2013 Summer Newsletter

Volume 14, Issue 3

In This Issue:

  • Army Corps and Broward County Win Suit Over $791M Airport Project
  • Federal Judge Dismisses Civil Rights Claims Against West Palm Beach Mayor and City Officials
  • Court Sides with the Seminole Tribe of Florida on Power Plant Rezoning Issue
  • Driving While Texting: Now Illegal in Florida
  • LLW named one of South Florida’s “Fastest Growing Companies” and “Top Largest Law Firms” by South Florida Business Journal
  • LLW Attorneys Selected as 2013 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
  • Water Quality Credit Trading: It Could Be Coming to a Water Body Near You
  • Where Water and Energy Meet
  • LLW Attorney Spotlight:  Jennifer R. Cowan
  • FIRM NEWS

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Army Corps and Broward County Win Suit Over $791M Airport Project

Lewis, Longman & Walker represented Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

A Florida federal judge on Monday granted summary judgment to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Broward County in a suit accusing the Corps of failing to consider noise levels and ignoring a cheaper alternative when it approved a Clean Water Act wetlands permit for FLL’s $791 million runway expansion.

In a 25-page decision, U.S. District Judge James I. Cohn ruled the Corps did not violate the National Environmental Policy Act or the Clean Water Act because it took a hard look at the environmental consequences of issuing the permit and gave appropriate consideration to the Clean Water Act public interest criteria and to the role of the FAA regarding airport noise.

The judgment was a big win for Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A., who represented FLL. Attorney Robert P. Diffenderfer can be reached for more information at rdiffenderfer@llw-law.com, or at 561-640-0820.

Federal Judge Dismisses Civil Rights Claims Against West Palm Beach Mayor and City Officials

Lewis, Longman & Walker successfully defended the Mayor of West Palm Beach against civil rights claims brought by a member of the public regarding how the City conducts its public meetings. In a detailed opinion, Federal District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks dismissed civil rights claims brought by disgruntled West Palm Beach citizen William McCray against West Palm Mayor Jeri Muoio, members of the City Commission and the West Palm Beach City Attorney and City Administrator. The Plaintiff alleged that the Mayor, former Mayor Lois Frankel, City Commissioners and City officials violated his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights by turning off the Plaintiff’s microphone during his three minutes of public comment when Plaintiff’s comments became personal and hostile to members of the City Commission. The Plaintiff, who is a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Deputy, also alleged that he was discriminated against by the City’s policy of not permitting him to carry his firearm into the City Commission Chambers when appearing at City Commission meetings on personal business. The City only permits West Palm Beach police officers to appear armed in City Commission chambers.

LLW attorney Andrew Baumann successfully represented Mayor Muoio in the matter which was dismissed on the grounds that the individual defendants could not be sued for their discretionary official decisions under the doctrine of qualified immunity. The Court ruled that a City Commission meeting is a limited public forum for the purposes of First Amendment rights, and the City is entitled to impose reasonable time, place and manner restrictions on public comment at City Commission meetings. The Court also ruled that there is no clearly established right for the Plaintiff to carry a firearm into a City Commission meeting, and that the City is entitled to distinguish between Plaintiff and its own City employees regarding permitting only certain personnel to appear armed in City Commission chambers in order to protect the public from violence.  Andrew Baumann can be reached atabaumann@llw-law.com or at 561-640-0820.

Court Sides with the Seminole Tribe of Florida on Power Plant Rezoning Issue

Appeals Court Sides with Lewis, Longman & Walker Client, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Ruling that Hendry County FPL Power Plant Rezoning is subject to challenge under the Florida Community Planning Act and not preempted by the Power Plant Siting Act

On June 12, 2013, the Second District Court of Appeal ruled in favor of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, represented by Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A., (“LLW”) holding that when Florida Power and Light (“FPL”) rezones property for a power plant outside of the process under the Power Plant Siting Act (“PPSA”), the rezoning decision is subject to challenge for inconsistency with the local government’s comprehensive plan.  In an ongoing lawsuit between the Seminole Tribe, FPL and Hendry County, LLW, on behalf of the Seminole Tribe, asserted that the County’s decision to rezone 3,200 acres of land adjacent to the Seminole Tribe’s Big Cypress Reservation for a regional power plant is inconsistent with numerous provisions of the County’s Comprehensive Plan.  Accordingly, the Seminole Tribe filed suit under Section 163.3215, Florida Statutes, which mandates that all development orders adopted by local governments must be consistent with that government’s comprehensive plan.  The statute provides for citizen enforcement of the local government’s comprehensive plan through suits by adversely affected parties.

