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THE OFFICIAL AWARD-WINNING PUBLICATION OF THE LEE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

LCBA YEARBOOK THE LEADERS WHO SHAPED 2026 See the LCBA Year in Review on pages 16-17

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2026

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ENTERTAINMENT FEATURE

Start Your Engines Carlos A. Kelly, Esq.

LETTER FROM PRESIDENT

Wrapping Up a Year of Service John Dommerich Jr., Esq.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

LETTER FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Cheers to a Whirlwind Year! Lauren Baugh

Raising the Barre SWFL Ballet

PRACTICE SECTION

Bankruptcies Are on the Rise Peter Antonelli, Esq., and Paul Giordano, Esq.

ON THE COVER

SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDAR

LRS COORDINATOR SPOTLIGHT

ETHICALLY SPEAKING

Melanie Persaud

Florida Lawyers Assistance No Longer Affiliated with the Florida Bar Henry Lee Paul, Esq.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Kate McQuagge, Esq.

GUEST COLUMN

100 CLUB

Treat AI like Your Summer Intern— Not Your Managing Partner! Kevin Sarlo, Esq.

FOUNDATION SPONSORS

LCBA SPONSORS

LEGAL LENS

A Time to Wine & Dine

DONOR LISTING

Mental Health & Wellness

CARLOS CHRONICLES

Meet The Honorable Tara Pascotto Paluck

The Year in Review

56-60

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHTS

We Lunched, We Learned

Are Employees Giving Away Your Trade to AI Platforms? Lee Rendeiro, Esq.

Witness Disclosure Kimberly D. Swanson, Esq.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Passing the YLD Torch Katherine “Kati” Cook, Esq. and Iman Zekri, Esq.

JUDICIAL SPOTLIGHT

The Hon. Kristan Burns

GUEST COLUMN

PRACTICE SECTION

LEGAL LENS

38 YLD

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IN THE NEWS

AD DIRECTORY Barbara M. Pizzolato Bill Berke Boy Agnew Potanovic Brazzeal Mediation Bruce Green Law Firm Business Observer Coleman Mediation Services Dal Lago Law DeMine Immigration Law Firm 4 LEEBAR.ORG

48 48 9 9 11 46 44 13 67

Downtown Doctor Care 48 Edison National Bank 68 Fiuza CPA 24 Goldstein Buckley 7 Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A. 13 Law Offices of Dennis L. Webb 35 Mark Loren Designs 24 Musca Law Office, Inc. 3 Priority Marketing 44

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NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2026 5

PRESIDENT'S LETTER

Wrapping Up a Year of Service

LEE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION ADMINISTRATION

As the year comes to a close, it is hard to believe how quickly the past 12 months have flown by. It seems like it was just yesterday that I had the privilege of becoming the Lee County Bar Association (LCBA) president, and now we are already approaching the holidays. Serving as president this year has been a truly rewarding experience. I have enjoyed the opportunity to serve our Bar, work alongside many dedicated members of our legal community and help support the programs that make the LCBA a valuable organization. It has been an honor to serve in this capacity, and I am grateful for the confidence and support you have provided me throughout the year. I especially want to thank my fellow executive council members for their commitment and service to our legal community. As we look toward the end of 2026, I hope you will take some time to celebrate the holiday season with your fellow LCBA members. Our annual holiday party will be held on Dec. 3 at the newly renovated Edison Tavern on McGregor. It will be a good time that offers a great opportunity to step away from our busy practices, reconnect with friends and colleagues, and celebrate all that we have accomplished this year. I hope to see many of you there! Thank you again for allowing me the opportunity to serve as your president for this year. I wish you and your families a happy, healthy and joyful holiday season.

John Dommerich Jr., Esq., LCBA President JDommerich@SAO20.org | 239.533.1000 6 LEEBAR.ORG

Executive Director Lauren Baugh

LRS Coordinator Melanie Persaud

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

YLD BOARD

FOUNDATION BOARD

President John Dommerich Jr., Esq. Vice President Diana “Dawn” Maselli, Esq. Emeritus John Miller III, Esq. Secretary Blake Rizzolo, Esq. Treasurer Kristianna Soto, Esq. Members at Large Leland Garvin, Esq. Michael Lehnert, Esq. Kayla Richmond, Esq. Judicial Liaisons Hon. Robert Branning Hon. Devin George

YLD President Kati Cook, Esq. YLD Vice President Iman Zekri, Esq. Treasurer Zachary Liebetreu, Esq. Secretary Madalyn Moorey, Esq. Board Members Gabriel Arbois, Esq. Stephen Dwyer, Esq. Rochelle Pitts, Esq. Gary Rhodes III, Esq. Cameron Sadighi, Esq.

President Gary Rhodes III, Esq. Vice President Raychel Thomas, Esq. Treasurer David Seitz Secretary Asma Anwar, Esq. Directors G. Travis Cary, Esq. Lance Dunford, Esq. Andre Eaton, Esq. Casey Gartland, Esq. John "JT" McGee, Esq. Brendan Shearman, Esq. LCBA Liaison John Miller III, Esq. Director/YLD Liaison Andrew Koehler, Esq. Emeritus Ryan Downey, Esq.

COMMITTEE CHAIRS Bench-Bar Gala Diana “Dawn” Maselli, Esq. Health and Wellness Hon. Kimberly Davis Bocelli Ashley Kogan Weed, Esq. John Miller III, Esq. History Hon. Jenna Persons-Mulicka E. Bruce Strayhorn, Esq. Megan Strayhorn, Esq. Law-Related Education T. Rankin Terry Jr., JD, LLM Law Week Hon. Michael McHugh

LCBA Foundation Charity Golf Tournament Ryan Downey, Esq. Andrew Koehler, Esq. Mock Trial Maria Alaimo, Esq. Paralegal Annie Migliore, FRP Pro Bono Andrew Banyai, Esq. Peter Dennis, Esq. Mental Health Initiative Committee Holly Cosby, Esq. Diana “Dawn” Maselli, Esq.

PRACTICE SECTION CHAIRS Alternative Dispute Resolution Anne Dalton, Esq. Alexandra Kleinfeldt, Esq. Criminal Law Asma Anwar, Esq. Clark Cary, Esq. Elder Law Lisa Gelman, Esq. Blake Hampton, Esq. Family Law Katherine Camadeco, Esq. Magistrate Christopher Whitney General Civil and Business Litigation Joel Hyatt, Esq. Kara Jursinski Murphy, Esq.

Immigration Law Pablo Hurtado, Esq. Intellectual Property Law Mark Nieds, Esq. Land Use and Governmental Law Zachary Liebetreu, Esq. Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Peter Knize, JD, LLM Kenneth Kemp, Esq. Robbie Merriman II, Esq. Solo & Small Firm Conor Foley, Esq. Tort Litigation Diana “Dawn” Maselli, Esq.

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S LETTER

Cheers to a Whirlwind Year! The only print publication for legal professionals in Southwest Florida, Res Gestae is the official award-winning publication of the Lee County Bar Association, which has served citizens and the legal community since 1949.

STAFF Publisher Teri Hansen, APR

Advertising Account Executive Ed Kitsos

Co-Editors Jada Bigord Olivia Orth

Editors In Law Hon. Kathy Smith Lauren Baugh

Creative/Art Director Christi Finger

What a year this has been! Personally, it has been a major year, and I could not be happier! Thank you to all of you who sent cards, gifts, called, texted, emailed and called me to congratulate me on my nuptials – that meant so much to me! Professionally speaking, it has been a whirlwind. We have hosted many events, both virtually and in person, and like each year, we expanded our CLE database! I take great pride in ensuring that our membership has plenty of opportunities to network, learn and socialize with each other, our sponsors and our community partners. It has really been a pleasure to work alongside John Dommerich Jr., Esq. Each year, I work with a new president, and they each have their own way of operating. John has worked meticulously to ensure that each move the Lee County Bar Association (LCBA) makes is for the betterment of the organization as a whole and for those invested. In looking ahead, I am very excited to work with a very good friend of mine – and many of yours –, Dawn Maselli, Esq., who has some great things planned for the LCBA. I am not going to release her mission for the year yet. You will have to come to our Swearing-In Luncheon to hear about that, but it is going to be a great year for sure! I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for supporting me as your LCBA executive director and the LCBA! To each of our sponsors, members, speakers, vendors and anyone else that has been a part of our success, thank you from myself and from our executive council. We are truly thankful for each of you and look forward to working with and for each one of you again in 2027! I hope to see you all at our Holiday Party at the Edison Tavern on Dec. 3!

Lauren Baugh, Executive Director LBaugh@LeeBar.org | 239.334.0047 Ext. 102 8 LEEBAR.ORG

Graphic Designer Lynsey Gill

Contributing Writers

Contributing Photographers

Peter Antonelli, Esq. Lauren Baugh Katherine “Kati” Cook, Esq. John Dommerich Jr., Esq. Paul Giordano, Esq. Carlos Kelly, Esq. Henry Lee Paul, Esq. Lee Rendeiro, Esq. Kevin Sarlo, Esq. Kimberly D. Swanson, Esq. Iman Zekri, Esq.

