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!
- Mandatory Marriage Counseling Prior to Divorce … Oklahoma Considers Taking the Plunge
Sunday, March 14, 2010 4:53 am
Oklahoma has the third highest divorce rate in the country. More than half of all marriages there go by the boards. In 2007, the state had over 28,000 marriages – and almost 19,000 divorces. A lot of divorces for a state of reportedly regular churchgoers. The high rate of divorce in Oklahoma is blamed on widespread poverty, teen pregnancy and ... [Link] - A Beautiful Day In Miami - Cruise Ship Capital of the World
Sunday, March 14, 2010 3:15 am
Today was a beautiful day in Miami - 68 degrees, bright blue skies, and a gentle breeze from the south. This is the type of weather which reminds me why I live in Miami. My family decided at the spur of the moment to drive over to South Beach. All afternoon long, jet - after - jet flew over Miami ... [Link] - DEFEND BILL GELIN!!
Saturday, March 13, 2010 11:29 pm
BROWARD BLOG UNDER ATTACK- THE DBR ARTICLE IS HERE. Some nincompoop - blowhard-slug who is (hold your nose....ughh) an insurance defense lawyer and who is president of some organization called the Broward County Bar Association (motto: "duhhh...we hate dade") is taking on Bill Gelin who runs the Broward Blog. If you happen to be in some backwater sewer in Broward ... [Link] - Hillsborough County Defense Attorney Launches redesigned website
Saturday, March 13, 2010 11:29 pm
Hillsborough County Defense Attorney Launches redesigned website. http://www.duihillsborough.com/DUIHillsborough.htm [Link] - Pedestrian Killed in Downtown Jacksonville After Being Hit By Car
Saturday, March 13, 2010 10:57 pm
A man was walking on Main Street in downtown Jacksonville, Florida when he was hit by a car. He died from his injuries according to an article on News4Jax.com. According to the article, charges may be filed against the driver of the vehicle. In serious vehicle versus pedestrian accidents like this one, it is important for personal injury/wrongful death attorneys ... [Link] - INHERITED IRA DOES NOT RECEIVE FEDERAL BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION
Saturday, March 13, 2010 8:41 pm
A Bankruptcy Court in Texas has ruled that unlike a traditional individual retirement account (IRA), an inherited IRA is not an exempt asset in bankruptcy under federal bankruptcy exemptions. The basis of the ruling is two-fold. First, to be exempt, the funds in the IRA must be “retirement funds.” While the funds would be retirement funds as to the original ... [Link] - Toyota Diminution of Value Lawsuits: Toyota Class Action Lawyer
Saturday, March 13, 2010 7:11 pm
Whether you live in Florida, New York, California or any state and are the owner of a Toyota car, truck, or SUV, your Toyota Automobile may have just dropped in value. We all know there will be many Class Action Lawsuits against Toyota. Here is one class action that you may not have considered. Even if Toyota fixes the problems ... [Link] - 2010 and Estate Planning using Alaska Community Property Trusts
Saturday, March 13, 2010 7:11 pm
Given that there is not estate tax this year, individuals with assets that are exposed to large capital gains upon the death of the first or both spouses have begun to look at using an Alaska Community Property Trust to help reduce the tax liability that occurs when the first spouse dies. If you live in a state like Florida ... [Link] - Hillsborough County Defense Lawyer - New Resource
Saturday, March 13, 2010 7:11 pm
Hillsborough County Defense Lawyer Launches redesigned website. http://www.duihillsborough.com/DUIHillsborough.htm [Link] - Bicycle Accidents Can Be Serious !
Saturday, March 13, 2010 4:08 pm
At The Dellutri Law Group, we have had the pleasure of helping many individuals injured in bicycle accidents. Bicycle accidents can cause very serious and permanent injuries. Usually, it is a careless driver or landowner which causes the bicycle accident. Did you know that Bicycle riders were required to obey all the traffic laws in Florida? This pertains to children ... [Link] - IRS Audits the Uber-Wealthy
Saturday, March 13, 2010 1:40 pm
Reporter: Hey, Willie, why do you rob all them banks? Willie Sutton: ‘Cause that’s where the money is. The New York Times reports that the Internal Revenue Service has lived up to its word and is intensifying its scrutiny of wealthy Americans: The federal agency increased its audits of taxpayers who earned $1 million to $5 million by 33 [...] [Link] - An Insurer's Actions May Excuse Mitigation Requirements
Saturday, March 13, 2010 1:40 pm
(Note: This Guest Blog is by Corey Harris, an attorney with Merlin Law Group in the Tampa, Florida, office. This is part of a series he is writing on post-loss duties). I recently took the deposition of an independent adjuster who worked on behalf of one of the larger insurers in the state. While most of the deposition was pretty ... [Link] - Should Toyota face criminal penalties?
