Legal Briefs (Tampa edition)

Legal Briefs (Tampa edition)

Nominees sought for Judges

of Compensation Claims

The Statewide Nominating Commission for Judges of Compensation Claims is accepting applications for a vacancy in the Tampa office created by upcoming retirement of Judge William Douglas.

Applications can be obtained at www.flabar.org and must be submitted by Feb. 16. Applications cannot be e-mailed or faxed. Questions about the process should be addressed to Victor Marrero, commission chair, (954) 838-3451.

Former Pinellas prosecutor

joins Williams Schifino

Matthew L. Wilson, who worked as an assistant state attorney for Pinellas-Pasco Prosecutor Bernie McCabe for seven years, joined Tampa's Williams Schifino Mangione & Steady PA as an associate. His practice is focused on the defense of automobile, premises and complex civil liability claims and civil rights litigation.

Clearwater Bar plans

annual Oyster Roast

Lawyers with a hankering to put on an apron and fire up the grill are invited to participate in the Clearwater Bar Association's 58th Annual Oyster Roast, March 20, on the Palm Harbor grounds of Florin, Roebig & Walker.

It's the association's biggest and most popular event. Last year, food stations included Felony Chili, West Pasco Bar Association; Home Cookin', Chuck deVlaming and Jim Dodson; Mykono's Greek Lamb, George Tragos; Shrimp Inn, Barney Masterson Inn of Court; Thirsty Marlin Conch Tails, Young Lawyers Division; and the Wild Turkey Bar, Connie Stephens, Rebecca Graham, Dean Hoolihan and Kathy Ramers.

Participants vote, through secret ballot, for the winner of the Oyster Roast Cup. Previous winners include Young Lawyers Division, 2003; Wild Turkeys, 2002; and P.I.G.S. (People Intensely Gobbling Sustenance), 2001.

This year, Chuck and Denis deVlaming are offering $500 to eight young attorneys willing to form "This Spud's for You" station that offers baked potatoes and gourmet breads. The deVlaming brothers are concerned that the food stations in recent years were slanted heavily toward seafood, meat and alcohol at the expense of vegetables and breads.

For information, contact Don Crowell, the food station chair, at (727) 464-3354. Deadline to reserve a station is Feb. 20.

Koch, Harrington & Smith

adds another attorney

Susan J. Hoffman recently joined Koch, Harrington & Smith PL in Clearwater. A 1992 Stetson University College of Law graduate, Smith specializes in marital and family law.

Tampa attorney named

to million dollar forum

Hyde Park attorney Thomas P. Scarritt Jr. was recently named to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum for negotiating a $1.7 million settlement on behalf of Lee and Nancy Hanna against Ashland Inc.

The Hanna's had sued Ashland, a Columbus, Ohio, chemical company, alleging their 7-acre property near Tampa International Airport was contaminated by pollutants from the nearby Ashland site. The settlement was reached in 2001.

Scarritt, a University of Florida College of Law graduate, is one of about 2,500 forum members. He specializes in catastrophic damages, medical negligence, products liability, civil rights, nursing home abuse and business torts.

Bush reappoints Adams

to sports foundation

St. Petersburg attorney Jeffrey M. Adams, 44, has been reappointed by Gov. Jeb Bush to the Florida Sports Foundation's board of directors. His term began Jan. 9 and continues through Nov. 21, 2007.

Bavol Bush appoints

Iannacio as shareholder

Anthony M. Iannacio is a new shareholder at Bavol Bush Graziano & Rice, PA, Tampa. He specializes in complex litigation including construction litigation, toxic torts, environmental litigation, medical malpractice, nursing home litigation, and products liability.

Bankruptcy bar elects

Lamourex president

Carlton Fields attorney John J. Lamourex was elected president of the Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association.

Correction:

Due to an error, the last lines of a Jan. 9 article on Tech Data Corp. corporate counsel David Vetter were inadvertently omitted.

It should have read:

"But it's difficult to say if I would have more cash in the bank in private practice than here," Vetter said. "There are days when I'd trade it in a second. And there are days I wouldn't trade it for the world."