Bruce Green Law Firm Carlos Kelly, Esq. Cynthia Duff Diamond & Lile FastTrax Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A. Jim Jett Photography Kimberly Swanson, Esq. LCBA Foundation Lee County Association for Women Lawyers Lee County Bar Association Lee County Legal Aid Society Lee Rendeiro, Esq. Letspeak Inc. Lusk, Drasites & Tolisano, P.A. Roetzel & Andress Ron Dente, Esq. City of Fort Myers Ryan Downey, Esq. SWFL Ballet SWFL Headshots, Yeslow, Koeppel & Anderson The Honorable Tara Paluck Twentieth Judicial Circuit

Res Gestae is an award-winning magazine published monthly by Priority Marketing in partnership with the Lee County Bar Association. All editorial, advertising and photos may be submitted for consideration through email to rgeditor@prioritymarketing.com. To advertise, contact Ed Kitsos at (239) 267-2638 or rgsales@prioritymarketing.com. For billing inquiries, call (239) 334-0047. We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information published, but we cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from omissions or errors. Opinions expressed by writers and advertisers are not necessarily opinions shared by the LCBA, Res Gestae or Priority Marketing. The LCBA does not endorse, favor or represent any particular firm, individual, or organization featured on the cover of the publication. Sponsored placements are indicated as such upon publication. Opportunities for inclusion in the magazine cover package are available to all members of the LCBA. For more information, please contact rgsales@prioritymarketing.com. Copyright©2026 Lee County Bar Association, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No portion of the publication may be reproduced in part or in whole without prior written permission from the Lee County Bar Association. To inquire about such permission, please contact Lee County Bar Association at info@leebar.org.

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SAVE THE DATE Plan ahead with these special LCBA events to note for your calendar. All dates are subject to change, and any updates will be posted on LeeBar.org.

NOVEMBER 2026 5 F amily Law Lunch & Learn

Location: LCJC CR-5B Time: Noon to 1 p.m. Speaker: Mary Evans, Esq., Mediator, Attorney and Author Topic: Parenting Plans: Tips and Tricks *See flyer on page 61 for full details!

11 Veterans Day - LCBA and courts closed 13 RPPTL Virtual Brown Bag

Location: Microsoft Teams Time: Noon to 1 p.m. Speaker: Phoebe Wise, Esq. Topic: The Power of AI: Additional Insured Coverage Beyond Construction

13 YLD Community Aid Project

Location: North Fort Myers Recreational Park Time: 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. *See flyer on page 44 for full details!

19 ADR Virtual Lunch & Learn

Location: Zoom Speaker: Henry Lee Paul, Esq. Topic: Ethics in Mediation

26-27 Thanksgiving - LCBA and courts closed

DECEMBER 2026

3 LCBA and YLD Holiday Party

Location: Edison Tavern Time: Noon to 1 p.m. *See flyer on page 62 for full details!

11 RPPTL Virtual Brown Bag

Location: Microsoft Teams Time: Noon to 1 p.m. Speaker: TBA Topic: TBA

24-25 Christmas - LCBA and courts closed 31 New Years Eve - LCBA and courts closed

JANUARY 2027

15 Swearing-In Ceremony

Location: The Old Lee County Courthouse, 2nd Floor, Chambers Room Time: Noon to 1 p.m. *See flyer on page 20 for full details!

28 Criminal Law CLE

*See flyer on page 63 for full details!

FEBRUARY 2027

2 & 5 Lee County Mock Trial

Location: School District of Lee County; Lee County Justice Center

MARCH 2027

13 Annual Bench Bar-B-Q & Shrimp Boil

Location: IMAG History & Science Center Time: Noon to 3 p.m. *See flyer on page 29 for full details!

10 LEEBAR.ORG

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NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2026 11

ETHICALLY SPEAKING

By Henry Lee Paul, Esq.

FLORIDA LAWYERS ASSISTANCE no longer affiliated with the Florida Bar

that it is in the process of hiring a clinical director. The identification of approved providers who make evaluations and recommendations as to whether a rehabilitation contract is necessary will be assisted by the hiring of a clinical director. Members who had been under a FLA Rehabilitation Contract have or will be asked to enter new contracts under substantially the same terms as their previous FLA contracts, once the Bar has reviewed the contracts and determined the appropriateness of the conditions. The Bar has contracted with the same drug testing company used by FLA to monitor compliance. The Bar has requested that any inquiries be directed to lrmonitoring@floridabar.org.

The Florida Bar and Florida Lawyers Assistance (FLA) have ended their long-time affiliation as of June 30, 2026. FLA was created pursuant to Bylaw 2-9.11 which was adopted in 1989. The FLA mission was to serve members of The Florida Bar who suffered from substance abuse and mental health issues. FLA offered members confidential assistance on a voluntary basis. In addition, FLA was also charged by The Florida Supreme Court to provide mandatory evaluation and monitoring of treatment for those lawyers with substance abuse or mental health disorders through the disciplinary system or pursuant to conditional admission.

Henry Lee Paul, Esq., is a former Bar Counsel who now represents lawyers in all matters before the Florida Bar and offers risk management services on all legal practice matters. He also represents applicants in all matters before The Florida Board of Bar Examiners.

12 LEEBAR.ORG

The Florida Bar has advised that FLA indicated to the Bar that it was unable to fulfill its contractual obligations and offered to assist the Bar in the transition of the monitoring function. The Florida Bar has since been hard at work trying to fulfill its mandate to facilitate treatment and rehabilitation of members. The Bar has now essentially assumed the function of FLA in-house. The Bar has indicated

Historically, FLA was recognized as a cuttingedge program in the evaluation and treatment of lawyers with substance abuse and mental health disorders. Michael Cohen was the longtime executive director who passed away in 2017. Cohen was widely respected by all involved in the disciplinary process. He was succeeded by his longtime assistant Judy Rushlow, who was also widely respected. Rushlow later retired. It was only in recent years, after the retirement of Rushlow, that FLA had become severely criticized. Bar defense counsel, in particular, alleged that FLA was essentially suffering systemic dysfunction. FLA sent a letter to program participants on Aug. 14, 2026, stating that their Rehabilitation Contracts were cancelled because the program had been defunded and that the FLA affiliation with the Bar had ended. The Bar does not agree with the representation that FLA had been defunded because it states that a budget had been approved to fund FLA for the 2026-27 fiscal year. Although The Florida Bar has been working hard to fulfill the mandate of Bylaw 2-9.11, it has a huge task in moving forward to fill the void. Although mental health and wellness has been a priority for the Bar, it has a long way to go to re-establish the trust and respect that was afforded to FLA when it was under the leadership of Michael Cohen.

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NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2026 13

GUEST COLUMN

By Kevin Sarlo, Esq.

TREAT AI LIKE YOUR SUMMER INTERN Not Your Managing Partner! Picture it: your law firm's new summer intern is a whiz-kid with research and drafting. She searches on Westlaw or Lexis Nexis at lightning speed. She compiles her findings in digestible memos with perfectly Bluebooked citations. She makes template pleadings using PDFs of filings by other attorneys in similar cases. Somehow, she can make all of your paragraph indents line up in Microsoft Word. All of her work product is crisp and professional. But would you include her work in a client pleading without checking the arguments and legal authorities cited first?

Kevin Sarlo, Esq., was born and raised in Fort Myers. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame before receiving his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. Kevin began his legal career as an assistant public defender in Florida’s Twentieth Judicial Circuit. Currently he practices elder law as a staff attorney with Lee County Legal Aid Society, Inc.

14 LEEBAR.ORG

According to the Florida Supreme Court, the correct answer is no. In May 2026, the Florida Supreme Court amended Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.515(d)(2) to require that any person signing a document filed with Florida's courts to represent that "the legal authorities identified exist and are accurately cited." How Florida lawyers should treat artificial intelligence (AI) is not unlike how they should treat this hypothetical summer intern. Whether portions of the document were drafted by a whiz-kid summer intern, generative

artificial intelligence or both, the signer of a legal pleading is responsible to the courts for its contents. Consequences for violating this rule could include sanctions such as striking of pleadings or even dismissal of a case. There is already a well-publicized incident out of New York where an attorney is facing sanctions for citing to cases that AI faked in a legal brief. No matter what tools a lawyer has at their disposal, they are ultimately responsible for the accuracy of their pleadings, and the only sure-fire way to ensure a pleading is accurate is independent verification of its authorities by the lawyer themselves. Despite speedy service and slick presentation, both AI and your new summer intern can be wrong about the law. Sometimes AI models struggle to tell the difference between knowledge and belief, causing inaccurate results known as "hallucinations." Your summer intern can misread and misinterpret primary sources, too. AI and your new intern can have different biases, based on either the information feed into their large language model (LLM) or their own lived experiences. AI and your intern can be too eager to please you and may only tell you what you

want to hear. A recent Stanford study concluded that AI chatbots are sycophantic, or overly agreeable, when users ask them about interpersonal problems. The problems that come with AI use are similar in kind to the problems that come with highly motivated and highly caffeinated summer employees, and so, too, are the advantages.

years-long consequences. We have seen a chatbot tell someone to take an extreme course of action like filing bankruptcy and then tell them to file under the wrong chapter. Other times, the chatbot acts like an echo chamber by telling someone what they want to hear, and that person becomes more fixed in their mistaken beliefs and unwilling to compromise.

For all the handwringing about AI, no one denies it has the potential to greatly improve productivity in the legal field. The tedious work once shunted to lower-level employees can now be completed by an AI assistant in a fraction of the time. When properly used and monitored, AI acts like an infusion of labor into a law firm, like an army of summer associates, and can greatly even the playing field for small legal aid firms like Lee County Legal Aid Society. In the world of legal aid, there is always more need than there are resources to go around, so any assistance with researching, drafting pleadings or preparing materials for cases is welcome. What AI cannot and should not try to replace is the independent, professional judgment of the lawyer who is ultimately responsible for the case.

AI can empower self-represented litigants and smaller firms, but that power must be used responsibly; otherwise, it will enable bad actors. We have seen self-represented litigants who use generative AI to produce and file frivolous pleadings for the purpose of delaying cases. We have even seen selfrepresented people who try to pass on AI generated fakes as evidence. If a member of the Florida Bar were to do either of these things, it would be a direct violation of the ethical rules, and they could lose their license to practice law.

