Florida

Dreaming of Soofganiyot.

Posted on December 11, 2009
Well kids, I'm warming up the dreidel and pulling out the soofganiyot recipes, and yet here we are still dealing with the slings and arrows of this thing we call "practicing law."I just bumped into Aaron Podhurst by the Starbucks near the courthouse, looking trim and thin btw...

Why Can't We Be Friends?

Posted on December 11, 2009
This was exactly what I was going to say, but as usual Markus beat me to it:?This seems out of proportion to what really is occurring. I suspect the rules are being made by people who don?t understand the computer era.? The notion that being a "friend" to someone on Facebook could, in the words of the committee, "convey the impression that they are in a special position to influence the judge" is just utter asshattery...

Wearing A Suit.

Posted on December 10, 2009
I enjoy putting on a nicely tailored suit.It makes me feel empowered.I feel stronger, more confident, more in control of my surroundings.More serious, more responsible, more analytical, more successful.It makes me feel like a lawyer.

Hey, I'm Just a Sociologist!

Posted on December 10, 2009
Kyle Munzenreider over at Riptide highlights an interesting interview from the Palm Beach Post with Palm Beach County circuit judge Krista Marx, who has some....intriguing theories on how crime is moving north from Miami-Dade County, like a "red tide":After nearly 25 years in the criminal justice system and 11 years on the bench, Marx has developed a few macro theories, primarily that crime is a sort of reverse evolution, and, in terms of Florida, it is inexorably moving northward from Miami-Dade like red tide...

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Parsing the Epstein v. Rothstein Suit

Posted on December 10, 2009
Palm Beach lawyers Robert Critton and Michael Pike have filed suit on behalf of Palm Beach billionaire Jeffrey Epstein against Rothstein and former RRA attorney Bradley J. Edwards in Palm Beach state court.You can read the complaint here.Much of the suit is a rehash of the Ponzi scheme allegations, and how Rothstein would talk up all the victims his firm represented that were reaching settlements with Epstein, except for some reason Epstein always had to pay out over time, even though the victims wanted the money right now...

"Purported" 3d DCA Watch -- Guy Bailey Jr., Leo Greenfield And Jack Kerouac Edition

Posted on December 09, 2009
Hi kids!Everything is the same, the fog says 'We are fog and we fly by dissolving like ephemera,' and the leaves say 'We are leaves and we jiggle in the wind, that's all, we come and go, grow and fall' ? Even the paper bags in my garbage pit say 'We are mantransformed paper bags made out of wood pulp, we are kinda proud of being paper bags as long as that will be possible, but we'll be mush again with our sisters the leaves come rainy season' ? The tree stumps say 'We are tree stumps torn out of the ground by men, sometimes by the wind, we have big tendrils full of earth that drink out of the earth' ? Men say 'We are men, we pull out tree stumps, we make paper bags, we think wise thoughts, we make lunch, we look around, we make a great effort to realise everything is the same...

Qtask Next For Subpoena in Rothstein Bankruptcy

Posted on December 09, 2009
qtasksubpoena Today the receiver went after Qtask, a collaborative project management software company, setting a deposition duces tecum for December 22...

Feeding the Media Beast.

Posted on December 09, 2009
Kim These photos were on Scott Rothstein's wall in the old "bunker."

Judge Stettin Hits Levinson Jewelers With Subpoena

Posted on December 08, 2009
levinsonssubpoena This is interesting.So it looks like the first deposition that Judge Stettin has scheduled in the RRA bankruptcy is none other than Levinson Jewelers...

Rule 8(a) Hates You For Your Freedoms.

Posted on December 08, 2009
So I was reading my WSJ this morning and, in addition to a nice remembrance of DUI attorney Richard Essen, came across this letter from Senator Specter:William McGurn raises a false alarm that terrorists will flock to sue federal law-enforcement officials if my bill, the Notice Pleading Restoration Act of 2009, were enacted into law ("Terror by Trial Lawyer," Main Street, Dec...

Who Is This Mystery Woman?

Posted on December 08, 2009
Photographed unloading things from the Princess Kimberly yacht.In other Rothstein news, you can read about Scott's new digs here.Oh yeah -- I went back in the Wayback machine to RRA's old website -- for research of course.It's a fun timekiller.Wish me luck in court, kidzzzzzzz!

The Six Million Dollar Man?

Posted on December 07, 2009
Now way, and there's a perfectly good explanation: "Despite disclosures by the bankruptcy trustee, at no time did my client make anywhere near $6 million,'' Lehr said. Lehr declined to specify the exact salary, but said it's likely closer to the figure the court record cited for this year...

Judge Moreno Awards Fee Enhancement in MBC Receivership

Posted on December 07, 2009
Remember Judge Moreno's reaction to the requested $11 million MBC fee enhancement request?It almost caused a judicial heart attack:?I needed a defibrillator,? he joked. ?We?re talking about a lot of money.? Well the judge must have had a nice herbal tea which settled his nerves, because on Friday he granted most of the request:In this case, the uniqueness and complexity of the issues required lawyers with substantial skill, expertise, and tenacity, and it is undisputed that the lawyers' excellent representation enhanced the asset pool of funds to be distributed...

Everything's Ok!

Posted on December 07, 2009
Wow, what a weekend.Lots of quotes to chew on:"I don't know."That's prosecutor Richard Scruggs, under questioning before Judge Butchko on his handling of the Pastor Smith case we wrote about last week. (The Judge suppressed two tape recordings, ruled that the conduct was "unprofessional" and even referenced Bill Clinton!)?I don?t think he made us all look bad...

