THE OFFICIAL AWARD WINNING PUBLICATION OF THE LEE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
MAY 2015
UNCOMMON FRIENDS FOUNDATION Connected to our roots, focused on the future
SUCCESS WRIT LARGE New practice section offers a big future for your small firm
CRIMINAL PRACTICE SECTION Yes, we have one – and it’s doing great things SERVING THE CITIZENS AND LEGAL COMMUNITY OF LEE COUNTY SINCE 1949
Thank You!
CLE Credits: 10.5 CTFA Credits: 6.25 Visit http://cle.avemarialaw.edu/ for this conference online!
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Contents AD DIRECTORY
On the cover: Jason Gunter, Esq.
20
18
Cover photo credit: Brian Tietz Photography
Allied Business Solutions
33
Ave Maria School of Law
IFC
Barbara Pizzolato
13
Boyle, Gentile & Leonard, P.A.
25
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC
11
Buschbom Mediation
15
Business Observer
9
Calvo & Calvo Attorneys at Law
11
CONRIC PR & Marketing | Publishing
27
Denise Kennedy
27
Derfel Injury Law
11
Dial A Nurse Inc.
33
feature
Donna Tisch
25
Edison National Bank
BC
20 Success writ large
Fort Myers Court Reporting
17
New practice section offers a big future for your small firm
Freidin, Dobrinsky, Brown & Rosenblum P.A. 7
by Sara Fitzpatrick Comito
Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A.
Garvin Law Firm
28
departments 6
Letter from the President
by Anne Dalton, Esq.
8
Letter from the Editor
by Beverly Grady, Esq.
10 12
Calendar of Events Ethically Speaking
by Henry Lee Paul, Esq.
Lawyers at risk
24 Legal Lens
Social scene photos
28 The Dish
Mermaid Garden Café
30 On the Bench
31
Honorable Lisa Porter
Real Estate
Where to buy, sell or lease
14
Criminal Law
by Keith Upson, Esq.
16
Art Happenings
34 Legal Briefs
18
The LCBA's Criminal Practice Section
LCBA Charity Golf Tournament
Community Connection Uncommon Friends Foundation
by Sara Fitzpatrick Comito
32 From the Bar
John C. Webb, Esq. & John M. Miller, Esq. News and happenings
38 100 Club
CORRECTION NOTICE: Please excuse the error last month that showed "March 2015" rather than "April 2015" on the cover. We apologize for not catching this prior to print.
4
RES GESTAE | May 2015
13 9
Hotel Indigo
29
Jason L. Gunter, P.A.
19
Joe Viacava Law
IBC
Joel H. Brown
17
Kempton P. Logan
13
Kuhn Law Firm
15
Kushner & Kushner Attorneys
34
Law Firm of Scott T. Moorey
31
Law Office of Kevin Jursinski & Assoc
31
Law Office of Kevin Jursinski & Assoc
37
Leonard P. Reina
34
Leslea Ellis, LLC
32
Levins & Associates, LLC
19
LIVINGSTON LOEFFLER, P.A.
34
Magnus Research Consultants & Graphics 17 McHale Properties
31
Merit Court Reporting, Inc.
30
Musca Law Office, Inc. Premier Executive Center Spivey Law Firm, P.A.
3 31 5
T 3 Communications
9
Veranda Restaurant
27
Von Ahn & Associates
36
Automobile Accidents Motorcycle Accidents Truck Accidents Victims of Drunk Drivers Slip & Fall Accidents
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Note from the President Get A Job…Somehow “I only began to sing because I couldn’t get a job as an actress.” - Barbra Streisand. Finding that first job, or returning to the workforce after an extended absence, can be a leap over a very wide chasm, unless you have been lucky enough to intern with a firm which is able to eventually hire you. The Bar Association is ready to assist those that are having difficulty getting that law position in this difficult economy. The Bar’s Young Lawyers Division, currently headed by the very able Kimberly Bocelli, Esquire, of Roetzel and Andress, is brainstorming new strategies to assist new lawyers with marketing their skills and getting that critical first law job, and having fun while doing so. Check out their meetings and their announcements for more information. Or…. You’ve decided to (gulp) open your own law office instead of joining a firm, the government, or a corporation. Maybe you are returning to the law business after an extended absence due to medical, family, or other reasons. All of our Practice Sections are focused on providing spot-on continuing education in this Year of Professionalism and Ethics.
All of our Practice Sections are focused on providing spot-on continuing education in this Year of Professionalism and Ethics. Our brand new practice section, the Solo and Small Business Practice Section, is profiled in this edition of the Res Gestae. The special focus of Practice Section Chair Jason Gunter, Esquire and Co-Chair Conor Foley, Esquire, will be on issues of critical importance to the new attorney, and the overburdened solo or small firm attorney, and the attorney returning to the practice, all of whom need a quick update on technology, marketing, budgeting, planning, and other critical administrative skills which aren’t taught in law school. More experienced attorneys will benefit from getting tips and tricks for expediting solutions and simplifying practice conundrums through Jason’s meetings on state-of-the-art law office management. Finally, Bar Executive Director Sharon Brotherton is chock-full of new ideas to expand our existing programs and we are working hard this year on them. If you have requests or suggestions for new programs, or a new focus of existing programs, please contact Sharon at info@leebar.org. We want the Bar Association to reflect what you, the members, most want and need. Thank you.
LEE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION Administrative Team Executive Director ~ Sharon Brotherton Executive Assistant, Lawyer Referral & Pro Bono Coordinator ~ Lisa Poulin Executive Council President - Anne Dalton, Esq. Vice-President - Scott Atwood, Esq. Secretary - Kelly Fayer, Esq. Treasurer - Daniel Endrizal, Esq. Member-at-Large - Beverly Grady, Esq. Member-at-Large - Aaron Haak, Esq. Past President - John D. Agnew, Esq. YLD President - Kimberly Bocelli, Esq.
Committees History E. Bruce Strayhorn, Esq. & Jenna Persons, Esq.
Law Related Education T. Rankin Terry, Esq.
Law Week Hon. John S. Carlin
Membership Janette Smith, Esq.
Mock Trial Mary C. Evans, Esq. & Karla Campos-Andersen, Esq.
Pro Bono Audrey M. Singleton, Esq. & Aaron Cilek, Esq.
Social Events Amanda Mitteer-Bartley, Esq.
Practice Section Chairs Alternative Dispute Resolution Anne Dalton, Esq. & Bill Merchant, Esq.
