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SARASOTA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION FEBRUARY 2020 VOL. 37, NO. 2
SARASOTA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION FEBRUARY 2020 VOL. 37, NO. 2
COUNCIL FOR
DiVERSiTYAND
INCLUSION
SARASOTA COUNTYBAR ASSOCIATION
What We Don’t Think We Think:The Neuroscience of Decision Making
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The Docket · February 2020 3
VALENTINE’S DAY
Robert Garcia, Esq. Berlin Patten Ebling, PLLC
By ROBERT GARCIA, Esq. Berlin Patten Ebling, PLLC
Sarasota is known for its excellent array of restaurants from fine dining to eclectic cafes. While
most residents have their usual eateries that they venture to for a romantic evening, Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion to create new memories with your loved one. In the spirit of love, the below restaurants are great date spots for you and that special someone.
♥ Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant: Mar Visa is the quintessential Florida date spot. Located on the north end of Longboat Key and with a rich history dating back over a hundred years, Mar Vista’s cuisine consists of locally sourced seafood. For an appetizer, the brussels sprout cooked with ginger, soy, and siracha aioli are a mouthwatering start to an idyllic evening. While the food is outstanding, the ambience is second to none. A recently renovated interior perfectly balances an Old-Florida vibe with a modern touch. The outdoor seating is what sets Mar Vista apart from many
other great Sarasota restaurants. Perfectly situated underneath tropical vegetation draped with white lights, outdoor guests get a front row view to Sarasota Bay. While the drive to north Longboat may be a deterrent for some, a romantic evening spent at Mar Vista will not disappoint.
♥ El Melvin Cocina Mexicana: Many Sarasotans have been clamoring for a new Mexican restaurant in the downtown area. El Melvin, which opened in November 2019 where Two Senoritas was located on Main Street, is a lively spot to enjoy craft tacos and strong margaritas. El Melvin is ideal for a fun date night with live music, street inspired Mexican food, and a wide selection of premium tequila. The daily happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. is the best-kept secret in downtown Sarasota. Happy hour frequenters will enjoy $6 margaritas, complimentary chips and salsa, and $4 guacamole. The recently renovated interior, with brightly colored seating and non-traditional pop art, will be sure to spark up conversation. El Melvin is a welcome addition to the downtown scene that
By WILLIAM D. MOTHERWAY, J.D. Risk Manager, Sarasota County
For the February edition of The Docket, I was asked to write a piece on the history of Valentine’s
Day: one of the most profitable days of the year for floral, chocolate, greeting card and restaurant businesses. For the MLB Spring training Grapefruit League, all pitchers and catchers have reported and will begin readying themselves for the tortuously long baseball season (logarithmically more torturous if you’re a NY Met fan). But I digress.
The ancient Romans were the originators of quite a few of our traditions and festivities, many focused on paying homage to pagan gods. Over the centuries, though, we have adopted a more civilized
Suggestions for a special Date Night in Sarasota
Origins of the holiday that everybody loves
See ORIGINS, Page 7
will provide a fun date night whether it is a first date or 10,000th date.
♥ Spice Station: If you are looking for a night out with sushi and sake, there are no shortage of local options. Spice Station, located in the trendy Rosemary District, delivers incredible sushi and Thai food. The wide-reaching menu will have a delicious option for everyone, regardless of one’s taste for sushi. Spice Station’s attentive service, coupled with charming courtyard seating, provides an intimate date night atmosphere.
♥ Perq Coffee Bar: For the rare, but enjoyable, morning dates, Perq Coffee will exceed your coffeehouse expectations. Situated on Hillview Drive, Perq Coffee’s new age aura is an ideal spot for the couples looking to lounge and take their time. Perq’s extensive list of specialty brewed coffees and teas will have the coffee experts rejoicing. Perq offers fresh ingredients on their avocado toast, flaxseed bowls and breakfast-themed sandwiches. Aside from the distinctive brews and bites, couples will enjoy great lounge space to relax and let the conversation flow.
and meaningful approach to these holidays.
There does not appear to be a consensus on the origin of Valentine’s Day, instead there are a few different, but eerily similar, theories. Two popular stories involve martyred Christian saints, who may have been the same person, both named Valentine.
St. Valentine of Rome – Against the edict of Emperor Claudius II, Valentinus married couples to spare the young men from war. Thrown in jail, legend also has it that this St. Valentine signed a letter “from your Valentine” to his jailer’s daughter, whom he had befriended and healed from blindness. Refusing to renounce his faith, he was beheaded.
St. Valentine of Terni – The Bishop of Terni, it is said that upon hearing two lovers quarreling,
Valentino gave them a rose and begged them to hold it between their hands together without getting pricked by its thorns. Some time later the couple returned and asked him to join them in marriage.
Another version of this story has it that the saint was able to inspire love in the young couple by making several pairs of pigeons fly around them and exchange sweet gestures of affection - from this episode the spread of the expression “lovebirds” is said to have originated.
While in Rome preaching and evangelizing, Claudius asked him to renounce his religion. Valentino refused and was, as predicted, beheaded. If your name is Valentine, please avoid people named Claudius.
Another narrative on the history of Valentine’s Day posits that
William Motherway, J.D. Risk Manager, Sarasota County
The Docket is a publication of the Sarasota County Bar Association. All articles printed herein are the
property of the Sarasota County Bar Association and may not be reprinted without permission.
PUBLISHER: SCBA Executive Director Holly Lipps
EDITORS: Mallory Moretti, Esq. and Pamela Hernandez, Esq., Berlin Patten Ebling PLLC
DESIGN AND EDITORIAL CONSULTATION: Peter M. Gentile, petermichael associates
The Docket encourages submissions of interest to SCBA members. Contact the SCBA office via e-mail ([email protected]) or phone (861-8180) for further information. The Docket is published 10 months a year. Deadline is the first Friday of the month preceding the month of publication.
