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The following summaries are drawn from briefs and lower court judgments. They are meant to provide a general idea of facts and issues presented in cases, and should not be considered official court documents. Facts and issues presented in these summaries should be checked for accuracy against records and briefs, available from the Court, which provide more specific information.
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Names & phone numbers of attorneys in these cases are available in Acrobat format.
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Florida Supreme Court Oral Arguments
Monday, February 8, 2010
Arrive early. Times & order of appearance are tentative and subject to change with no notice. Cases may be postponed due to exigent circumstances.
Case |
Time |
Facts & Issues |
Place of Origin |
No cases scheduled |
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Florida Supreme Court Oral Arguments
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Arrive early. Times & order of appearance are tentative and subject to change with no notice. Cases may be postponed due to exigent circumstances.
Case |
Time |
Facts & Issues |
Place of Origin |
The Florida Bar v. Donald Alan Tobkin
SC07-928 | SC07-959
View briefs in Acrobat format by clicking the case
number(s) here |
9:00 |
In these disciplinary cases, The Florida Bar accuses Mr. Tobkin of violating the
ethical standards for attorneys by failing to pay out settlement proceeds to clients
in medical malpractice cases and by failing to provide competent representation.
The trial judge considering the cases as a referee concluded that Mr. Tobkin did
violate several ethical standards. The referee recommends that this Court disbar
Mr. Tobkin for five years if he makes restitution in one of the cases. If no restitution is made, the referee has recommended that Mr. Tobkin be permanently disbarred. |
Broward County |
The Florida Bar v. Stuart Leonard Stein
SC08-1108
View briefs in Acrobat format by clicking the case
number(s) here
|
Approx. 9:30 |
In this disciplinary case, The Florida Bar accuses Mr. Stein of violating several
ethical standards for attorneys based on his disbarment in New Mexico. The trial
judge considering the case as a referee recommends that this Court disbar Mr.
Stein. |
New Mexico |
Randy Lamar Schoenwetter v. State of Florida
SC08-2271 | SC09-955
View briefs in Acrobat format by clicking the case
number(s) here
|
Approx. 10:00 |
Mr. Schoenwetter pleaded guilty to the first-degree murders of 10-year-old
Virginia Friskey and her father, Ronald Friskey, who were fatally stabbed in their
home in 2000. The jury voted 10-2 to recommend a death sentence for the murder
of the daughter and 9-3 to recommend a death sentence for the father. The trial
court condemned Mr. Schoenwetter for both murders and this Court upheld the
death sentences on direct appeal. Mr. Schoenwetter filed a postconviction challenge in trial court. It was denied and this appeal followed. |
Brevard County |
Florida Supreme Court Oral Arguments
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Arrive early. Times & order of appearance are tentative and subject to change with no notice. Cases may be postponed due to exigent circumstances.
Case |
Time |
Facts & Issues |
Place of Origin |
The Florida Bar v. Sherry Grant Hall
SC07-863
View briefs in Acrobat format by clicking the case
number(s) here |
9:00 |
In this disciplinary case, The Florida Bar accuses Ms. Hall of violating ethical
standards for attorneys based on her alterations to a lease agreement after it was
signed. The trial judge considering the case as a referee concluded that Ms. Hall
had violated the rule against dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation. He
recommends that this Court suspend Ms. Hall from the practice of law for 90 days. |
Okaloosa County |
Harold Goldberg v. Merrill Lynch Credit
SC08-1360
View briefs in Acrobat format by clicking the case
number(s) here
|
Approx. 9:30 |
In these two consolidated cases, the Goldbergs and Ms. Forman sued their mortgage lenders, alleging the lenders had engaged in the unauthorized practice of law
when they charged the property owners for document preparation. The circuit
court dismissed the cases, ruling that only this Court has jurisdiction to determine
what constitutes the unauthorized practice of law. On appeal, the Fourth District
Court of Appeal ruled that people can sue to recover fees stemming from the
unauthorized practice of law but only after this Court has determined that certain
conduct constitutes the unauthorized practice of law. This appeal followed. |
Palm Beach County |
Paul Durousseau v. State of Florida
SC08-68
View briefs in Acrobat format by clicking the case
number(s) here
|
Approx. 10:00 |
Mr. Durousseau was convicted of the first-degree murder of Tyresa Mack, who
died of asphyxiation in her home in July 1999. The jury voted 10-2 to recommend
a death sentence and the trial court condemned him. This is his direct appeal. He
raises various issues. |
Duval County |
American Optical Corp. v. Walter R. Spiewak
SC08-1616 | SC08-1617 | SC08-1639 | SC08-1640
View briefs in Acrobat format by clicking the case
number(s) here
|
Approx. 11:00 |
Mr. Spiewak, Mr. Williams and others sued American Optical Corp. and other
companies, alleging asbestos-related injuries. While the lawsuits were pending,
the Legislature passed a law that required plaintiffs to demonstrate a certain level
of physical impairment before an asbestos-related lawsuit would be permitted.