At Lee County Legal Aid Society, we have seen the aftermath of people who consult AI chatbots instead of lawyers about their legal problems. We understand people do this because their problems are often personal and sometimes embarrassing, but a chatbot's answers can do more harm than good. Sometimes, the chatbot gives someone a summary of the law related to their legal problem but leaves out certain nuances which can have

AI may have closed the resource gap between small firms and larger ones, but it cannot replace the lawyer as the ultimate safeguard for the accuracy and integrity of our justice system. A lawyer is a counselor who asks probing questions and considers many different factors before recommending or discouraging an action. An AI chatbot is an answerer that is just responding to the prompt. NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2026 15

A YEAR IN Nearly 12 months ago, Lee County Bar Association (LCBA) president John Dommerich Jr., Esq., published his first letter in this publication with an inspiring emphasis on service. His words set a positive tone for the months ahead, and as the days, weeks and months unfolded, LCBA members proceeded to serve their clients, their community and each other in many inspiring ways. As we close the year, we look back with pride on their service and reflect on many treasured moments spent together, pursuing professional development, fun and fellowship through the LCBA. Here, we share just a few of special highlights we'll always remember from 2026.

Swearing-In of the 2026 LCBA, YLD and Foundation Boards

16 LEEBAR.ORG

LCBA's Criminal Law Mix and Mingle at City Tavern

Law Week Awards Luncheon

Investiture of U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin Huguelet

Annual Mock Trial Competition

Law Week Awards Luncheon

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2026 17

Annual Bench Bar-B-Q & Shrimp Boil

Annual Mock Trial Competition

Junk Food with the Judges

18 LEEBAR.ORG

Lee County Bar Association Foundation Annual Charity Golf Tournament

Criminal Law Happy Hour at The Corral

LCBA's Family Law Lunch & Learn focused on marital settlement agreements

A YEAR OF SERVICE. A YEAR OF CONNECTION. A YEAR TO REMEMBER. Investiture of The Honorable Rachael Spring Loukonen as Circuit Judge

CLE led by former CIA officer Marc Hurwitz of Crossroads Investigations

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2026 19

20 LEEBAR.ORG

LEGAL LENS

A TIME TO WINE & DINE In September, the LCBA Foundation's annual Wine Tasting event brought members together for a delicious evening hosted by FineMark Bank & Trust! Guests enjoyed a wonderful time together, and all funds raised will benefit the LCBA grant program. Special thanks to event sponsors Hahn Loeser Attorneys at Law, Pavese Law Firm, John Webb Legal Group P.L., Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A. and Leslea Ellis LLC.

3 4 1. Courtney Riley, Brian Riley and Kristalyn Atwood 2. Raychel Thomas and Ryan Downey 3. Kristianna Soto, Lauren Dunford, Asma Anwar, Travis Cary and Nicole Calderone 4. Gary Rhodes and Andrew Koehler

5. Benny Varughese, Sheeba Abraham and Gary Rhodes

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2026 21

THE CARLOS CHRONICLES

By Carlos A. Kelly, Esq.

Meet The Honorable TARA PASCOTTO PALUCK Judge Tara Pascotto Paluck was recently highlighted in The Florida Bar News for her selection as the 2026 county court recipient of the Chief Justice Award for Excellence. She was nominated for the award by Judge McHugh, and several other judges wrote the Chief Justice supporting Judge Paluck’s nomination. The Chief Justice Award for Excellence – the certificate of recognition and an accompanying U.S. flag – sits above her desk in chambers. Judge Paluck emphasized that the flag holds special meaning for her: it flew above the Florida Supreme Court on July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Judge Paluck was born in Manhattan, where her parents met, but grew up in Fort Myers. She graduated from The Canterbury School. Then, she graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor’s in American studies before earning her law degree from Creighton University School of Law. Judge Paluck returned to Fort Myers to practice law, first as an assistant state attorney for three years, handling mainly domestic violence, firearms and narcotics cases. She then practiced in-house with a large insurance company handling a variety of insurance defense claims. In 2004, Judge Paluck opened her own law office, mediating disputes and handling primarily family law matters. She ran for, and was elected, county court judge in 2006. The following questions and answers are lightly edited for continuity and readability.

22 LEEBAR.ORG

Q A &

With

TARA PASCOTTO PALUCK Q: W hen did you decide that you wanted to become a lawyer?

A: I decided to go to law school in my senior year at Notre Dame. I was pre-med when I started at Notre Dame, but after I encountered chemistry and calculus, I changed my focus, to the chagrin of my parents. My parents were both in medicine. My father was a cardiac surgeon and my mom was a nurse. My father was very unhappy with my decision at first, and even called my academic advisor, asking what was going on. I felt that American studies courses such as government, communications and English would be useful for the several different career paths that I was contemplating. By the time I graduated, I knew that a juris doctor would help with any career I chose. Interestingly, I ended up using those skills that I developed in my major as a lawyer and now as a judge. My father had come around; he wanted me to be independent, and he saw that my decision would help me reach that goal.

Q: What made you want to be a judge? A: If you had told me in high school that I would be a judge, I wouldn’t have believed you. After practicing law, serving on the bench seemed like a great way for me to give back to the community that raised me. A couple of my colleagues had become judges, and one of them, Judge McHugh, urged me to seek the bench as that year was an unprecedented year as the legislature had created several new judgeship positions. I decided to run for county court, because I could stay in Lee County and handle both civil and criminal matters. Being physically in Lee County was also more appealing when juggling the needs of my young family. Carlos A. Kelly, Esq., is a business and real estate trial lawyer at Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., where he clerked as a rising 3L in 1996 and has practiced since graduating from Emory Law School in 1997. He’s held a variety of leadership positions at Henderson Franklin, and he enjoys mentoring new lawyers.

Q: In the July/August edition of Res Gestae, you wrote “Tips for Zoom Court.” Were those tips based on actual incidents?

A: Yes, they were all true events. One lawyer was in a bathrobe. I have seen parties wearing bathrobes or tank tops. Two pro se parties were canoodling in bed. I can’t make up all the shenanigans that I have seen.

Q: What interests you off the bench? A: The beach. I’m an avid sheller. I’ve never found a Junonia, which is a deep-water shell that tumbles in after storms, but I am on the hunt.

Q: Have you ever seen a green flash? A: I think I have—it was very quick! Q: This interview will be published around the

holidays. Do you have any family holiday traditions, like the Feast of the Seven Fishes?

A: We do the Seven Fishes, but we also improvise. Sometimes, we count ceviche, crab dip and octopus. We also take part in our neighborhood’s luminary decorations with paper bags and candles.

Q: Is Die Hard the best Christmas movie, or Fred Claus?

A: No, it’s Elf. My husband and boys know almost every line. I like it, too.

Q: W hat is best act of professionalism that you’ve seen in court?

A: I appreciate when lawyers concede a point professionally and know when to move on. I also appreciate it when lawyers work with opposing counsel, such as when opposing counsel has a technology issue, and the other side helps fix the problem.

Judge Paluck with her family at Florida Southern College’s graduation, December 2025

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2026 23

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JUDICIAL SPOTLIGHT

THINGS YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME

u The Honorable Kristan Burns

WE WANT TO LEARN ABOUT YOU The Lee County Bar Association is seeking submissions for its bi-monthly "5 Things You Didn't Know About Me" feature, spotlighting members and judiciary across SWFL. Want to be featured? Visit Res-Gestae.Softr.App/Form or scan the QR code below to fill out five fun facts about yourself for the chance to be included!

Which sports team do you root for and why? I will always root for the Florida State Seminoles. I am a proud alumna of FSU, having earned both my bachelor's and master's degrees there. Go 'Noles! I also have a place in my heart for the University of New Mexico (my law school alma mater) Lobos! Have you ever met someone famous, like a celebrity or famous chef? I once met Pat Sajak and Vanna White when I appeared as a contestant on Wheel of Fortune. Yes, you read that right. What is your favorite hobby, and why do you like it? I love to fish with my family. I enjoy the peacefulness of sitting still in my thoughts, disconnected from technology. I also enjoy the occasional excitement when one of us actually catches something! What attracted you to live and work SWFL? I am a born and raised Southwest Floridian. I was born at Lee Memorial Hospital right here in Lee County, and I grew up in neighboring Charlotte County. I love Southwest Florida for its beautiful landscape, Southern hospitality, diverse population and community – our people take care of each other. What advice would you give your younger self about law school, your legal career, work/life balance, etc.? The work will never be "done." We do important work, hard work – all of us... judges, attorneys, paralegals, clerical staff, court staff and all those who interact with the legal profession. It is so important to remember to take care of ourselves, our homes and our families. You cannot pour from an empty cup. NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2026 25

GUEST COLUMN

By Kimberly D. Swanson, Esq.

WITNESS DISCLOSURE A N D T H E N E W R E A L I T Y O F F LO R I DA L I T I G AT I O N

For more than 40 years, Florida trial lawyers dealing with a late-disclosed witness or expert opinion have instinctively turned to Binger v. King Pest Control, 401 So. 2d 1310 (Fla. 1981). The familiar argument was that even if a disclosure deadline had been missed, exclusion was not appropriate unless the opposing party could demonstrate actual prejudice. That framework became deeply embedded in Florida trial practice. Recent decisions from the Sixth District Court of Appeal, however, have significantly changed the analysis, at least for now.