Appellate Law Margaret White-Small, Esq. & Stacy Sherman, Esq
Criminal Law Keith Upson, Esq.
Family Law Dustin Butler, Esq. & Ryan O’Halloran, Esq.
General Civil & Business Litigation Mary Ellen Briedé, Esq. & Carlos Kelly, Esq.
Land Use & Governmental Law Russell Schropp, Esq.
Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Kenneth Kemp, Esq. & Matthew Linde, Esq.
Solo and Small Practice Section Jason Gunter, Esq. & Conor Foley, Esq.
Anne Dalton, Esq. adalton@daltonlegal.com | (239) 337-7900 6
RES GESTAE | May 2015
Tort Litigation Preston John (PJ) Scheiner, Esq.
Personal Injury Medical Malpractice Wrongful Death Family Law
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Letter from the Editor Eight hundred years ago in June 1215 rebellious English barons who wanted their rights and property protected from a tyrannical king challenged King John resulting in this document. QUESTION: What was Magna Carta? Also known as the Great Charter, this document was conceded by King John and set with his seal on the plains at Runnymede, England. The barons demanded certain rights be placed in writing and recognized by the king and then sent to the counties to be read to all. It was handwritten in Latin and consisted of less than 4,000 words. Just 10 weeks later it was nullified by Pope Innocent III resulting in an internal civil war. Yet revised versions were issued in 1216, 1217, 1225, and 1297 resulting in multiple manuscripts and over the years evolved to change from protection of rights for “any baron” to “any freeman”. The English monarchs would reconfirm the Magna Carta as it came to stand for the proposition that even kings must comply with the common law. The most often cited provision is that “No free man shall be seized or imprisoned or stripped of his rights or possessions… except by the lawful judgment of his equals or by the law of the land.” This provision appears in all versions of the Great Charter. The seal adopted by Massachusetts on the eve of the American Revolution had a militiaman with sword in one hand and the Magna Carta in the other. As John Adams expressed it in 1779 “A government of laws, and not of men”. Further the charter established important individual rights that have a direct connection in the American Bill of Rights. Our Constitution became the supreme law of the land in the same manner that the Magna Carta was found to be superior to other laws. “The first eight amendments to our Federal constitution, our explicit Bill of Rights, owes its parentage to Magna Carta,” said William Brennan at the 1985 Rededication at the ABA Memorial at Runnymede. The Magna Carta has been cited in over 170 US Supreme Court decisions concerning due process of law; trial by jury; how the Magna Carta influenced American constitutionalism; antitrust matters and habeas corpus; and cruel and unusual punishment, according to law professor Stephen Wermiel in the ABA's Law Day 2015 Planning Guide. This issue of Res Gestae honors the spirit of independence embodied in the solo and small firm practitioner. As attorneys we continue to find inspiration and instruction in documents such as the Magna Carta, which remind us that with freedom comes responsibility. Whatever your area of practice, the LCBA offers resources, like our Criminal Practice Section, to help accomplish the LCBA’s mission “to serve as a leader in advancing ethical conduct, excellence, and the professionalism of our attorneys by providing ongoing legal education in support of our members, fostering an environment of public responsibility among legal professionals and promoting our legal system and resources within our community.” Beverly Grady, Esq. bgrady@ralaw.com | (239) 338-4207 8
RES GESTAE | May 2015
THE OFFICIAL AWARD WINNING PUBLICATION OF THE LEE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
239.334.0047 resgestae@leebar.org
Staff Box PUBLISHER Connie Ramos-Williams 239.690.9840 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Beverly Grady, Esq. ASSOCIATE EDITOR Sara Fitzpatrick Comito CREATIVE DIRECTOR April Bordeaux ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Linda Fiore 239.690.9840 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Anne Dalton, Esq. Beverly Grady, Esq. Henry Lee Paul, Esq. Keith Upson, Esq. Lydia Black Sara Fitzpatrick Comito BILLING INQUIRIES 239.334.0047
7370 College Parkway, Suite 206 Fort Myers, FL 33907 239.690.9840 | ConricPR.com | info@ConricPR.com Res Gestae is an award winning magazine published monthly by CONRIC Publishing in partnership with the Lee County Bar Association. All editorial, advertising and photos may be submitted for consideration through email to: resgestae@leebar.org. We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information published, but cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from omissions or errors. Opinions expressed by our writers and advertisers are not necessarily opinions shared by the LCBA, Res Gestae, or CONRIC Publishing. Copyright© 2015. 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 of the Lee County Bar Association. To inquire about such permission, please contact the Lee County Bar Association at info@leebar.org.
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9
Calendar of Events
May 1
by Investors’ Security Trust, 5246 Red Cedar Drive, Suite 101, Fort Myers. Mary Briedé and Carlos Kelly, Co-Chairs
8:30 – 10:30 a.m. with Second District Court Judges, Lee County Justice Center, Courtroom 7A
May 21
CLE: Ethics Panel with Hon. Margaret Steinbeck
Noon, Courtroom 5C of the Lee County Justice Center at 1700 Monroe Street, Fort Myers. Dustin Butler and Ryan O’Halloran, Co-Chairs
Student Q & A and DCA Oral Arguments
10:45 – 11:45 a.m. Sidney Berne Davis Art Center, Fort Myers. $35 members, $65 non-members, includes Membership Lunch following CLE Program. CJE Credits available for first time.
Law Week Awards Luncheon
Noon – 1:30 p.m., Sidney Berne Davis Art Center. Luncheon to honor Law Enforcement Officers of the Year for the City of Fort Myers, City of Cape Coral, City of Sanibel and the Lee County Sheriff’s Department. Also, the Dr. James A. Adams Lee County Teacher of the Year for Law-Related Education, and the prestigious Liberty Bell Award will be presented to a deserving member of our community. $15 Member Lunch only, $30 NonMember Lunch Only.
May 8
Young Lawyers Division Mtg Noon – 1:00 p.m. at Stillwater Grille, 13451 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Kim Bocelli, YLD President
RPPTL Brown Bag
8 – noon, Judge Kyle’s Hearing Room 4J
Family Law Practice Section Brown Bag
May 27
June 12
RPPTL Brown Bag
Judge Kyle’s Hearing Room, 4J
LCBA Executive Council Mtg
June 18
May 28
Noon, Courtroom 5C, Lee County Justice Center. Dustin Butler and Ryan O’Halloran, Co-Chairs
Noon, Lee County Public Works, 1500 Monroe Street, 1st Floor Conference Room. Russell Schropp, Chair
FREE After Hours Social
5:15 – 6:15 p.m., Conference Room, Henderson Franklin Starnes & Holt, PA
Land Use Section Lunch Mtg
LCAWL Member Luncheon
Noon, The Edison, 3583 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Contact Theresa Daniels at tdaniels@gbclaw.com for information.
