... Karen A. Dean of Fowler White Boggs Banker was elected to the board of directors of The Spring of Tampa Bay.

Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers' Board of Directors.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2006... Theodore "Ted" J. Leopold of Ricci Leopold in Palm Beach Gardens was appointed to the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers' Board of Directors.

Brandon 86' Rotary Club.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2006... Latour "L.T." Lafferty of Fowler White Boggs Banker was elected president of the Brandon 86' Rotary Club for 2006-07 and was also presented with "The Rotarian of the Year Award by outgoing president, Earl Haugabook. Lafferty also has been...

Tampa Bay Estate Planning Council.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2006... Donna L. Longhouse of Fowler White Boggs Banker was elected president of the Tampa Bay Estate Planning Council.

Jacksonville Bar Association.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2006... Kelly B. Mathis Jacksonville was elected president of the more than 1,800 member Jacksonville Bar Association for 2006-07.

Hugh Cotney.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2006... Hugh Cotney of Jacksonville gave an ethics update for the Sole Practitioner/Small Firm Section of the Jacksonville Bar Association.

Property and Casualty Insurance Reform Committee.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2006... Linda Loomis Shelley of Fowler White Boggs Banker was appointed to the Property and Casualty Insurance Reform Committee by Gov. Jeb Bush. The committee is a forum concerning improving competition and creating incentives for private insurance.

Junior Achievement of Central Florida.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2006... R. Lee Bennett of GrayRobinson's Orlando office has been elected treasurer of Junior Achievement of Central Florida.

Inter-American Bar Association.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2006... Renaldy J. Gutierrez of Miami was elected first vice president of the Inter-American Bar Association at its annual conference in San Salvador. Gutierrez will serve as the president in 2007.

Seth Rodner.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2006... Seth Rodner of Tampa wrote a chapter in The New Perils of White Collar Crime called "Preventing White Collar Crime."

20th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2006... Jason Hunter Korn of Cohen & Grigsby in Naples was appointed to a four-year term on the 20th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission by Gov. Jeb Bush.

Jeffrey M. Thompson.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2006... Jeffrey M. Thompson of Alvarez, Sambol, Winthrop & Madson spoke at the Florida Health Care Association/Florida Center, for Assisted Living s annual conference on issues relating to professional liability in the long-term care setting.

Business Law Section of the American Bar Association.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2006... Nathaniel L. Doliner of Carlton Fields' Tampa office has been elected as secretary of the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association at its annual meeting held in Honolulu,.

American Bar Association.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2006... Emilia A. Quesada of Adorno & Yoss in Miami was appointed to the American Bar Association's Commission on Women in the Profession.

The Spring of Tampa Bay, Inc.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2006... Christopher L. Griffin of Foley & Lardner has been elected chair of the board of The Spring of Tampa Bay, Inc. for 2006-07.

Leonard J. Dietzen III.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2006... Leonard J. Dietzen III of Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell spoke about the different negotiating methods that public employers can utilize during the collective bargaining process at the Florida Public Personnel Association's 2006 conference in...

Hillsborough County Bar Association.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2006... Melissa G. Thorn of Foley & Lardner was appointed chair of the Hillsborough County Bar Association's Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee.

Steven H. Meyer.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2006... Steven H. Meyer of Boca Raton will be an on-court umpire for the sixth consecutive year at the U.S. Open national tennis championship in Flushing Meadow, New York, in late August and early September.

S. Brent Spain.(News and Notes)
September 1, 2006... S. Brent Spain of Theriaque Vorbeck Spain in Orlando recently presented "Judicial Appeals, of Zoning Decisions' and "Ethical Issues in the Land Use Arena: Professional Responsibility, Ex Parte Communications, and Conflicts of Interest."