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When those decisions are considered alongside the Florida Supreme Court’s recent amendments to the Rules of Civil Procedure and a new Second District opinion addressing date-specific court deadlines, the practical message for lawyers is increasingly clear: case-management deadlines must be taken seriously, and practitioners should not assume that a missed deadline can later be excused by arguing that no one was harmed.

Richardson is a useful reminder that a broad and general disclosure does not justify the admission of every opinion a witness may later offer. Disclosing someone as a treating physician does not authorize the physician to offer litigationdriven opinions that appear for the first time at trial. A few months later, the Sixth District went considerably further.

What Binger Required

The landscape shifted more dramatically in Crecelius v. Rizzitano, 430 So. 3d 268 (Fla. 6th DCA 2026). Sitting en banc, the Sixth District considered whether a trial court could exclude late-disclosed experts without first finding that the opposing party had been prejudiced. The court concluded that it could.

Binger arose from a pretrial order requiring the parties to exchange witness lists before trial. The plaintiffs failed to identify an expert they later sought to call for impeachment. In resolving the resulting dispute, the Florida Supreme Court held that a pretrial order requiring witness disclosure requires the parties to identify all witnesses they reasonably anticipate calling, including substantive, corroborative, impeachment and rebuttal witnesses. The Court also explained that a trial judge has discretion to exclude an undisclosed witness, but that discretion “should be guided largely” by whether use of the witness would prejudice the opposing party. Importantly, the Court defined prejudice as “surprise in fact,” rather than merely the fact that the testimony was damaging. Other considerations included whether the prejudice could be cured, whether the nondisclosure was intentional or in bad faith and whether allowing the testimony would disrupt the orderly trial of the case. Over time, that prejudice analysis became the familiar standard applied when courts considered the consequences of a late disclosure. A party who missed a witness or expert deadline often still had an argument that exclusion was unwarranted because the other side knew of the witness, had an opportunity to take a deposition, could respond with its own evidence or otherwise had not suffered meaningful surprise. Labels No Longer Matter and Surprise Does Matter The Sixth District followed that traditional approach in Richardson v. Tenery, 422 So. 3d 1216 (Fla. 6th DCA 2025). There, a physician disclosed as a treating physician and nonretained expert offered detailed opinions concerning future medical treatment and costs that had not previously been disclosed. The Sixth District concluded that the substance of the testimony – not the label placed on the witness – made it expert testimony and held that the defense was prejudiced because it had not been given a fair opportunity to prepare for cross-examination or obtain rebuttal evidence. The resulting judgment was reversed for a new trial on future damages.

Prejudice is No Longer Required Before Exclusion

In the majority’s view, Binger requires consideration of prejudice when a court is deciding whether to allow undisclosed testimony, but it does not require a finding of prejudice before a court enforces its own case-management order by excluding evidence disclosed after the deadline. The court emphasized that the authority to establish a deadline necessarily includes the authority to enforce it; otherwise, “there is really no deadline at all.” The Sixth District ultimately held that “[w]here a party fails to meet a disclosure deadline set forth in a case management order, the trial court may strictly enforce the order and exclude the undisclosed or late-disclosed evidence.” The Same Rule Applies to an Expert’s Changed Opinion The Sixth District reinforced that approach shortly afterward in Wal-Mart Stores East, L.P. v. Wynn, 51 Fla. L. Weekly D529 (Fla. 6th DCA Mar. 20, 2026). There, the expert himself had been timely disclosed, but shortly before trial he offered a new causation opinion after reviewing additional medical records. The case-management order required changes in expert opinions or their bases to be disclosed by a specified deadline, and the new opinion was not timely disclosed. The trial court excluded it, and the Sixth District affirmed under Crecelius. Of particular importance to practitioners, the Sixth District noted that Wal-Mart could have moved to extend the disclosure deadline after receiving the additional medical records. Had it done so, the trial court could have considered the circumstances and granted appropriate relief. Instead, Wal-Mart allowed the deadline to pass and attempted to defend the late disclosure afterward. That distinction is critical. Under the Sixth District’s present approach, the safer course is to seek relief before the deadline expires. If late discovery, a difficult expert, newly produced records or some other circumstance jeopardizes timely compliance, the issue should be brought to the trial court’s attention promptly rather than saved for an evidentiary fight on the eve of trial. NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2026 27

The Supreme Court Has Taken the Question The law is still developing, however, and practitioners should continue watching it closely. In Wynn, the Sixth District certified direct conflict with decisions from other districts holding that Binger requires a prejudice determination before a late-disclosed expert opinion may be excluded. The Florida Supreme Court has accepted review, which means the Sixth District’s no-prejudice approach may ultimately be affirmed, narrowed or rejected. There is a substantial debate over what Binger actually held. Judge Smith, concurring only in the result in Crecelius, argued that Binger addressed both admission and exclusion and that its prejudice analysis should apply to both. At the same time, he acknowledged that the Florida Supreme Court’s 2025 amendments to the civil rules materially strengthened trial courts’ authority to strictly enforce case-management deadlines going forward. The Rules Are Pointing the Same Direction as the Sixth DCA The rule amendments are an important part of the larger picture. Effective Jan. 1, 2025, Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.200 was amended to provide expressly that “[d]eadlines in a case management order must be strictly enforced unless changed by court order.” The amended rules reflect a broader effort by the Florida Supreme Court to move civil cases toward resolution through active judicial management and meaningful adherence to deadlines. Crecelius emphasized that the new framework is difficult to reconcile with a system in which missed deadlines routinely become subject to afterthe-fact prejudice arguments. Even if the Supreme Court ultimately disagrees with the Sixth District’s interpretation of Binger, the larger trend toward stricter case management is unlikely to disappear. As Judge Gooden put it in a recent Third District concurrence, "[a] judge cannot simultaneously 'strictly enforce' the discovery deadlines, as the Rules now demand, while also applying a prejudice analysis, that functionally excuses the violation of that very deadline." Marine Design Dynamics, Inc. v. All City Constr. Servs., LLC, 426 So. 3d 600, 606 (Fla. 3d DCA 2025) (Gooden, J., concurring). Both Crecelius and Wynn involved orders entered under the older version of rule 1.200. For cases managed under the current rule, the argument for strict enforcement is stronger still. The Weekend Trap—Monday Can Be Too Late A recent Second District opinion adds another practical wrinkle. In FLN Properties, LLC v. First Stop Food Mart, Inc., 51 Fla. L. Weekly D1459 (Fla. 2d DCA July 22, 2026), a court order required a commercial tenant to deposit rent into the court registry on the first day of each month. June 1 fell 28 LEEBAR.ORG

on a Sunday. The tenant paid the following Monday, June 2, believing that Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.514 extended the deadline to the next business day. The Second District disagreed. It explained that Rule 2.514 applies when calculating a “period of time,” but not necessarily when a court order specifies a particular date. The order at issue established “a date, not a period of time,” so the weekend extension did not apply. That distinction matters in everyday civil practice because casemanagement orders frequently contain specific calendar dates rather than deadlines expressed as a number of days. For example, a Twentieth Circuit case-management plan issued in one of my pending cases sets fact-witness disclosure for Sunday, August 16, 2026; completion of fact and expert discovery for Saturday, September 5, 2026; and filing of witness and exhibit lists for Sunday, November 14, 2026. After FLN Properties, lawyers should not casually assume that a date-specific weekend deadline automatically rolls to Monday. The prudent practice is to calendar the preceding business day and complete the required filing or disclosure before the weekend begins. The Takeaway Taken together, these developments should cause litigators and their staff to take a fresh look at how deadlines are calendared and managed. Witness disclosures should identify not only the witnesses themselves but, where required, the substance of expert opinions. Changes in expert testimony should be disclosed promptly. Case-management orders should be reviewed as soon as they are entered, and every specific date should be checked against weekends and holidays. Most importantly, if circumstances make compliance impossible or impractical, relief should be sought before the deadline passes rather than after. The Florida Supreme Court’s review of Wynn may alter the Sixth District’s current no-prejudice rule, and practitioners should watch that case closely. For now, however, Crecelius and Wynn permit trial courts in the Sixth District to strictly enforce disclosure deadlines without first finding prejudice. Combined with Florida’s broader move toward active case management and the Second District’s warning in FLN Properties that a date-specific deadline means what it says, the safest assumption is a simple one: deadlines mean deadlines, and all practitioners should be following the Rules and Court Orders.

Kimberly D. Swanson, Esq., is a partner and board-certified business litigation lawyer at Cheffy Passidomo, P.A. Her practice focuses on business, construction and real property litigation, as well as fiduciary litigation and landlord/tenant matters.

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2026 29

PRACTICE SECTION

By Lee Rendeiro, Esq.

Are employees giving away your trade to AI platforms?

Generative AI is now a routine workplace tool. Employees use it to summarize documents, refine presentations, troubleshoot code, prepare customer communications, and analyze business problems. However, a helpful prompt can transmit valuable company information to an external platform whose retention, security, and contractual terms may not have been reviewed or approved by the business. The trade secret concern is not limited to public disclosure. Federal and Florida law protect information that derives independent economic value from not being generally known or readily ascertainable, and that is subject to reasonable measures to maintain its secrecy (18 U.S.C. § 1839; Fla. Stat. § 688.002). AI use is not inherently inconsistent with trade secret protection; the question is whether the company has controls proportionate to the information and use case. Unrestricted use of unapproved or inadequately controlled AI tools may later be cited as evidence that a business did not adequately protect its confidential information.

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The Risk Behind an Innocent Prompt Employees may paste customer lists, pricing, financial data, contracts, product plans, internal communications, source code, credentials, system architecture, or security vulnerabilities into AI tools to obtain a faster answer. That sends information to an outside service provider. It may be an unauthorized disclosure unless the business has approved the platform and adopted appropriate contractual and technical controls. Risks vary by provider, account type, settings and contract. Prompts, files and outputs may be retained, security-reviewed, stored with sub-processors or subject to product-improvement or model-training permissions. Standard terms may offer confidentiality protections weaker than the company’s NDAs, customer agreements, licenses or data-processing commitments.

