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.
Sept. 8, 2010
NEW JUVENILE DRUG COURT LOOKING TO EXPAND IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY-- The Florida Times-Union, http://www.jacksonville.com, Sept. 8, 2010.
For three teenagers who appeared separately before Circuit Judge Clyde Wolfe a week ago in St. Johns County, things could have been tougher. The two boys and one girl were taking part in the county's new juvenile drug court, an alternative to juvenile court and its potential consequences. Instead, drug court allows adjudication to be withheld if the teen follows a judge's orders. Though the fledgling program has only the three clients now, it is expected to expand. Wolfe, a family law judge elected in 2006, agreed to handle the juvenile drug court that started in St. Johns in August. The St. Johns program has an annual budget of $154,000. St. Johns is part of the four-county 7th Judicial Circuit with Volusia, Flagler and Putnam counties. Volusia is the only other county in that circuit to have juvenile drug court.
FLORIDA SUPREME COURT: JUDGE ERIKSSON MUST PAY $9,200 COST OF PROSECUTION-- Orlando Sentinel, http://www.orlandosentinel.com, Sept. 8, 2010.
The Florida Supreme Court on Tuesday [Sept. 7] ordered Seminole County Judge Ralph Eriksson to pay $9,200, the cost borne by the state to investigate and prosecute him on charges that he was a bad judge. On Aug. 31, Eriksson stood before the high court in Tallahassee and was publicly reprimanded for what Chief Justice Charles Canady said was "abuse of power" and "intolerable" behavior. Eriksson, 63, is set to retire early next year when his term expires.
KICK 'EM RIGHT OUT OF THE 'TAJ MAHAL'-- St. Petersburg Times, column, http://www.tampabay.com, Sept. 5, 2010.
The column by Howard Troxler regarding a new First District Court of Appeal building states: "I keep hearing people say, 'Oh, well, it's too late to do anything about that fancy $48 million 'Taj Mahal' courthouse in Tallahassee,'. . . . But it isn't too late."
--Lawyer Ethics/Legal Discipline--
ONE ATTORNEY IN RIFQA CASE SUES ANOTHER-- Orlando Sentinel, http://www.orlandosentinel.com, Sept. 8, 2010.
A Muslim attorney on one side of the Rifqa Bary dispute has filed a $10 million defamation lawsuit against Orlando attorney John Stemberger, an activist Christian attorney who worked for the other side. The suit was filed by Omar Tarazi in federal court in Columbus, Ohio, Friday [Sept. 3]. Tarazi represented Rifqa's parents in Columbus juvenile court as they battled for months but lost their attempt to win back their daughter, who turned 18 last month. Stemberger represented Rifqa for several weeks in Florida, after she ran away but before a state circuit judge in Orlando ordered her returned to Ohio. Tarazi accuses Stemberger of falsely claiming on television that Tarazi was associated with a Columbus-area mosque that had ties to terrorists and that Tarazi was paid by a pro-Muslim group in Ohio. Tarazi said he was paid by no one. Stemberger on Tuesday [Sept. 7] acknowledged but would not discuss an investigation by The Florida Bar into possible ethics violations by him for statements he made about the case.
--Civil Justice Issues--
LANDLORD TROUBLES NEEDN'T HURT YOU-- The Florida Times-Union, http://www.jacksonville.com, Sept. 8, 2010.
When a homeowner falls behind on mortgage payments, a lengthy foreclosure process is possible. What if the property in foreclosure is a house or apartment complex rented to tenants? Beth Griffin of San Marco Properties said landlord foreclosures have been happening in all corners of Jacksonville, but especially in low-income areas. People renting homes usually find out their landlord is in trouble because a process server brings paperwork to the door, she said. In a large apartment complex, renters may not be served with foreclosure papers meant for their landlord, said April Charney, a foreclosure expert with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid. When any landlord goes into foreclosure, rental leases with their tenants are effectively broken and tenants are free to leave without penalty.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WHEN INJURED, ILL-- Sun-Sentinel, column, http://www.sun-sentinel.com, Sept. 7, 2010.
The column by the Sun-Sentinel's Marcia Heroux Pounds states: "Kara Jorud was ill with breast cancer. She informed her boss at Michaels arts and craft store in Boca Raton, Fla., that she would need surgery and time off to recover. Last week Jorud, 47, won an $8.1 million verdict from a federal jury after she sued her employer, claiming she was harassed for taking time off and then unjustly fired. The suit cited violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and other worker protection laws. . . . For many workers, Jorud's case raises questions about their own protections under employment law. The Sun Sentinel asked legal and employment experts what workers should know about their rights when they have a serious health condition."
--Other--
FEES TO BE SHIFTED TO LAW LIBRARY-- Ocala Star Banner, http://www.ocala.com, Sept. 8, 2010.
Marion County commissioners on Tuesday [Sept. 7] agreed to divert revenue from fees paid in criminal cases to prop up the court system's struggling law library. The board voted 4-1 to shift 10 percent of a $30 surcharge that is now tacked onto noncriminal traffic infractions to help make up the library's budget deficit, which is approaching $40,000 in the coming budget year. However, the County Commission also entertained the suggestion of imposing a user fee on the estimated 600 people a week who use the facility inside the county courthouse — an idea the board intends to revisit in coming weeks.
[Revised: 09-10-2010]
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