Legal Book » florida

Trial Set to Begin in Investor Challenge to BankAtlantic-BB&T Deal

Master — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:22:39 +0000

A group of investors is seeking to sway a judge in the Delaware Court of Chancery to block BankAtlantic’s proposed sale of $2.1 billion in loans and $3.3 billion in deposits to BB&T. The investors say the deal would allow BB&T to unlawfully “cherry-pick” from the Florida bank’s assets.

Investors seek $172 million in first Rothstein trial

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:07:12 +0000

A Texas-based investment group, claiming it was scammed by Scott Rothstein, asked Tuesday for $172 million in damages from TD Bank for helping to prolong Florida’s largest Ponzi scheme by allegedly aiding the imprisoned former lawyer in his $1.2 billion settlement financing fraud.

Scott Rothstein says he had paralegal impersonate Bar staffer

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:34:29 +0000

As his Ponzi scheme unraveled, Scott Rothstein fabricated numerous Florida Bar grievances to explain to investors why his bank accounts were being frozen and how he could not repay them. Rothstein said in a deposition that he even enlisted a paralegal to pose as a Bar staffer in a call with a worried investor.

Scott Rothstein says he had paralegal impersonate Bar staffer

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:34:29 +0000

As his Ponzi scheme unraveled, Scott Rothstein fabricated numerous Florida Bar grievances to explain to investors why his bank accounts were being frozen and how he could not repay them.

Florida Supreme Court suspends attorney Jeremy Alters

Master — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:31:37 +0000

A divided Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday suspended Miami attorney Jeremy Alters for allegedly misappropriating trust accounts to cover personal overdrafts, paying clients with money from other clients’ trust accounts and taking out loans of $14 million to cover client obligations.

Justice Watch: First Rothstein civil trial a case of ‘greed v. greed’

admin — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 06:53:17 +0000

After a month of testimony and evidence, jurors in the first trial of any kind in the wake of Scott Rothstein’s $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme have been told by some of Florida’s most seasoned litigators to make an unenviable choice: Side with either an unscrupulous bank or money-hungry investors.

Attorneys vying for piece of $123 million pie in Bank of America overdraft settlement

Master — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 07:38:13 +0000

A major battle is shaping up over some $123 million in attorney fees in the massive Bank of America overdraft class action. An Argentinian law firm is asking a federal judge to allow it to intervene in the case, while plaintiffs attorneys want their bid for fees to be decided in Florida state court.

Greenspoon Marder is lone suitor for Ruden McClosky

admin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:48:55 +0000

Greenspoon Marder is on track to acquire Ruden McClosky after no other parties appeared at a scheduled auction to bid on the Florida law firm. On a downward spiral for two years, Ruden filed for bankruptcy protection this month and separately reached a merger agreement with Greenspoon Marder.

Former NFL players sue Greenberg Traurig over bad casino investment

Master — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 07:07:34 +0000

Three former NFL players have filed suit against Greenberg Traurig and one of its Florida shareholders, claiming the law firm failed to warn them against investing in an Alabama casino that turned out to be a scam. A fourth player filed suit against the financial advisers in the casino deal.

Ruden’s assets acquired by Greenspoon

Master — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 04:17:46 +0000

Ruden McClosky, once one of Florida’s largest law firms, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Tuesday and signed an asset purchase agreement with Greenspoon Marder to create a 140-lawyer firm under the Greenspoon name. If approved by a federal bankruptcy judge, the sale would close by Dec. 1.

Ruden McClosky in merger talks with Greenspoon Marder

Master — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 22:44:21 +0000

Ruden McClosky is deep in merger talks with 96-attorney Greenspoon Marder. Once boasting more than 200 attorneys throughout Florida, Ruden McClosky has gone through a series of layoffs, mass defections, office closings and pay cuts over three years, and is now down to about 70 lawyers.

Trustee sues college to get son’s tuition back

Master — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 04:56:39 +0000

Two millionaires’ nasty divorce has put a son’s college tuition at stake in a related bankruptcy case.