Common Trouble Spots Developers may expose proprietary code, algorithms, API keys or system architecture while seeking debugging assistance. Product teams may disclose unfiled inventions while requesting design or patentability input. If information

becomes public, it may affect patent strategy, particularly outside the United States. Uploading attorney communications, litigation strategy, investigation materials or draft filings can create privilege and work-product risks. Waiver is fact-specific, not automatic. Sharing personal, financial, health or other regulated information may also trigger contractual, privacy, cybersecurity or breach-response obligations. The risk is often hidden: personal accounts, browser extensions, unofficial plug-ins, meeting bots and AI features embedded in email, CRM, collaboration, videoconferencing or coding tools may receive more information than employees realize.

Practical Controls Businesses should approve specific tools and configurations, prohibit defined categories of sensitive data in unapproved systems, and require review for higher-risk uses.

Vendor diligence should address permitted use, training restrictions, confidentiality, security, retention, deletion, sub-processors, incident notice and data location. Policies and training should cover prompts, uploads, AI-generated output, plug-ins, meeting assistants and personal accounts. Where possible, employees should use redacted, de-identified, synthetic or nonproduction material. Controls should be documented and enforced through access limits, appropriate audit capabilities, offboarding and an incident-response process. AI can deliver real efficiency. Businesses should inventory the AI tools employees already use, identify the data they can access and align policy, contracts, technical settings and training with the resulting risk.

Lee G. Rendeiro, Esq. is a Florida attorney providing strategic counsel and eﬀective advocacy in intellectual property, business, real estate, construction, estate and complex civil litigation matters. With a professional background that spans engineering, innovation, business and law, he oﬀers clients a unique combination of technical insight, commercial awareness and legal experience. This multidisciplinary perspective allows him to develop practical solutions to complex legal issues while helping clients protect their businesses, investments, intellectual property and personal interests.

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NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2026 33

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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS

Please join the Lee County Bar Association in welcoming these newest additions to our membership rolls. BRENDA ALPIZAR, ESQ. Office of the Public Defender

LETICIA LOW, ESQ. Roetzel & Andres LLP

ERIK STOCKS, ESQ. Jones, Haber & Rollings

JOSEPH BOOTKA, ESQ. Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A.

KATE MCQUAGGE, ESQ. Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A.

SAMANTHA STOKVIS, ESQ. Schutt Law Firm, PA

JULIANA CROSBY, ESQ. State Attorney's Office

RANDALL SPIVEY, ESQ. Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

ALEJANDRO ULBRICH, ESQ. State Attorney's Office

ALEXANDER DONCEA, ESQ. Office of the Public Defender CORWIN HOOLEY, ESQ. Office of the Public Defender MATTHEW LECLAIR, ESQ. State Attorney's Office

CHRISTOPHER STIPEK, ESQ. Light Path Law, P.A. ERIK STOCKS, ESQ. Jones, Haber & Rollings

TARYN VAUGHN, ESQ. Pavese Law Firm QUINTEN ZAK, ESQ. Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A.

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2026 35

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LEGAL LENS

WE LUNCHED, WE LEARNED LCBA members gathered at the Lee County Justice Center in August for the annual State of the Florida Bar Lunch & Learn, where Paige Greenlee, Esq., president-elect designate of The Florida Bar shared her story and mission. Thank you to everyone who attended and extended a warm welcome to President-Elect Greenlee!

7 1. Florida Bar President-Elect Paige Greenlee 2. Paige Greenlee and John Dommerich Jr. 3. Ryan Downey, Alessia Lofton, Kristianna Soto and Blake Rizzolo 4. Abe Thornburg, Sara Miller and Ryan Downey 5. Jacqueline Bruehl, Sean Friend and Beth Hendry

6. Shannon Doolity, Francine Donnorummo, State Attorney Amira Fox and John Dommerich Jr. 7. Vera Bergermann and Magistrate Christopher Whitney 8. Alessia Lofton, Andrew Banyai, Kristianna Soto and Judge Josephine Gagliardi 9. Magistrate Christopher Whitney and Judge Gilberto Perez 10. Danielle O'Halloran, Judge Gilberto Perez and Francine Donnorummo 11. Carlos Kelly, Veronica Batt and John Agnew

Jim jett photography

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YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION

By Katherine “Kati” Cook, Esq., and Iman Zekri, Esq.

PASSING THE YLD TORCH As our 2026 YLD president passes the torch to a new president-elect, both leaders share their perspectives about recent happenings and upcoming plans for the LCBA's Young Lawyers Division (YLD). A Year in Review

Katherine “Kati” Cook, Esq., is an employment-law attorney at Boy Agnew Potanovic. She is also the 2026 YLD president, a Florida Super Lawyers® Rising Star and a member of The Florida Bar’s labor and employment law section. Cook earned her undergraduate degree from Florida Gulf Coast University and graduated first in her class from Ave Maria School of Law.

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As president of the YLD, 2026 flew by! It was a great honor and a lot of fun to serve, and I am incredibly grateful to have worked alongside such a supportive and engaged board, as well as our wonderful president-elect, Iman Zekri, Esq. I am so excited for Iman to take over as president, and I know she will do incredible things in 2027. Looking back, the YLD had a great year filled with longstanding traditions, professional development, community involvement and plenty of opportunities for our board to connect and have fun together. We kicked off the year with a mini board retreat at 10 Twenty-Five in downtown Fort Myers. The entire board attended, and we spent the afternoon getting to know one

another better while discussing many of the issues facing young lawyers today. In May, we hosted a CLE with a financial expert, providing practical guidance for our members. We also held another board retreat in September, which included an escape room challenge that was generously sponsored by Pavese Law Firm. Of course, we continued some of our favorite YLD traditions, including Burritos with the Bench and Junk Food with the Judges, both of which had great turnout. We are keeping tradition with our November community service project with Community Cooperative, where we will have the opportunity to give back and help feed those in need. Overall, it was a wonderful year of connection, service and friendship. I am proud of what our board accomplished and excited to see what 2027 brings. The YLD is in great hands with Iman!

The Year Ahead As we look ahead to 2027, I am thrilled to serve as president of YLD. I am ready to build on the work of the leaders who came before me, like Kati, while keeping up the traditions that make the YLD such a great part of the Lee County legal community. That includes continuing with our oldies but goodies, including events like Burritos with the Bench and Junk Food with the Judges, while creating new opportunities for young lawyers to connect, learn and get involved. Community service will also remain an important part of the year. We will be bringing back our Wills for Vets project, where attorneys volunteer their time to provide pro bono estate planning services to veterans in our community. If you practice estate planning and would like to participate, keep an eye out for information about the project and consider setting aside some time to lend your expertise. I also hope to create opportunities for young lawyers to learn and grow through CLE offerings. I am exploring programming on topics that are

increasingly relevant to the current practice of law, including artificial intelligence (AI), professionalism and ethics, along with the dayto-day issues young attorneys encounter early in their careers. My theme for 2027 is Connect, Contribute and Cultivate. I intentionally chose those three words because they reflect what I hope the YLD can offer its members. Connection means creating opportunities to meet colleagues, learn from the judiciary and find a sense of community within the profession. Contribution means giving back through community service, pro bono work and participation in our local bar. Cultivation means developing the skills and confidence that help us grow as young lawyers. Most importantly, I want the YLD to feel welcoming. If you have been involved for years, I hope you will continue to be part of it. If you have never attended an event, come join us. If you have an idea for a program or community project, please reach out to me. I hope 2027 is a year where more young attorneys find their place in our Lee County legal community.

Iman Zekri, Esq., is an appellate and family law attorney at Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., and is YLD presidentelect. She also serves as a governor of The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors, representing the 20th Judicial Circuit.

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2026 39

ENTERTAINMENT FEATURE

By Carlos A. Kelly, Esq.

START YOUR ENGINES!

The following questions and answers have been edited for continuity and readability.

Carlos A. Kelly, Esq., is a business and real estate trial lawyer at Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., where he clerked as a rising 3L in 1996 and has practiced since graduating from Emory Law School in 1997. He’s held a variety of leadership positions at Henderson Franklin, and he enjoys mentoring new lawyers.

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Do you like to go fast, but as a law-abiding person find yourself going fast only in your daydreams? There’s an app for that… FastTrax Entertainment is where you can let your inner Mario Andretti run wild in high-speed go-karts.

even watch the action from the second-floor deck while you enjoy a meal from its in-house restaurant.

What is FastTrax?

“The Ultimate Qualifier, which is a three-tofour-hour experience,” Pat Ciniello says. It offers everything from starter races and arcade games to driving tips and intermediate races. Osborn states that the racing experience is what guests revel in the most.

Operator Pat Ciniello describes it as “a multiattraction gaming, simulator, food and beverage entertainment center,” while Lisa Ciniello, also an operator, considers it "a high-energy destination." FastTrax associate Eric Osborn's definition is straight to the point: "[it's] a place that has something for everybody." “We were going to have one track on one level, but we saw the popularity of multiple levels and multiple tracks," said Pat Ciniello. "We now have a big track for avid racers. We have some people racing ten times a night.” FastTrax was designed by 360 Karting and has Florida’s largest indoor kart track – you can

What is the best way to experience Fast Trax?

What’s next for FastTrax? “You never know what’s next," says Pat Ciniello. "We’re always working at our facilities to improve them. Look for some new bowling and for some new simulator experiences.” The December holidays are special at FastTrax, with group functions available for booking, whether business or family. Your author enjoyed FastTrax with a group of friends, and it went by… FAST!

