News and Events
Daily News Summary
An electronic digest of media coverage of interest to members of The Florida Bar compiled each workday by the Public Information and Bar Services Department. Electronic links are only active in today's edition. For information on previous articles, please contact the publishing newspaper directly.
July 22, 2010
--Judiciary--
ONLINE RACIAL COMMENTS ABOUT PINELLAS-PASCO JUDGE PROMPT INVESTIGATION, ADDED SECURITY-- St. Petersburg Times, http://www.tampabay.com, July 22, 2010.
Racially charged comments posted to an online forum about local judges have prompted an increase in security and investigation by law enforcement. The anonymous comments criticize Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Michael Andrews for his handling of past cases. Many of the comments also contain threats, epithets and racially insensitive remarks about Andrews, who is African-American. Andrews is up for re-election against former Clearwater assistant public defender Deborah Moss.
--Lawyer Ethics/Legal Discipline--
LAWSUITS QUESTION 1-800-ASK-GARY'S TIES TO LAW FIRM-- The Tampa Tribune, http://www.tbo.com, July 21, 2010.
Its commercials promise that 1-800-ASK-GARY will help find attorneys for "scared and confused" auto accident victims. But, what do the lawyers who get referrals from 1-800-ASK-GARY give the hot line in return? Two lawsuits in Kentucky may offer some clues. They raise questions about the relationship between a Tampa-based personal injury firm and the Ask Gary hot line.
--Civil Justice Issues--
FUNDS TO SAVE HOMES UNSPENT IN SOUTH FLORIDA-- The Miami Herald, http://www.miamiherald.com, July 22, 2010.
A group of researchers has spent the past year studying how a federal program aimed at healing foreclosure-ravaged neighborhoods in South Florida is working. The Neighborhood Stabilization Program -- which allows local governments to buy up foreclosed homes, revamp them, and sell them to low-income families at a discount -- is the subject of a study being released today by a group of local organizations. With less than 90 days before a crucial deadline, NSP has only used about a quarter of the $541.4 million granted to the state of Florida in 2008, according to the most recent filings, submitted in April. All of that money must be committed to projects by September, or handed back to the federal government.
JUDGE REJECTS FLORIDA'S REQUEST FOR WATER IN DISPUTE-- The Miami Herald, http://www.themiamiherald.com, July 22, 2010.
The article is by The Associated Press. A federal judge has declined Florida's request to release more water from a North Georgia dam to protect three threatened or endangered species downstream. The Wednesday [Jul 21] ruling from U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson rejected releasing more water from dams along the Chattahoochee River to benefit the gulf sturgeon, the fat threeridge mussel and the purple bankclimber mussel. In his ruling, the judge said that Florida failed to prove that the federal wildlife officials ignored any evidence in deciding how much water should be released downstream to support Florida's endangered species.
--Criminal Justice Issues--
PROSECUTORS TO SEEK DEATH PENALTY IN SLAYINGS OF TWO TAMPA POLICE OFFICERS-- St. Petersburg Times, http://www.tampabay.com, July 22, 2010.
Prosecutors will seek the death penalty for Dontae Morris in the deaths of two Tampa police officers, David Curtis and Jeffrey Kocab. However, they will not pursue the death penalty in the deaths of two other men Morris is accused of killing, a decision that angered their families. The announcement came this morning as Morris pleaded not guilty to all four murders.
PROSECUTORS ASKING TO REVOKE SNIPES' BOND-- Ocala Star Banner, http://www.ocala.com, July 22, 2010.
Federal prosecutors are asking a judge in Ocala to immediately revoke actor Wesley Snipes' appellate bond, arguing in a motion filed in federal court Wednesday [Jul 21] "there is no good reason to delay his surrender." Last week, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta upheld Snipes' misdemeanor convictions on willfully failing to pay federal income tax and the 36-month sentence imposed by Senior U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges in May 2008. While there is no projected date for Snipes to report to a federal facility to begin serving his sentence, his attorney, Daniel Meachum, said by phone Wednesday he hopes the court will first hear motions he plans to file in the days ahead before setting a date.
--Other--
NEW PLANT CITY COURTHOUSE TO BE ENERGY, WATER EFFICIENT-- The Tampa Tribune, http://www.tbo.com, July 22, 2010.
The company that is replacing the courthouse in Plant City says the 60,000 square-foot building will be environmentally friendly and incorporate recycled materials. The two-story building under construction by Kraft Construction Co. will feature water and energy efficiency. Kraft Construction is building the new courthouse directly across from the current courthouse, parts of which date back to the 1950s. The building, slated for completion in late 2011, is intended to accommodate the courts of the 13th Judicial Circuit, and related support functions such as the sheriff's office, public defender, state attorney and Clerk of the Circuit Court.
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[Revised:
07-01-2005
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