June 5
Young Lawyers Division Lunch Meeting Noon, Square 1 Burgers, 5031 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers. Kimberly Bocelli, YLD President
Investiture of the Honorable Mary C. Evans
3 p.m. Historic Lee County Courthouse, Commission Meeting Room 1
May 13
June 6
Noon – 1:00 p.m., Ethics and eDiscovery presented by Andrew T Cobb, Ph.D., hosted and sponsored
7 a.m. check-in, 8:30 a.m. shotgun start, Pelican Preserve Golf Community, 9802 Pelican Preserve Blvd. Benefits The Alliance for the Arts
General Civil & Business Litigation Practice Section Luncheon
ArtReach Program. Golfer registration deadline: May 23, 2015. To sponsor, register a team or donate an item for the auction, contact Sharon Brotherton (239) 334-0047, info@ leebar.org or Amanda Bartley, Event Chair abartley@ kelleykronenberg.com
Annual Charity Golf Tournament
Family Law Practice Section Brown Bag
5:30 – 7:30 p.m., location TBD
June 24
ADR Practice Section CLE
Noon, Hearing Room 4-O; Anne Dalton, Chair; Bill Merchant, Co-Chair
LCBA Executive Council Mtg
5:15 – 6:15 p.m., Conference Room, Henderson Franklin Starnes & Holt, PA
June 25
Land Use Section Lunch Mtg
Noon, Lee County Public Works, 1500 Monroe Street, 1st Floor Conference Room. Russell Schropp, Chair
Some dates for 2015 Section Meetings have not been confirmed. Check our website for details! Visit us online at leebar.org to see the entire LCBA Annual Calendar and conveniently RSVP for upcoming events. Would You Like to Submit an Event? Email your event submission to resgestae@leebar.org
Thank You to our Annual Sponsors for 2015
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RES GESTAE | May 2015
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Ethically Speaking
LAWYERS AT RISK
Disbursement Against Uncollected Funds by Henry Lee Paul
This initial sampling of trust account records often reveals deficient trust accounting practices and can lead to a full-scale audit and discipline. If the trust account is not in substantial compliance with the rules, the cost of the audit will be charged to the lawyer. Use common sense regarding disbursement of trust account funds. Do not disburse the same day or shortly after deposit. Wait until the funds have been confirmed as collected by the bank. Even though a bank teller may tell the depositor that the funds will be available in a certain amount of time, that does not necessarily mean the funds have been collected. It is a common occurrence for checks to be dishonored prior to actual collection by the bank.
Rule 5-1.1(j) (Disbursement Against Uncollected Funds) describes when a lawyer may disburse funds from a trust account, when disbursement is otherwise authorized. A lawyer is entitled to disburse funds from a trust account when the funds have been “collected.” Funds are considered collected when deposited funds are “finally settled, and credited to the lawyer’s trust account.” The risk of disbursement of funds from a trust account rests solely with the lawyer. Rule 5-1.1(j) provides a safe harbor from discipline for a dishonored disbursement if the disbursement is reasonable and prudent and is made from funds deposited in the following categories: certified or cashiers check; a check or draft for loan proceeds from a duly licensed bank or other chartered institutional lender; a bank check, treasury check or money order or other such instrument issued by a bank; a lawyers trust account check or licensed real estate broker escrow check; any check issued by the United States or the State of Florida; an insurance company check or draft. Neither a personal check from a client nor a wire transfer is considered a safe harbor deposit. A dishonored trust account check will instantly draw the attention of The Florida Bar, even if it was caused by a failed safe harbor deposit. A bank is required to notify the Bar of any dishonored trust account check. The Bar will, in turn, at a minimum, send out an inquiry to the lawyer requesting an explanation and for any pertinent trust account records.
12
RES GESTAE | May 2015
There are numerous members of The Florida Bar who have been victimized by fraudulent cashiers checks. Although a lawyer may be protected from discipline, the rule provides that the lawyer remains responsible to act immediately to protect others with funds in trust. Additionally, collateral victims of the fraud may have claims against the lawyer. See August 15, 2012 article in The Florida Bar News, “Lawyer Bilked out of 80K.” The article recounts an instance when a lawyer who deposited a cashiers check and transferred funds initially authorized by the bank, was subject to a claim for return of the funds when it was later discovered the cashiers check was fraudulent. Even the safe harbor source of deposits have risk. The risk of disbursing uncollected funds from a check from a client or third party is even greater because there is no safe harbor to protect a lawyer from discipline. Additionally, the rules prohibit overdraft protection on a trust account. RG
Henry Lee Paul is 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.
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Criminal Law
Have you been missing out? By Keith W. Upson, Esq.
“We have a Criminal Practice Section?” I heard that a lot in 2014 when I identified myself as the new Chair of the Section. I understand. I had the same reaction in late 2013 when then-director Nanci DuBois walked into my office and volun-told me that I was doing it. (Credit goes to Judge Swett for that expression.) Her timing was perfect. Impressed since 2012 with District Court Judge Altenbernd’s accomplishments with the Bruce R. Jacob Criminal Appellate Inn of Court, I already had a vision of what I wanted to see in Lee County from the criminal bar, and as Section Chair I’ve been able to implement that vision. I wanted content-rich opportunities for all sides—not just the defense bar, but the Government, the bench, and local agencies’ counsel as well—to come together for substantive academic presentations of common benefit. I wanted our meetings to be low in frequency but high in quality. I did not want a social club or happy hour or one more thing that we put on our calendars then ignored. We don’t have to enjoy hanging out together to become better professionals together. I wanted a group that brought everyone involved in the criminal courts together to learn about things we all use on a daily basis, and I’m happy to say that the Criminal Practice Section is now that group. My first full year, 2014, the Section met quarterly for lunch and received fantastic academic presentations by Chris Cosden (on Florida’s statutory switch to Daubert), Cynthia Ross and Amira Fox from the State (how to avoid ineffective assistance of counsel claims), Judge Swett (what the criminal bar needs to know about Mental Health Court), and Doug Molloy (Federal Criminal Practice in the Middle District). Participation increased steadily from about four at our first meeting to fourteen by the last.
