Class Actions
Class Actions July 2016
Alumnus presented with Leadership AwardJared Moskowitz (JD 2008), is Director of Government Relations and General Counsel for AshBritt in Deerfield Beach, FL and Florida State Representative for District 97. The Florida Bar Trial Lawyers Section presented him with its 2016 Leadership Award at the annual meeting June 17, 2016 in Orlando. He was honored for his work in the Florida legislature and was presented with the award by Courtney K. Grimm, Chair of the Trial Lawyers Section. |
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Alumna presented with William M Hoeveler Judicial Professionalism AwardThe Honorable Sheri Polster Chappell (JD 1987) with the US Middle District of Florida Court received this years William M Hoeveler Judicial Professionalism Award at the FL Bar Convention in July 2016. The award is presented to one who carries out Judge Hoeveler’s “ideal of professionalism: character, competence, commitment, and civility.” |
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Law Alumni Assume Leadership Roles for Broward County Bar Association in 2016-2017
- Officers: Edwina V. Kessler (1994, Treasurer), Michael A. Fischler (1978, Secretary), Robin Moselle (1991, Past President)
- Directors: Jamie Finizio-Bascombe (1993), Kimberly A, Gilmour (1985), Michelle J. Gomez (2000), Kenneth J. Joyce (1993), Michael D. Leader, Anita Paoli (1990), Alison F. Smith (2003)
- Young Lawyers Officers: Sara M. Sandler (2008, President-Elect) Jeffrey M. Wank (2009, Past President), Brent M. Reitman (2010, Treasurer), Lindsay M. Massillon (2011, Secretary)
- Young Lawyers Directors: Omar A. Giraldo (2011), Harold F. Pryor (2012), Nikeisha Pryor (2012), Eric S. Rosen (2007), H. Seth Rosenthal (2014)
- Young Lawyers Judicial Representatives: The Hon. Robert F. Diaz (1984), The Hon. Kal L. Evans (2003), and The Hon. Stephen J. Zaccor (1998)
Congratulations to our alumni!
1978
Sandy Karlan of the Center for Conflict Resolution, Inc., in Miami, FL, was reappointed by Gov. Rick Scott to the Children and Youth Cabinet for a three-year term.
1980
Rafael Suarez-Rivas of the Office of Miami City Attorney presented a procurement workshop to the Downtown Development Authority in Miami, FL. Suarez- Rivas’ practice includes municipal law, public procurement, public works and contracts, land use, historic preservation, public facilities, and grants, among other areas.
1990
Cherri F. Goudreau joined Becker & Poliakoff, P.A. in Fort Lauderdale, FL. She focuses on commercial and residential real property transactions including matters that relate to buying, selling, leasing, financing and title examination.
1991
Claudia Jo Willis of Claudia Jo Willis, PA in Fort Lauderdale, FL launched Catalyst Counselors designed to assist women with adjusting to life after divorce and provides a variety of services to them. Willis focuses her law practice on marital and family law matters.
1993
Juliette E. Lippman, a partner at Kirschbaum, Birnbaum, Lippman & Gregoire, PLLC in Fort Lauderdale, FL will take office July 1, 2016 as second vice president of The Florida Bar Foundation, which is a statewide charitable organization whose mission is to provide greater access to justice. Lippman is chair of the Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center, in Broward County, which serves over 11,000 children with special health care needs.
1994
Michael Patrick McDaniel of McDaniel Law Firm in Bartow, FL was appointed by Governor Rick Scott to the Tenth Judicial Circuit, which serves Hardee, Highlands and Polk Counties. He will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge J. Dale Durrance. Judge McDaniel’s law practice included civil litigation and family law. He took a hiatus after 9/11 and joined the US Army where he served in Iraq in 2005-06 and was honorably discharged as a Captain in 2007. He later served as a Senior Rule of Law Advisor to the British and Danish missions in southern Afghanistan, building a functioning rule of law system there. The U.S. State Department awarded Judge McDaniel a Meritorious and Superior Honor Award, Expeditionary Service Award, and the Non-article 5 NATO Campaign Medal.
John C. Primeau of the Law Firm of John C. Primeau, P.A. won the Lynn Futch Professionalism Award presented by the Broward County Bar Association.
1997
Maureen Martinez has joined the litigation department as counsel at McDonald Hopkins in West Palm Beach, FL. Martinez focuses on representing clients in aviation, construction defects, traumatic bodily injury, premises liability, insurance coverage disputes, product liability, business disputes, and multidistrict litigation. She is a board member of the Palm Beach County Hispanic Bar Association, and a member of the Claims & Litigation Management Alliance, Florida Association of Women Lawyers, the Palm Beach County Bar Association.
1998
Jane West of Jane West Law in St. Augustine, FL, spoke at the Annual Environmental Challenge Day in St. Augustine on the topic of Growth in St. Johns County and a Citizens Toolbox on Being Engaged in the Public Process. West focuses on regulatory and litigation matters involving environmental, land use, and real estate issues.
1999
Francesca Russo has been named a partner with Espinosa Trueba Martinez in Miami, FL. Russo focuses on commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution.
2000
Steven W. Marcus opened Marcus Law P.A., in Plantation, FL, focusing on civil and commercial litigation, including disputes relating to contract, real estate, finance, probate, and intellectual property.
2003
Alison F. Smith of Weiss, Serota, Helfman, Cole & Bierman won the Joseph J. Carter Professionalism Award presented by the Broward County Bar Association.
