Florida Bar News back issues from August 2008:
Lawyers needed to wade through foreclosure flood: Glitch won't affect lawyers handling foreclosures.
Aug 01, 2008; ... A new state law aimed at cracking down on scammers taking advantage of homeowners facing mortgage foreclosures will not affect the hiring of attorneys by those homeowners, according to Attorney General Bill McCollum. In a July 8 letter, McCollum clarified that the provisions of ...
Lawyers needed to wade through foreclosure flood: bar members step up to assist homeowners.
Aug 01, 2008; ... Florida lawyers have responded to the call for volunteers to assist the working poor facing foreclosure. But more are needed. Three hundred and twenty Bar members have thus far offered their services to FLASH--Florida Attorneys Saving Homes--a collaborative effort launched in ...
Rules panel wants representation at first appearances.(The Florida Bar Criminal Procedure Rules Committee)
Aug 01, 2008; ... Once a contentious issue pitting the guarantee of constitutional rights against practical concerns in a budget crisis, the vote was 28-0 to mandate that both prosecutor and public defender be required to attend all first appearance proceedings--the first chance for a defendant to get out ...
Attorneys needed for aging-out foster kids.
Aug 01, 2008; ... The day Peggy Quince became chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court, she asked lawyers to volunteer for the Fostering Independence Project to help youth aging-out of foster care become productive citizens. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Smiling among the well-wishers in ...
Summer service.(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RICHARD SHANE WAS ONE OF 10 summer associates at Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price and Alexrod in Miami who put on their gardening gloves and braved the humidity to landscape one of 187 homes in the Jordan Commons community for Habitat for Humanity. "Having the ...
Citing financial woes, PD stops accepting cases: hearing set in the 11th Circuit's action, more PDs may follow suit.
Aug 01, 2008; ... Swamped with cases and too broke to hire more lawyers, Florida's largest public defender office--Miami-Dade's 11th Circuit--can no longer effectively represent more clients, so it must refuse new felony cases. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] That's the gist of 11th Circuit ...
Administrative Law Section to support those with disabilities.
Aug 01, 2008; ... Amid all the budgetary hand-wringing that characterized this year's legislative session, the average person might not have noticed many changes lawmakers made to the administrative rules governing state agencies. Luckily, after more than 30 years in existence, that's something The Florida ...
Bar referral service will cover Dade.(The Florida Bar and Miami-Dade County, Florida)
Aug 01, 2008 ... The Bar's Lawyer Referral Service will soon add Miami-Dade County to its coverage area. The Bar's LRS will begin making referrals in Miami-Dade County beginning October 1, which coincides with the publishing of the new phone books, according to Karen Kelly, director of the Bar's ...
Tjoflat: ethics and professionalism lead to independence.
Aug 01, 2008; ... If American lawyers want to remain independent, much of their fate remains in their own hands through following high standards of ethics and professionalism, according to 11th U.S. Circuit Court Judge Gerald Tjoflat. Judge Tjoflat delivered the annual lecture on the Independence ...
Task Force on Judicial Branch Planning extends its online court system survey deadline.
Aug 01, 2008 ... There is still time to participate in an online survey to help the Task Force on Judicial Branch Planning identify emerging issues and trends. "In planning for the court system for the next 20 years, it's important to gather input from those who work with the courts day-in and ...
Center for Professionalism sets career satisfaction workshop.
Aug 01, 2008 ... The Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism and Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc., will host a two-day career satisfaction workshop September 5-6 in Tallahassee. Shari R. Gregory, the assistant director/attorney counselor with the Oregon Attorney Assistance Program, and Mike ...
Hersch elected FACDL president.
Aug 01, 2008 ... Richard Hersch of Miami was recently elected president of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers at its recent Annual Meeting in Key West. Other new FACDL officers include Paula Saunders of Tallahassee, president-elect; Brian Tannebaum of Miami, vice president; ...
The Florida International University.(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY College of Law trial team captured first place in the Southeast Region of the American Association for Justice National Student Trial Advocacy Competition. Held in Atlanta, the competition featured 16 teams from 10 law ...
Proposed civil jury instructions.(Notices)
Aug 01, 2008 ... The Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases noticed proposed changes and new instructions for public comment on April 15 and May 1. As a result of comments received, the committee proposes the following changes in the proposed instructions. Comments are again ...
Proposed amendments to the juvenile procedures rules deal with foster kids.(Notices)
Aug 01, 2008 ... The Steering Committee on Families and Children in the Court has submitted to the Florida Supreme Court a petition seeking to amend Florida Rule of Juvenile Procedure 8.255, General Provision for Hearing, to require a child who is in licensed foster care or foster care with "another ...
Aronberg wants to rework released sex offender laws: Senator says the current hodgepodge of laws regulating residency undermines public safety.