This case was dismissed by the Circuit Court in January 2012, on the basis that the Seminole Tribe’s comprehensive plan consistency challenge was preempted by the PPSA which provides a single, unified process for obtaining all state and local approvals for construction and expansion of power plants in Florida.  FPL and the County argued, and the Circuit Court agreed, that the Seminole Tribe would have to wait to challenge the consistency of the zoning ordinance under the PPSA – even though FPL had not filed an application for power plant certification and did not seek to rezone the property through the PPSA process.

In this case of first impression, the District Court agreed with the Seminole Tribe and reversed the Circuit Court.  The District Court held that, a rezoning adopted outside of, and prior to, initiation of the PPSA certification process is subject to challenge under Section 163.3215 of Florida’s Community Planning Act.  The District Court observed that FPL “strategically” applied to rezone the property for a power plant before any PPSA application had ever been filed out of a desire to have the new zoning in place so that when the PPSA application came forward, they would not have to rezone the property through that process.  The District Court concluded that FPL elected to rezone the property outside of the PPSA context and subjected the County’s rezoning decision to a comprehensive plan consistency challenge under Section 163.3215, Florida Statutes.

The decision may have lasting ramifications on the manner in which FPL elects to rezone and entitle property for current and future projects, as local approvals acquired prior to an application under the PPSA are susceptible to challenge for consistency with local comprehensive plans as well as traditional certiorari review.

Please contact Andrew Baumann  for more information.

Driving While Texting: Now Illegal in Florida

By Howard A. Caplan

On May 28, 2013 Governor Rick Scott signed the Use of Wireless Communications Devices While Driving Act, Senate Bill 52, into law.  The effective date of the Act is October 1, 2013.  On October 1, 2013 it will be illegal for all but emergency workers to operate a motor vehicle while texting.  More specifically, the Act prohibits driving while “manually typing or entering multiple letters, numbers, symbols, or other text in a handheld wireless communication device, or sending or reading data in the device, for the purpose of non-voice interpersonal communication.”  Florida joins the forty states that ban texting while driving with passage of the Act.   [The District of Columbia also bans texting while driving.  An additional six states ban texting while driving for novice drivers.]  Vicarious liability rules extend the ramifications of some violations to employers of employees who violate no texting while driving laws.

Fines for violation range from $30.00 for the first offense to adding six points to the driver license record if a crash is the result of distracted driving due to texting.   Violations are secondary offenses.  This means that a violator must first be cited for another traffic offense before being cited for driving and texting.  Excessive weaving in a lane or crossing lane markers could lead to a charge of reckless driving, a primary offense.

In 2010, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),  eighteen percent of all fatal crashes were caused by distracted driving.  In all, 3,092 people died and approximately 416,000 were injured in these crashes.  The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that text messaging creates a crash risk twenty three times worse than driving while not distracted.  In 2011, twenty three percent of all crashes were due to distracted driving.  This translates into 1,300,000 crashes due to distracted driving.   Every year, over eighty percent of respondents to the AAA Foundation Traffic Safety Culture Index cite distraction while driving as making them feel less safe on the road.

Texting is only one of many ways a driver can be distracted from the task at hand, namely, to safely operate the motor vehicle.  Any activity a driver engages in that interferes with a concerted effort to safely operate a motor vehicle is distracting.  Attentive driving is critical due to the constantly changing traffic environment.

It is clear that distracted driving is dangerous.  While driving to work nearly every month I see someone applying makeup, shaving, or engaged in other grooming while attempting to drive.  Every few days I see a driver wandering across lane markers or otherwise oblivious to traffic while conversing on a cell phone.  We all have seen these and other forms of distracted driving.  Studies by the NHTSA have shown that merely talking on a cell phone, even hands free, increases the likelihood of crashing.

Not surprisingly, teens text and drive more than adults.  Thirty-four percent of teen drivers admit to driving while texting.  Well, sure, forty eight percent of young drivers have seen their parents drive while speaking on a cell phone and fifteen percent have seen one of their parents text while driving.  Texting, or reading of any kind, is one of the most distracting forms of distracted driving because it is so engrossing.  And contrary to what many of us believe, we are just not that good at multi-tasking.