Federal Judge Finds Certain Fla. Bar Rules on Attorney Ads Too Vague

admin — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 04:59:23 +0000

A federal judge has determined that Florida Bar rules governing law firm advertising violate lawyers’ First Amendment rights.

Boca lawyer goes on offensive against Chase

Master — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:04:55 +0000

Using state racketeering law, Florida lawyer W. Jeffrey Barnes has launched an offensive against JPMorgan Chase, which Barnes claims engaged in a national pattern of “fraudulent foreclosure proceedings based on false and fraudulent misrepresentations.”

Man arrested after trying to enter Broward courthouse with gun

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 05:18:47 +0000

A man has been charged with carrying a concealed firearm, armed trespassing and impersonating an officer after allegedly trying to bring a gun and 140 bullets into a Florida courthouse. According to an arrest affidavit, the man said he was “receiving communications” to do “something bad.”

Widow allowed to sue tobacco companies husband didn’t use

admin — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 07:15:04 +0000

A civil conspiracy claim against the nation’s biggest tobacco companies will stick, even if the now-deceased smoker never used their products. The suit was filed after the Florida Supreme Court disbanded a statewide class action but let individuals borrow findings from the original Miami class action.

4th DCA upholds award to widow of Broward smoker

admin — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 04:35:54 +0000

A Florida appeals court has upheld a $600,000 award to the widow of a smoker in a suit against R.J.

State court sentences ex-trustee, receiver Marika Tolz to nearly 7 years

admin — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 06:21:15 +0000

Marika Tolz, a former panelist for the U.S. bankruptcy trustee’s program, has been sentenced in Florida state court to nearly seven years for embezzling $550,000 from the estate of three children.

Fla. Bar to Lawyers: Play Nice

admin — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 05:42:13 +0000

New members of the Florida Bar will have to pledge fairness, integrity and civility in all communications when taking their oaths of office from now on. Concerned about increasing incivility among lawyers, the Florida Supreme Court has altered the oath in a unanimous ruling, “recognizing the importance of respectful and civil conduct in the practice of law.”Visit lawjobs.com News & Views

Federal Chinese drywall stay no longer valid, judge rules

admin — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 09:17:30 +0000

A Florida judge has decided a stay imposed in a federal class action against Miami-based Banner Supply is no longer in effect for Broward County homeowners who want to pursue their Chinese drywall claims in state court.

Ex-Judge Ana Gardiner faces ethics charges

admin — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 03:21:45 +0000

The Florida Bar has found probable cause to prosecute a former judge for alleged ethics violations stemming from her handling of a murder case and communications with the lead prosecutor. The prosecutor has previously said the hundreds of calls and messages were personal and not case-related.

4th DCA bars affidavit over failure to verify

admin — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 07:28:01 +0000

In a ruling that could benefit thousands of Florida homeowners facing foreclosure, a state appeals court on Wednesday disallowed an affidavit submitted to a trial judge in support of a foreclosure case. The court found a loan servicer failed to verify the amount owed on a delinquent mortgage.

Proposal aims to speed up foreclosures

Master — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 05:20:06 +0000

Can the Florida Legislature accelerate the speed of foreclosures slogging through clogged courts? One Republican lawmaker hopes so

Merger creates Fort Lauderdale legal powerhouse

Master — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 05:08:01 +0000

Atkinson Diner Stone Mankuta & Ploucha has signed an agreement to merge with Fowler White Boggs, creating a powerhouse Fort Lauderdale office with two former Florida Bar presidents. All 12 Atkinson Diner attorneys will join Fowler White, boosting its lawyer headcount to 142.

Thomas Cooley chief defends jobs data, expansion plans

admin — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 05:09:18 +0000

The National Law Journal spoke with Don DeLuc, dean and president of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School, about the recent media spotlight on his school, its decision to expand into Florida, and the dueling lawsuits over alleged inflation of graduate employment statistics.