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RES GESTAE | May 2015
We were just getting started. This February, Assistant Attorney General Elba Martin-Shomaker, State Appeal Intake Coordinator, presented on preservation of error and perfection of the record. Over fifty people attended, including, for the first time, two circuit judges. (There was good attendance from both the State Attorney and Public Defender’s offices. On a related note, the Bar offers a Government employee membership rate of $95.00, so if you’re with the State or Public Defender’s office and not already a member – well, there you go.) Ms. Martin-Shomaker’s presentation was not State-specific, and – like all the presentations last year – everyone in attendance learned something. This summer, Lisa Lott (in some ways Ms. Martin-Shomaker’s counterpart from the Appellate Division of Public Defender Rex Dimmig’s office, the office responsible for indigent appeals throughout the Second District), will present on preservation of error issues. Later, Susan Rothstein Youakim, Assistant United States Attorney, Appellate Division, will present on common mistakes that defense attorneys—particularly those who routinely practice in state court—make in federal criminal trials. Finally, our last meeting this year will feature a presentation by a member of the bench, and while I can’t give away any details yet, I can tell you that it will be far more engaging than, say, either the “Fifty Shades” book or movie. Seriously. You can trust me on that, because I’m Chair of our Criminal Practice Section. And if you practice criminal law in Lee County, I hope you’ll join us. Email Keith@upsonlawgroup.com for updates. RG
Keith Upson graduated from Tulane School of Law in New Orleans in 1997 and has practiced in Florida ever since. He primarily concentrates on appeals in Florida state and federal courts, but also represents clients in criminal and civil trials, represents individuals and businesses in transactions, helps people plan their estates, and represents inmates in post conviction and habeas proceedings.
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Art Happenings
A Bright Future for the Alliance for the arts The Alliance for the Arts celebrated its 40th anniversary on March 24 by unveiling an updated logo to a packed house in the Foulds Theater. Alliance Executive Director Lydia Black treated the audience to an entertaining retrospective of major milestones and the many people who have been instrumental in the Alliance’s success over its first 40 years. The logo, which symbolizes the Alliance community, is contemporary yet playful and inviting. “The right side of the logo represents the structure, the architecture, the cultural campus that the Alliance has become. The left side represents the creativity, innovation, imagination, energy and motion that happens within the structure. One without the other does not create the ‘A’ but together they create a BOLD visual image for the campus,” said Executive Director Lydia Black. The presentation also included a footprint for the future—a campus enrichment plan that would create a state-of-the-art public gathering space with new and enlarged facilities for events, classes, activities and more. From its beginning 40 years ago, the Alliance has continuously grown and evolved to better serve the Arts Community, Alliance Members and the public at large. Its 10-acre campus on the corner of McGregor and Colonial is the place where people connect to the arts in Fort Myers. The non-profit Alliance also advocates for the importance of art to both individuals and the broader economy. The presentation was followed by a lively reception. For more information about the Alliance visit ArtInLee.org or call (239) 939-2787. RG Alliance for the Arts Conceptual Campus Plan, presented by EnSite, Inc.
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Community Connection
What would Fort Myers look like without the Uncommon Friends Foundation? “Not nearly as fun or colorful,” said Executive Director Angela Melvin. Happily for us, we don’t have to imagine a Lee County without the Burroughs Home and Gardens, without stories to tell of the “Uncommon Friends,” and with only tenuous links to the past from which to glean insight into our identity and destiny. Fort Myers Beach real estate agent James Newton wrote the book, literally, on the five friends for which the foundation is named: Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, Alexis Carrell and Charles Lindbergh. “They were all such distinct personalities, and yet had certain great qualities in common,” wrote Newton in Uncommon Friends. Today the 25-year-old foundation draws on those impressive qualities to guide it in preserving our history, and defining the future in its mission to promote character education in schools, business ethics in the workplace and historic preservation of the Burroughs Home and James Newton Archives. Using the Burroughs Home and Gardens, a 1901 mansion and museum in Downtown Fort Myers, as its base of operations, the foundation stays focused on the future. The character development curriculum the foundation offers for use in the public schools will someday soon be offered as a smartphone app, for instance. No doubt the more inventive and industrious of the friends would be
Historic Photo: Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and Harvey Firestone (Seated), with Frank Campsall, Freddie Ott, Roger Firestone and Jim Newton (Standing) impressed by such developments. If you joined your colleagues at the April Membership Luncheon and CLE, you enjoyed the privilege of being part of the first business event to take place at the beautiful new open-air pavilion overlooking the grounds and the river. Melvin provided an overview of the foundation and quizzed the membership on the names of the Uncommon Friends. Poor Dr. Carrell tends to be overlooked, and so does some of the work the foundation does behind the scenes. The foundation has become well known for its administration of scholarships to promising young people. The LCBA even offers a yearly scholarship through the foundation to a local high school senior who meets academic and character criteria and is committed to pursuing a career in law. Less well known is the fact that the foundation has supported the establishment of a Chair of Ethics in the Lutgert School of Buinsess at Florida Gulf Coast University. It also offers Business Ethics
Photo credit: luminaire foto
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Roundtable events and bestows an annual Business Ethics Award upon an organization that exemplifies a high standard of ethical behavior. A Legacy Speaker Series brings nationally renowned personalities who educate, like Tom Brokaw, CIA Director Porter Goss, author Anne Morrow Lindbergh and Keni Thomas, national spokesperson for the Hero Fund and the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. Melvin feels the foundation is a natural choice for LCBA members’ philanthropic dollars. “The legal profession is only as successful as the ethical integrity that its attorneys practice and stand on,” she said. “It makes sense for members of LCBA to align and support a foundation that is leading the way in ethics and integrity, to show the community that the legal profession is committed to moving these principals forward and the community it serves.” The best way to support the foundation is to become a member for $100 a year. Email angela@uncommonfriends.org. As Jimmy Newton signed off when writing to friends, uncommon or otherwise, “The best is yet to be.” RG
Photo left: Student scholarships winners. Photo above: Uncommon Friends Foundation President Gray Davis (L) of BB&T Oswald Trippe & Co. and Bob Bassett of BB&T (R) Bank present the 2014 Business Ethics Award to Michael Wynn, President of Sunshine Ace Hardware, Bonita Springs.