Saturday, March 13, 2010 1:40 pm
How can Toyota have actual knowledge of their cars sticky accelerators, give wrong information to the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and NOT face criminal penalty? Presently there is a Federal Grand Jury proceeding in New York, which is investigating the “timeliness of Toyota’s reporting of its sudden-acceleration complaints and fixes.” I am betting that the United States ... [Link] - A few facts on Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Saturday, March 13, 2010 12:46 pm
Millions of people in the United States suffer from some sort of traumatic brain injury (TBI), also referred to as a closed head injury, and may not even know it. TBI’s occur when the brain is subject to trauma. It is medically accepted that a person can suffer from a TBI even if not “knocked out” at the scene of ... [Link] - More Trouble for Princess Cruises Excursion Bus Driver
Saturday, March 13, 2010 12:42 pm
BVI Platinum News reports that cruise excursion bus driver Roland Allen is in trouble with the Tortola police again. Mr. Allen - known in the community as "Crash Dummy" - was the driver of the green excursion bus which crashed on "Windy Hill Road" on February 24, 2010 while transporting cruise passengers from a Princess Cruises' cruise ship. One cruise ... [Link] - Co-Signing Your Way To A 1009C
Saturday, March 13, 2010 12:42 pm
Practicing Consumer Bankruptcy Law is very interesting work. Usually, I get to tell bankruptcy clients good news. Sometimes, I have to deliver bad news about their bankruptcy cases. In a recent case, a young man purchased his first home several years ago, and naturally, the value of the home has dropped significantly. He tried modification and was turned down flat ... [Link] - Jacksonville, Florida – Two Year Old Girl Wounded During Drive-by Shooting
Saturday, March 13, 2010 11:50 am
At a home in Northeast Jacksonville, several children gathered recently for a child’s birthday party. The children were playing outside the home when witnesses say they heard a single gunshot. An unidentified two year old girl was hit by the gunfire. A resident of the home, Charlene Johnson, reported that there were several children playing outside at the time, and ... [Link] - Man Accused of Murder of His Son’s Mother and Under Cloud of Suspicion in Their Baby’s Death
Saturday, March 13, 2010 5:32 am
Mother and Father have Baby together. Mother and Father split up. Mother obtains injunction for protection against domestic violence from Father. During Father’s timesharing with Baby, Baby becomes “unresponsive” and subsequently dies. Mother believes Father is responsible for Baby’s death. Case is still under investigation. Father allegedly violates domestic violence restraining order, when he goes to memorial service for Baby. ... [Link] - Florida Swimming Pool Injury Attorneys Information on Liability Regarding Lakes & Pools
Saturday, March 13, 2010 4:24 am
Florida Negligence Law: Lakes & Swimming Pools Injury lawyers often state that a property owner is not liable for dangerous conditions that occur in natural or artificial bodies of water, except where there is an unusual condition not typically present in a similar body of water, or the condition constitutes a trap, or the landowner performs a willful or wanton ... [Link] - Should Toyota face criminal penalties for witholding information from the NHTSA?
