Florida

Unusual sentence for would-be juror who Googled murder defendant

A Florida judge, obviously aggravated after he discovered last year that a prospective juror had disobeyed instructions and done Internet research on the defendant in a high-profile murder case, had initially warned the man to expect jail time. But, after further reflection, Hillsborough Circuit Judge William Fuente has tailored the…

Jan 14, 2013 4:53 PM CST

Ex-Jurist Should Lose Law License for a Year Over Close Relationship with Prosecutor, Judge Says

A Florida judge overseeing an unusual legal ethics case against a former state court jurist has recommended that Ana Gardiner lose her law license for a year over her conduct on the bench. A judicial ethics case against Gardiner over her alleged concealment of a clandestine relationship with a prosecutor…

Jan 9, 2013 8:20 PM CST

Judge Rescinds Order to Seize Home Computers of Juror Accused of Web-Surfing During Trial

Updated: A federal judge in Florida has reconsidered an ex parte order issued on Friday, telling marshals to seize the home computers of a juror who was quoted in a newspaper article as saying that she had conducted Internet research on the defendant in a high-profile trial. However, U.S. District…

Jan 8, 2013 10:59 PM CST

Head of Fla. Foreclosure Mill Firm Agrees to Shut Down Law Practice

The head of one of Florida’s well-known so-called foreclosure mill law firms has agreed to state bar discipline that will require him to close down his law office. Marshall C. Watson has also agreed to a 91-day suspension, which will require approval by the state supreme court before he can…

Jan 7, 2013 8:20 PM CST

Fla. Judge Threatens to Jail Lawyers re Any Further Delay in Trial of Child-Murder Case

A frustrated Florida judge had a former assistant public defender appear before him Wednesday in jeans and a T-shirt after sending out an emergency request for an additional update on the status of a toddler-murder case that had been scheduled to go to trial Monday of next week. Unbeknownst to…

Jan 2, 2013 8:35 PM CST

Disbarred PI Lawyer Accused in Scheme to Sell Guns Owned by Saddam Hussein Family

A disbarred personal injury lawyer from Florida has been accused of participating in a scheme to sell stolen guns once owned by the family of executed Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. Former Miami-area lawyer David Phillip Ryan, 48, was accused of conspiracy to transport stolen firearms, conspiracy to sell stolen property…

Jan 2, 2013 3:02 PM CST

Florida Supremes Overturn Ban on Loud Car Music, Rule for Timberlake-Blasting Lawyer

A lawyer ticketed for playing a Justin Timberlake song at high volume has won a challenge to a Florida law banning car music that is “plainly audible” from 25 feet or more. St. Petersburg lawyer Richard Catalano was ticketed in 2007 while listening to the song while driving to work…

Dec 14, 2012 1:28 PM CST

Man Who Police Say Posted Facebook Video of Disabled Man Being Punched Is Charged in Attack

A homeless man in Florida told authorities he didn’t recall being punched in the face. But a video allegedly posted on Facebook by Nicholas Marr showed he had been, and on Thursday charges of aggravated abuse of a disabled adult were filed against Marr, 26, and another suspect, William Gregory,…

Dec 13, 2012 5:37 PM CST

‘Festivus Pole’ Featuring Beer Cans Goes Up, with City’s OK, Next to Traditional Nativity Scene

When his efforts over the past five years to get the city of Deerfield Beach, Fla., to eliminate a nativity scene displayed next to a busy intersection on a city firehouse lawn weren’t successful, Chaz Stevens tried another approach. He applied for city permission to put up a “Festivus Pole”…

Dec 11, 2012 7:28 PM CST

SEC Sues Fla. Lawyer, Says He Used Atty Niece’s ID to Issue Opinion Letters, Faked Her Signature

Banned in 2010 from issuing opinion letters concerning so-called Pink Sheets stocks, a Florida lawyer has been accused of assuming another attorney’s identity in order to continue doing so. In a civil suit (PDF) filed yesterday in federal court in New York City, the Securities and Exchange Commission accuses Guy…

Dec 7, 2012 7:53 PM CST

George Zimmerman Files Defamation Suit Against NBC over Edited 911 Call

The man accused in the death of Trayvon Martin claims in a lawsuit filed on Thursday that NBC Universal defamed him and caused emotional distress by editing his taped 911 call to make him appear racist. The complaint filed in Florida on behalf of George Zimmerman alleges NBC was chasing…

Dec 7, 2012 12:33 PM CST

Judge Accused of Marketing Materials for her For-Profit Religious Ministry at Courthouse

A Florida judge is facing legal ethics charges, accused of trying to sell books related to her for-profit religious ministry to those at the Leon County courthouse instead of focusing on her judicial duties. In a Wednesday filing, an investigative panel of the Judicial Qualifications Commission contends that Leon County…

Dec 6, 2012 6:02 PM CST

Florida School Seeks Dismissal of Hazing-Related Wrongful Death Suit

A Florida university has asked a judge to dismiss a wrongful death suit against it over the 2011 hazing death of a drum major in the school’s marching band. Richard Mitchell, a lawyer for Florida A & M University, said Wednesday that the victim, Robert Champion, willingly submitted to the…

Dec 3, 2012 5:41 PM CST

16 Lawyers Do Battle, 6 Interlocutory Appeals re Unpaid $357K Art Bill for ‘Taj Mahal’ Courthouse

The Florida Supreme Court has assigned the 5th District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach to oversee a litigation battle royale concerning an unpaid $357,000 bill for 369 framed historic photographs that were supposed to hang in a sister appellate court’s expensive new home. Known as the “Taj Mahal” courthouse,…

Nov 28, 2012 9:53 PM CST

Lawyer for Jill Kelley Says He’ll Sue US Attorney in Tampa if Leaks Continue re Petraeus Case

A lawyer representing Tampa socialite Jill Kelley, whose complaint about threatening emails wound up linking her name to a sex scandal that led to David Petraeus’ resignation from his position as CIA Director, has threatened to sue the U.S. Attorney in Tampa. Abbe Lowell wrote in a letter to W.…

Nov 28, 2012 5:52 PM CST