Don’t assume it’s a complete fluke, says Matt Welch, these “deadbeat dads” programs really are set up to resolve every doubt in favor of collection [Reason “Hit and Run”, Amy Alkon]
Posts Tagged ‘Florida’
New at Point of Law
Things you’re missing if you aren’t checking out my other site:
- Iowa federal judge hits EEOC with $4.5 million attorney fee award over “sue first, ask questions later” litigation strategy;
- Jim Copland continues his weeklong blogging of Trial Lawyers Inc.: K Street with posts on the plaintiff’s bar’s Washington, D.C. presence (with discussion of CPSIA, employment litigation, qui tam, and arbitration, among other topics); state lobbying; and public relations, including legal academics, the media, and consumer groups;
- Hmm: House committee conveniently subpoenas Toyota defense documents that plaintiffs had been seeking to unseal (and more on Toyota);
- Obama administration plans crackdown to make more employers reclassify independent contractors as employees;
- Trial bar stirs pot in Florida politics;
- Feds swoop down on 2003 settlement to demand that parties reimburse Medicare as provided by retroactive law.
Update: “Judge declares Adorno violated Bar rules”
“Adorno & Yoss founding partner Henry Adorno violated professional rules by orchestrating a $7 million class action settlement that benefited only seven people rather than all Miami taxpayers, a judge ruled Friday in a disciplinary case brought by The Florida Bar.” However, a Broward County judge ruled there was not enough evidence to support a charge that Adorno misled a judge about the settlement, on an unconstitutional city fire fee. [Daily Business Review; earlier here, here, and here] Update: judge recommends reprimand.
The donations of Scott Rothstein
Did they pave the way for the now-disgraced lawyer’s efforts to obtain lucrative securities class-action work from the state of Florida? [Sydney Freedberg, St. Petersburg Times]
75 years of hospital records
Tampa: “When medical malpractice lawyer Michael J. Trentalange asked St. Joseph’s Hospital for every ‘adverse incident’ report made since the hospital opened in 1934, the hospital pushed back hard. In July, the hospital sued him, and Trentalange sued right back, the Web site Health News Florida reported.” (AP/Sarasota Herald Tribune via White Coat).
Man’s “defective underwear” suit against Hanes
It’s among the most wince-makingly embarrassing ever (not for the squeamish or prudish). [Above the Law; Freed v. Hanes, decision in PDF]
“Flashy advertisements draw clients to Sarasota law firm”
A neon-look lighted vehicle wrap, more than 275 domain names and a paid person “ready to chat with any visitor to his Web sites” day or night are all part of the Florida DUI specialist’s marketing effort: “This is the way of the future,” he says. [Herald-Tribune via ABA Journal]
Erin Brockovich in Florida
An editorial in the Palm Beach Post advises reader caution about the glamorous tort-chaser’s efforts to drum up clients for Weitz & Luxenberg and Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley based on allegations of a cancer cluster with a claimed link to radioactive drinking water:
The lawyers discussed water samples from 10 homes of cancer patients that showed at least trace amounts of radium, a naturally occurring metal. Those studies, however, echoed Florida Department of Environmental Protection results from 50 randomly selected homes. …
…one resident concluded on a Web site after the meeting: “Last night, we were validated.” Amid the personal appeals came the business pitch. Attorney Jack Scarola explained the contingency contract, which means that clients would pay nothing, even if they lost. He urged residents to take their time reading the contract because if “you inform yourselves well, you will find it’s in your best interest to sign with us.”
Florida: “Former deputy sues over drinking disability”
Sarasota: “A former deputy, fired because of his problems with alcohol, is suing the Sarasota sheriff because he claims the office discriminated against him because of his alcoholism disability.” The former deputy says he doesn’t remember the sexual harassment incident at an Applebee’s that preceded his termination, but that could have been because of his “propensity to blackout.” [WTSP] [& welcome readers from Reason “Hit and Run”, where Damon Root generously credits a certain “great” site]
September 28 roundup
- Massachusetts: “New Law to ‘Protect’ Kids from Germs Would Kill Band Program” [Free Range Kids]
- ACORN lawsuit against videomakers analyzed [Above the Law, Ken at Popehat and more] More: Andrew Moshirnia, Citizen Media Law.
- “The Remoras Are Loose Again”: judge vs. opportunistic class action objectors [WSJ Law Blog, CL&P, 10b-5 Daily]
- How ill-considered FAR (floor area requirement) zoning regulations can uglify new houses [Fountain]
- Doctor wins $10 million libel award against St. Petersburg Times, deceased reporter’s notes not allowed into evidence [St. P. Times, ABA Journal]
- Norm Pattis vs. Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College, cont’d [Connecticut Law Tribune]
- “Mother’s Suit Over Tot’s Injury is a Real Hot Potato” [OnPoint News, Massachusetts Dunkin’ Donuts]
- Remembering Barack Obama’s days as a class action lawyer [Mark Tapscott, Washington Examiner]