Sarasota County Bar AssociationBoard of Directors 2019–2020
n W. Andrew Clayton, Jr., President Icard Merrill [email protected]
n Jennifer L. Grosso, President-Elect Bentley & Bruning, P.A. [email protected]
n Mark A. Haskins, Treasurer/Secretary Mark A. Haskins, P.A. [email protected]
n Nancy E. Cason, Immediate Past President Syprett Meshad [email protected]
n Jeanne M. Bennett, Director O’Brien & Bennett, P.A. [email protected]
n Stacy Dillard-Spahn, Director Law Office of Robert L. Lincoln [email protected]
n Edwin L. Ford, Director Edwin L. Ford, P.A. [email protected]
n Jason Gaskill, Director Adams and Reese, LLP [email protected]
n Adria Jensen, Director Shumaker [email protected]
n Dana B. Keane, Director Keane & Keane [email protected]
n Amanda R. Kison, Director Bentley & Bruning, P.A. [email protected]
n Bonnie L. Polk, Director Williams Parker [email protected]
n Neil T. Lyons, Director Luhrsen Goldberg [email protected]
n Brian D. Goodrich, YLD President Bentley & Bruning P.A. [email protected]
n Bryan S. Kessler, SCD President Berg & Kessler [email protected]
n Holly Lipps, Executive Director [email protected]
The Docket · February 2020 5
From time to time a friend or work colleague will ask me how my workday is going and I will
remark facetiously that I am, “loving the law.” Notwithstanding that somewhat smart-alecky response, it’s true.
One of the themes of this month’s Docket is loving the law. Therefore, I thought I would take that somewhat silly remark and really express my feelings about the practice of law. In last month’s Docket, I wrote about gratitude and how thankful I am to practice the type of law that I do and to work with my outstanding colleagues at Icard Merrill. But, what is it about legal practice that appeals so much to me?
I believe I answered that question when I had lunch last week with a friend of mine who works in the financial services business. As we usually do, we asked each other about how our respective work was going and he commented, “Gee, I bet you feel pretty good when you can help people out.” I agreed, and I said he must feel gratified when he can help his financial planning clients out. And then he asked me about some of the cases I have worked on that were particularly meaningful to both me and my clients. I relayed the following two case stories to him.
One of the cases involved a fraud-ulent investment scheme many years ago that was run by the leader of a bible study group in Venice. In short summary, the “teacher” convinced his students, many of whom were retirees, to invest with him. He told them that with the “Lord’s help” he would achieve investment returns of “more than 14% annually.” As you probably guessed, the money vanished. When I was approached by an elderly couple who had lost their entire life’s savings we were all concerned that it would be difficult to collect on any judgment. As luck (or perhaps faith) would have it, we did ultimately recover all of their losses after some hard fought litiga-tion because the defendant agreed (amazingly) to sell his homestead in order to pay the investors back.
Months later, the defendant, who was a tall, physically-imposing man in his early 70s with a somewhat menacing demeanor, called me and asked to meet on a particular week-end when I happened to be prosecut-
SCBA NEWS
“Loving the law” — It’s more than an offhand remark
Drew Clayton, Esq. Icard Merrill
SCBA PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
ing (as an Army Reserve JAG officer) some Army administrative proceed-ings in Tampa. He wouldn’t tell me why he wanted to meet with me, but he assured me that he intended no harm. I finished my Army obligation that particular Saturday and met him in my uniform at a diner in Tampa. The sole purpose of our meeting, it turned out, was for him to ask for my forgiveness! I couldn’t imagine why he wanted me to forgive him; that was something he should have asked of my clients. Nonetheless, I think this repentant man helped me appreciate that because he respected the unique role of lawyers in seeking justice, my forgiveness was import-ant to him. So, I willingly forgave him, wished him well, and we parted ways.
The other case I told my friend about involved a fraudulent hedge fund in Louisiana, which resulted in the loss of my Exxon Mobil retiree client’s entire retirement account of more than $1 million. Against very tough odds, we recovered money from the only financially viable defendant, a clearing broker whose negligence facilitated the theft of our client’s money. After winning the case in a securities arbitration proceeding in New Orleans, we had to litigate the confirmation of that award through the Louisiana trial and appellate courts. By the time we prevailed in the litigation, my client, whose name was Emmett, was diag-nosed with Stage 4 lung cancer and was near the end of his life. I will never forget traveling to his bedside outside of Baton Rouge on an early spring day in 2011 and letting him know in person that we had won and that his wife and two children
MEMBERSHIP
The following represents each new member’s name, law school, year of admission to The Florida Bar, and law firm association.
n John Buchan: Florida State University; 2018; Jeffrey S. Howell, P.A.
n Gerri Kish: WMU Cooley Law School; 2016; Lotus Law, PLLC
n Elizete Velado: Florida State University; 2012; Mallard Law Firm
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would be taken care of with the money we recovered. Emmett had lost a great deal of weight and he was barely recognizable. In spite of his weakness, Emmett’s eyes bright-ened when I delivered the good news and he gripped my arm with both of his hands and cried. I wept too. Emmett died the next day.
When I returned to my office after that lunch meeting, I realized that talking about those cases (which I hadn’t done in many years) reminded me of the unique opportunity we have as lawyers to make a real difference in our clients’ lives. We can change the imbalance of power and resources that can frequently turn others’ lives inside out. We can be champions for those who might otherwise have no chance to advo-cate successfully for themselves.
Do I love the law?
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The Docket · February 2020 7
YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION
Brian Goodrich, Esq. Bentley & Bruning, P.A.
YLD PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
This past month, the Young Lawyers Division hosted a swanky Second Thursday at
Sage SRQ. Thanks to Alisa Heedy and her social committee for pulling off yet another successful #YLDSecondThursday.
On January 10–11, YLD Board Members Rob Young and Caroleen Brej attended the Florida Bar YLD Affiliate Outreach Conference in St. Petersburg. There, Rob and Caroleen met with leaders from other local bar association affiliates from around Florida and brought back great ideas for our YLD to implement. Rob and Caroleen also presented a grant application for the Mock Trial Competition to the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division. Fingers crossed! Major shout out to Rob and Caroleen for attending the AOC and to Sara Castro for preparing our grant application.
Speaking of Mock Trial, on Saturda,y February 8, the YLD is hosting the 12th Judicial Circuit Mock Trial Competition at the Judge Lynn N. Silvertooth Judicial Center. The Mock Trial Competition is a gargantuan undertaking spearheaded by co-chairs Sara Castro (YLD President-Elect) and Patrick McArdle,
for the Mock Trial Competition. While trial experience is helpful, it is not necessary. Volunteering will only take a couple hours out of your Saturday and will be deeply fulfilling. Having judged the competition in the past, I can say with confidence that you will be wowed at the level of talent and commitment of the high school students in our community. These kids are outstanding “young litigators” and are incredibly appreciative of our time.
Finally, February 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Fifteenth Amendment, which prohibits the federal government and the states from denying the right to vote based on “race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” As we descend deeper into a significant election year, take time this month to reflect on the tremendous struggle to vote experienced throughout our country’s history—a struggle that our country has failed to eliminate. Take time to recognize the importance of equality in our community and our country and consider what you can do to further it.
