The following is an RSS driven aggregation of the 50 most recent blog posts by lawyers in the State of Florida (Read more about the process...). This is not an exclusive club! If you know of another blogging Florida lawyer, please send a note to Steve Matthews or Ron Chapman and we will get them added to the mix!

• FHP Ready to Bust Drunk Drivers in Fort Myers and Elsewhere after Memo from Captain

  January 29th, 2012

  A memo from Captain Tim Culhane was discovered by FOX4 News that questioned why troopers didn't make any drunk driving arrests in Fort Myers and elsewhere in 2011. In the memo, he asked troopers to start working every other Friday night until a DUI arrest is made. This leads many residents to beli... [Link]
• Hands Off that Ballot Box!

  January 27th, 2012

  Florida's Republican primary is just a few days away and many, if not most, of the community associations in our state are in the midst of their own ROC board elections. What better time to remind unit owners in condominiums and cooperatives about the procedures that must be followed if the associat... [Link]
• Do We Need New Laws to Prevent Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Fraud?

  January 27th, 2012

  The new Personal Injury Protection (PIP) legislation being trumpeted by Rick Scott and Kevin McCarty (insurance commissioner) is simply a series of methods to attack a problem by saddling honest consumers with more regulation and less benefit. The claim is that the PIP system is so filled with fraud... [Link]
• Winter Garden Family Law: I Am Right and You Are Wrong

  January 27th, 2012

    Relationships and Difficult Conversations Have you ever had a conversation with someone that started out badly from the get-go? Have you ever had a difficult conversation with someone that just blew up and got completely out of control?   Kiki and I help people understand how to communic... [Link]
• Depreciation: One Perspective on Calculating Actual Cash Value

  January 27th, 2012

  Many insurance policies include a section titled "Definitions," which defines certain terms used throughout the policy. The meanings of those terms are frequently the subject of litigation. A perfect example is the case I write about this week. Despite the fact that Actual Cash Value (&quo... [Link]
• Jacksonville Woman Uses Baby As Human Shield, Father Arrested

  January 27th, 2012

  Jacksonville families have many things that plague their lives and cause problems with husband, wife and children happiness. Unfortunately, sometimes these stresses push people over the edge. When this happens, one should contact an experienced attorney to fight for one’s case and ensure that one... [Link]
• Police Stops Vehicle After Leaving Florida Pain Clinic

  January 27th, 2012

  Over the last few years, we have seen how police in Florida have taken a much greater interest in so-called pain clinics, making a multitude of arrests of a wide range of people from the owners and doctors at the pain clinics to the people who use the prescription medication obtained at the pain cli... [Link]
• MANCINI V. SATZ

  January 27th, 2012

  Click here for Chris Mancini's filing in the Democratic primary against SAO incumbent Satz.                       GODSPEED MR. MANCINI! [Link]
• Dump Truck accident at Miami Heat game

  January 27th, 2012

  This one is one for the records, on the WSVN 7 morning news last Wednesday there was a report of a concrete dump truck colliding into several parked police vehicles and a palm tree just outside the American Airlines Arena where there was a Heat Game about to start. No one was injured aft... [Link]
• Somebody Wants John Ruiz's Yacht!

  January 27th, 2012

  What kind of scoundrel would seek to deprive a hard-working lawyer of his yacht?Oh yeah, the bank. [Link]
• Bankruptcy's Effect Upon Government Security Clearance And Job

  January 27th, 2012

  People working for the U.S. government in sensitive positions are frequently concerned that filing bankruptcy will jeopardize their government security clearance. I have not heard from any of my own bankruptcy clients that their bankruptcy caused them to lose their... [Link]
• SB 1196 (Anti-Maronda) heading to Senate Judiciary Committee

  January 27th, 2012

  With the legislative session in full swing it appears that some legislators are pushing SB 1196 and its companion HB 1013, and are determined to wipe out common law implied warranties relating to residential construction. SB 1196 is sponsored by Senator Michael S. "Mike" Bennett (R),... [Link]
• Okaloosa County's First Unified Family Court Established in Crestview

  January 27th, 2012

  Last year, Okaloosa County, Florida created its first Unified Family Court in Crestview. Okaloosa County Circuit Judge Terry Ketchel was appointed to preside over the court. According to Ketchel, the court was set up to bring related domestic issues into the same courtroom before a single judge. [Link]
• New Electronic Road Signs in Lee County Concerning Residents about Money Wasted on Minimal Road Safety