Carlos Bodden joined Ellis & Ged in Boca Raton as a partner, changing the firm's name to Ellis, Ged & Bodden, P.A.(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Carlos Bodden joined Ellis & Ged in Boca Raton as a partner, changing the firm's name to Ellis, Ged & Bodden, P.A. Bodden practices personal injury law and wrongful death litigation

Jacqueline Schneider established Jacqueline Schneider, P.A., offering services in the area of elder law, estate planning, Medicaid and long-term care planning, probate, and guardianship.(On the Move)
September 1, 2006... Jacqueline Schneider established Jacqueline Schneider, P.A., offering services in the area of elder law, estate planning, Medicaid and long-term care planning, probate, and guardianship. The practice is located at 13899 Biscayne Blvd., Ste. 204...

Adam E. Crall and Eric R. Pellenbarg joined Shutts & Bowen in Tampa.(On the Move)
September 1, 2006... Adam E. Crall and Eric R. Pellenbarg joined Shutts & Bowen in Tampa. Both attorneys are experienced in all forms of intellectual property law practice, including patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secret law.

Stephanie R. Bolton has joined Carlton Fields' Tampa office.(On the Move)
September 1, 2006... Stephanie R. Bolton has joined Carlton Fields' Tampa office as an associate in the firm's construction practice group.

Stacey R. Morris joined Alvarez, Sambol, Winthrop & Madson.(On the Move)
September 1, 2006... Stacey R. Morris joined Alvarez, Sambol, Winthrop & Madson as an associate.

Marty Fulgueira joined Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell's Miami office as an associate practicing in several areas.(On the Move)
September 1, 2006... Marty Fulgueira joined Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell's Miami office as an associate practicing in several areas, including product liability, toxic tort defense, and casualty defense.

Dorothy "Doris" Negrin joined the Miami office of Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell.(On the Move)
September 1, 2006... Dorothy "Doris" Negrin joined the Miami office of Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell as an associate practicing in the areas of commercial litigation, real estate litigation, casualty defense, employment and professional liability.

Jenessa M. Stearns joined Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler.(On the Move)
September 1, 2006... Jenessa M. Stearns joined Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler in Ft. Lauderdale as an associate concentrating on automotive law and commercial litigation.

Grant J. Smith joined Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler.(On the Move)
September 1, 2006... Grant J. Smith joined Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler in Ft. Lauderdale as a partner concentrating on government and public affairs.

Cathleen E. O'Dowd joined the Tampa office of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick.(On the Move)
September 1, 2006... Cathleen E. O'Dowd joined the Tampa office of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick as of counsel in the firm's real estate practice group.

Lawyer regulation recommendations are being reviewed; the goal is to improve efficiency and fairness to all participants.
September 15, 2006... Proposals from the Bar's Special Commission on Lawyer Regulation have been distributed to Bar committees for review and recommendations to the Board of Governors. Some recommendations have already been acted on by the board while others...

Suit seeks to allow judicial candidates to express opinions.
September 15, 2006... A conservative, family values group has filed a federal lawsuit seeking declarative and injunctive relief to allow state judicial candidates to give their personal opinions on public issues. The Florida Family Policy Council filed its case...

Back to school: but first a little public service work.(Brief article)
September 15, 2006... SAMANTHA JOHNSON AND MARISSA PULLANO, second-year law students at Nova Southeastern University's Shepard Broad Law Center, joined more than 300 incoming first-year students at the NSU Law Public Service Day Annual Beach Cleanup at John U. Lloyd...

Minority Mentoring Picnic scheduled for October 21.
September 15, 2006... Where can law students chat with a Supreme Court justice, feast on roasted pig, dance to Caribbean music, swat volleyballs over a net, toss footballs, and leave with the names of lawyers and judges as willing mentors? At the Third Annual...

Proposal would permit judges to fine lawyers.
September 15, 2006... A new Bar rule that would codify the power of judges to control the conduct of unprofessional attorneys will be presented to the Bar Board of Governors at its September 29 meeting in Ponte Vedra. The rule was proposed by the Supreme Court's...