2004
Sandy T. Fox of The Law Offices of Sandy T. Fox, PA in Aventura, FL is Board Certified in Marital and Family Law. He was chosen to the 2016 Super Lawyers, Florida Rising Stars and recently became a National Board of Trial Advocacy, Board Certified Family Law Trial Advocate.
2005
Jennifer C. Erdelyi has joined the Board of Directors of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers (FAWL). The Board was installed by Florida Supreme Court Justice Barbara Pariente and the Honorable Patricia Seitz, Senior United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida at the FAWL Annual Meeting and Installation Gala, held in conjunction with the Florida Bar Convention in Orlando on June 16th. Jennifer will be serving as FAWL’s Legislative Director for the 2016-17 membership year. Erdelyi is an attorney with Colodny Fass in Sunrise, FL and handles business, regulatory, estate planning, and probate matters.
2006
Louis Reinstein, partner at Billing, Cochran, Lyles, Mauro & Ramsey, P.A., received the Practice Section Chair of the Year Award (Appellate Section) presented by the Broward County Bar Association.
2008
Marvis Jenkins joined Smith Moore Leatherwood in Atlanta, GA as an associate. Jenkins focuses on clients in the transportation industry including commercial motor vehicle companies and motor carriers, drivers, specialty haulers, bus lines and motor coaches, automobile dealerships, emergency and non-emergency transportation providers, and their insurers.
2009
Meochia Clayton (MS Education Law) of Jacksonville, FL is the founder and Executive Director of Cruising With Autism, Inc., a non-profit organization in Jacksonville that aims to enrich the lives of under-served teens and young adults living with autism. Cruising with Autism provides families with travel opportunities enabling them to visit new places and enrich their lives while also educating the public about the diversity of the autistic community.
2011
Valerie B. Barnhart of Kelley Kronenberg received the Practice Section Chair of the Year Award (Technology Committee) presented by the Broward County Bar Association.
2012
Eric Arckey joined Hurley, Rogner, Miller, Cox & Waranch, P.A. in Winter Park, FL as an associate attorney. Arckey works in Worker’s Compensation Defense, representing employers and insurance carriers.
Tomas Jodar Cobo, is a corporate attorney at Roca Junyent in Barcelona, Spain. Cobo completed his JD at NSU Law in 2012 by participating in our international program with Universitat de Barcelona, one of NSU Law’s partners in its International Consortium for Global Legal Education.
George L. Metcalfe, Jr. of Richman Greer in Miami, FL has been elected to the board of directors for the Belen Alumni Lawyers Section, and will serve a two-year term starting April 2016. The Board’s goals including helping advance the mission of Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, Miami, FL and the community; promoting a more just society; and supporting its members in the practice of law. Metcalfe focuses his practice on taxation, international and domestic estate planning, probate and trust law, and corporate law. He also has experience in representing foreign and domestic clients in matters relating to complex tax planning, probate and guardianship administration, estate planning, corporate structuring, and probate and trust litigation.
Joseph Natiello joined Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman in Fort Lauderdale, FL as a litigation associate. He began his legal career as an Assistant State Attorney in Broward County, FL where he prosecuted felony cases, before he entered private practice where he focuses on civil litigation matters. Prior to law school he was a Deputy Sheriff for Broward Sheriff’s Office for 24 years.
Harold Pryor Assistant State Attorney for the 17th Judicial Circuit (Broward County, FL) is a Fellow of the 2016-2017 Florida Bar Wm. Reece Smith Leadership Academy. During his one year term, Pryor will follow a curriculum designed to enhance his professional development, knowledge base and experience. Academy Fellows are given the opportunity to learn more about The Florida Bar and how it is organized and operates. The Academy's Mission is to identify, nurture and inspire effective leadership within the Bar and the legal community.
2013
Rebecca A. Rodriguez of GrayRobinson in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, FL, was appointed vice chair of the ABA Section of International Law Customs Law Committee. She also graduated from Leadership Fort Lauderdale’s Class XXII. Since its inception in 1994, over 700 tri-county business leaders have graduated from Leadership Fort Lauderdale. Rodriguez practices in the area of litigation and administrative matters involving international trade issues and regulatory compliance for corporate clients.
Jonathan W. Chambers has become a partner with The Law Offices of David W. Spicer, P.A., which will now be known as The Law Offices of Spicer & Chambers, P.A., in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Chambers focuses on medical and dental malpractice, auto negligence, and health care law.
Cristina Cossio joined Greenspoon Marder in Miami, FL, as senior counsel. Cossio focuses on family law.
Michelle K. Suarez an associate at Kelley Kronenberg in Plantation, FL was selected as a 2016 Florida Super Lawyers Rising Star. Suarez co-authored an article published in Construction Executive Magazine The Distinction Matters: Contractors Must Properly Classify Workers as Employees or Independent Contractors and an article Using Mandala Art to Exercise Mindfulness in the Broward County Bar Association Barrister. Suarez was inducted as a Fellow in the Business Law Section of The Florida Bar for 2016-2017. Her practice includes commercial and business litigation.
2014
Tamara C. Chen-See joined Merlin Law Group in West Palm Beach, FL. Chen-See previously worked at Becker & Poliakoff, where she worked in the First Party Insurance Coverage Group, and assisting in the settlement of several high-dollar claims. Her experience also includes being an investigator with the U.S. Department of Labor where she worked on cases involving civil and criminal ERISA violations.
2016
Derek Betts wrote, “When is Having Less Really More? Florida’s Black Bear Hunt Controversy” which was featured in The Florida Bar Animal Law Section Summer 2016 Newsletter.