IN THE NEWS

Lee County Clerk Report Outlines Economic Health

Lee County Clerk Kevin Karnes has released his second annual report detailing key economic factors impacting county residents. The 20-page report outlines how tax dollars were collected, managed and spent. The easy-to-read guide also outlines trends in county property taxes, housing, employment and major construction projects, as well as tourism revenue, investments and debt. Hardcopies of the report are available at all county libraries and the Clerk’s offices, as well as for online download at www.leeclerk.org/thesanddollar.

Counsel To Counsel Program Sets The Bar

The Florida Bar has launched Counsel to Counsel, a first-of-its-kind mentoring program designed to pair new lawyers with those who are more established in their careers. The lawyers will be paired based on their profiles and cutting edge matching technology, using the MentorcliQ software to create virtual mentoring relationships. The Florida Bar is the first state bar to have a technology-based mentoring program for its members, establishing Florida as the gold standard in mentoring initiatives.

Expanded Services Offered In Cape Coral

Kevin C. Karnes, Clerk of the Court & Comptroller for Lee County, recently announced that its Cape Coral location at 1039 SE 9th Place, 2nd Floor, will offer expanded services. Lee County residents who need assistance with filing a restraining order or evictions case can now visit the Cape Coral branch. Trained clerks can assist with filing an injunction for protection against domestic violence, repeat violence, dating violence, sexual violence and stalking. They can also provide information on residential landlord/tenant actions.

Appointed To Serve

The incoming president of The Florida Bar recently appointed Matthew A. Linde as chair of the Florida Bar Elder Law Certification Committee for the 2023-2024 term. Linde brings over 30 years of legal experience and is dual-board certified in elder law and in wills, trusts and estates. Operating from the Linde Law Group offices in Naples and Fort Myers, he focuses on contested estates, trusts, guardianships and cases involving the exploitation of the elderly.

Newly Hired

Susan Z. Ayers recently joined ZinnLaw, PLLC, and will serve as the firm’s latest litigation attorney. Admitted to practice in both Florida and California, she has more than 20 years of court experience and will concentrate her practice in the areas of real estate disputes, construction litigation and insurance claims. ZinnLaw is a boutique law firm that focuses on the practice areas of contracts, real estate, construction and bankruptcy, with its main office in Fort Myers.

ADVOCATING FOR & ADVANCING DIVERSITY

Melany Hernandez, a business litigation attorney with Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., has been elected to serve on The Florida Bar’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. As a member, she will help promote and implement strategies to enhance diversity, inclusion and equity within The Florida Bar and broader legal community. One of the 5% of Hispanic female attorneys in the legal profession, Hernandez expresses deep gratitude for the opportunity to advocate for and advance diversity in the legal profession.

Lcba Donation Supports Self Help Center

Lee County Legal Aid Society (LCLAS) received $10,000 from the LCBA Foundation to fund its “Legal Advice at the Lee Clerk’s Self-Help Center” program, which provides free, 20-minute online legal consultations on a variety of civil matters each week. LCLAS staff maintain notes and demographics on each person served, as well as providing the pro-bono service tracking for the attorneys and volunteer hours for law students who work in the background providing research for the consultations.

Legal Eagles Find New Heights

Five law students were selected to join this year’s “Summer Associate” internship program at Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A. The 2023 Summer Associates are: Nathan Cochran and Kelly Tackett from University of Florida Levin College of Law; Nicholas Corso and Aaron Ostler from University of Miami School of Law; and Haylee Mixon from Stetson University College of Law.

Corrections To The June 2023 Issue Of Res Gestae

Page 20: It was incorrectly stated that LCLAS is partnering with Judge Perez to hold a series of upcoming CLEs. Although these events will take place in the future, LCLAS hopes to partner with the 20th Circuit Pro Bono Committee, of which Judge Perez is the chair.

Page 44: Travis Russell’s previous experience was incorrectly stated. He served as a Public Defender in the 20th Judicial Circuit. Before that, Travis worked in both the plaintiff and defense sides of personal injury.

Page 45: Leontiev and Kirshy were appointed to serve on the 20th Judicial Circuit, not the 12th.