Saturday, March 13, 2010 4:24 am
How can Toyota have actual knowledge of their cars sticky accelerators, give wrong information to the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and NOT face criminal penalty? Presently there is a Federal Grand Jury proceeding in New York, which is investigating the “timeliness of Toyota’s reporting of its sudden-acceleration complaints and fixes.” I am betting that the United States ... [Link] - Swimming Pool Accidents
Saturday, March 13, 2010 4:24 am
Injury attorney Andrew Alitowski recently authored an article about an insurance issue that involves a swimming pool accident. In May of 2008, the Nautica Isles West Homeowners Association and GRS Management Associates were sued in Palm Beach County state court regarding a swimming pool accident. The allegations of the law suit are that the plaintiff was exposed to dangerous, hazardous, ... [Link] - Child Support is Welfare, According to A Father and Attorney Who Allegedly Hasn’t Paid Up
Saturday, March 13, 2010 3:01 am
The reason? Because, a now-suspended attorney and father says, there is no accountability. To whom? Not specified. In his view, child support is, apparently, routinely diverted to: drug abuse gambling addiction “lawyer-generated controversies” partner support income destruction and father replacement agendas And, in his opinion, the government’s mandating of the payment of child support to the custodial parent is unconstitutional ... [Link] - Tax on Salt
Friday, March 12, 2010 11:51 pm
Don’t tell New York assemblymen Felix Ortiz, Margaret Markey and Nick Perry that they are do-nothing legislators. Overlawyered.com reports that this ingenious triumvirate has drafted a proposed law that would make it illegal for restaurant chefs to use salt in their recipes: Assembly members Felix Ortiz (D-Brooklyn), Margaret Markey (D-Queens) and Nick Perry (D-Brooklyn) have filed a bill that would ... [Link] - State Has the Burden of Proving DUI Defendant Freely and Voluntarily Submitted to Breath Test in Florida
Friday, March 12, 2010 11:51 pm
In Florida, when a person obtains a driver's license and is afforded the privilege to drive, he/she impliedly consents to a lawful breathalyzer test. This does not mean that the police can lawfully ask a person to take a breath test at any time. It also does not give the police the right to force anyone to submit to a ... [Link] - SFL Friday -- Rainy Day Windsurfing.
Friday, March 12, 2010 10:25 pm
Oh hail, can you believe it's Friday?As Bob Norman notes, Berger Singerman has put in a fee app for three months of Rothstein work, seeking a fairly sizable chunk of change:Here's the list: -- Lead bankruptcy attorney Paul Singerman's firm, Berger Singerman, is asking for a total fee of $1,230,974.50 for those 15 or so weeks of work, plus $28,092.06 ... [Link] - 14th Annual Fordham Sports Law Symposium
Friday, March 12, 2010 10:25 pm
On March 26, 2010, Fordham Law School will host the 14th Annual Fordham Sports Law Symposium. Harvard will also be hosting its Symposium on that day, so for all of you sports law afficionados, TGIF! While Mike will be moderating a panel at Harvard on CBA issues in the NFL, I will be moderating a panel at Fordham on age ... [Link] - Your Pharmacy Records and Doctor Shopping
Friday, March 12, 2010 10:25 pm
Recently, police here in Florida have been going to different pharmacies and obtaining copies of the pharmacy records of individuals suspected of doctor shopping. After some of those individuals were later charged with violating 2009->Ch0893->Section%2007#0893.07">Florida's doctor-shopping law, they argued to a judge that their rights were violated when the police obtained their records without a search warrant. One such case ... [Link] - Jury Sees the Truth About Tobacco Companies
Friday, March 12, 2010 8:51 pm
In Alachua County, located in the middle of the Sunshine State, a jury heard evidence from Big Tobacco in defense of deceased smoker. They rendered verdicts totaling $16 million against Big Tobacco. The jury did not believe Big Tobacco. The spin, the deceit, or the rewriting history apparently did not help Big Tobacco. Amanda Jean Hall sued Big Tobacco because ... [Link] - What to do if Your Roof has Wind or Hail Damage
Friday, March 12, 2010 8:51 pm
I have handled many cases where the roof on a business or home has been damaged by wind or hail. Storm damage to your roof is covered under your homeowners and business owners property insurance policy. Many times, the insurance company will do the right thing. Some times they don't. Common strategies to deny claims that I have seen include: ... [Link] - Is Water Damage From Frozen Pipes Covered?
Friday, March 12, 2010 8:51 pm
Typically, water damage from frozen pipes is covered under your homeowners policy. Some policies require that one of two conditions be met: The insured has to either maintain heat in the building, or shut off the water supply and drain all systems and appliances of water. (There is an exception to the exclusion if the building has a fire sprinkler ... [Link] - Fire My Lawyer?