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NEW PRACTICE SECTION OFFERS A BIG FUTURE FOR YOUR SMALL FIRM By Sara Fitzpatrick Comito
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O
ne is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do…so goes the old song, but does it have to be so? The LCBA’s newly minted Solo and Small Practice Section is here to offer a resource for lawyers practicing without the benefit of a large support staff or full roster of attorney peers to serve as collaborators or sounding boards. Section Chair Jason Gunter has many years of solo practice under his belt. “I think members will be surprised at the amount of information we intend to provide, and the ideas we have to help improve our members' firms,” he said. Members will connect at networking events, periodic meetings, and by email and social media. Learning opportunities will focus on topics such as practice management, technology and marketing.
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Paralegal Mike Hulse, Associate Attorney Conor Foley, Attorney and owner Jason Gunter, Office Manager Loree Gunter
Risk and reward The challenges are numerous for attorneys working alone or in small firms, since they have to concern themselves with many things besides the practice of law, from financial decisions to business strategy and marketing challenges. The rewards can outnumber the challenges, however, without the overhead or complexities associated with big firms and partnerships. Higher profit margins and more-flexible work schedules are potentially significant advantages. Becoming overwhelmed is a clear and present danger in a small firm, one the new practice section seeks to help members overcome. Gunter said, “Great lawyers can become stretched too thin due to poor organization and lack of an organized workflow.” A mile-long CV doesn’t amount to much for a practitioner whose business is floundering because of lack of entrepreneurship experience. A top-notch technician and tactician who operates with reverence for the law and the utmost professionalism and ethics also needs to create and execute 22
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a sound business plan. Was such a skill a prerequisite for your JD? If so, you can count yourself among a lucky few. Even the most business-savvy of lawyers can miss opportunities while mired in the minutia of running their practices or, worse, make mistakes and end up in hot water. Ask any member of the Grievance Committee how the majority of attorneys end up in cases before that body, and you’ll likely hear about well meaning practitioners who attempted to wear too many proverbial hats and consequently lost sight of a crucial priority.
A lean machine
Rugged individualism is a thoroughly American ideal, and one that Gunter embodies in every respect. One doesn’t get to compete as an Ironman triathlete by depending on others to make decisions or do the heavy lifting. He had no experience when he decided to go solo, which was a personal imperative: “I personally did not have the patience it takes to succeed in a big firm. I wanted to be in business for myself at any cost. I wanted to make all of my own decisions. I wanted to experience my own successes
and my own failures.” There have been plenty of successes since he made the leap. A glance at the “Results” tab of his website makes that abundantly clear. As self-reliant as Gunter is, other attorneys remain the best source of legal and practice-building smarts, and his collaborations with and observation of them have helped him get where he is now. “To this day I still learn a lot watching other lawyers, their style, legal strategies or writing style.” As an Ironman triathlete, efficiency in training and body composition are key for Gunter. That emphasis translates to his practice, too. “I've always maintained a lean support staff. I think of it as part of the business strategy to maximize everyone's productivity and efficiency to keep our labor costs reasonable.” Jason L. Gunter, P.A. is a team of four, including Gunter’s wife Loree as office manager, paralegal Michael Hulse and Conor Foley, associate attorney and section co-chair. It’s apparent that each is capable and willing to stretch beyond his or her assigned role. The press release that resulted in this cover feature, for instance, was furnished by Foley, with him also coordinating photography and interviews so this publishing team initially assumed he was the firm’s marketing director.
Don’t go it alone By establishing the Solo and Small Firm Practice Section, the LCBA joins The Florida Bar and other county bars who already offer this benefit to their members. “As a solo practitioner in Lee County for 17 years, I wanted to connect other attorneys to some of the resources and ideas that have made my business successful,” Gunter said. Anyone who works in a small firm or as a solo practitioner, or is considering doing so, is invited to join the section and provide feedback. Open discussion and opinions on all topics are welcome. As individualistic as the membership is likely to be, everyone will have individual needs and a unique business culture in their firm. Gunter explained, “A success story for one attorney may not work for another, so seeking out many opinions and options will provide a great benefit.” Participating in the Solo and Small Practice Section is a great way to gain experience second-hand (which is always the most inexpensive way), increase efficiency and profitability and avoid potential pitfalls. There really is nothing to lose, so don’t go it alone. For more information contact the multi-talented Conor Foley at Conor@ Gunterfirm.com or (239) 334-7017. RG Photos courtesy of Brian Tietz Photography
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Legal Lens
Theresa Daniels, Dawn Jesik Judge Tara Paluck Kayla Richmond, Sarah Spector
Lee County Association of Women Lawyers at a Habitat for Humanity workday. Theresa Daniels, Liridona Sinani
YLD Mystery Walk beer sales to benefit GAL Foundation Inc
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YLD out and about.
YLD happy hour at Los Cabos Cantina
Taking time out for a group selfie
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Legal Lens
Angela Melvin, Uncommon Friends Foundation
Name
Alina Gonzalez-Dockery, Ché Diaz, Blair DeMinico
Cynthia Duff, Miguel Fernández, Kelly Fayer
LCBA Luncheon
Judges Alane Laboda, Mike McHugh, Josephine Gagliardi, Carol Mirando, Keith Kyle
A member luncheon and CLE on Ethics and Professionalism in Arbitration and Mediation was held at the new open-air pavilion at the Burroughs Home.
YLD with Terry Brennen, Guardian ad Litem Foundation
Kim Bocelli, Dan Endrizal, Scott Atwood, Anne Dalton, Kelly Fayer, Beverly Grady Nirupa Netram, John Webb
Judges Keith Kyle, Alane Laboda and Mike McHugh with Bill Merchant, Anne Dalton
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Bill Treadwell Judge Krier
Geraldo Olivo III, Lee McPeak, Ryan Doyle Photos courtesy of Jim Jett.
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The Dish consider how folks just a generation or two ago went about the business of filling their bellies. They didn’t call it anything. They just called it food.
The mermaids, nymphs and sirens of classical literature and folklore have long represented temptation and even certain doom for hapless sailors. What you’ll find at the new Mermaid Garden Café is plenty of temptation, without the threat of being scuttled on craggy rocks. The only potential threat is that you’ll want to return again and again for breakfast, lunch, tea time, coffee break and the odd midday wine indulgence. Not much a threat, considering the fresh, delicious food, charming atmosphere and warm hospitality on offer, and all for an affordable price. Gloria Jordan (pictured top right), of the beloved La Trattoria Café Napoli, opened her adorable new daytime café this spring and celebrated with a little party. The crowd represented an interesting crosssection of local foodies, columnists and farmers. I think we’ve gotten past the point where we need to bandy about terms like locavore, and arrived at a point in time where eating “farm to table” has become the new normal. Or the old normal, if we Top photo: Beet salad. Bottom photo: cochinita pibils.