Happy February, Team!
(YLD Secretary) and their Mock Trial committee: Vivian Bastawros, Andrew Conaboy, Jennifer Hicks, Patrick Iyampillai, Patrick Hale, and Robert Garcia.
The Mock Trial Competition requires coordination with courthouse administration, multiple area high schools, volunteer judges, volunteer scoring judges, and timekeepers. It also requires the Mock Trial Committee to obtain enough sponsorships to cover the costs to open the courthouse on a Saturday and the cost for food for participants and volunteers.
In 2019, six Sarasota and Manatee County area schools participated in the Mock Trial Competition.
This year, the Mock Trial Committee anticipates eight schools compet-ing. Expanded participation means increased costs for both security and food. The winning team will compete in the statewide Mock Trial Competition in Orlando, Florida this year. Thank you very much to all the Mock Trial Sponsors and to the Mock Trial Committee for putting on this wonderful program.
If you have the opportunity, I strongly encourage you to volunteer
Jam-packed February includes Mock Trial
towards the end of the 5th century the church, through Pope Gelasius I, moved to replace a pagan holiday, Lupercalia, with St. Valentine’s Day.
Lupercalia, celebrated fertility and included both an agricultural and human tilt. Unfortunately, during this “celebration” the pagan god-pleasing prayers were accompanied by animal sacrifices and the whipping of women with animal skins. The more the woman bled, the more fertile and desired, she would be.
In the 14th century, February 14th gained official holiday status and became a celebration of love and romance, and today nearly $20 billion is spent on cards, flowers, dinners, jewelry and other gifts. In 1861 the very first heart shape Valentine’s chocolate box was
created by Richard Cadbury in an effort to increase his chocolate sales. In fact, over $2 million transfers hands on candy alone each year.
Esther A. Howland is recognized as the creator of the American Valentine’s Day card. With numbers reaching 190 million cards sent every year, Valentine’s Day is the second most popular card-exchanging holiday right after Christmas. The first Hallmark card was created in 1913, and teachers receive the most, followed by mothers and wives.
My wife of one month has informed me that if I ever forget her on this special day, the foiled dream of a beautiful, loving and pampering day would require me to drop to the ground, and beg for forgiveness while listening to the extensive list of all male failures dating back to 1438. Like Al Bundy, I would keep paying the ultimate price. Instead of getting away with a little chocolate
and flowers, I would need to cough up something majestic accompanied by my soul in a jar. My error would never be forgotten.
I will take the time and learn a lesson from history and survive this amazing, loving day.
Much to the joy of 1-800-Flowers and Hallmark, we have come a long way from the days of animal sacrifice and fertility rituals, with Valentine’s Day now symbolizing friendship, love, and romance.
Happy Valentine’s Day to all.
Continued from Page 3
ORIGINSVALENTINE’S DAY
We have come a long way from the days of animal sacrifice and fertility rituals, with Valentine’s Day now symbolizing friendship, love, and romance.
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The Docket · February 2020 9
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
By CAROLEEN BREJ, Esq. Bentley and Bruning, P.A.
Heralded as the first woman to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court and the first Afri-
can-American poet, Lucy Terry Prince was born in Africa around 1724. After being kidnapped as a baby, she was brought to Bristol, R.I., where she was sold into slavery.
Around the age of 4, Ebenezer Wells of Deerfield, Mass., purchased Lucy Terry and took her to live with him and his wife, who had no chil-dren of their own. It is believed that the Wellses viewed and treated Lucy Terry as more of a member of their family than simply a “servant for life,” and that she learned to read and write during that time. Deerfield historian George Sheldon said that “Lucy was a noted character and her house a great place of resort for the young people, attracted thither by her wit and wisdom, often shown in her rhymes and stories.”
By the age of 21, Lucy Terry was a gifted storyteller whose poetry was either recited or sung. A distinguished pioneer poetess, Lucy Terry was a singer of history
who accurately narrated events and happenings. It is said that Lucy Terry following the African tradition of the griot, orally preserving the traditions of people over generations.
In 1746, when a town in Deer-field was violently attacked by the Abenaki, a Native American Indian tribe, Lucy Terry composed her only known work, a ballad titled “The Bars Fight,” which consists of twenty-eight lines in irregular iambic tetrameter and historically chronicles the deadly attack. The poem opens:
“August ‘twas the twenty-fifth Seventeen hundred forty-six; The Indians did in ambush lay, Some very valiant men to slay.”
Incredibly, for over a century, her poem was orally passed on, repeated over and over to each new listener and generation. Not until it was published in 1855, was the poem ever recorded. “The Bars Fight” is described as the most accu-rate historical account of the 1746 attack.
In 1756 Lucy Terry became a free woman when she married Abijah Prince, who was twenty years her
Lucy Terry Prince: Breaker of chains, mother of freedom, singer of history
By PAMELA HERNANDEZ, Esq. Berlin Patten Ebling, PLLC
This February, we celebrate Black History Month and honor the lives, stories, and accomplish-
ments of African Americans through-out American history. As a young black attorney, I am both reminded and humbled by the dedication, perseverance, struggles, and triumph of my predecessors, the many black members of the legal profession in Florida, and in the United States, who devoted their lives to the prac-tice of law.
Both known and less known, the following are a few trailblazers of the practice of law, justice, politics, and legal education that paved the way for attorneys like me to succeed. Trailblazers like:
n John M. Langston, who founded Howard University
Law School in 1869, in Wash-ington, D.C., and served as its first Dean;
n Joseph E. Lee, who was the first black lawyer to practice in Jacksonville, Fla., in 1873, and served as a state legislator in 1875–1879, and 1881–1882, and then as a municipal judge in 1888;
n John Wallace, a former slave who then became a practicing attorney in the state of Florida in 1874;
n Jane Matilda Bolin, who was the first black woman to grad-uate from Yale Law School in 1931, and was the first black woman to be appointed as a lower court Judge in the U.S.;
n Bernice Gaines Dorn, who was the first black female attorney to be admitted to the Florida Bar in 1958;
n Paul C. Perkins, Sr., who was
the first black city prosecutor in Orlando in 1965, and dedi-cated his life to the fight for justice;
n Leah Simms, who was the first black female Judge in Florida in 1981;
n Barack Obama, who was the first black student to be elected as President of the Harvard Law Review in 1990, and eventually went on to become the first black President of the United States;
n and our very own Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Charles Williams, who began his service on the Circuit Court Bench in January 1998.