Friday, March 12, 2010 8:51 pm
As specialists in Orlando car accident cases, we have people call or email, asking “Can I fire my car accident lawyer?” These individuals have been unable to speak to their lawyer, or have no idea what is happening with their car accident case. Others finally learn that after months, their lawyer has done very little on their case. They are ... [Link] - Attorney lounge dedicated to Judge Eugene Spellman
Friday, March 12, 2010 8:51 pm
There was a really nice luncheon today at the federal courthouse, naming the attorney lounge on the 14th floor the Eugene Spellman Attorney Lounge. Judge John O'Sullivan gave a great speech about Spellman -- telling stories about how Spellman judged cases and taught young lawyers. It was very funny and one got a sense of why everyone loved Spellman. Judge ... [Link] - Florida Gets Closer to Banning Texting and Driving
Friday, March 12, 2010 8:35 pm
If you're a Florida driver, you should think twice before texting and driving now more than ever. A bill to stop texting while driving has been unanimously approved by a House committee in the state's capital, Tallahassee. If the texting ban law is passed, Florida will join 19 other states that have already banned texting and driving. According to The ... [Link] - SORRY CARLOS & JACK - TRY PLAN "B"
Friday, March 12, 2010 7:50 pm
Great minds apparently think alike, but Carlos Llorente & Jack Thompson will have to proceed on a different theory if they're thinking of involving the Florida Bar about holding JAABLOG liable for any of the comments.Click here for the Florida Bar's letter to Jack dismissing his catch-all bar complaints (and ad nauseum amendments) regarding aiding and abetting, etc. The issue ... [Link] - Would You Ever Cruise? - The Inevitable Question
Friday, March 12, 2010 7:50 pm
Today we have another guest blog by Caitlin Burke who is a member of the International Cruise Victims organization and is interning at our firm. Caitlin's blog last week - Better Safe Than Sorry - Spring Break Safety Tips - was named one of Lexblog's Ten Best Blogs of 3,000 law blogs for the week! Caitlin's Cruise Blog: So it's ... [Link] - Lakeland-Based Publix Supermarkets Issues Recall On Possible Salmonella Tainted Products
Friday, March 12, 2010 6:36 pm
Florida-based Publix supermarkets issued a product recall on four seasoning mix packets for fear that they may contain salmonella. Publix cited its commitment to food safety as a reason for the food recall. Publix believes the vegetable protein contained in the packets may have been contaminated with salmonella. According to a story in the Orlando Business Journal, the possibly contaminated ... [Link] - UBS says IRS has 20 Swiss banks in its sights
Friday, March 12, 2010 6:36 pm
The Associated Press reported earlier today that, in a letter written to Swizz parliamentarians, UBS AG said that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service has collected information on the cross-border activities of about 20 Swiss banks in the course of its amnesty program for American tax evaders. The letter was written to urge the Swizz lawmakers to approve a treaty between ... [Link] - Rich Folks Flee Maryland, Say Goodbye to High Taxes
Friday, March 12, 2010 6:36 pm
Maryland should change it’s state motto from Fatti Maschii Parole Femine ¹ to “we hate rich people, please don’t leave.” The Wall Street Journal reports in an op-ed titled Maryland’s Mobile Millionaires that soaking the rich, instead of creating revenue for states, actually loses revenue (emphasis added): We reported in May that after passing a millionaire surtax nearly [...] [Link] - Chapter 13 Debtors' Tax Refunds: Spend Or Turn Over To Trustee?