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Raisingthe Barre

My daughter’s passion for ballet and her drive to be a better dancer has been reignited.

SWFL Ballet has been the best experience my two daughters are having. They have learned so much.

Since opening in Southwest Florida in 2024, SWFL Ballet has provided students and families with exceptional classical ballet training. The nonprofit organization’s mission is to help young people pursue their passion for dance while developing discipline, confidence, creativity, physical strength and a lifelong appreciation for the arts. SWFL Ballet’s program follows the Vaganova Method, which emphasizes proper technique, musicality, artistry, discipline and dancer development. Beyond the four walls of a dance studio, SWFL Ballet helps its students build perseverance, teamwork, focus, commitment, self-confidence and respect, skills that are critical not just in the art of dance, but throughout life. SWFL Ballet serves students of varying ages and experience levels through

pre-ballet, pointe, pas de deux, adult ballet, variations, competition training and individualized coaching. Students also gain experience through live performances and participation in the Miami International Ballet Competition. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, SWFL Ballet relies on tuition, performances, sponsorships and donations. SWFL Ballet strives to ensure that students of all income levels can receive high-quality ballet education, and donations and sponsors make that mission possible. Supporting SWFL Ballet is an investment in Southwest Florida’s youth, providing opportunities for students to grow as dancers and individuals while developing skills that will serve them throughout their lives. To donate, visit SWFLBallet.com/ Home/Donate.

SWFLBallet.com | 13720 Jetport Commerce Parkway #3, Fort Myers, FL 33913 | 239.790.7688 NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2026 41

PRACTICE SECTION

By Paul Giordano, Esq., and Peter Antonelli, Esq.

Bankruptcies

Rise

are on the

Recent statistics from the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida show a significant increase in bankruptcy activity. Through August 2026, the District recorded 21,249 filings, compared to 16,905 during the same period in 2025, an increase of approximately 25.7%. The Tampa Division accounted for the largest share, with 8,009 filings. The Fort Myers Division recorded 2,236 filings, up approximately 29% from 1,733 in 2025.

With more than two decades of experience, Paul A. Giordano, Esq., and Peter Antonelli, Esq., are trusted advisors in bankruptcy, creditors’ rights restructurings and commercial litigation. They represent lenders, creditors, trustees and businesses in complex Chapter 7, 11, and 13 matters, insolvency litigation, foreclosures, receiverships, workouts and cross-border proceedings across Florida and beyond.

Those statistics reflect what we are seeing in practice. Over the past year, we have observed an appreciable increase in corporate and personal bankruptcy filings throughout Southwest Florida. These cases include reorganizations and liquidations involving debtors from Fort Myers and Cape Coral and north through Sarasota, St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay region. The increase is not limited to Florida. Nationwide bankruptcy filings rose 12.2% during the 12-month period ending June 30, 2026, increasing from 542,529 to 608,511 cases. Business filings rose 16.9%, from 23,043 to 26,941, while nonbusiness filings rose 12%, from 519,486 to 581,570. During that same period, filings in the Middle District increased 26.1%, more than twice the national rate. No single source identifies one definitive cause. The increase may instead reflect the combined effects of substantial household debt, consumer delinquencies, borrowing costs, housing expenses and changing employment conditions. National household debt stood at approximately $18.8 trillion at the end of the second quarter of 2026. Credit-card balances saw an increase of $21 billion during the quarter to approximately

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$1.26 trillion, and there was a $28 billion increase in auto-loan balances to approximately $1.71 trillion. Additionally, delinquency was the cause of about 4.7% of outstanding household debt, and transitions into early delinquency increased slightly for auto loans and mortgages. Per capita, Florida households carried approximately $62,800 in debt during the second quarter of 2026, including approximately $43,000 in mortgage debt, $6,690 in auto-loan debt and $4,920 in credit-card debt. Florida’s average auto-loan and credit-card balances exceeded the corresponding national averages of $5,790 and $4,270. For businesses, financial pressure may arise from several sources operating at once, including reduced revenue, higher debt-service obligations, limited access to affordable refinancing and continuing rent, payroll, insurance and other operating expenses. These pressures can be especially difficult for closely held businesses with limited cash reserves or loans approaching maturity. Although these conditions may contribute to financial distress, the available data do not establish them as direct causes of the increase in Florida bankruptcy filings. For creditors, a bankruptcy filing triggers deadlines and procedural requirements that can materially affect recoveries. Secured lenders, trade creditors, landlords, guarantors and other stakeholders should promptly evaluate each filing and act to preserve their rights. Early consultation with experienced bankruptcy counsel can help creditors comply with deadlines, pursue available remedies and avoid unintended waivers.

MEET YOUR NEW LRS COORDINATOR

THINGS YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME

u Melanie Persaud

Which sports team do you root for and why? The Blue Jays because my son plays for the Blue Jays little league team. What is your greatest professional or academic accomplishment thus far in your career? I have earned my black belt in design for Six Sigma with General Motors during my mechanical engineering career. What attracted you to live and work in SWFL? My husband's family has been here for over 30+ years, so getting together with them and seeing the beautiful skies, sunsets and boating are my favorite parts of living here in SWFL. Do you have a favorite holiday? Why? I love Thanksgiving. Our son was born on Thanksgiving by surprise, and it is a time of the year that we get to be around loved ones and celebrating what we are thankful for. What’s your mode of transportation and why? I drive a Tesla Model Y. It's electric, so no having to go to gas stations, and it's fast and efficient. I am able to navigate the road and get around other cars without having hesitation of a delay in vehicle engines. I don't typically drive fast – I just love that I have quicker control over my driving and response time to other vehicles around me. I love the safety ratings in the vehicle – it's safe for my family. The features are amazing: smooth, quiet, keyless, fun and makes driving more enjoyable than stressful. NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2026 43

WILL WORK FOR SOLUTIONS. Marketing That Puts You First.

239.267.2638 prioritymarketing.com Fort Myers & Naples

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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT Upchurch Watson White & Max MEDIATION GROUP

is proud to announce

Patricia D. Crauwels has joined its panel of neutrals.

Pat Crauwels

pcrauwels@uww-adr.com

» 40+ years of civil litigation experience, with more than 200 jury trials. Board Certified in Civil Trial Law for more than 25 years. » Extensive plaintiff and defense experience in personal injury, wrongful death, professional malpractice and construction defect matters. » Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers. » Member, ABOTA and ISOB.

THINGS YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME

u Kate McQuagge, Esq.

MEDIATION | ARBITRATION | E-DISCOVERY | SPECIAL MASTERS CALL TOLL FREE: 800-264-2622 READ MORE & SCHEDULE: WWW.UWW-ADR.COM linkedin.com/company/upchurch-watson-white-&-max

@UWWMmediation

Which sports team do you root for and why? The Florida State Seminoles! I root for them because that is where I went to undergrad. What is your favorite hobby, and why do you like it? My favorite hobby is baking. In my opinion, baking is therapeutic and I get to share delicious treats with my family and friends. What attracted you to live and work in SWFL? I was born and raised in SWFL. What I love most about Fort Myers is its proximity to the water. I love to be on the water, whether I'm on a boat or on the beach. What is your favorite family tradition and why? My favorite family tradition is our meal on Christmas Eve. I love to cook and I always try to make a unique meal that night. My mom and grandma always help me cook, so we get to spend quality time together. Do you have a favorite holiday? Why? My favorite holiday is New Years Eve. I love this holiday because I usually host a party for my friends and we all ring in the new year together. NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2026 45

100 CLUB

IS YOUR FIRM PART OF THE 100 CLUB? Any firm with two or more attorneys and 100% membership in LCBA qualifies. If you feel your firm is eligible, email a listing of your attorneys to admin@leebar.org, and we will let you know. Absolute Law, P.A. All Injuries Law Aloia Roland Lubell, PLLC. Arend & Sisk, P.A. Associates & Bruce L. Scheiner, P.A. Boy Agnew Potanovic, PLLC Boyle, Leonard & Anderson, P.A. Burandt, Adamski, Feichthaler & Sanchez, PLLC Calvo & Calvo, Attorneys at Law City of Fort Myers Attorney’s Office Freidin & Inglis, P.A. Garvin Injury Law Goldberg, Noone, Abraham Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice, Purtz, Smith & Smith GrayRobinson, P.A. Hahn, Loeser & Parks, LLP

Hampton Law Holz Family Law John Webb Legal Group, P.L. Kagan Law Firm Kemp & Mace, P.A. Knott Ebelini Hart Law Office of Maria R. Alaimo, LLC Law Offices of Dennis L. Webb, P.A. Law Offices of Michael M. Raheb, Criminal Lawyer Law Offices of Scott T. Moorey Lee County Legal Aid Society, Inc. Linde Law Group Men’s Rights Law Firm Office of the City Attorney (Cape Coral) Osterhout & McKinney, P.A. Patrone Bentley Law Group Pavese Law Firm

Pope Mazzara & Menendez, PLLC Robert Harris Law Firm Roetzel & Andress, L.P.A. Scarmozzino/King Trial Lawyers Schoenfeld, Kyle & Associates LLP Sheldon E. Finman, P.A. Sheppard Law Firm Simmons & Cook, PLLC Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. Strayhorn & Persons-Mulicka School District of Lee County Viles & Beckman, LLC Wilbur Smith, LLC Yeslow, Koeppel & Anderson ZinnLaw, PLLC