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Before the advent of convenience foods, however, I know for a fact that my German Midwesterner and Irish Bostonian grandparents did not enjoy the variety of fresh, organic, colorful ingredients Gloria so inventively puts Photo credit : Mila Bridger Photography on a plate—nor would they have known what to do with them. Her inspired alchemy results in specials and regular features for lunch and dinner that enlist heirloom tomatoes, nutrition-packed kale, farm cheese, seasonal salad greens and other plant-based wonders to extend one’s years past the life expectancy of our ancestors. If jicama and microgreens are a new experience for you, do not be deterred. Whereas my forebears may have viewed the act of eating as a mostly utilitarian exercise, Gloria wins her dedicated fan base by treating every meal, snack or cup of coffee as a sensual celebration. That sensibility should be evident even before you open the door. The location, with its lack of an exterior storefront, could prove difficult in another owner’s hands. Originally known as Rafters Mall, the building on the corner of Winkler Road and College Parkway has reinvented itself a number of times, becoming Parkway Square before taking on its current moniker of Atrium Executive Suites. It still…kinda looks like a mall. While past eateries have provided welcome sustenance to staff at the resident businesses, the Mermaid makes the building a destination in its own right. What a welcome and transformative sight, the turquoise walls offset by white vertical stripes and adorned with collectible plates and antique tea sets. Cakes and pastries arranged in a museumquality display case. Smiling servers setting abundant salads on tables clad in crocheted doilies. Soup ladled into green porcelain bowls that resemble open cabbage leaves. Sparkling wine set on ice in vintage silver chillers. Argentinian empanadas are a popular appetizer or a perfect accompaniment with soup, but get yours early—on a recent visit they were sold out. A cochinita pibils arrived at the table with tender, Spanish-style roast pork dressed with watermelon relish, pickled onions and black garlic aioli on a soft ciabatta roll next to mixed farm greens. Gloria’s take on tacos involves scoops of
The Dish chicken salad made with lemon and jicama (a juicy, crunchy root vegetable that somewhat resembles a very tender, mild radish) served with organic greens, avocado, farm tomatoes on soft corn tortillas set aloft a savory red sauce. A special salad of roast beets, tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, chicken salad and fig balsamic stood in handsomely for the standard caprese. A cortadito (a Cuban-style espresso served with steamed milk) and a buttery, flaky guava pastry was a blissful coda to a perfect lunch away from the office. Luckily for me, Mermaid is a mere mile or so from where I type this for you now, dreaming of a breakfast of roasted chorizo, runny eggs, potato kale hash, and homemade bread with jam and organic butter. Fortunately for all of us, this mermaid’s seduction will involve no shipwrecks. RG Top photo: Cortadito. Bottom photo: Guava pastry.
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Mermaid Garden Café Breakfast: Monday – Friday 8:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch: Monday – Friday 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 8695 College Parkway, Fort Myers www.mermaidgardencafe.com (239) 425-3480
_ Sara Fitzpatrick Comito is the Communications Editor for CONRIC PR & Marketing | Publishing, and associate editor of Res Gestae magazine. For suggestions and comments on this regular feature, contact Sara at Sara@ConricPR.com.
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On the Bench Honorable Lisa Porter Charlotte Circuit Court Judge Lisa Porter first became fascinated with the legal system when she attended a three-week murder trial at the Lee County Justice Center as a high school student. Recently she was kind enough to squeeze in an interview while entrenched in a 15day jury trial, dozens of civil actions of every description and first appearance hearings. As she likes to quote her husband, Lee Circuit Court Judge Frank Porter, “It doesn’t cost anything to be nice.” She relays that wise counsel to attorneys who appear before her and can’t seem to get along. “I’m not sure it always works,” she said, “but I suppose if it works on one person, then it is valuable advice.” The judge does have three mandates that are not negotiable: “Always be prepared. Always read instructions. Always practice with professionalism.” In January she moved to the civil docket from domestic relations and juvenile dependency. Her background is in civil litigation, so it’s familiar territory. It’s been fun to see old colleagues, said the judge. The most challenging aspect of the docket is getting it to run smoothly and efficiently, as it is a high volume docket. She’s enjoyed several jury trials in recent months, with their diverse subject matters, which have afforded her many opportunities to learn new things. Mental Health Court also operates under her auspices, in which the judge is tasked with balancing empathy and taking a hard line procedurally. “Mental Health Court is just one small area where we are trying to help those in trouble with our criminal justice system, rather then just punishing them,” said Judge Porter. “Our hope is that our participants will become productive members of society, and not repeat their past transgressions.” The judge approaches every day and every case with a mindfulness about the gravity of her role. “Mostly, over the past 18 months as a judge I’ve learned how important our decisions are to people and to never, ever take any decision I have to make lightly.” When not on the bench, the judge enjoys fishing and golfing. It hasn’t happened recently, but when time allows, she likes to travel. And “on the rare occasion it survives,” she said, she likes to tend her garden.
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From the Bar John M. Miller, Esq. “Very down to earth”—that’s how John Miller describes Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. Perhaps we should expect nothing else from the man whose notable quotables include such nuggets as “The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” But Miller didn’t know what to expect as he anticipated meeting him on a recent trip to D.C. with his fellow members of The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Board of Governors. Miller is now admitted to practice in the Supreme Court, an honor bestowed upon him even as the judge joked about how specialized the practice of arguing in front of the court has become. Just this past December, Miller was elected as a stockholder at Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., a firm he has been with since he clerked there during his second summer of law school. He also enjoyed a stint as judicial intern for Second District Court of Appeals Judge Darryl Casanueva. He specializes in civil defense litigation, with about 50 percent of his practice devoted to professional and general liability defense work. He also does municipal liability defense, which tends to offer interesting fact patterns that he can sink his teeth into. He is one of two individuals representing the young lawyers of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit to the state Young Lawyers Board of Governors, attending seven meetings a year throughout the state, helping to coordinate CLEs and basic practice skills training for young lawyers in Florida, acting as liaison for local YLD affiliates, awarding various grants, planning diversity symposiums, and coordinating the Holidays in January program for foster children across the state. He is the former president of the LCBA’s YLD affiliate. He has a history of helping young people become more established in their field. Before graduating cum laude in 2008, Miller served as a Stetson Ambassador, helping new students with the transition to law school. Prior to law school, he was a math teacher at Fort Myers High School. Miller is originally from Pine Island, and now lives in Fort Myers. He professes to be “kind of an exercise nut,” which is another word for triathlete. His four-year-old daughter and two-year-old son also keep him and wife Alicia on the go.
