The purpose of this summary provided by the Communications Department of The Florida Bar is to present media coverage that may be of interest to members. Opinions expressed in the articles are attributable solely to the authors. The Florida Bar does not adopt or endorse any opinions expressed below. For information on previous articles, please contact the publishing newspaper directly.
September 09, 2024
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The Florida Bar
PUBLIC DEFENDER JULIANNE HOLT STEPS DOWN: REFLECTING ON 30 YEARS OF LEGAL AND LEGISLATIVE IMPACT
The Florida Bar | Article | September 09, 2024
The 13th Judicial Circuit faces a seismic shift in January when Public Defender Julianne Holt steps down after 30 years. The first woman elected to head one of Hillsborough’s largest law offices, Holt oversees 123 attorneys who process more 40,000 cases a year. A Hillsborough native, Holt opened a private practice in 1981 after graduating with honors from South Texas College of Law. She was elected in 1993, survived a few early challenges, and has been reelected without opposition since 2004. Holt’s hometown paper describes her as “quiet but powerful player in local politics and revered in the legal community.” That’s high praise from a paper that once trumpeted allegations that she misused her office early in her tenure. She was cleared of any wrongdoing. Holt considers the tributes that followed her decision not to seek re-election, and the many awards and honors she received over the years, as vindication.
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Civil Justice
FLORIDA JUDGE RULES JOE CAROLLO CAN KEEP HIS ASSETS AND WAGES
Daily Business Review | Article | September 06, 2024
U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith in Fort Lauderdale entered an order Friday [Sept. 6] affirming and adopting the magistrate judge’s recommendation that Carollo’s wages are exempt from garnishment under Florida’s head-of-family statute. This exemption helps protect his financial resources, such as his salary, which likely includes his ability to keep his house. U.S. Magistrate Judge Lauren F. Louis recommended dissolving the $63.5 million writ of garnishment against Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo, who was found to have violated the First Amendment rights of plaintiffs William O. Fuller and Martin A. Pinilla. The plaintiffs moved for and obtained a continuing writ of garnishment against salary or wages directed to the City. The defendant filed a claim of exemption, saying that Carollo provides more than one-half of the support for his wife. Based on this exception, the defendant tried to dissolve the continuing writ of garnishment.
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Civil Justice Issues
TERMS OF SERVICE AGREEMENTS: ARE YOU UNKNOWINGLY SIGNING AWAY YOUR RIGHTS?
CBS 12 News | Article | September 09, 2024
We are all guilty of clicking ‘I agree’ and not reading the Terms of Service just so we can get to watching our favorite show on a streaming service, using an app, or just reading an article online. But what are we risking by just simply clicking ‘I agree?’ The Terms of Service for some of the most popular platforms can be summed up in two words — lengthy and detailed. It could take quite a while to read and the fine print is complicated to understand. Furthermore, there’s not much, if any, negotiating power forcing you to agree to the terms of service for streaming services, apps or websites. “We just click agree… we didn’t get to negotiate,” says former Florida Bar President Gary Lesser. “So, if there’s an ambiguity, or there’s an argument to be made, the law generally favors, that in favor of the person that is contesting the agreement. But those are challenging cases.”
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Civil Justice
PROGRAM TO HELP RESIDENTS WITH OUTSTANDING WARRANTS
Daytona Times | Article | September 06, 2024
The Office of the Public Defender for the 7th Judicial Circuit is teaming up with Master’s Domain Church of God in Christ on Oct. 7 for Operation Safe Surrender, a public outreach program geared toward helping residents who may be in trouble with the law. The event allows individuals with outstanding warrants to turn themselves in in a safe and welcoming environment. It also provides opportunities to have some issues resolved on site. In addition to clearing warrants, Operation Safe Surrender clears suspended licenses and allows people to get identification cards processed. In the past, it has also helped those with warrants due to child support, vehicle registration renewal and specialty licenses. There will also be lawyers on site to provide guidance and support for attendees. The program is available for anyone who has an open warrant or issues obtaining a driver’s license.