Florida

Fla. Man Spent 2 Months in Jail for Drinking Herbal Tea

A Florida man facing a burglary charge is once again free on bond, after his lawyer persuaded a judge that he had seemingly violated the terms of his bond unintentionally, by drinking a cocaine-containing herbal tea. Meanwhile, however, suspect Jerome Klein spent two months in jail in Broward County after…

Jun 27, 2008 5:23 PM CDT

FAMU Law School Finds No Evidence Fen-Phen Lawyer’s Gift Was Tainted

The law school at Florida A&M University says there is “no objective evidence” that a fen-phen lawyer’s $1 million gift to the school in 2002 came from tainted money. The statement by FAMU officials said they are still deciding how to use the money donated by lawyer Shirley Cunningham, reports…

Jun 24, 2008 4:48 PM CDT

Lawyer to Use Google Search Stats to Defend Obscenity Case

A lawyer for a pornographic website operator plans to use statistics from Google to establish community standards in Florida. Lawyer Lawrence Walters plans to introduce evidence that Pensacola residents are more likely to search Google for terms like “orgy” than for “apple pie” or “watermelon,” the New York Times reports.…

Jun 24, 2008 1:53 PM CDT

13 Years, 10 Judges and 16 Lawyers Later: No Divorce Settlement for Marlene

Marlene hasn’t gotten much out of litigating against her husband, Bob, during the 13 years they’ve been battling in divorce court. He’s moved out of state, so Florida judges are essentially powerless to enforce a judgment against Bob—even if he would reveal the assets that Marlene believes he is hiding…

Jun 23, 2008 9:45 PM CDT

Miami Lawyer Jailed for Missing Trial Is Released on $10K Bond

A Florida judge who sent a Miami lawyer to jail for missing a trial agreed to set bond at $10,000 two days later. The lawyer, Jonathan S. Schwartz, was released Wednesday night after posting bond, the Naples Daily News reports. He appeared in court earlier that day in shackles and…

Jun 19, 2008 5:47 PM CDT

Another Layer of Mortgage Fraud in Vacant Condo Units

A glut of vacant condominium units due to the mortgage meltdown is creating increased opportunities for criminals. Among the scams now reportedly on the rise as a result: squatters (often engaging in undesirable activities, such as prostitution) and non-owners posing as legitimate landlords and renting vacant units out to unsuspecting…

Jun 19, 2008 4:59 PM CDT

Former Fla. PI Lawyer Pleads in $300K Client Theft Case

A lawyer in South Florida pleaded no contest today to stealing almost $300,000 in client settlement funds. Patrick Joseph Dooley, 45, is expected to get between five and 20 years in prison when he is sentenced in September, reports the Miami Herald. ”It’s a tragedy,” says Broward Assistant State Attorney…

Jun 18, 2008 9:02 PM CDT

Fla. Law Firm Traffic Case Guarantees Rile Clients

Clients in Collier County reportedly are complaining about several Florida law firms that have given money-back guarantees in traffic cases and then fought losing court battles on behalf of their clients. Although the guarantees apparently may work better on the state’s East Coast, where the law firms are based, they…

Jun 16, 2008 3:56 PM CDT

Fearing Foreclosure, Debtors Sue Lenders Over Excessive Mortgages

Rather than waiting for lenders to foreclose, a group of struggling borrowers in Florida has turned the tables by suing those who gave them mortgages they can’t afford to pay. “They have beaten their lender to the courthouse by filing lawsuits that allege the institutions committed fraud and violated federal…

Jun 12, 2008 6:27 PM CDT

National Fishing Registry—and Fee—Planned for US Anglers

A national registry for U.S. recreational anglers was proposed yesterday by the National Marine Fisheries Service, as part of a plan to keep track of the fish that are being caught throughout the country. The registration requirement, which would begin next year, will not immediately require individuals to pay a…

Jun 12, 2008 6:06 PM CDT

Lawyer Agrees to Reprimand for Blog Tirade About Judge

A Florida lawyer has agreed to a public reprimand and ended a First Amendment fight over his critical blog post calling a judge a witch. Sean Conway of Fort Lauderdale refused to comment for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel on his decision to resolve his case. But his lawyer, Fred Haddad,…

Jun 11, 2008 10:42 AM CDT

Latin Launch for DLA Piper? Firm Mulls Possible Brazil, Miami Offices

Although it already has an active Latin American practice, DLA Piper doesn’t have any offices in South America. That may soon change, predicts the Lawyer, now that the firm has added former McDermott Will & Emery tax partner Stuart Berkson to its attorney roster. With 28 years of experience in…

Jun 10, 2008 5:21 PM CDT

YouTube the Crime, YouTube the Time: Fla. Judge Orders Online Apology

Two cental Florida pranksters who posted a YouTube video of their drink-tossing attack on a fast food drive-through counter worker have been ordered by the judge in their battery and criminal mischief case to film and post an apology for their misconduct. In addition to serving 100 hours of community…

Jun 10, 2008 4:41 PM CDT

South Florida Law Firm’s Website Worries Ethics Experts

A full-time adviser to the Miami-Dade County mayor in South Florida also happens to be a lawyer. And, on the website for Gazitua Letelier, the law firm of which Luis Andre Gazitua, 32, is a founding partner—at least until recently—was a photograph of Gazitua looking into downtown Miami from an…

Jun 9, 2008 4:35 PM CDT

Porn Producer Convicted for Obscenity in Florida

An actor and producer who calls himself Max Hardcore was convicted of obscenity charges yesterday by federal jurors in Tampa, Fla. The producer, whose real name is Paul F. Little, was convicted of distributing obscene material on the Internet and through the mail, report the St. Petersburg Times and the…

Jun 6, 2008 3:29 PM CDT