Each with truly remarkable stories and lives full of achievements, sacrifice, honor, and grit. They are the giants upon whose shoulders we stand.
A tribute to some of the black legal professionals who blazed the trail
Pamela Hernandez, Esq.Berlin Patten Ebling, PLLC
Caroleen Brej, Esq.Bentley and Bruning, P.A.
See LUCY TERRY, Page 11
©LOUISE MINKS. USED BY PERMISSIONA painting of Lucy Terry Prince by Louise Minks.
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The Docket · February 2020 11
SOUTH C OUNT Y DIVISION
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
I hope everyone has had a wonderful beginning to the new decade (it is hard to believe that it is 2020).
A noteworthy issue caused by the new decade and our inherent desire to abbreviate the year, is that the abbreviation for 2020 (“20”) leaves people potentially vulnerable to fraud and may invite trouble by those looking to exploit unsuspecting people. For example, a document dated “1/2/20” can easily be changed to “1/2/2019.” Unless you want someone to try and backdate a contract, a check, or some other important document, I implore everyone to set aside their desire to abbreviate and use the full year when signing important things.
Getting back to business, while there were no activities to report on in January, the South County Division has two upcoming events that should be of great interest to everyone.
First, the division will be hosting its annual wine event beginning at
5:30 p.m. on February 6 at Venice Wine and Coffee in Venice. For those who have not attended in the past, I strongly encourage you to do so. With the generous support of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, there is no charge to attend this event, which includes a delicious selection of wine. There will also be a large selection of hors d’oeuvre that will complement the wine. This event has been well attended in the past, and we hope for nothing different this year.
The second event is the annual Sporting Clays event scheduled to take place on March 6. This
event is a signature event for the division and has grown in popularity over the past few years to the extent we will be utilizing all four courses at the Sarasota Gun Club. I would be remiss if I did not thank my partner, Skip Berg, for all he dedicates to this event. With well over 100 attendees, there is a lot
Wine tasting and sporting clays on the calendar
Bryan Kessler, Esq. Berg and Kessler
SOUTH COUNTY PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
that goes into the preparation and coordination of the golf carts, guns, and ammunition. We will also be serving delicious food catered by Village on the Isle. For those who have not yet participated, or received an invitation from Skip, I would encourage you to attend. It is a great time out of the office shooting guns at clay targets with our fellow colleagues.
An event unrelated to the South County Division I would encourage everyone to attend is the “What We Don’t Think We Think: The Neuroscience of Decision Making” being put on by the SCBA Council for Diversity and Inclusion. This event will feature Florida Supreme Court Justice Alan Lawson, along with Judge Charles Williams and Judge David Denkin. In addition to showcasing terrific legal minds, it also looks to be exciting and very informative.
As Porky Pig would say, “th-th-th-that’s all folks!”
Continued from Page 9
LUCY TERRYsenior and already a free man. In the 18th century, Lucy and her husband were the only known freed slaves in Deerfield. Together, they had six chil-dren. No one know how, but each were born free, despite a law which held that the mother’s condition as a slave would be passed on to her children.
Abijah Prince was commonly known as “Bija,” and Lucy went by “Luce Bija,” indicative of their local notoriety and Lucy’s growing reputation as a storyteller and poet. Together, Lucy and her husband welcomed slaves and freedmen into their home where they listened to stories and music of her native home Africa. A new generation of young people gathered and engaged in book clubs, and were entertained with recitations, music, and poetry.
The Princes moved to Vermont and lived on a 100-acre parcel of land. In 1790, their neighbor, Colonel Eli Bronson, laid claim to and attempted to take part of the Princes’ land. Several lawsuits
ensued. Ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court heard the case. Col. Bronson was represented by two prominent attorneys, one of whom became the chief justice of Vermont. The Princes were represented by Isaac Ticknor, who later became the governor of Vermont. Ticknor drafted the plead-ings on behalf of the Princes, but because of her talent as an articulate orator, Lucy argued the case herself. Lucy won, successfully defending her family’s rights. The presiding judge, Samuel Chase of Maryland, commended Lucy and acclaimed that she presented a better argument than he had ever heard from any lawyer at the Vermont bar.
In 1794, Lucy’s husband died. Every year until her own death in 1821, at the age of ninety-seven, she
made the eighteen-mile pilgrimage on horseback to her late husband’s grave. The following is an excerpt from her obituary: “In this remark-able woman there was an assemblage of qualities rarely to be found among her sex. Her volubility was exceeded by none, and in general the fluency of her speech was not destitute of
instruction and education. She was much respected among her acquain-tance, who treated her with a degree of deference.”
Significantly, Lucy Terry Prince’s obituary is the first time that her name was publicized. It is also remarkable because her obituary is historically accurate and unusually long, especially for a woman at that time. Its emphasis on her skill and education is highly extraordinary given that women were not supposed to possess such qualities. Her obit-uary reflects the magnitude of her accomplishments as a black woman and former slave.
Lucy Terry Prince overcame insurmountable odds and never took ‘no’ for an answer. She looked every challenge and fear in the eye. She broke her own chains of slavery and fearlessly fought for universal freedom, while keeping her native African culture alive for future generations. If she were alive today, there is no doubt that Lucy Terry Prince would be tearing down soci-etal norms, breaking glass ceilings, empowering women, and paving the way for future generations.
She broke her own chains of slavery and fearlessly fought for universal freedom, while keeping her native African culture alive for future generations.
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The Docket · February 2020 13
By EDWIN L. FORD, Esq. Edwin L. Ford, P.A.
The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King urged us to “Fight Darkness with Light.” What we now know
(and love) as Chapter 44 of the Flor-ida Statutes – Mediation Alternatives to Judicial Action — attempts to do just that.
Chapter 44 of the Florida Statutes is an assemblage of pieces which began to take form in 1987 and continues to this day. As with Dr. King’s admonition and as with all legislation Chapter 44 is evolving. We have made great strides on both fronts but a great deal of work remains to be accomplished.
Let me say from the outset that as a means of avoiding the delays and expenses of trials as well as a means of fighting darkness with light mediation is a superb vehicle in my view. Florida has pioneered mediation statutes and rules but they are flawed. It seems to me that the time has come to reform the mediation process as it is practiced in Florida. I favor more light and less darkness.
It’s been said that “you can’t make an omelet without breaking (a few) eggs.” In other words, “Some-times you have to do unpleasant things in order to complete a task or meet a goal.” I admit to having made a few omelets in my career as a mediator. You may even have observed that first hand.