Aug 01, 2008; ... While well-intentioned, Florida's current laws restricting where sex offenders released from prison can live undermines public safety and need to be reformed. That's the message Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres, brought to the Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors when it ...
Parks & Crump.
Aug 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PARKS & CRUMP recently presented a $1 million gift to Legal Services of North Florida's 30th Anniversary Endowment Fund. LSNF launched its major gift campaign in January 2007, to create an endowment that will secure the future of accessible legal services ...
Roundtable explores the ins and outs of federal practice.
Aug 01, 2008; ... "There are three kinds of closing arguments," said William Stafford, senior federal judge in the Northern District of Florida. "There's the well-organized one you write out, there's the mish-mash of what you actually say when you stand before the jury, and then there's the closing argument ...
Older Floridians Handbook available.
Aug 01, 2008 ... Carlton Fields and Florida Justice Institute, Inc., recently published the fifth edition of the Older Floridians Handbook: Laws and Programs Affecting Older Floridians. The handbook, first published by the Florida Justice Institute in 1980, provides basic information relevant to ...
Practice in federal court? This Bar committee has the guide for you.
Aug 01, 2008 ... The Federal Judicial Roundtable is just one of the projects of the Federal Court Practice Committee, more than 40 members who serve as The Florida Bar's liaison to the federal courts, the standing committees of the Federal Judicial Conference, and to chapters of the Federal Bar Association ...
Court applies more of the judicial code to candidates: those running for the bench now prohibited from criticizing jurors for their verdicts.
Aug 01, 2008; ... Current prohibitions preventing sitting judges from being "swayed by partisan interests" and "criticizing jurors" for their verdicts have now been extended to judicial candidates as well. While the Supreme Court was unanimous in amending the Code of Judicial Conduct to place ...
What should you do with unsolicited information? PEC also discusses if punitive fees and costs can be split with the client.(Professional Ethics Committee)
Aug 01, 2008; ... Is it a lawyer's duty, if any, to protect information sent by a possible client unilaterally? May an attorney representing himself in a divorce directly contact his nonlawyer wife who is represented by counsel to discuss routine family and child-rearing issues? Both questions were ...
New certification logo.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
Aug 01, 2008; ... I wanted to take the opportunity to personally thank the many board certified lawyers who have given us the "thumbs up" on the certification program's new logo. We received a great deal of positive feedback at The Florida Bar's Annual Convention and we are overwhelmed by the number of ...
Family Law Section.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
Aug 01, 2008; ... As the new chair of the Family Law Section, I would like to expand upon the comments of my colleagues in the July 1 News article, "Family Law Section often on the cutting edge of emerging issues." The leadership of the Family Law Section's Legislation Committee, and the entire ...
Court funding.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
Aug 01, 2008; ... I have been reading about the court funding debate from both sides in the pages of the News. I've noticed that the elected officials have overlooked the premise on which this "crisis" arises. The people were given a chance (unbelievably) to vote for a tax cut and it passed overwhelmingly. ...
Workers' comp judges needed in Jacksonville and Gainesville.
Aug 01, 2008 ... The Statewide Nominating Commission for Judges of Compensation Claims is now accepting applications to fill a vacancy in Jacksonville and another in Gainesville. The term of the successful Jacksonville candidate will commence upon gubernatorial appointment and the Gainesville ...
Workers' Comp judges seek reappointment.
Aug 01, 2008 ... The Statewide Nominating Commission for Judges of Compensation Claims will meet August 18 at 8:30 a.m. at the Orlando World Center Marriott, 8701 World Center Drive, Orlando, in the Crystal Ballrooms E and F, for the purpose of interviewing the following judges of compensation claims for ...
The Florida Bar CLE audio/video list.(List)
Aug 01, 2008 ... <Pre> The Florida Bar CLE Audio/Video List www.floridabar.org 850-561-5629 KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS--CERTIFICATION CREDIT HOURS AD = Admiralty and Maritime AG = State & Federal Government & Admin. Practice AP = Appellate Practice AT = Antitrust & Trust Regulation AV = Aviation ...
Karen Koster Burr and Grier Wells recently participated in the Jacksonville Bar Association's "There Oughta Be a Law" variety show at the Times Union Center for the Performing Arts Terry Theatre.
Aug 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] KAREN KOSTER BURR and Grier Wells recently participated in the Jacksonville Bar Association's "There Oughta Be a Law" variety show at the Times Union Center for the Performing Arts Terry ...
Coral Gables Bar honors Davis.(Legal Roundup)
Aug 01, 2008 ... Coral Gables Bar Honors Davis: The Coral Gables Bar Association awarded its Lifetime Achievement Award to Edward B. Davis, the retired chief judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Judge Davis also was presented with a guayabera by a group of his ...