Friday, March 12, 2010 6:36 pm
Many taxpayer rely on their tax refunds to pay certain expenses they cannot afford on their normal salary. People who have filed Chapter 13 bankruptcy sometimes ask me what happens to their tax refunds during their bankruptcy. Do they have to hand over their refund to the Chapter 13 trustee, or can they keep their refund as long as they ... [Link] - Brain Injury Awareness Day - March 17, 2010 - Capitol Hill
Friday, March 12, 2010 6:36 pm
"Approximately 1.4 million Americans experience Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) each year and an estimated 3.2 million Americans are living with long-term, severe disabilities as a result of brain injury. Another 360,000 men and women are estimated to have been inflicted by a TBI in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The national cost of TBI is estimated to be $60 ... [Link] - 1St DCA Defines "Usual and Customary" Charges for Emergency Services Billed to an HMO
Friday, March 12, 2010 6:36 pm
Baker County Medical Services operates a rural, not-for-profit hospital, and provides emergency medical services to patients. Aetna Health Management and Humana Medical Plan are HMOs which provide health benefits to some of BCMS's emergency room patients. BCMS does not have a contract with Aetna or Humana. As a result, when Aetna and Humana's subscribers receive emergency medical services from BCMS, ... [Link] - The Truth is Burning Big Tobacco
Friday, March 12, 2010 4:18 pm
Ya gotta love those guys at Big Tobacco. Deny, deny, deny. If that doesn’t work, spin, spin, spin. If that doesn’t work, try reinventing history. In Florida, jurors have been hearing the truth about Big Tobacco antics over the years; and deny, spin, and lies is no longer working for them. Click here to view the embedded video. Thousands of ... [Link] - Federal judge dismisses much of homeless lawsuit against St. Petersburg
Friday, March 12, 2010 4:18 pm
It looks like a major victory for the city of St. Petersburg. A federal judge has tossed out nine allegations in a lawsuit that accuses St. Petersburg of violating the rights of homeless people by enforcing a series of punitive ordinances.Essentially, the ruling upholds the city's right to arrest people for sleeping during the day in downtown public rights of ... [Link] - Time For A Blogger Ethics Panel!
Friday, March 12, 2010 4:18 pm
With all the crazy and sometimes illegal doings in Broward lately, I can't believe the Broward County Bar Association has decided to devote time and effort to investigating a blog:A Broward County Bar Association committee will meet to determine whether the legal blog JAABlog — the premiere place for courthouse gossip — meets its professional standards.The professionalism committee plans to ... [Link] - The Broward Bar Association has nothing better to do...
Friday, March 12, 2010 4:18 pm
... than ask whether the JAABlog is acting professionally. From this morning's DBR:A Broward County Bar Association committee will meet to determine whether the legal blog JAABlog — the premiere place for courthouse gossip — meets its professional standards. The professionalism committee plans to hold a closed-door meeting April 1 at the behest of association president Carlos Llorente.Closed door? Really? ... [Link] - Employer's Auto Policy Doesn't Apply to Injuries to an Employee
Friday, March 12, 2010 4:18 pm
Cabellero was driving a company vehicle on the job when he crashed, killing himself and injuring Bautista, a co-employee. Bautista sued Caballero's estate for his personal injuries. Mercury Insurance, the employer's commercial auto carrier, brought a declaratory judgment action against Bautista seeking a declaration that an exclusion precluded coverage under its policy. Cross motions for summary judgment were filed. The ... [Link] - Man Falls Down Elevator Shaft in Fort Lauderdale
Friday, March 12, 2010 4:18 pm
An insurance adjuster fell down an elevator shaft at the Las Olas By The River Condominium. It seems that the man was at the building on business when he saw a dog's leash caught in the elevator doors. He ran over to assist the dog owner in attempting to free her dog. When the man pried the doors of the ... [Link] - Feds Arrest Alleged Mafia Member on Miami Beach
Friday, March 12, 2010 4:17 pm
The FBI with assistance of Italian law enforcement authorities arrested key figures allegedly connected with the Mafia. The arrests come as a result of the international crackdown on worldwide organized crime syndicates. Federal agents arrested Roberto Settineri at his Miami Beach home and charged with money laundering and a slew of other federal offenses. The arrest comes after a three ... [Link] - Professional Liability Endorsement Provides No Coverage For Claim that Directors Failed to Detect Ponzi Scheme
Friday, March 12, 2010 3:53 pm
In Heather Appel v. Lexington Insurance Company, ____ So.3d ____ (Fla. 5th DCA February 26, 2010, the 5th DCA was asked to determine whether a professional liability endorsement in a commercial general liability policy provided coverage to directors of a company who were sued by investors for breach of fiduciary duty. The allegations stemmed from the directors alleged failure to ... [Link] - OECD Recommends Tax Increases to Stimulate Growth
Friday, March 12, 2010 3:36 pm
“I will cut taxes – cut taxes – for 95 percent of all working families, because, in an economy like this, the last thing we should do is raise taxes on the middle class.” - Barack Obama - You rarely see anyone, even Democrats, offer up the idea of tax increases as a solution to economic contraction, but [...] [Link]
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