Citing the new law, the circuit courts dismissed the lawsuits filed by Mr. Spiewak,
Mr. Williams and others. On appeal, the Fourth District Court of Appeal ruled that
the new law was unconstitutional as applied to the pending lawsuits. |
Palm Beach County |
Florida Supreme Court Oral Arguments
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Arrive early. Times & order of appearance are tentative and subject to change with no notice. Cases may be postponed due to exigent circumstances.
Case |
Time |
Facts & Issues |
Place of Origin |
In re: Amendments to Rules Regulating The Florida
Bar 4-7.1
SC09-394
View briefs in Acrobat format by clicking the case
number(s) here
|
9:00 |
The Florida Bar has proposed that this Court modify the rules regulating lawyer
advertising to state that the rules do not apply to communications between lawyers
and communications between lawyers and clients or former clients. |
Statewide impact |
The Florida Bar v. Charles Behm
SC07-661
View briefs in Acrobat format by clicking the case
number(s) here
|
Approx. 9:30 |
In this disciplinary case, The Florida Bar accuses Mr. Behm of violating ethical
standards for attorneys based on his failure to comply with standards for trust
accounts and his failure to file income tax returns for several years. The trial judge
considering the case as a referee concluded that Mr. Behm had violated trust
account rules as well as the rules against unlawful and dishonest conduct. He
recommends that this Court suspend Mr. Behm from the suspension of law for 90
days for the trust fund violations and for 91 days for the income tax case. |
Putnam County |
Kenneth Allen Stewart v. State of Florida
SC08-2075 | SC09-814
View briefs in Acrobat format by clicking the case
number(s) here
|
Approx. 10:00 |
Mr. Stewart was convicted of the first-degree murder of Ruben Diaz, who was
robbed and fatally shot in 1984. Mr. Stewart's first two death sentences were both
vacated. In his third sentencing hearing, the jury voted 7-5 to recommend a death
sentence and the trial court again condemned him. The third death sentence was
upheld by this Court on direct appeal, and Mr. Stewart filed a postconviction
challenge in the trial court. It was denied and this appeal followed.
Justice Quince is recused.
|
Hillsborough County |
David Joseph Pittman v. State of Florida
SC08-146 | SC08-2486
View briefs in Acrobat format by clicking the case
number(s) here
|
Approx. 10:30 |
Mr. Pittman was convicted of the first-degree murders of Clarence and Barbara
Knowles and their daughter Bonnie Knowles. The victims were fatally stabbed in
their home in 1990. The jury voted 9-3 to recommend death sentences for all three
murders and the trial court condemned him. This Court upheld the sentences on
direct appeal and Mr. Pittman filed a postconviction challenge in trial court. It was
denied and this appeal followed.
Justice Quince is recused.
|
Polk County |
Florida Supreme Court Oral Arguments
Friday, February 12, 2010
Arrive early. Times & order of appearance are tentative and subject to change with no notice. Cases may be postponed due to exigent circumstances.
Case |
Time |
Facts & Issues |
Place of Origin |
No cases scheduled |
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