Sarasota Bar scholarship.(Legal Roundup)
Aug 01, 2008 ... Sarasota Bar Scholarship: The Sarasota County Bar Association has awarded Terrica Jennings and Jesse Butler its 2008 Diversity Scholarships. Both recipients are first-year law students. Jennings attends Stetson University College of Law and is working at Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen ...
Wall of Honor.(Legal Roundup)
Aug 01, 2008 ... Wall of Honor: Each year, the judges of Miami's Juvenile Justice Center present the "Wall of Honor" ceremony to recognize those individuals who have made significant contributions to children in the juvenile justice and child welfare system in Miami-Dade County. This year the center ...
Edwards to lead FJA.(Legal Roundup)(Florida Justice Association's Thomas S. Edwards, Jr. )(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2008 ... Edwards to Lead FJA: The Florida Justice Association recently seated its new officers and board members: Thomas S. Edwards, Jr., president; Michael A. Haggard, president-elect; C. Richard Newsome, treasurer; Fred A. Cunningham, secretary; Paul M. Anderson; Todd E. Copeland; Gary M. Farmer; ...
LSGMI recognizes Baker.(Legal Roundup)(Legal Services of Greater Miami Distinguished Service Award goes to Elizabeth S. Baker)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2008 ... LSGMI Recognizes Baker: Elizabeth S. Baker was honored with the Legal Services of Greater Miami Distinguished Service Award at the organization's annual service awards luncheon. The award was given in recognition of Baker's "outstanding lawyering and exemplary teaching" in a pro bono ...
Scholarships all around.(Legal Roundup)
Aug 01, 2008 ... Scholarships All Around: Dean Mead, with offices in Orlando, Ft. Pierce, and Viera, helped the University of Central Florida College of Medicine make history by becoming the first medical school in the country to offer scholarships to its entire charter class. Dean Mead endowed the ...
SMKB scholarships.(Legal Roundup)
Aug 01, 2008 ... SMKB Scholarships: The South Miami Kendall Bar Association and one of its member firms, Panter, Panter & Sampedro, have co-sponsored a $1,500 scholarship to be applied towards the tuition of a law student attending the University of Miami School of Law. This year's scholarship was ...
Wiley to lead Cherry Bar.(Legal Roundup)(Marva L. Wiley of the Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association )(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2008 ... Wiley to Lead Cherry Bar: The Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association celebrated its 23rd anniversary with its awards and installation luncheon. The association selected the Judge Melvia B. Green as its member of the year for her longstanding service and support of the association ....
Annual Bar rules proposals.(Notice)
Aug 01, 2008 ... The Board of Governors of The Florida Bar hereby gives notice of filing with the Supreme Court of Florida, on or about September 1, 2008, a petition to amend the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar. The full text of the proposed amendments is printed below. Some are substantive revisions; ...
USDC-MDFL offers grace period for tardy renewals.(U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida )(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2008 ... The 2008-2009 renewal period for those who practice in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida is underway. Signed renewal forms and fees were due July 15, although there is a grace period which will run until August 31, in which late forms and fees will be ...
15th JNC accepting judicial applications.(15th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission )
Aug 01, 2008 ... The 15th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the circuit bench created by the death of Judge Jeffrey Winikoff. Applicants must have been members of The Florida Bar in good standing for the preceding five years, registered ...
Jonas petitions for Bar reinstatement.(Steven Keith Jonas)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2008 ... Pursuant to Rule 3-7.10, Steven Keith Jonas has petitioned the Supreme Court for Bar reinstatement. The Supreme Court suspended Jonas for 18 months in an August 31, 2006, order for violation of the following rules: Rule 4-4.1(a) (in the course of representing a client a lawyer ...
Mastrilli petitions for reinstatement.(Kenneth W. Mastrilli)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2008 ... Pursuant to Rule 3-7.10(b), Kenneth W. Mastrilli of Tampa has petitioned the Supreme Court for Bar reinstatement. Mastrilli was suspended for 18 months, effective nunc pro tunc, November 27, 2005, under the terms and conditions set forth by a May 25, 2006, court order. ...
Turna petitions for Bar reinstatement.(C. Jivan Turna)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2008 ... Pursuant to Rule 3-7.10(b), C. Jivan Turna of Clearwater has petitioned the Supreme Court for Bar reinstatement. Turna was suspended for a period of 91 days by an April 7, 2005, order of the court. The suspension was served from on or about April 7, 2005, to on or about July 7, ...
Lawyer needed for the JQC.(Notice)
Aug 01, 2008 ... Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission Vacancy: One attorney to serve a six-year term commencing January 1, 2009, and expiring December 31, 2014. The 15-member commission is authorized under Art. V, Section 12, Florida Constitution, to investigate complaints against judges whose ...
U.S. 11th Circuit to amend its rules.(Notice)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2008 ... Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. [section] 2071(b), notice and opportunity for comment is hereby given of proposed amendments to the Rules of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. A copy of the proposed amendments may be obtained from the court's Web site at ...