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Ryan Downey, Esq. Mark Drasties, Esq. Gordon Duncan, Esq. Lance Dunford, Esq. Mark Ebelini, Esq. Thomas Eckerty, Esq. Wesley Edwards, Esq. Jonathan "JC" Elgin, Esq. Lynn Emerson, Esq. Andrew Epstein, Esq. Harold Eskin, Esq. Kelly Fayer, Esq. Eric Feichthaler, Esq. Julia Finman, Esq. Sheldon Finman, Esq. Donnna Flammang, Esq. Eric Fluharty, Esq. Conor Foley, Esq. Sarah Fougere, Esq. Roy Foxall, Esq. Howard Freidin, Esq. Herbert Fried, Esq. Wayne Frohlich, Esq. Casey Gartland, Esq. Leland Garvin, Esq. Heath Gelman, Esq. Steven Gendreau, Esq. Lisa George, Esq. George Gift, Esq. Malcam Godwin, Esq. James Goetz, Esq. Scot Goldberg, Esq. Logan Goldberg, Esq. Amelia Green, Esq. Bruce Green, Esq. Brian Greenberg, Esq. George Griffin, Esq. Thomas Gunderson, Esq. Jason Gunter, Esq. Samuel Hagan, Esq. Blake Hampton, Esq. Daniel Hanuka, Esq. Robert Harris, Esq. Simon Harrison, Esq. Thomas Hart, Esq. Stacy Haverfield, Esq. Hon. Hugh Hayes, Esq. Michael Haymans, Esq. Matthew Heider, Esq. Joan Henry, Esq. Craig Hersch, Esq. Scott Hertz, Esq. Michael Hill, Esq. Jason Himschoot, Esq. Emily Hogentogler, Esq. David Holley, Esq. Frank Holley III, Esq. Christina Holly, Esq. Rana Holz, Esq. Dominika Honisch, Esq. Michael Hornung, Esq. Erin Hughes, Esq. Jeffrey Hurcomb, Esq. Richard Inglis, Esq. Derrick Isaac, Esq. Donald Isaac, Esq. Wess Jacobs, Esq. Richard Johnston Jr., Esq. Kara Jursinski-Murphy, Esq. Kevin Jursinski, Esq. Christopher Kagan, Esq. Elizabeth Kagan, Esq. Peter Kamm, Esq. Luke Kane, Esq. Vamsikrishna Karanam, Esq. Colby Keefe, Esq. Anna Kegelmeyer, Esq.

Carlos Kelly, Esq. Kenneth Kemp II, Esq. Jason King, Esq. D. Hugh Kinsey, Esq. Alexandra Kleinfeldt, Esq. Asher Knipe, Esq. Peter Knize, JD George Knott, Esq. Steve Koeppel, Esq. Anthony Kolenc, Esq. Jane Lane, Esq. David Ledermann, Esq. Henry Lee Paul, Esq. Michael Lehnert, Esq. Vee Leonard, Esq. Michael Leonard, Esq. Laird Lile, Esq. Evan Lubell, Esq. Benjamin Lusk, Esq. T. Brandon Mace, Esq. Joseph Madden, Esq. Philip Maiorca, Esq. C Richard Mancini, Esq. Ian Mann, Esq. Jonathan Martin, Esq. Sabrina Martinez, Esq. Diana "Dawn" Maselli, Esq. Jason Maughan, Esq. Justin Mazzara, Esq. Stephen McCann, Esq. Eve McClurg, Esq. Lance McKinney, Esq. Patrick McLain, Esq. Anthony Melchiorre, Esq. Alexander Menedez, Esq. William Merchant, Esq. Dominik Mezzoline, Esq. Jason Mikes, Esq. John Miller III, Esq. Elaine Minnis, Esq. M. Denise Molina-Vel Scott Moorey, Esq. Jack Morgan, Esq. Michael Mummert, Esq. Terry Nelson, Esq. John Noland, Esq. Michael Noone, Esq. Joseph North Jr., Esq. Joseph North, Esq. Monique Nunez, Esq. Aaron O'Brien, Esq. Christina O'Brien, Esq. Jody O'Konski, Esq. Geraldo Olivo III, Esq. Genet Pally, Esq. Justin Patak, Esq. Andre Patrone, Esq. William Pearson, Esq. Jeffry Perlow, Esq. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, Esq. James Pilon, Esq. Rochelle Pitts, Esq. Barbara Pizzolato, Esq. Minerva Poblet, Esq. Alex Polidan, Esq. Christopher Pope, Esq. John Potanovic, Esq. Robson Powers, Esq. Jill Prenger, Esq. Caleb Pringle, Esq. Richard Pringle, Esq. Robert Pritt, Esq. Shannon Puopolo, Esq. Michael Raheb, Esq. Michael Randolph, Esq. Leon G. Rendeiro Jr., Esq. Kayla Richmond, Esq.

Matthew Roepstorff, Esq. Kara Rogers, Esq. Ty Roland, Esq. Derek Rooney, Esq. David Roos, Esq. William Rothenberg, Esq. Laura Rouse, Esq. Benjamin Russell, Esq. Trisha Ryan, Esq. Cameron Sadighi, Esq. Alvaro Sanchez, Esq. Christ Santospirito, Esq. Carlos Sardi, Esq. James Scarmozzino, Esq. Bruce Scheiner, Esq. PJ Scheiner, Esq. Alessandro Secino, Esq. Laura Seidl, Esq. Danielle Seitz, Esq. Amanda Sharkey-Ross, Esq. Caryn Shaw, Esq. Spencer Shaw, Esq. Brendan Shearman, Esq. Robert Shearman, Esq. Thomas Shepard, Esq. Melissa Sherman, Esq. L. David Sims, Esq. Deana Sisk, Esq. Alexis Sitka, Esq. Ellen Smith, Esq. J. Tom Smoot, Esq. Steven Spence, Esq. Tricia Spivey, Esq. Vicki Sproat, Esq. Stephen Stefanik, Esq. Danny Stengle, Esq. William Stockman, Esq. E. Bruce Strayhorn, Esq. Megan Strayhorn, Esq. Steven Sundook, Esq. Brian Sutter, Esq. Corbin Sutter, Esq. Britton Swank, Esq. Rick Swift Jr., Esq. Doug Szabo, Esq. Kelly Tackett, Esq. Frank Talty, Esq. Patricia Talty, Esq. Madison Tanner, Esq. T. Rankin Terry Jr., Esq. Michael Tew, Esq. Colten Thomas, Esq. Justin Thomas, Esq. Cassidy B. Thomson, Esq. Gabriela Timis, Esq. Vincent Tolisano, Esq. Matthew Toll, Esq. Gregory Toomey, Esq. Neva Torres, Esq. Michael Traficante, Esq. Curtright Truitt, Esq. Kaylee Tuck, Esq. Michael Versnik, Esq. Melissa Waldinger, Esq. Barbara Walsh, Esq. Dennis Webb, Esq. Robert White, Esq. Morgan Williamson, Esq. Nathan Winesett, Esq. Geoffrey Wilson, Esq. Katie Witmer, Esq. Joseph Yeslow, Esq. Benjamin Yormak, Esq. Robert Young, Esq. Iman Zekri, Esq. Brian Zinn, Esq.

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FOR YO U R C ON T I N U E D SU P P O R T ! As 2026 comes to a close, the LCBA would like to thank its annual sponsors. With your generosity, our organization has been able to provide our members with a year of exciting, engaging events of all kinds.

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THANK YOU TO OUR LCBA SPONSORS Want to see your firm or business on this list? Contact Lauren Baugh at LBaugh@LeeBar.org or (239) 334-0047.

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DONOR LISTING MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS MISSION Thank You, Mental Health and Wellness Mission Sponsors

DIAMOND SPONSOR - $10,000

SILVER SPONSORS GOLD - $2,000 Holly Cosby, Esq. | Honorable Kathy Smith

GOLD - $1,000 BRONZE SPONSORS Robert Bowen, Esq. | Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A. Holly Cosby, Esq. | Joseph North, Esq.

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PEARL SPONSORS - $350 Honorable Kathy Smith | Karla Campos-Andersen, Esq. | Judge Joseph Foster Eric Feitchthaler, Esq. | Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

INDIVIDUAL MHWM CONTRIBUTORS Kent Amo, Esq. Albert Alguadich Jr., Esq. Richard Annunziata Francesca Anon, Esq. Ronald Arend, Esq. Mykisha Atisele, Esq. Andrew Barnett, Esq. Melissa Barris, Esq. Michael Beckman, Esq. Michele Belmont, Esq. Elizabeth Bentley, Esq. Vera Bergermann, Esq. Brooke Blackman, Esq. Donald Boyd, Esq. Kevin Brenan, Esq. Melville Brinson III, Esq. Philip Burnett, Esq. Kati Calvo, Esq. Mark Casassa, Esq. Carlos Cavenago III, Esq. Michael Cheffer, Esq. Michael Chionopoulos, Esq. Joseph Coleman, Esq. Michael Colombo Jr., Esq.

Jay Cooper, Esq. Mary Beth Crawford, Esq. Kevin Crews, Esq. Taylor Curley, Esq. Mike Dal Lago, Esq. Donald Day, Esq. Frank DePeña, Esq. Olimpia DePeña, Esq. Richard DeVall, Esq. John Dommerich Jr., Esq. Gordon Duncan, Esq. Thomas Eckerty, Esq. Jonathan "JC" Elgin, Esq. Lynn Emerson, Esq. Andrew Epstein, Esq. Harold Eskin, Esq. Kelly Fayer, Esq. Julia Finman, Esq. Sheldon Finman, Esq. Donnna Flammang, Esq. Conor Foley, Esq. Sarah Fougere, Esq. Roy Foxall, Esq. Howard Freidin, Esq.