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From the Bar John C. Webb, Esq. When the LCBA presented Law in the Mall last month, something was different. As usual, attorneys gave up part of their Saturday to give their advice to members of the public at no charge. For the first time in the event’s history, however, it had a sponsor. Drawing on his experience with the program in years past, John Webb decided it was worthy of some financial backing. It’s one visible way for the LCBA to achieve the third part of its mission statement: to inform the community on important legal matters. Webb explained, “People have the ability to come into a very casual setting and ask an attorney a question they might otherwise be reluctant to ask.” Webb’s background is in business, real estate and tax law. When he moved to Southwest Florida in 2009, the foreclosure crisis was in full swing. He believes many complications homeowners facing foreclosure have experienced in recent years were, in large part, due to misinformation, and that a little bit of help finding the appropriate channels for relief, whether through a government program, loan modification agreement with the lender or otherwise, can go a long way. When asked about some of the unique foreclosure cases he has handled, Webb recalls a case where a final judgment was entered against a Fort Myers homeowner based upon a mortgage that was supposedly signed by the homeowner’s husband. The issue with the signature, according to Webb, was that the homeowner’s husband “could not have signed the mortgage, because he was in federal prison at the time.” Webb was able to get a hearing on it a couple of hours before the sale and his request to set aside the final judgment was granted, thereby preventing the house from being sold. Webb was born and raised in Louisiana. He attended the Northwestern University School of Law, where he earned his L.L.M. in taxation, and the St. Thomas University School of Law, where he earned his J.D. / M.B.A. He feels privileged to have the opportunity to practice law, and is gratified to share his resources with those less fortunate, as his Pro Bono Service Award from Florida Rural Legal Services demonstrates.
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Legal Briefs Registration opens for The Florida Bar Annual Convention Registration opened April 15 for the 2015 Annual Florida Bar Convention, scheduled for June 24 through 27 at the Boca Raton Resort & Club. The convention provides an opportunity to network with colleagues and friends, take advantage of multiple CLE seminars, and enjoy luncheons, a lawyers’ marketplace and special events. Go to www.floridabar.org/annualconvention for a complete convention schedule, a CLE credits overview and a special events overview, as well as hotel reservation information and sponsor and exhibitor opportunities. A free Annual Convention App is also available for download from the AppStore or Google Play. The app features an event guide, including registration, a personal schedule tracker, exhibitor and sponsors listings with links, maps and speakers.
Ave Maria ranked #1 in Florida for bar passage According to data released by the Florida Supreme Court on April 13, Ave Maria School of Law was ranked number one in the state for bar passage by first-time examination takers. The school achieved an 83-percent passage rate, which exceeds the statewide average rate of 64.3 percent. Ave Maria launched new efforts to prepare graduates to succeed on the bar exam, including new mandatory and elective course offerings, the creation and enhancement of its Advanced Critical Thinking department, an array of other programming and expert guest lecturers. It announced it will continue to expand upon its bar preparation resources and appoint a new Director of Bar Preparation. Ave Maria School of Law also announced it will purchase its North Naples campus and launch a $3.2-million capital campaign, thanks to an anonymous $1-million gift.
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RES GESTAE | May 2015
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Legal Briefs Bernardo named to the National Association of Distinguished Counsel Joseph Bernardo of Bernardo Injury Law has been selected as a member of the National Association of Distinguished Counsel (NADC). Nominees are vetted by an in-house research team, a panel of attorneys and a judicial review board to determine their ability to serve as an example among attorneys. Factors include firm profile and reputation, years of practice, education, training, trial experience, case outcomes, peer endorsements, client reviews, professional awards, professional memberships, leadership in legal organizations, community involvement, disciplinary status and noteworthy achievements. The distinction is awarded to the top one percent of attorneys in the United States. The mission of the NADC is to objectively recognize the attorneys that raise the standards of the Bar and provide a benchmark for other lawyers to follow. Because of the selective review process, only the elite few are invited to join the NADC.
Cardillo named partner at Cardillo, Keith & Bonaquist John Thomas Cardillo has been named a partner in the law firm of Cardillo, Keith & Bonaquist, P.A. His areas of practice include wills, trusts, probate, probate litigation, elder law and general trial practice. Currently serving as president-elect of the Collier County Bar Association, he also serves on the City of Naples advisory board. Cardillo has a fellowship with the executive council of the Real Property, Probate & Trust Law section of The Florida Bar, and previously served as president of the Young Lawyers Division of the Collier County Bar. Cardillo is a graduate of Barron Collier High School, Boston College, and Florida State University School of Law. He and his wife live in Naples with their two daughters.
ANNUAL CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT Benefits The Alliance for the Arts ArtReach Program
June 6
7 a.m. check-in 8:30 a.m. shotgun start Pelican Preserve Golf Community, 9802 Pelican Preserve Blvd. Golfer registration deadline: May 23, 2015. To sponsor, register a team or donate an item for the auction, contact: Sharon Brotherton: 239-334-0047 or info@leebar.org or Amanda Bartley, Event Chair: abartley@kelleykronenberg.com
May 2015 | RES GESTAE
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Legal Briefs Cross named managing partner at Goede, Adamczyk, DeBoest & Cross Brian Cross has been named managing partner of Goede, Adamczyk, DeBoest & Cross, PLLC. Cross had been the head of litigation at the Naples-based firm formerly named Goede, Adamczyk & DeBoest, PLLC since 2011, and practices in the areas of business litigation, construction litigation, real estate litigation and general commercial litigation. Cross received his B.A. degree from the University of Central Florida in 2005, graduating magna cum laude. In 2008, he earned his J.D. from the University of Florida, Levin College of Law. Cross is an active member of the community as a volunteer judge for the Collier County Teen Court Program. As a two-term elected Fire Commissioner with East Naples Fire District, he helped lead and successfully consolidate East Naples Fire District and Golden Gate Fire District into the Greater Naples Fire Rescue District.