U.S. Magistrate Morris seeks reappointment.(Notice)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2008 ... United States Magistrate Judge Thomas E. Morris of Jacksonville is seeking reappointment. Morris' term will expire on March 7 and the United States District Court is required to establish a panel of citizens to consider his request for a new eight-year term. Comments ...
11th Circuit PDs win Glickstein Award.(Bennett Brummer and Carlos Martinez)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2008 ... Supreme Court Justice Fred Lewis presented the Hugh S. Glickstein Award for Child Advocacy from the Public Interest Law Section's Legal Needs of Children Committee to retiring 11th Circuit Public Defender Bennett Brummer and Public Defender-elect Carlos Martinez, on behalf of the office's ...
LOMAS' Phelps honored by the ABA.(American Bar Association Law Practice Management Section's J.R. Phelps)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2008 ... The American Bar Association Law Practice Management Section recently honored Florida Bar LOMAS Director J.R. Phelps for his more than 27 years of service to the legal profession, when it presented him with the LPM Publishing Achievement Award at its recent conference in Santa Fe, NM. ...
Whitesman nominated to chair Tax Section.(Guy Edward Whitesman)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2008 ... The Tax Section Nominating Committee has recommended Guy Edward Whitesman of Ft. Myers to serve as the 2009-2010 chair-elect. The section bylaws provide that petitions setting forth the name of other nominees for the office of chair-elect may be made by any 10 members of the ...
The Palm Beach County Bar.(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE PALM BEACH COUNTY BAR recently installed its new officers and directors. Pictured sitting from the left are President-elect Michelle Suskauer; Judge Kenneth Marra from the United States District Court, who performed the installation ceremony; President ...
Proposed amendments to the probate rules.(Notice)
Aug 01, 2008 ... The Florida Supreme Court adopted amendments to the Florida Probate Rules proposed by the Florida Bar's Probate Rules Committee to implement recent changes to section 393.12, Florida Statutes. See In re: Amendments to the Florida Probate Rules, No. SC08-1256 (Fla. July 10, 2008). The Court ...
Family Law Rules amendments.(Notice)
Aug 01, 2008 ... The Florida Supreme Court adopted amendments to the Florida Family Law Rules proposed by the Florida Bar's Family Law Rules Committee to implement 2008 legislative changes to equitable distribution. See In re: Amendments to the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, No. SC08-1214 (Fla ....
Lawyers urged to volunteer for the upcoming elections: election supervisors are always looking for poll workers.
Aug 01, 2008 ... The Bar's Communications Committee is encouraging Florida Bar members and their firms to get involved in public service during the upcoming elections. Communications Committee Chair Richard Tanner noted lawyers are particularly well-suited to serve as poll workers. ...
Amanda Arnold Sansone.(News and Notes)
Aug 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Amanda Arnold Sansone of Carlton Fields in Tampa was ...
Jack M. Sobel and George W. Bush, Jr., of Fox, Wackeen, Dungey, Beard, Sobel, Bush & McCluskey spoke at a recent meeting of the Martin County Bar.(News and Notes)
Aug 01, 2008 ... Jack M. Sobel and George W. Bush, Jr., of Fox, Wackeen, Dungey, Beard, Sobel, Bush & ...
Adam Tebrugge.(News and Notes)
Aug 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Adam Tebrugge was presented the "Third Annual Jim Slater Award for ...
William J. Spratt Jr.(News and Notes)
Aug 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] William J. Spratt Jr., of K&L Gates in Miami recently spoke at the First Annual Southwest Healthcare Transactions Conference in ...
Hank Coxe.(News and Notes)
Aug 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hank Coxe of Bedell, Dittmar, DeVault, Pillans & ...
W. Barry Blum.(News and Notes)
Aug 01, 2008 ... W. Barry Blum of W. Barry Blum, LLC, in Miami recently was a panelist in Washington, D.C., at the International Franchise ...
Edward J. Page.(News and Notes)
Aug 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Edward J. Page of Carlton Fields in Tampa spoke at the Hillsborough County ...
Jeannine S. Williams.(News and Notes)
Aug 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jeannine S. Williams of the City of St. Petersburg's Attorneys Office was recently installed as president of ...
Alpizar Law.(News and Notes)
Aug 01, 2008 ... O. John Alpizar of Alpizar Law in Palm Bay has been appointed to ...
Ben J. Hayes.(News and Notes)
Aug 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ben J. Hayes of Carlton Fields in St. Petersburg moderated a panel program titled "Game On: ...
Peter D. Russin.(News and Notes)
Aug 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Peter D. Russin of Meland Russin & Budwick in Miami has been certified by the Florida Supreme ...
Mark E. Becker.(News and Notes)
Aug 01, 2008 ... Mark E. Becker of Tallahassee was awarded "The Chair's Award of ...