Monthly Archives: October 2012

It’s Good to Move Every 23 Years….

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Our law office has been here in the Key West Center in Palm Harbor for more than 20 years. In fact, we were the first tenants in the building – we moved here in July, 1989. I’ve been coming to my same office space longer than Harry Potter has been alive (both the book series and the actor who portrays him). In this office we watched the jury come back with the OJ Simpson verdict, watched the awful events unfold on 9/11, listened to the horrors of Read More +

Dog Bites Man – Man Fights Back

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We all love our pets, but we occasionally hear of something that went terribly wrong when a dog cannot control its behavior and a bite occurs resulting in an ugly injury. A few years ago a young mother from New Port Richey brought her beautiful 5 year old daughter to my office. With long blond hair and blue eyes, it was like she fell out of a Pottery Barn for Kids catalogue. But I immediately saw the problem. Besides an innate sadness not usually seen Read More +

Lawyer Rating Services

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There are a number of online organizations that investigate and rate lawyers and law firms throughout the country. This handy tool is one way consumers can determine where their attorney stacks up among the competition. Martindale-Hubbell is well known and probably the most prestigious. www.martindale.com.  Lawyers rated on this website are “peer reviewed” meaning other attorneys have given them a particular grade, not the folks at Martindale.   Lawyers are graded on a scale of A, B or C, with “B” being, by far, the grade Read More +

The Very Serious Subject of “Statutory Rape” in Florida

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As an attorney I am often asked why some people in Florida are arrested after having consensual sexual relations with a minor and some aren’t, and it’s a very good question. There is an article in the Tampa Bay Times this week about a 30 year old New Port Richey woman who was arrested for statutory rape with a minor. This relationship was not only consensual, this woman was actively living with her 17 year old boyfriend in a committed relationship and she is currently pregnant Read More +

Sylvester – Our Law Firm Mascot

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We want our clients to feel comfortable, peaceful and at home while visiting our Palm Harbor law office. Since we mainly represent seriously injured people, the last thing clients want to see when they come to a firm is an uptight, starched formal setting full of dark mahogany, law books and oversized leather furniture. When people are in pain or not feeling well, you want them relaxed and at ease. “You’re welcome here”, should be the ambiance. One thing that definitely adds to the color Read More +

Are You Safe in Your Hotel? Maybe Not….

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One of the most interesting cases I’ve ever handled as a lawyer is the case of “Betty Darlington”. Because of the very personal nature of her case, I’ve changed a few facts for privacy, but it is still true to the spirit of the claim. Betty was a widow and an early retiree, barely minted as an entry level senior citizen. While she retired somewhat young she wasn’t rich by anyone’s standards. She had a very simple lifestyle, lived inexpensively and she decided to pool Read More +