Many a seasoned mediator has opined that if you don’t break multi-ple rules you will never get a case settled. So, let’s begin by breaking three rules eggs.
First, section 44.1011(2) of the Florida Statutes defines “Mediation” as a “nonadversarial process.” What nonsense! When is the last time a lawyer took a “nonadversarial” matter into mediation! By the very nature of our legal system, lawyers are engaged in the resolution of adversarial matters. People don’t come to lawyers to resolve cordial occurrences in their lives.
The Cambridge English dictio-nary defines delusion as “belief in something that is not true.” Allow me to suggest that it is the height of delusion to believe that the parties in mediation are not adversarial to each other and that the process of media-
tion is not tainted by the emotions of the parties.
I find more and more frequently that the lawyers on each side of the “nonadversarial” mediation process suggest that there be no opening statements so as not to exacerbate the already heightened anger and bitterness of the parties toward one another.
As we all know from experience, people are at each other’s throats after spending years and thou-sands — if not tens or hundreds of thousands — of dollars in litigation expenses in the hope that a judge or a jury will agree with them. Then, they will be deemed vindicated. What foolishness!
Just as St. Paul wrote, “To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law.” Surely anger, bitterness and hatred were in the world before there was mediation. After all, Eve listened to Satan and transgressed God’s instruction. And “Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.” But while St. Paul was eminently correct in his observation, it would be foolish of us to think that anger did not arise absent the alleged nonadversarial mediation process or that anger is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no mediation.
I propose that we stop deluding ourselves with the idea that mediation is a nonadversarial
process and revise section 1011(2) of Chapter 44 of the Florida Statutes to include the statement that “mediation is an effective means of avoiding the delays and expenses of litigation. It has been devised as a nonadversarial process but can be as adversarial or cordial as the participants’ desire.”
Second, section 403(1) of Chapter 44 of the Florida Statutes provides in pertinent part that a “Mediation communication” means an oral or written statement, or nonverbal conduct intended to make an asser-tion, by or to a mediation partici-pant made during the course of a mediation, or prior to mediation if made in furtherance of a mediation.” (emphasis supplied) What exactly is “nonverbal conduct intended to make an assertion?” Isn’t intent a
function of the speaker or in this case the actor? How is a mediator supposed to ascertain intent espe-cially if the conduct in question was performed “prior to mediation?”
I propose that we strike the words “or nonverbal conduct intended to make an assertion” and “or prior to mediation if made in furtherance of a mediation” and add the words “in the presence of the mediator” leaving us with “‘Mediation communication’ means an oral or written statement by or to a mediation participant made during the course of a mediation and in the presence of the mediator.”
I realize that this will transform the mediator into a decision maker if he or she is to determine what is and what is not a “mediation communication”. In practice, he or she is already burdened with that function.
Third, sections 401 through 406 of Chapter 44 of the Florida Statutes “may be known by the popular name the ‘Mediation Confidentiality and Privilege Act.’” I remember the first time I read a pleading after having unsuccessfully conducted a mediation conference. The pleading blatantly violated the Mediation Confidentiality and Privilege Act by reciting verbatim much of what was said and done during the mediation conference. So much for confidentiality!
Absent judicial intervention, I propose that we “Make every effort to live in peace with every-one” and “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.” Despite being imprisoned on numerous occasions, I genuinely believe that if Dr. King were still alive he would wholeheart-edly agree.
In 1982 Ken Sande founded what is now known as Peacemaker Ministries in Montana. The mission of Peacemaker Ministries is to “Equip and assist every Christian and their churches to respond to conflict biblically.” Today, Peacemaker Ministries consists of a group of Christian lawyers in the
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
A modest proposal to reform mediation in Florida
See MEDIATION, Page 17
Edwin L. Ford, Esq. Edwin L. Ford, P.A.
Can the law firm you refer your Personal injury Cases to answer yes to these 10 questions?
1. Does the attorney try cases several times each year?
2. Does the attorney have the ability to show you recent trial results?
3. Does the attorney have over 20 years of experience working for the insurance companies so that they have gained an insight into how to oppose and/or sue the insurance companies?
4. Is the attorney Board Certified in Civil Trial Law?
5. Is the attorney AV rated by Martindale Hubbell?
6. Does the attorney have the financial strength to take on significant injury cases?
7. Is the attorney located in the 12th judicial circuit?
8. Will the attorney pay you a referral fee in accordance with the rules regulating the Florida Bar on every case no matter how big or small?*
9. Is the attorney available to speak with you at any point during the referral to give you status updates as you request?
10. Is the attorney willing to take on challenging cases that other law firms or attorneys may not be willing to handle or would turn down due to the amount of work involved?
refer your Cases to the mallard law firm, beCause our answer to these 10 questions is yes.
damian mallard, esq.Mallard Law Firm, P.A.
889 North Washington Blvd.
Sarasota, Florida 34236
(P) 941-952-1682
www.MallardLawFirm.com
*Rules regulating the Florida Bar permit a 25% referral fee without any involvement of the referral attorney other than making the introduction to the client. Any additional fees require court approval and involvement of the referring attorney in the handling of the personal injury matter.
MEDIATIONJAMES ROLFES & GARY LARSEN
BOARD CERTIFIED TRIAL ATTORNEYS
Let our 70+ years of Litigation Experience work for you.We are available to mediate in all areas of civil litigation throughout
Southwest Florida. We have state-of-the-art conference facilitiescentrally located at our Fruitville Road Sarasota office.
James RolfesCertified Circuit Civil MediatorProfile Page:dglawyers.com/attorneys/a-james-rolfesContact Layne to Schedule941.552.4602
Gary LarsenCertified Circuit Civil & Federal Mediator
Profile Page:floridamediators.org/gary-larsen
Contact Carol to Schedule941.552.4606
DICKINSON & GIBBONS, P.A.ATTORNEYS AT LAW
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The Docket · February 2020 15
See CLERK, Page 17
Court jurisdiction thresholds changeNow that the eating, singing and celebrating of 2019 is
finished, we begin 2020 looking forward to another great year in Sarasota County. I want to ensure that
you are aware of changes to the jurisdictional thresh-olds for small claims and county court. This will effect attorneys directly when filing new cases on the e-Portal. The changes are a result of House Bill 337 — County
Court Jurisdiction, effective January 1, 2020. In addition, the Florida Supreme Court issued SC19-1354 amending the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, Florida Small Claims Rules and the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure in SC19 -1354. Below you will find a summary of the changes for your reference:
n County court jurisdictional thresholds increase to $30,000 on January 1, 2020, and to $50,000 on January 1, 2023.
n Small claims cases on January 1, 2020, will include cases up to $8,000.
n Filers will be required to include a civil cover sheet specifying the dollar amount in dispute in cases exceeding $8,000 in value.
n The new law maintains current rules that limits the provision of
subsidized court mediation services to county court cases with an amount in controversy up to $15,000.
n State law provides that on January 1, 2020, appeals of county court orders or judgments with an amount in controversy greater than $15,000, will be heard by the district courts of appeal until January 1, 2023, when the provision repeals.