  January 27th, 2012

  You may have noticed. There are new digital traffic message boards popping up on roadways throughout Lee County. According to NBC2, these boards cost the county nearly $6 million, but safe-driving advocates are saying it's the cheap way to reduce heavy traffic. The new system is called the Intell... [Link]
• Jacksonville and Florida Homeowners may have more Protection Under Recent Ruling

  January 27th, 2012

  It is no secret that foreclosure companies were using a wide array of fraudulent tactics at the height of the foreclosure crises. Practices like backdating documents and robo-signing were wide-spread, despite being illegal. Nevertheless, many foreclosures were approved even though the mortgage com... [Link]
• Florida Tax Crimes Defense Attorneys Whittel & Melton :: Palm Beach Tax Preparer Accused of Filing False Returns

  January 27th, 2012

  A 39-year-old Royal Palm Beach, Florida man has been charged with one count of filing a false personal income tax return for 2008 for himself and seven counts of filing false tax returns for his clients. He is also charged with fraudulently claiming the First-Time Home Buyer Credit and other tax cr... [Link]
• Ugly fight over federal judges

  January 27th, 2012

  Robin McDonald covers the dispute here in which the two Georgia senators agree that Jill A. Pryor and Mark H. Cohen should be federal judges, but they want Cohen to go to the 11th and Pryor to the district court even though President Obama is vetting them for the opposite positions:Republican Sens. [Link]
• Florida Auto Accident & Wrongful Death Attorneys Whittel & Melton :: Jury Finds Woman Guilty of Vehicular Homicide in Crash that Killed Triplet

  January 27th, 2012

  A Hudson, Florida woman accused of running down a group of young girls and killing one of them was found guilty by a jury Wednesday of vehicular homicide, culpable negligence manslaughter and reckless driving. The woman exited her front yard on November 5, 2010 enraged after an argument with her s... [Link]
• Better Watch Those Dismissals Without Prejudice!

  January 27th, 2012

  This is a fascinating opinion from Judge Cooke and a cautionary tale regarding what can happen when a client decides to no longer pursue a case after a dismissal without prejudice.First American may be entitled to attorneys’ fees and costs only if it is recognized as the prevailing party. In Flori... [Link]
• Two Arrests made in Connection with John Travolta's Stolen Car

  January 27th, 2012

  John Travolta, famous movie star and Florida resident, recently got the news that his 1970 Mercedes 280 SL will not be returned after Police made two arrests in connection with the grand theft. According to the reports, the two men have "chopped" the car and sold the parts. Travolta's Mercedes was... [Link]
• High Error Rates in State Crime Labs Lead to False Convictions

  January 27th, 2012

  One of the the problems I face when dealing with state crime labs is that the average judge or juror sees them as being actually infallible and wholly scientific.  This couldn’t be further from the truth.  The fact of the matter is that these crime labs are about as scientific as a tenth gra... [Link]
• Understanding the Importance of "Replacement Cost Value" Coverage, Part Two

  January 27th, 2012

  In my last post, Understanding the Importance of “Replacement Cost Value” Coverage, I explained that insurers are not permitted to withhold any depreciation under replacement cost value coverage for personal property claims. This post highlights a recent change to Florida Statute §... [Link]
• Are Lawyers Taking Costa Cruise Survivors Into Dangerous Legal Waters?

  January 27th, 2012

  As rescue and recovery attempts continue to try and locate the bodies of passengers missing from the Costa Concordia disaster, law firms in the United States are moving forward to file class action lawsuits against Costa Cruises and its parent company, Carnival Corporation, in Miami,... [Link]
• JAABLOG WELCOME

  January 27th, 2012

  LEAVE ALL FIELDS BLANK IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO POST YOUR COMMENTS ANONYMOUSLY(except the security code; it stops spam, and is the only required field)comments containing curse words will not postNorm Kent and Howard GreitzerSFGN Publisher Norm Kent Launches Citizens Against False Arrests... [Link]
• THURSDAY NOTES

  January 27th, 2012

  1.) Proud Papa - Howard Forman enjoying the massive turnout of lawyers and their assistants earlier today, during the training session in anticipation of Circuit Civil's eFiling debut this Monday; 2.) It's true! - Lisa Von Tefs is outta here, but she won't make any personal annou... [Link]
• FIU hosts Justice Alito at moot court finals