Family court filing.(Statistical table)(Brief article)
September 15, 2006... Family Court Filing FY 2004-2005 (Total Filings 365,990) Domestic Violence 25.5% Dissolution 23% Delinquency 20.5% Other Domestic Relations ...

Expanding lawyers' role.( )(Letter to the editor)
September 15, 2006... In 1995 I was an assistant public defender in the 10th Judicial Circuit. My job seemed very simple at the time. I was to meet with the clients, participate in discovery, and give them very candid advice on how I thought they should proceed with...

Applicants sought for two CCRCs.(Letters)
September 15, 2006... The Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission is accepting applications for two capital collateral regional counsels appointed by the governor within the Middle and Southern regions of the state. The Middle Region consists of...

McGraw petitions for Bar reinstatement.
September 15, 2006... Pursuant to Rule 3-7.10, Andrew Reynolds McGraw of Pensacola has petitioned the Supreme Court for reinstatement to The Florida Bar. Any persons having knowledge bearing upon McGraw's fitness or qualifications to resume the practice of law...

Oral arguments set.(Brief article)
September 15, 2006... The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in SC05-1303 In Re: Amendments to the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure October 30 beginning at 9 a.m. The court will also hear oral arguments in SC05-1091 In Re: Amendments to the Florida Rules...

Errata.(Correction notice)
September 15, 2006... In the July 15 News story "Gov. Askew recalls 50 years of lawyering," former Supreme Court Justice Stephen C. O'Connell was misidentified as a former governor of Florida. O'Connell served on the Supreme Court from 1955 to 1967, the last two...

Florida will be well.(Appointments of personnel to National Bar Association)(Brief article)
September 15, 2006... FLORIDA WILL BE WELL represented in the National Bar Association this year. Along with newly sworn-in NBA President Linnes Finney of Port St. Lucie, V. Lynn Whitfield of West Palm Beach will serve as an at-large member of the NBA board; Cynthia...

Taking issue with judge candidates revealing their personal opinions.
September 15, 2006... While the Florida Family Policy Council has argued that Florida's judicial candidates should be free to give their opinions on issues of the day, First District Court of Appeal Judge Peter D. Webster disagrees. When the FFPC sent its...

Rule to allow judges to fine lawyers for unprofessional behavior raises questions.(Disciplinary Procedure Committee)(Brief article)
September 15, 2006... At an August 25 meeting of the Disciplinary Procedure Committee, members said the proposed new rule allowing judges to fine and send badly behaving lawyers to professionalism courses could have wide-ranging impacts. Committee members...

Nominations sought for pro bono awards.
September 15, 2006... Lawyers who donate services to the needy are being sought for public recognition by the Supreme Court and The Florida Bar. Nominations also are being solicited for the following awards: * The Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service...

Law: a profession or just another job?
September 15, 2006... Editor's Note: The Florida Bar Standing Committee on Professionalism recently presented LeRoy Costner the Lion of Justice Trophy for winning its annual Law Student Professionalism Essay contest. Costner is in his third year of law school at...

Nonlawyer qualified representatives in agency proceedings--why it's not UPL.(UPL Update)
September 15, 2006... Most state agencies have an administrative hearing process defined by statute. In these proceedings, a hearing officer receives evidence, reaches a finding of fact, and determines an outcome. Ordinarily, in proceedings which involve the...

Weiss petitions for Bar reinstatement.(UPL Update)
September 15, 2006... Pursuant to Rule 3-7.10, Randy Alan Weiss of Potomac, Maryland, has petitioned the Supreme Court of Florida for reinstatement to The Florida Bar. Any persons having knowledge bearing upon Weiss' fitness or qualifications to resume the...

Pickens finds service rewarding.(Lawyers in the Legislature)(Joe Pickens )
September 15, 2006... Some people just don't take no for an answer. It was 1999, and Putnam County School Superintendent David Buckles was after attorney Joe Pickens to run for the state House. First he tried casual suggestions and then finally had a long...