Yes, 11th Circuit, We Know You're There.

Posted on December 04, 2009
I love how all of the sudden the 11th Circuit will do something to try to make it seem "relevant."You know, they're way up in Atlanta, they don't release that many opinions (most are unpublished) and not on any set schedule, and let's face it, a few of them are kinda stiff...

A Fun Morning Read!

Posted on December 04, 2009
State v. Smtih Good thing I don't do any criminal work, let alone belong to any crim listserves.Maybe that's why an informed smart guy sent me the above pleading, involving some pretty unpretty allegations against prosecutor Richard Scruggs and the State's case against former Commissioner Spence-Jones...

SFL Friday -- It's All in the Feet.

Posted on December 04, 2009
I'm too tired, grumpy and/or mentally fried to put together a Friday wrap up, so you kids are on your own. Alright, you talked me out of it. Congrats to the DBR's Most Effective Lawyers and finalists. You can see the results here. What else? I wanted to make sure everybody marked their calendars for January 9, when there will be a unique jazz event in honor of Steve Chaykin and his fellowship at UM: On Saturday evening, January 9, 2009, a Reception and Concert by Grammy Nominated Jazz and Blues Artist Marcia Ball, will be held at the Gusman Concert Hall, on the University of Miami Campus...

Isn't Bankruptcy Court Annoying?

Posted on December 04, 2009
Stet Tin Report So I was interested in seeing Judge Stettin's latest filing in bankruptcy court that details the finances at RRA...

Announcing Rosenfeldt & Birken!

Posted on December 03, 2009
So I see from this Notice of Appearance that Stuart Rosenfeldt and Shawn L. Birken have formed a new form:ROSENFELDT & BIRKEN, P.A.1220 Riverland RoadFort Lauderdale, Florida 33312Direct Dial: 954-990-4459Fax: 954-990-4469Congrats gentlemen!Who else came with you? Details please.

Florida KidCare Or "Hot, Horny Girls"?

Posted on December 03, 2009
Gotta love the Governator:In a message callers hear when they get put on hold after calling Gov. Charlie Crist, Crist transposes a couple of numbers and turns the phone number for Florida KidCare into the number you?d call for ?hot, horny girls.?Here's what you hear if you dial the number:?Hey there, sexy guy...

BREAKING -- Ervin A. Gonzalez Not Actually On Twitter!!

Posted on December 03, 2009
Ervin, I spent the requisite 3.7 hours attempting to get through your full two-page ad on pages 14 and 15 of the December 1st Florida Bar News. After several brief naps and thirty-two shots of cafecito, I persevered and made it to the end.In it, you set forth a detailed and thoughtful agenda for change if elected as President-Elect of the Florida Bar...

A Personal Confession.

Posted on December 03, 2009
I have let the federal judiciary and the bar down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior the court system deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my brethren...

Let's Look At Stu Rosenfeldt's Campaign Contributions!

Posted on December 02, 2009
This part of John Pacenti's DBR article this morning was interesting:The government confirmed through its filing that RRA employees accepted large work-related bonuses shortly after being instructed to make large campaign contributions to political candidates...

3d DCA Watch -- Civil Law Day In The Bunker!

Posted on December 02, 2009
Boy did I get excited when I saw all the civil opinions released today!Then I read some of them.Oh I kid the 3d -- they're not all bad.Let's take a look:Hialeah Automotive v. Basulto:This is actually a well-reasoned opinion by Judge Cope dealing with an arbitration clause in an auto purchase that would arguably defeat the remedial purposes of FDUTPA...

You're A Hard Man To Please, George L. Metcalfe!

Posted on December 01, 2009
I always knew Burt Young was a mensch.But he brought a tear to even these jaded eyes with his most recent letter to the Florida Bar News (his earlier one is here), in what has become a continuing George L. Metcalfe soapbox/soap opera played out in the letters page of what used to be a normal Bar publication:Is not it Biblically accepted that (wo)man was created in the image of G-d? If G-d created His people with different sexual orientations, then who is Mr...

More Hilarity from The RRA Vaults!

Posted on December 01, 2009
So I took a look at this motion for sanctions filed against Whitney and Rothstein in the MD FL, which makes reference to this other Whitney case we talked about yesterday.It's a fairly compelling document, laying out a long list of discovery hijinks allegedly perpetrated by Whitney and RRA in several cases filed by Whitney against various critics and detractors...

This One's For You, Scottie!!

Posted on December 01, 2009
Magistrate Judge Rosenbaum jailed him.

Glenn Garvin, Late and Wrong

Posted on December 01, 2009
Glenn Garvin's column today presents a case study in what is wrong with op-eds in local newspapers.First, he's picked a topic with no local angle -- the trial of KSM in New York.Being a national story, this topic has been discussed at length in newspapers and blogs and on TV ever since Attorney General Holder made the announcement two weeks ago...

A Chestnut Pulled From The Hilarious RRA Pleadings File!

Posted on November 30, 2009
Bob Norman as usual is ahead of everybody else and has a story that refers to Scott's delay tactics in a suit Rothstein brought on behalf of infomercial king Russ Whitney.From what I can tell, it appears that Scott was filing SLAPP suits on behalf of Whitney against various critics and naysayers, including pro se defendant John Reed...

(Some of You) Like Me, You Really Like Me!!

Posted on November 30, 2009
Well the kind folks at the ABA Journal who compile the otherwise excellent Blawg 100 have thrown their normally good taste and judgment to the wind and included us for a second straight year!Thanks for the acknowledgement, seriously.We're listed in the "Geo" category (with very fine company btw) and you can vote for us here.

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