Corresponding updates to the e-Portal will be imple-mented on January 1, 2020, including the updated civil cover sheet. Please note that there are no changes to filing fees, as the fee required is based on the value of the claim or action, and does not depend on whether it is consid-ered a circuit or county level action. All of these changes apply only to new cases filed on January 1, 2020, or thereafter.
A handy one page flyer which summarizes the changes can be accessed at the following link: https://www.drop-box.com/sh/0rxul3pu5xjczvk/AADFetoslCoNsCTR6DilcG-y9a?dl=0&preview=KnowYourCourtFlyer-8.5x11.pdf.
There are also several instructional videos available on line at the following links:
Attorney Focused: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vMe3AW1T20&feature=youtu.be
Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQUP-bHyk11s&feature=youtu.be
Small Claims Changes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbrkiajqc5s&feature=youtu.be
County Court Changes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjLwvjVgb_I&feature=youtu.be
We know these changes are significant and we are
CLERK’S C ORNERCALENDAR OF EVENTS
CLERK’S CORNER
Karen E. Rushing Clerk of Court and County Comptroller
Business Law n February 11, 12:00 p.m. at the Sarasota Yacht Club. “How to Assist Hackers and Identity Thieves- Part I.” Join Harold McFarland of McFarland & Associates, Inc. for Part 1 of a three-part series on cybersecurity and how to protect your firm from attack by hackers. CLE APPROVED FOR BOTH 1.0 GENERAL CREDIT AND 1.0 TECHNOLOGY CREDITS. Please note that although this a three-part series, attendants will be able to appreciate and understand the content of each individual presentation regardless of whether they have attended a prior presentation. Similarly, members of the SCBA are not required to attend prior presentations to receive CLE credits for each individual hour.
Family Law n February 13, 12:00 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Sarasota. “Alimony: Past, Present and Future” with guest presenter Mark A Sessums, Esq. Mr. Sessums will present a survey of alimony law in Florida that includes a brief history and the present state of alimony law along with a review and analysis of the current pending proposed legislation and the impact this legislation will have on the Family Law practitioner. CLE APPROVED FOR 1.0 CREDITS.
Second Thursday at Grand Cru Wine Barn Join us on Thursday, February 13, for an informal networking mixer at Grand Cru Wine Bar, 1528 Main Street. Stop by any time between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to enjoy wines and craft beer on tap!
The self-serve tap system allows guests to try many different varietals without purchasing an entire glass.
Special pricing on select wines, $10 meat/cheese plate, $5 chocolate truffles.
Sporting Clays Event n The 10th Annual Sporting Clays Event will be held on Friday, March 6, at the Sarasota Gun Club. Lunch and registration begins at 11:30 a.m., and instruction and shooting starts at 1:00 p.m. Your registration includes a BBQ lunch, shotgun rental, 50 clay targets, 2 boxes of ammunition and safety orientation. If you are a beginner, instruction will be available. Join us for a fun afternoon out of the office...spouses and guests are welcome!
ALL SUITES FORALL OCCASIONS.
Luxury two-room suites with a view and plenty of workspace.
Impress your clientswith our beautifulmeeting space.
Meet for craft cocktails and carefully prepared cuisine at
Bridges Restaurant.
202 North Tamiami Trail | Sarasota, FL 34236 | 941-256-0190 | embassysuitessarasota.com
Locally sourced, carefully prepared. Receive a 25% discount* when you present your
Sarasota County Bar Association card.
202 North Tamiami Trail | Sarasota, FL 34236 | 941-536-9107 | bridgessarasota.com*Discount only applies to food and cannot be combined with another coupon.
The Docket · February 2020 17
NEWS OF NOTE CLA SSIFIED ADS
EMPLOYMENTAssociate Attorney - Bradenton: Associate Attorney needed for established, full-service Bradenton law firm. Two to 5 years’ experience in civil litigation desired. Understanding of community association law a plus. Willingness to learn probate matters also a plus. Competitive salary, commensurate with experience. Please send resume and cover letter to Hiring Partner: Porges, Hamlin, Knowles & Hawk, PA, 1205 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34205 or email to [email protected] Administrative Assistant - Venice: Long standing small boutique law firm located in Venice, Florida specializing in estate planning, probate and trust administration, Medicaid planning, and special needs planning is seeking a part time administrative assistant. Position may develop into full time employment. Duties will include all receptionist type duties, paralegal duties such as document preparation and executions, assisting in probate and trust administration, Medicaid applications, scheduling appointments, follow up with clients. Good interpersonal skills and computer skills necessary. Submit resume to: [email protected] Attorney – Bradenton: Grimes Goebel Grimes Hawkins Gladfelter & Galvano, P.L. (“AV” rated law firm) is seeking an experienced litigation attorney. Candidates should have excellent research and writing skills, along with practical case management experience including attending hearings and conducting depositions. Candidates should also be proficient at Microsoft Office, Westlaw, and billing software. Competitive salary with benefits based on experience. Candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and salary history to [email protected]. Communications will remain confidential. We are not accepting third-party/recruiter submissions.
