John Ward Smith, Ronald E. Cabaniss, James A. Edwards, partners, and Bianca G. Liston and Scott J. Edwards, associates, have formed a new firm, Hewitt Wolensky LLP with their office in Maitland along with their partners and colleagues in Newport Beach, California. The firm will practice in the areas of products liability, premises liability, railroad and transportation, commercial litigation, and civil appellate matters. John Upchurch, Howard Marsee, Michael Orfinger, George A. Sprinkel IV, and G.B. McVay Voght will staff Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Groups new special master/magistrate practice group. Joy A. Demas, has joined Caveda Law Firm in Tampa. She concentrates her practice on marital and family law, divorce, child custody, and estate planning. Juan Carlos Garcia has joined the Tampa office of Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer PA as a partner. His practice is … [Read more...]

A San Francisco federal grand jury has indicted an Orlando man for impersonating an attorney and pulling off an intricate scheme to defraud clients. Michael Anthony Nelson, 39, of Orlando is alleged to have created the law firm Nelson & Associates with offices in Los Angeles and Atlanta. He named himself after a real attorney named Michael Nelson and claimed to be managing partner of the firm. The defendant Nelson made fake claims to get papers from the State Bar of California and other items to bolster his legitimacy. The indictment indicates Nelson used Craigslist to answer ads taken by people who needed legal services. He also registerd with an online legal service. By these methods he took in legal fees and several thousand dollars from California residents. … [Read more...]