By JANE MUSGRAVE -- Palm Beach Post Staff Writer In a typical election year, Florida Supreme Court justices put $500 in their campaign accounts and after the votes are counted, they withdraw the money and settle in for another six years. This year, Justices R. Fred Lewis, Barbara Pariente and Peggy Quince each have about $330,000 in their campaign war chests. They are touring the state, talking to business groups, visiting newspaper editorial boards, making robo-calls to voters and hoping they survive http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/florida-supreme-court-retention-race-unusually-str/nSb9t/ … [Read more...]
Becerra to Devine Goodman
July 24, 2012 By
Robert J. Becerra has joined Devine Goodman Rasco & Wells as of counsel. Becerra concentrates in the areas of litigation and arbitration, white collar criminal defense, grand jury investigations, corporate compliance and internal investigations, and administrative and judicial proceedings related to international trade matters. … [Read more...]
Lawsuit Claims Real Estate Attorney Failed to Check Property’s Zoning Before Client Made $2.2M Land Buy
June 13, 2012 By
Trucking firm paying $20K per month in costs for property it can’t use STAFF REPORT -- MIAMI – Legal malpractice attorney Warren R. Trazenfeld has filed a lawsuit in Miami-Dade County against Miami real estate attorney Roland J. Martinez, alleging his failure to perform a simple zoning investigation saddled his client with a property it can’t use. The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages from Martinez. Martinez represented Zepol, a South Florida-based trucking company, in a $2.2 million land purchase in Opa-Locka. Zepol had informed Martinez the property was being purchased for a commercial trucking facility, but attorney Martinez failed to investigate whether the land was zoned for its intended use, according to Trazenfeld’s suit. “What boggles the mind is the lawyer only needed to spend less than $50 to obtain a letter from the city of Opa-Locka that would have … [Read more...]
Attorney Larry Handfield: ‘Laurinus Pierre MD will get Justice’
May 16, 2012 By
By DOTTIE PARIS, TFLJ Features Editor -- MIRAMAR -- A local physician has filed a federal lawsuit against the Miramar Police Department, the city of Miramar and the Broward County Sheriff, after he was arrested for defending his home against invaders with an unloaded shotgun. In what some deem an example of a racial double-standard of Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, Laurinus Pierre M.D., said he was traumatized when he was arrested by police officers at his home following an attempted break-in in late April. Pierre's suit filed in Southern District of Florida claims false arrest, false imprisonment, unlawful search and seizure and malicious prosecution. “The arrest by police occurred in full view of his neighbors and family," said Larry Handfield of the Miami-based Law Offices of Larry Handfield. "Dr. Pierre was only defending himself and his loved ones … [Read more...]
Meister Law taking on the big guns
April 9, 2010 By
'A different set of rules applies to victims of crimes at sea' By DONNA BALANCIA, CFLJ Editor MIAMI Its not easy to stage a battle in international waters. But thats what maritime attorney Tonya Meister faces every day at Meister Law LLC of Miami. At best, Meisters job is rewarding. She fights for the rights of wronged crewmembers, advocates for victims of crimes on the high seas, and helps make stormy waters still. At worst, Meister is bucking the stacked cards of the corporations, which have centuries-old maritime laws and legal loopholes on their side. Many of Meisters clients are poorly paid, foreign crewmembers from countries with names that are difficult to pronounce. But sometimes her clients are Americans who just want a nice vacation. Take the case of widow Anita Scarborough of Merritt Island. The statuesque 70-something with a big family and a zest for … [Read more...]