OFFICE SPACEOffice Space – Downtown Sarasota: Executive Suites off of Fruitville Road in Downtown SRQ available for immediate move in. We have multiple spaces available to fit your needs. Rental rates start at $400 per month and include utilities, kitchen, unlimited use of two conference rooms, video conference equipment, copy room, phone system, and cleaning. Please call Rebecca Curry at 365-2296 for more information.Share Office Space – Downtown Sarasota: Looking for an attorney with a compatible practice to share office space in the Northern Trust Building in downtown Sarasota, or for an associate/partner in Wills, Trusts, and Estates to join established AV rated practice. Call David Silberstein, Esq., 941-953-4400 for more details. All inquiries confidential.
n Jesse R. Butler, a partner with Sarasota law firm Dickinson & Gibbons, P.A., has been selected as the 2020 Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award honoree for the 12th Judicial Circuit. This award encourages lawyers to volunteer free legal services to those in need by recognizing those who make outstanding public service commit-ments in each judicial circuit. Mr. Butler formally received this award on January 30, 2020 at the Florida Supreme Court.
n Assistant County Attorneys Joshua Moye and Bora Kayan have been appointed Deputy County Attorneys. Mr. Moye will supervise the Land Use Practice Group and Mr. Kayan will supervise the Litiga-tion Practice Group.
n Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP is pleased to announce that Part-ner Saralyn Abel Dorrill has been appointed to the Commercial Real Estate Alliance (CREA) Board of Directors, which was formerly the Commercial Investment Division of the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee. CREA brings together more than 300 commercial brokers and salespersons, lenders, lawyers, insurance agents, and profession-als involved in all aspects of the commercial real estate market.
n Williams Parker is pleased to announce attorney Nicole F. Christie has been appointed to the Real-tor-Attorney Joint Committee of the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee (RASM) for a two-year term which began January 1, 2020.
n The law firm of Blalock Walters, P.A. is pleased to welcome attor-ney Timothy S. Shaw to the firm’s real estate practice group. Shaw’s practice involves all aspects of real estate and financial transactions, including representation of local, high-profile projects including The Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Residences, the 100 Central and Whole Foods Market, L’Ambiance on Longboat Key, L’Elegance on Lido Key, and LaBellasara at Golden Gate Pointe. Shaw, formerly of the law firm of Kirk Pinkerton, brings over 38 years of real estate experience in the Sara-sota and Manatee markets.
n The law firm of Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen, and Ginsburg, P.A., is pleased to announce that Attorneys Lindsey A. Meshberger, Anthony J. Manganiello, and Stephen D. Rees, Jr., have been named shareholders of the firm. In addi-tion, Attorneys Natalie G. Coldiron and Jordan J. Riccardi were named members.
Wanted: News itemsHave you or a member of your firm achieved professional recognition? Have you hired a new attorney? Any other news of note? If so, we would like to hear about it. Email your “News of Note” items to scba@ sarasotabar.com.
Continued from Page 15
CLERK
Continued from Page 13
MEDIATION
committed to providing the support necessary for a smooth transition. If you have any questions or need further assistance please feel free to contact this office.
C OMMUNIT Y CALENDAR
Saturday, February 1, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.Sarasota Bay Guardians: South Lido Park Volunteer Day
Wednesday, February 12, 6:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.A Dazzling Evening at Michael’s Wine Cellar benefit-ing The V Foundation
Thursday, February 20, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.11th Annual Tidewell Hospice Signature Luncheon
Saturday, February 22, 7:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.Walk to Defeat ALS
Saturday, February 29, 5:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m.2020 Suncoast Heart Walk
Saturday, February 29, 6:00pmLip Sync Battle benefiting Take Stock
Looking for ways to give back to the community? Check out these opportunities!
State of Utah, other jurisdictions in the United States, and around the world who follow the biblically based model of dispute resolution.
Members of Peacemaker Ministries adhere to a philosophy which includes the following: “When families and organizations are in conflict, it can make even simple tasks seem impossible. The conflict very often becomes more personal the longer it goes on, and without intervention, could have long-term repercussions. Peacemaker Ministries specializes in walking with families, churches, ministries, and workplaces through difficult conflict to resolution and reconciliation.” (emphasis supplied). I humbly suggest that some aspects of this philosophy be incorporated into Chapter 44 and I firmly believe that Dr. King would embrace that philosophy also.
CLUB
Adams and Reese, LLP
Band Gates & Dramis, P.L.
Bentley & Bruning, P.A.
Berlin Patten Ebling, PLLC
Bowman, George, Scheb, Kimbrough, Koach & Chapman, P.A.
Boyer & Boyer, P.A.
Burgess, Harrell, Mancuso, Colton & La Porta, P.A.
The Byrd Law Firm, P.A.
Dickinson & Gibbons, P.A.
Dunlap & Moran, P.A.
Law Firm of James L. Essenson
Fergeson Skipper
Ferrari, Butler & Moneymaker, PLLC
Gibson, Kohl & Wolff, P.L.
Goodman McGuffey, LLP.
Grossman Roth & Partridge
Hale Law, P.A.
Hausburg & Ellis
Horlick & Corbridge, P.A.
The Sarasota County Bar Association 100% Club is a special category of membership that demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to the legal profession and our community from law firms, law departments and legal organizations that enroll 100 percent of their attorneys (two or more) as members of the Sarasota County Bar Association. If you think your firm qualifies, email a list of your associates to [email protected].
Hutton & Dominko, PLLCIngram & Bunecky Kirk-Pinkerton, P.A.
Lancaster & Eure, P.A.Law Offices of Ira S. Wiesner, P.A.
Loftus LawIcard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm,
Furen & Ginsburg, P.A.Mack Law Firm, Chartered
Maglio Christopher & Toale, P.A.Matthews Eastmoore
Muirhead, Gaylor, Steves & Waskom. P.A.
Norton, Hammersley, Lopez & Skokos, P.A.
O’Brien & Bennett Shutts & Bowen LLP
Syprett, Meshad, Resnick, Lieb, Dumbaugh, Jones, Krotec &
Westheimer, P.A. Van Winkle & Sams, P.A.
Williams Parker Harrison Dietz & Getzen
We recognize our 100% Club members:
Administrative Professionals’ Day
Team Trivia Luncheon
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
12:00 noon
Michael’s on East
We invite bar members and legal support staff to join us for an hour of fun, food, prizes, and dozens of entertaining and challenging trivia questions on movies/TV, history, geography,
literature, current events, sports and more!
Administrative Professionals’ Day Trivia Luncheon Wednesday, April 22, 2020—12:00 noon @ Michael’s on East
$30/person
Firm ____________________________________________________________ # Attending ________
Contact name: __________________________ Email: ______________________________________
(Please add names for reservations on page 2.)
Register online at sarasotabar.com or mail in your reservation to: SCBA, PO Box 507, Sarasota, FL 34230.
Deadline for paper reservations is April 15—after that date, please call our office at 861-8180.
“No Shows” and cancellations within 48 hours of event will be invoiced.
____Please check here if you have a disability that may require special attention or services. To ensure availability of
appropriate accommodations, attach a general description of your needs. We will contact you for further coordination.
Mark your calendars!
T E A M T R I V I A
Emceed by
Leslie Talbot, Esq.
