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.
May 15, 2025
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The Florida Bar
NEW FLORIDA BAR GUIDELINES OFFER FRAMEWORK FOR LAW FIRM CYBER RESILIENCE
The Florida Bar | Article | May 15, 2025
In May 2025, Florida Bar cybersecurity experts urged attorneys to adopt Recommendation 25-1: Voluntary Implementation of Incident Response Plans, now available on LegalFuel.com. Though optional, the plan offers a structured, risk-based framework to boost cyber resilience. Co-Chairs Steven Teppler of Mandelbaum Barrett and Franklin Zemel of Fox Rothschild stressed steps like data mapping, maturity assessments, and implementing an Incident Response Plan (IRP) within two to three years. Sarasota attorney Jade Davis, who led the drafting subcommittee, noted that many firms are unprepared. Board Technology Committee Chair E. “Duffy” Myrtetus and Vice Chair Karl Klein pledged ongoing support. The IRP includes preparation, detection, containment, eradication, recovery, and post-incident review. An ABA report revealed that 29% of law firms experienced security breaches in 2023.
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Civil Justice
MARIJUANA BACKERS FIGHT FLORIDA’S NEW BALLOT RESTRICTIONS LAW IN COURT
WFTV | Article | May 14, 2025
Smart & Safe Florida, the group behind a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana, joined a federal lawsuit challenging a new Florida law, HB 1205. Signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on May 2, the law imposes immediate restrictions on the ballot initiative process. Changes include limits on who can collect signatures, criminal penalties for exceeding petition quotas, shortened deadlines, and a ban on sponsoring multiple amendments. Critics, including Smart & Safe Florida’s attorneys, argue the law violates First Amendment rights and undermines direct democracy. They called the ban on multiple amendments “an outright ban on core political speech” and labeled the changes a “legal minefield.” The Florida Chamber of Commerce and other conservative groups support the law. The legal challenge follows failed 2024 ballot efforts to legalize marijuana and enshrine abortion rights, which faced opposition from DeSantis and Republican legislators.
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Civil Justice
MIAMI LAWYER’S CLIENTS EXPOSE $4B TAX EVASION, LEADING TO CREDIT SUISSE GUILTY PLEA
Daily Business Review | Article | May 13, 2025
Credit Suisse Services AG, a Swiss corporation, pleaded guilty last week to conspiring to hide over $4 billion from the IRS across at least 475 offshore accounts. The company will pay more than $510 million in penalties. Credit Suisse AG, which breached a May 2014 plea deal with the U.S., entered a non-prosecution agreement and agreed to cooperate with ongoing investigations. The Justice Department stated the agreements offer no protection to individuals. Miami attorney Jeffrey A. Neiman, of Marcus Neiman & Rashbaum, represented whistleblowers who provided internal documents and evidence of concealed U.S.-linked accounts. Their information led to the plea and record fine. Whistleblowers may receive 15–30% of collected funds. Neiman had pursued the case for eight years. Though Credit Suisse failed two years ago, UBS AG acquired it, assuming its liabilities. The DOJ confirmed UBS and Credit Suisse must fully disclose any new information on U.S.-related accounts.
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Criminal Justice
FLORIDA MAN ACCUSED OF PLANNING MASS SHOOTING AGREES TO GIVE UP GUNS FOR ONE YEAR
WPBF News | Article | May 13, 2025
Damien Blade Allen agreed to a Risk Protection Order under Florida’s red flag law, surrendering his firearms for one year without a contested hearing. He was supposed to appear before a judge but consented to the order instead. WPBF 25 News captured video of Allen smiling behind a jail door after the ruling. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office reported finding assault-style rifles, handguns, tactical vests, and police-style uniforms in his home. Investigators said Allen had communicated with the teenage shooter from a Wisconsin school shooting last year. Court documents stated there was “reasonable cause to believe the respondent poses a significant danger” if allowed access to guns, citing a history of threats, mental health issues, and prior weapons incidents. Allen remains jailed on separate criminal charges. Risk Protection Orders under Florida Statute 790.401 can remain in effect for up to one year.
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Criminal Justice
SERIAL KILLER TRIES TO DODGE LETHAL INJECTION WITH ‘VAMPIRE DEFENSE’
News Nation Now | Article | May 13, 2025
Glen Rogers, convicted serial killer known as “The Casanova Killer,” is scheduled for execution Thursday [May 15], at Florida State Prison. His legal team filed a last-minute appeal claiming Rogers suffers from porphyria, a rare genetic disease causing severe pain and nervous system issues. They argue lethal injection could cause extreme suffering, violating the Eighth Amendment. Rogers was convicted of two murders: Tina Marie Cribbs in Florida (1997) and Sandra Gallagher in California (1999). Forensic psychologist Katherine Ramsland noted Rogers was diagnosed with porphyria in the 1980s. Dr. Joel Zivot supported the claim of potential “excruciating pain.” Rogers also claimed to have killed Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, a claim supported by his brother Clay Rogers. The Florida Supreme Court previously rejected the appeal, citing the injection would induce unconsciousness within a minute. Last-minute stays of execution in Florida are rare.