  January 26th, 2012

  Dean Alex Acosta was rightfully beaming tonight, as his law school had its final round of moot court with a bench of Justice Alito, Judge Marcus, and Judge Barkett.  Here is Acosta introducing the final round with the judges in the background:Lots of judges in town came to the festivities. ... [Link]
• How a third party committing sexual assault and allowing underage drinking at your house can land an innocent homeowner in a heap of trouble…

  January 26th, 2012

  First: Let’s talk about sexual assault. If you allow anyone to touch a child at your house, you will pay! Not only will the law come down hard on you but juries will too! Last month, a Levy County, Florida jury awarded a boy who was molested at his grandmother’s home by his uncle an award of... [Link]
• REPORTING OF TAX INFORMATION WITH YOUR PASSPORT APPLICATION

  January 26th, 2012

  Passports are not under the purview of the IRS, and generally do not involve tax administration issues. However, since 1986, U.S. passport applicants have to report certain information when they make their application. Code §6039E. Proposed Regulations on what must be reported were issued in 1992,... [Link]
• Pedestrian Accident in Fort Myers Critically Injures Teenager

  January 26th, 2012

  A recent pedestrian accident in Fort Myers left a teenager in critical condition at Lee Memorial Hospital, according to The News-Press. The 16-year-old pedestrian was trying to make his way across Palm Beach Boulevard by Orange River Boulevard when he was hit by a van. The accident happened around... [Link]
• Freddie Mac Offers Help to the Unemployed

  January 26th, 2012

  Earlier this month, Freddie Mac, mortgage giant, introduced a forbearance relief option for borrowers experiencing a hardship caused by unemployment. The plan will allow for a forbearance period of six months, which could be extended up to twelve months if borrowers meet certain requirements. Addi... [Link]
• Jury Trials in Probate

  January 26th, 2012

  Jury Trials in Probate  Our firm regularly demands jury trials in probate matters.  There are a variety of reasons for doing so, including the simple fact that it is a constitutional right of all citizens to preserve and guarantee a trial by jury in all proceedings.  Also important is the fact th... [Link]
• Speed Limits and Miami Shores Truck Accidents

  January 26th, 2012

  Speed-related Miami Shores car accidents and truck accidents are an especial concern. High-speed traffic accidents are more likely to cause fatalities and serious injuries, including brain injuries, burn injuries, and spinal cord injuries. This is because the force of a collision is considerably gre... [Link]
• When to Call a Miami Lakes Personal Injury Attorney

  January 26th, 2012

  When you are in a Miami Lakes car accident or sustain an injury through any incident, your first instinct is likely to seek medical attention and then to call an insurance company. However, there are times when you will want to contact a Miami Lakes personal injury attorney: 1) If you have sustaine... [Link]
• Florida Brain Injury: Income Determinations, Earning Capacity and Disability

  January 26th, 2012

  Among the often overlooked tasks of a Florida brain injury attorney is to establish a client’s degree of disability and loss of earnings capacity. Determining lost wages can have a major impact on a claim. The younger a victim is, the more complex the determination and the more critical the outcom... [Link]
• Should I be Careful when Hiring Someone to Assist me with my Foreclosure?

  January 26th, 2012

  Remember, there are almost always several options available to you to help defend against a foreclosure. One of the best options is to contact a Jacksonville Foreclosure Attorney who can help you through the process. However, you must be cautious. There are people out there who are trying to exp... [Link]
• Jacksonville Teen Breaks into Home, Charged with Burglary

  January 26th, 2012

  Recently Clay County Police arrested a young Jacksonville resident for allegedly breaking into another Police officer's home on Sunday morning. According to reports, Jarvis Guthrie, broke into the officer's home and had to be physically restrained until police were able to arrive and take the young... [Link]
• Five Things To Know About The Income Tax Break For Short Sales, Foreclosures, and Loan Modifications That Ends December 2012

  January 26th, 2012

  As discussed in our earlier post, a major tax break will end on December 31, 2012, that helps Florida home owners facing foreclosures, negotiating loan modifications, or working on a short sale of their home.  For several years, a federal law has exempted the amount that isn’t covered by the... [Link]
• Spot the Lawyer!