Herbert Fried, Esq. Wayne Frohlich, Esq. Leland Garvin, Esq. Heath Gelman, Esq. Lisa George, Esq. Malcam Godwin, Esq. James Goetz, Esq. Amelia Green, Esq. Bruce Green, Esq. Brian Greenberg, Esq. Jason Gunter, Esq. Samuel Hagan, Esq. Blake Hampton, Esq. Daniel Hanuka, Esq. Robert Harris, Esq. Simon Harrison, Esq. Stacy Haverfield, Esq. Hon. Hugh Hayes, Esq. Michael Haymans, Esq. Matthew Heider, Esq. Jason Himschoot, Esq. Emily Hogentogler, Esq. Frank Holley III, Esq. Christina Holly, Esq.

Rana Holz, Esq. Dominika Honisch, Esq. Michael Hornung, Esq. Erin Hughes, Esq. Kevin Huguelet, Esq. Jeffrey Hurcomb, Esq. Richard Inglis, Esq. Donald Isaac, Esq. Wess Jacobs, Esq. Richard Johnston Jr., Esq. Kevin Jursinkski, Esq. Kara Jursinski-Murphy, Esq. Christopher Kagan, Esq. Elizabeth Kagan, Esq. Kenneth Kemp II, Esq. Jason King, Esq. Peter Knize, Esq. Anthony Kolenc, Esq. Jane Lane, Esq. Michael Lehnert, Esq. Laird Lile, Esq. T. Brandon Mace Joseph Madden, Esq. Ian Mann, Esq.

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Sabrina Martinez, Esq. Jason Maughan, Esq. Stephen McCann, Esq. Eve McClurg, Esq. Lance McKinney, Esq. Patrick McLain, Esq. Anthony Melchiorre, Esq. William Merchant, Esq. Elaine Minnis, Esq. Scott Moorey, Esq. Michael Mummert, Esq. Terry Nelson, Esq. John Noland, Esq. Joseph North, Esq. Joseph North Jr., Esq. Monique Nunez, Esq. Aaron O'Brien, Esq. Maria Pace, Esq. Andre Patrone, Esq. Henry Lee Paul, Esq. William Pearson, Esq. Jeffry Perlow, Esq. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, Esq. James Pilon, Esq.

Barbara Pizzolato, Esq. Minerva Poblet, Esq. Robson Powers, Esq. Jill Prenger, Esq. Caleb Pringle, Esq. Richard Pringle, Esq. Leon G. Rendeiro Jr., Esq. Matthew Roepstorff, Esq. Kara Rogers, Esq. Laura Rouse, Esq. Timothy Rowe, Esq. Chris Santospirito, Esq. James Scarmozzino, Esq. Laura Seidl, Esq. Danielle Seitz, Esq. Caryn Shaw, Esq. Robert Shearman, Esq. Melissa Sherman, Esq. L. David Sims, Esq. Deana Sisk, Esq. Alexis Sitka, Esq J. Tom Smoot, Esq. Steven Spence, Esq. Tricia Spivey, Esq.

William Stockman, Esq. E. Bruce Strayhorn, Esq. Megan Strayhorn, Esq. Steven Sundook, Esq. Brian Sutter, Esq. Corbin Sutter, Esq. T. Rankin Terry Jr., Esq. Michael Tew, Esq. Cassidy B. Thomson, Esq. Gabriela Timis, Esq. Gregory Toomey, Esq. Neva Torres, Esq. Michael Traficante, Esq. Curtright Truitt, Esq. Melissa Waldinger, Esq. Barbara Walsh, Esq. Nathan Winesett, Esq. Katie Witmer, Esq. Robert Young, Esq.

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SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

Helping at the Ground Level. Lusk, Drasites & Tolisano, P.A., was formed in 1982 with the goal of representing the interests of the Southwest Florida community first and foremost. At the time of its formation, there were few lawyers in the area, and even fewer that were willing to go up against the large corporations and out-of-town law firms that were muscling their way in. Lusk, Drasites & Tolisano stepped up to represent the local individuals that were wronged, as well as the local businesses and charities that were being unfairly targeted. Today, while the firm has continued to expand and increase the areas of law its attorneys take on, its team always keeps their focus on righting the wrongs done to citizens of Southwest Florida.

The firm is set apart from the masses by its breadth of legal practice areas that it assists clients with. Its attorneys focus on many different areas of law. When you hire Lusk, Drasites & Tolisano for estate planning, you are not just going to have the knowledge of the firm's estate planning attorneys, but also the knowledge and background of the firm's entire team. So, if you wind up having an issue with real estate or a car accident that might be affecting your estate plan, the firm will have the right person to bring in and consult on your specific matter. Lusk, Drasites & Tolisano encourages citizens that if they have any legal questions, give the firm a call, because its team most likely handles that area of law; if they don't, they will know someone who does.

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NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2026 59

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

Let Our Family Help Yours. Family-owned and operated since 2002, Dickman Law Firm provides personalized legal representation to individuals, families, businesses, and local governments throughout Florida. Experienced Attorneys. Practical Solutions. Personalized Representation. Based in Naples, Florida, Dickman Law Firm brings more than five decades of combined legal experience to every case. Our attorneys take the time to understand each client's circumstances, priorities and goals, developing practical legal strategies tailored to the issues that matter most. When you choose Dickman Law Firm, you work directly with experienced attorneys who are committed to your case. We believe effective representation begins with understanding the people and circumstances behind every legal matter.

A Personalized Approach to Every Case From family and business matters to contracts, estate planning and local government representation, our attorneys handle a wide range of legal needs, from the straightforward to the complex. We look carefully at each issue, identify the concerns that matter most, and work with our clients to find thoughtful, practical solutions.

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62 LEEBAR.ORG

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2026 63

IN THE NEWS RECOGNIZING JUDICIAL EXCELLENCE Judge Tara P. Paluck has been named a recipient of the Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence at the annual Conference of County Court Judges of Florida for her advocacy, leadership and mentorship. Congratulations, Judge Paluck!

THE GULF COAST MEETS TAMPA BAY The Diamond Law Firm and Laird A. Lile PLLC recently announced a merger to serve Florida clients with greater depth and perspective. Diamond & Lile, led by Sandra Diamond and Laird A. Lile, will serve clients throughout Florida from its Naples and St. Petersburg offices.

Attorneys Laird A. Lile, Sandra Diamond, Ben Diamond, Marguerite Mills, Rachel Barlow and Langdon Lile

FONG JOINS LOCAL FIRM AS OF COUNSEL Bruce Green Law Firm has expanded its legal team with the addition of Nicolas Kaleio Fong, Esq., who joins the firm as of counsel. Fong practices personalized estate planning, trust planning, probate, asset protection and business succession planning. Congratulations!

TOTALLY TUBULAR! The LCBA YLD recent board retreat had a mysterious twist – an escape room. Attorneys Iman Zekri, Kati Cook, Rochelle Pitts and Stephen Dwyer joined Lauren Baugh to solve a series of totally tubular puzzles with more than seven minutes to spare, putting the “BB Legal Eagles” far above the average time! Iman Zekri, Kati Cook, Lauren Baugh, Rochelle Pitts, and Stephen Dwyer

64 LEEBAR.ORG

PEAK PERFORMANCE Cynthia Duff, president of CopyLady and longtime LCBA supporter, recently climbed Via Ferrata, a rock climb over 8,000 feet high in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Congratulations on reaching new heights!

CLE AFTER HOURS PROMOTES CYBER SECURITY On Sept. 17, the Lee County Association for Women Lawyers hosted CLE After Hours at The Capital Grille. The event focused on cybersecurity and how to protect your practice, clients and business and featured free cybersecurity readiness evaluations for attendees.

TWO APPOINTMENTS ON THE BENCH Two judges have joined the 20th Judicial Circuit: The Hon. James Chandler and The Hon. Kristan Burns. Appointed to the Circuit Court, Judge Chandler is filling the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Elizabeth Krier. Judge Burns has been appointed to the Lee County Court to fill the vacancy created by Judge Kimberly Davis Bocelli’s elevation to the Circuit Court. Congratulations!

PETS, PARENTS AND PLENTY OF FUN Gulf Coast Humane Society’s recent Community Fair brought together pets, families and community for a day of fun. The LCBA’s own Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice, Purtz, Smith & Smith, P.A., proudly supported proudly supported the event with the donation of item-stuffed tote bags for attendees.

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2026 65

IN THE NEWS EXPLORING THE DIGITAL WORLD Maggie Gaffney, chief forensics officer at BIOSolutions LLC, was the featured guest at September’s Criminal and Family Law Lunch and Learn. Sponsored by BIOSolutions LLC, the midday event featured catered lunch and need-to-know information about identifying digital evidence. Katherine Camadeco and Maggie Gaffney

CITY ATTORNEY ROLE FILLED Ronald Dente Jr., Esq., has been named city attorney for the City of Fort Myers following the retirement of Grant W. Alley, Esq. Dente served as assistant city attorney from 2019 to 2024 and as deputy city attorney from 2024 to 2026. Congratulations on this significant achievement!

GOOD THINGS COME IN THREES Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., has welcomed three new attorneys to its team. Joseph “JD” Bootka, Esq., and Quinten Zak, Esq., have joined the firm’s Tort and Insurance Litigation department, and Kate McQuagge, Esq., has joined the firm’s Family Law department. Congratulations on your new roles!

MONEY TALK Everwell Financial recently joined the Lee County Association for Women Lawyers for an information session that discussed intergenerational wealth transfer. Hosted at Cantina Laredo in Fort Myers, guests enjoyed chips, guac and an evening of education!

66 LEEBAR.ORG

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