T E A M T R I V I A
Administrative Professionals’ Day
Team Trivia Luncheon
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Please print clearly. List attendees’ names according to their table preference and indicate if anyone needs a vegetarian meal.
1. ____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
3. ____________________________________
4. ____________________________________
5. ____________________________________
6. ____________________________________
7. ____________________________________
8. ____________________________________
9. ____________________________________
10. ____________________________________
1. ____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
3. ____________________________________
4. ____________________________________
5. ____________________________________
6. ____________________________________
7. ____________________________________
8. ____________________________________
9. ____________________________________
10. ____________________________________
1. ____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
3. ____________________________________
4. ____________________________________
5. ____________________________________
6. ____________________________________
7. ____________________________________
8. ____________________________________
9. ____________________________________
10. ____________________________________
1. ____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
3. ____________________________________
4. ____________________________________
5. ____________________________________
6. ____________________________________
7. ____________________________________
8. ____________________________________
9. ____________________________________
10. ____________________________________
Business Law Section Presents
How to Assist Hackers andIdentify Thieves - Part I
Harold McFarland, Esq.McFarland & Associates, Inc.
Law firms are a top target for hackers. Thispresentation focuses on computer and internet-related security and safety issues, with special
emphasis on how hackers use varioustechniques to quickly compromise your system.
Reservations must be received by: Tuesday, February 4, 2020Visit www.sarasotabar.com or contact us at [email protected]
Tuesday, February 11, 2020Sarasota Yacht Club
11:45 | Registration
12:00 | Lunch/Program$31.00/ person
CLE APPROVED
Thursday, February 13, 2020Embassy Suites Hilton Sarasota
12:00 - 1:00 pm$32.50/person
Reservations must be received by: February 6, 2020Visit www.sarasotabar.com or contact us at [email protected]
A survey of alimony law in Florida,
including a brief history and present
state of alimony, and what impacts
the proposed legislation will have on
the family law practitioner.
Mark A. Sessums, Esq.
Sessums Law GroupCLE APPROVED 1.0 CREDITS
Family Law Section presents
Sponsored by:
A L I M O N Y
P a s t , P r e s e n t a n d F u t u r e
10th Annual
Sporting Clays Event
Hosted by the South County Division
Registration includes:
BBQ lunch, shotgun rental, 50 clay targets, (2) boxes of ammunition (25 shells each of 12 or 20 gauge), safety orientation
Who can attend:
Spouses and guests are welcome. The more the merrier!
What you should bring:
1. If you have a shotgun that you feel comfortable shooting please feel free to bring it (no assault shotguns or pistol grips please).
2. Eye protection (sun glasses will work), ear protection (disposable ear plugs will be provided). All shooters are required to have eye and ear protection while on the range.
3. If you have your own ammunition feel free to bring it, but only target ammo, 2 3/4" rounds with lead shot sizes 7 to 9 are permissible. 2 boxes of ammunition of 25 shells each (12 ga or 20 ga) are included and will be given to you when you register.
4. After sporting clays, if you would like to continue shooting you will be able to purchase more clay targets from the Club for $6.00 per round of 25 for trap, skeet and 5 stand fields.
5. For sporting clays there will be four shooters to a golf cart and carts and beginning shooting stations will be assigned. If you would like to shoot with certain folks, please list their names and include their payment with yours, if convenient.
For additional information or special arrangements, please contact event Chair Skip Berg at (941) 493-0871 or [email protected]
SPACE IS LIMITED TO 112 SHOOTERS, SO REGISTER TODAY!
_______ Lunch only $15.00 _______ Lunch and sporting clays $65.00
Primary Contact Name:__________________________________ Phone: ______________________________
First Shooter Name:______________________________________ Email:_______________________________
Second Shooter Name:_____________________________________ Email:_______________________________
Third Shooter Name:_____________________________________ Email:_______________________________
Fourth Shooter Name:_____________________________________ Email:_______________________________
If you are a beginner and would like to shoot with an instructor, please check the box.
Loaner 20 GA shotgun requested Loaner 12 GA shotgun requested
Register online at sarasotabar.com or call the SCBA office at 941-861-8180
DEADLINE FOR RESERVATIONS: Monday, February 24, 2020
Please make checks payable to the SCBA and mail to: P.O. Box 507, Sarasota, FL, 34230
Sarasota Gun Club
3445 Rustic Road, Nokomis
SPONSORED BY:
Friday, March 6, 2020
Lunch and registration at 11:30 a.m.
Instruction and shooting starts at 1:00 p.m.
This presentation will cover thechanges in the new law, theimplications on retirement planningand how to communicate thosechanges and implications
E s t a t e P l a n n i n g & P r o b a t e S e c t i o n
Wednesday, March 25, 2020Michael's On East12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
How SECURE is Your IRA Planning?
CLE Approved For 1.0 Credits
Register online: www.sarasotabar.com or contact us at: [email protected] must be received by: Friday, March 20th
.
Alfred Stashis, Jr., Esq. Dunwody White & Landon, P.A.
Sponsored By:
HOW TOMAKE
REVIEWSWORK FOR
YOU
Speaker: Kelly Newcomb
Chief Marketing Officer,
Martindale-Avvo
S C B A G E N E R A LM E M B E R S H I P M E E T I N G
THURSDAY, MARCH 512:00 - 1:00 PM
SARASOTA YACHT CLUB
Register online at www.sarasotabar.com
Let Your Clients Do Your Selling
SCBA Young Lawyers Division is pleased to host its
8th Annual All-Bar
Spring Training Outing
Tuesday, March 10, 2020 Ed Smith Stadium Third Base Lounge
5:00 pm Social Hour 6:05 pm Game
Ballpark Buffet Included Cash Bar
Sponsored by:
Baltimore Orioles vs. Altanta Braves Tuesday, March 10, 2020
5:00 pm Social Hour ; 6:05 pm Game
$45/person (including children 2 and over)—Tickets must be picked up at the SCBA office.
Name (s): ______________________________________________________________________________ Firm: ________________________________ Email: ___________________________________________ No of Tickets: _____________________________________ Check No./Amt: ___________________
Only 100 tickets are available for this event, so register today!
Deadline for reservations is Tuesday, March 3, 2020. Call the SCBA office at 861-8180 to pay by credit card. Mail this form with payment to: SCBA, P.O. Box 507, Sarasota FL 34230
“No Shows” and reservations canceled within 48 hours of event will be invoiced.
vs.
BALTIMORE
ORIOLES
ATLANTA
BRAVES