  January 26th, 2012

  It's a little hard to focus once the melee begins, but see if you recognize a lawyer in the middle of the contretemps onstage at the Cristina show yesterday involving the alleged bad butt doctor and her victims. [Link]
• The Evolution of the Tort of Bad Faith is Heavily Influenced by California Cases

  January 26th, 2012

  Someone recently asked me if bad faith tort claims originated in California. Although I cannot say that California is the jurisdiction in which bad faith claims were founded, I can safely say that the development of what we consider the current insurance bad faith tort cause of action is heavily inf... [Link]
• DUI Tampa Bay Mobile Version

  January 26th, 2012

  We previously launched our Mobile Tampa DUI News site.We have just launched  mobile versions of our DUI Tampa site and they can be viewed here Tampa DUI Lawyer Mobile on your Android or iPhone Tampa DUI Attorney Mobile or here . [Link]
• Tampa DUI Attorney Lawyer Mobile Site

  January 26th, 2012

  We previously launched our Tampa, Florida DUI News site and that can be viewed here http://www.widgetbox.com/widget/msite/mobile-site-jodiann-1/ We have just launched mobile versions of our DUI Tampa site and they can be viewed here Tampa DUI Attorney Mobile or here Tampa DUI Lawyer Mobile on... [Link]
• Judge Cohn Refuses to Stay Discovery Pending MDL Transfer.

  January 26th, 2012

   In light of the fact that the MDL Panel is meeting in Miami today, it seems timely to note this interesting opinion from Judge Cohn refusing to stay written discovery in a case that has been designated by the defendant for possible MDL transfer.Here is Judge Cohn's reasoning:Plaintiffs contend... [Link]
• What Should I Do If My Child Is Injured in a Florida Automobile Accident?

  January 26th, 2012

  In Florida, children are the unfortunate victims of automobile accidents. When a child is injured in an automobile accident, a parent often times has questions, challenges, and issues as to medical treatment, medical bills, pain and suffering, loss wages and other issues. When faced with these iss... [Link]
• 73-year old man pleads guilty in large fraud case

  January 26th, 2012

  Via Curt Anderson:A prominent businessman pleaded guilty Wednesday to fraud in a $135 million real estate scheme that fleeced hundreds of investors, including the Roman Catholic prep school he once attended. Gaston Cantens, 73, faces up to five years behind bars after pleading guilty to a single... [Link]
• Royal Caribbean President's Email Blast Insults Crime Victims

  January 26th, 2012

  Yesterday one of my clients, who I will call Jane Doe, contacted me after receiving an unsolicited email from the President of Royal Caribbean Cruises, Adam Goldstein. The e-mail addressed her by her first name.  It seemed to be personalized to her.  It recognized her a... [Link]
• Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’s Resignation a Reminder that Recovering From a Serious Traumatic Brain Injury Can Be a Tough, Long Road

  January 26th, 2012

  This week, Rep. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) handed in her resignation from the US Congress. The 41-year-old congresswoman sustained a traumatic brain injury over a year ago when she was shot in the head outside a Safeway in Arizona. The shooter, Jared Lee Loughner, injured 19 people on January... [Link]
• North Carolina Death Row Inmate's Letter Describing "Life of Leisure" Adding to Death Penalty Debate

  January 25th, 2012

  We've written about the conditions over on California's Death Row and how at least one inmate has made the news requesting the death penalty because life would be better for him on Death Row rather than serving life imprisonment at another California facility.  (Read our posts about Billy Joe J... [Link]
• Can You Rely On Your Insurance Agent To Obtain Adequate Insurance Coverage For Your Business Or Home?

  January 25th, 2012

  Countless angry and distressed homeowners and business owners contact our firm because they’ve just experienced a property loss and found out they are severely underinsured. Nearly every underinsured policyholder tells a familiar story: “My agent told me I was fully insured and I relied... [Link]
• Cruise Law News Discusses Costa Concordia Disaster on LexBlog

  January 25th, 2012

  The following is from LexBlog TV which hosts our firm's blog Cruise Law News: By far and away, the most encapsulating part of the news surrounding the Costa Concord shipwreck in Italy has to be the remarkable and unbelievable imagery. But while the images of the ship lying on its side, half abo... [Link]
• Bus collision in the news

  January 25th, 2012

  As usual catching up with the morning news saw this report on the WSVN 7 channel, that I had to write about. This accident occurred in Miami yesterday, a FedEx delivery truck collided with a Miami-Dade Transit bus. Multiple people suffered injuries after a Miami-Dade Transit bus and FedEx truck co... [Link]

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