Hertz joins Roetzel & Andress Scott J. Hertz has joined the Fort Myers office of Roetzel & Andress LPA, where he will continue to focus his practice on construction, commercial and real estate litigation. In addition to his litigation work, Hertz has represented clients in front of multiple Southwest Florida City Councils dealing with municipal ordinances. While in law school, he performed an externship for U.S. District Judge John E. Steele and an internship for the U.S. Attorney’s Office assisting with complex fraud cases involving financial lending institutions and investment entities Hertz has also worked in the technology industry at IBM Global Solutions, and as an entrepreneur at his own technology consulting company, Intelligent Solutions, where he provided project management, system architecture and business process engineering for Fortune 1000 companies. Later he became a builder/developer in Southwest Florida, and he maintains licenses as a Realtor and general contractor.
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RES GESTAE | May 2015
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Legal Briefs Nieds joins Henderson Franklin Mark Nieds has joined the Intellectual Property team at Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., after relocating to Southwest Florida from Chicago where he practiced law for 20 years. Nieds advises clients on domestic and international intellectual property issues, including new product launches, corporate rebranding projects, rights acquisitions and licensing. He represents trademark owners in cease and desist matters and infringement and counterfeiting actions. He also handles copyright registration and licensing, developing trade secret protection strategies, and intellectual property due diligence projects. In addition, Nieds assists clients in internet-related legal issues, including the creation and implementation of privacy policies, terms of use agreements, user agreements and DMCA compliance. He also handles domain name litigation and cybersquatting matters.
Schwinghamer appointed secretary for the Guardian ad Litem Foundation Jamie B. Schwinghamer has been appointed secretary of the Executive Board for the Guardian ad Litem Foundation - 20th Judicial Circuit, Inc. (formerly known as Voices for Kids of Southwest Florida, Inc.). A litigation attorney in the Naples office of Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP, Schwinghamer concentrates her practice in the areas of probate, trust, guardianship and complex commercial litigation. The Guardian ad Litem program recruits and trains volunteer child advocates to represent abused, neglected and abandoned children in court, school, the child welfare system and the community. Guardian ad Litem teams strive to monitor and advocate for the child’s safety, educational, health and social needs, and to represent their best interests throughout the duration of an open case and until a safe, stable and permanent placement can be achieved. In the 20th Judicial Circuit, there are approximately 1,433 court-supervised children who have been abused, neglected or abandoned.
Looking for an Expert Witness to testify in real estate, business or construction litigation?
Call Attorney Kevin F. Jursinski He is deemed an “expert” and “specialist” by the Florida Bar in: Real Estate Business Law and Construction Litigation He is the only attorney in Florida who is board certified in all three areas simultaneously His Resume Includes: • More than 30 years legal experience • More than 30 years as a Florida Licensed Real Estate Agent • More than 30 year member of Attorney’s Title Fund • Qualified and testified as an expert witness in: * US District Court * 20th Judicial Circuit in Lee, Collier and Charlotte Counties • Appointed as a special master for Real Estate Disposition matters • AV Preeminent rated by Martindale Lawyers Magazine • Five-time Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers Magazine • Published Author: Florida Bar Journal
Kevin F. Jursinski, B.C.S. (239) 337-1147 | Kevin@KFJLaw.com | www.KFJLaw.com May 2015 | RES GESTAE
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the Lee County Bar Association’s
100 C l u b Absolute Law
Garvin Law Firm
Prather and Swank, P.A.
Aloia Roland & Lubell, LLP
Geraghty, Dougherty, Edwards, P.A.
Patrone & Kemp, PA
Arend & Sisk, P.A.
Goldberg, Racila, D’Alessandro & Noone, LLC
Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, P.A.
Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice & Purtz, P.A.
Pavese Law Firm
Bonita Springs City Attorney’s Office
Green, Schoenfeld & Kyle, LLP
Costello Royston & Wicker, P.A.
Grossman Law & Conflict Management
Boyle Gentile & Leonard, P.A.
Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP
Rubinstein & Holz, P.A.
Burandt, Adamski & Feichthaler, P.L.
Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A.
Calvo & Calvo
The Law Offices of Kevin F. Jursinski, P.A.
Sheppard, Brett, Stewart, Hersch, Kinsey & Hill, P.A.
Coleman & Coleman
Knott Ebelini Hart
Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys PA
Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A.
Kuhn Law Firm, PA
Steinberg & Linn, P.A.
Cole Scott & Kissane, P.A., Bonita Springs Office
Kushner & Kushner
Strayhorn and Persons, P.L.
DeBoest, Stockman, Decker, Hagan, Cheffer & Webb-Martin, P.A.
Lee County Legal Aid Society, Inc.
Toll Law
Engvalson & Associates, P.A.
McQuagge Law Firm
Florida Rural Legal Services
North Law Firm, P.A.
Fort Myers City Attorney’s Office
O’Halloran & O’Halloran, Attorneys at Law
Weldon & Rothman, P.L.
Fowler White Boggs, P.A.
Osterhout & McKinney, P.A.
The Wilbur Smith Law Firm, PLLC
Fried & Fried, P.A.
Parvey & Frankel Attorneys, PA
Yeslow & Koeppel, P.A.
Rhodes Tucker Roetzel & Andress, L.P.A.
Levins & Associates, LLC
Viles & Beckman, LLC Webb & Scarmozzino, P.A.
Is your firm part of the 100 Club? Any firm with 2 or more attorneys and 100% membership in the LCBA qualifies. If you feel your firm is eligible fax a listing of your attorneys to (239) 334-0523 and we will let you know.
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LCBA Summer Poetry
C
S
ontest “Both poetry and law are acquired tastes, all the more surprising, to have such tastes ac quired by a single pers on University College of ,” wrote West Virginia Law Professor James R. Elkins, editor of anthology Lawyer Poet the s and That World We Ca ll Law. We know that some me mbers put pen to pape r for more than legal br lawyers are competiti iefs. We also know ve, so the LCBA is holdi ng a poetry contest. If yo warming up for the ta u’ll need a little sk, we’ll give you a lon g deadline. Perhaps yo will inspire some origi ur summer travels nal verse. Poems will be judged by the Young La and the winner’s poem wyers Division, published in Res Gestae . Send an original poem on any topic and in an y style, of less than 40 lines, to resgestae@lee bar.org by August 31, 2015. Poems will be judged for origi nality, expression and writing skill. Send us your vers e!
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RES GESTAE | May 2015
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