Federal regulations prohibit many commercial motor vehicle drivers not only from texting while driving but also from reaching for or holding a cell phone or even having to press more than one button to dial.  Consequently, many trucking and delivery companies have express rules for drivers’ cell phone use when driving on business.   More and more companies are enacting “cell phone usage while driving” work rules.  Of course having a work rule and enforcing the rule are not the same.  If a company has a work rule it should either uniformly enforce it or not have the rule.

Vicarious liability rules impose liability on an employer for damages caused by employees in the normal course of business.  This means that employers will have liability if an employee causes a crash while driving on company time.  Vicarious liability generally does not arise while employees drive to and from work each day.  It is well known that personal injury attorneys subpoena cell phone records for motor vehicle accidents.  These attorneys have long known that talking while driving can be distracting.  Nevertheless, most employers permit employees to talk on their cell phones while driving.  But, nine states and the District of Columbia prohibit all cell phone use, inclusive of hands-free devices, while driving.

Businesses have to deal with the crossing purposes of enhancing employee safety and minimizing risk versus enhancing employee productivity by permitting cell phone talking while driving.  Many of us make calls driving to and from work.  But if a call is business related, then what would otherwise not give rise to a vicarious liability claim might do so.  And, many of us “work” on the phone while driving to meetings in other cities.  Businesses, and drivers generally, should be cognizant of the risks of driving while talking on a cell phone.  This is especially so in inclement weather.   Insurance companies are taking notice.  Because they are risk averse, some insurance companies are increasing post-crash premiums higher when texting or other cell phone use is involved in a crash, or else dropping and denying coverage altogether.

Due to vicarious liability employers have for the actions of their employees, more businesses are adopting work rules addressing cell phone usage for employees when driving.  These and other work rules are important because if a business can demonstrate that it actively enforces its rules, then the business might avoid a vicarious liability claim arising from actions by an employee violating such a rule.  Stated differently, a company may avoid liability if an employee’s actions contravene an express work rule.  Thus, a company with a no texting while driving rule may avoid vicarious liability, or reduce liability, if it has and enforces the no texting rule and an employee causes a crash due to texting.   Now that texting while driving is soon to be against the law in Florida, businesses should add non-texting provisions to their work rules and regulations.

LLW named one of South Florida’s “Fastest Growing Companies” and “Top Largest Law Firms” by South Florida Business Journal

Lewis, Longman & Walker was recently listed as one of South Florida’s “Fastest Growing Companies” and listed as one of South Florida’s “Top Largest Law Firms” by the South Florida Business Journal.

Each year the South Florida Business Journal ranks South Florida companies to determine the fastest growing. Companies chosen include both private and public companies and range in industry, size, and revenue. The “Top Largest Law Firm” rankings are based upon the number of South Florida lawyers, South Florida partners, and total staff. For more information about the rankings, visit http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/.

LLW Attorneys Selected as 2013 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

Lewis, Longman & Walker shareholders Terry E. Lewis, Stephen A. Walker, Michelle Diffenderfer, and Alfred J. Malefatto have been selected as 2013 Florida Super Lawyers in the area of Environmental Law. Anne Longman has been selected as a Florida Super Lawyer in the area of Administrative Law, and Wayne E. Flowers has been selected as a 2013 Florida Super Lawyer in the area of Environmental Litigation.

Shareholders Tara W. Duhy and F. Joseph Ullo, Jr., have been named 2013 Rising Stars in the area of Environmental Law.

These individuals share this Super Lawyers designation with only 5% of the attorneys in Florida. Florida Super Lawyers are nominated by fellow attorneys who have personally observed them in action, whether as opposing counsel, co-counsel or through other firsthand observations in the courtroom. The background and professional achievements of each candidate are researched before the final decision is made to include the attorneys in this list. Super Lawyers selects its Rising Stars using peer nominations in combination with third party research. Each candidate is 40-years-old or younger or in practice for ten years or less, and is evaluated on twelve indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement.  For more information, please visit our website at www.llw-law.com or www.superlawyers.com.

Water Quality Credit Trading: It Could Be Coming to a Water Body Near You

By F. Joseph Ullo

The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) implements the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit program under the Clean Water Act (CWA, 1972) to control point source pollution and help restore and maintain the health of U.S. waters.  Despite this permit program’s success during its thirty years of existence, almost half of all surface waters had water qualities not meeting their designated use in 2003 when the USEPA adopted its Final Water Quality Trading Policy (USEPA, 2003), noting that “40% of the rivers, 45% of the streams and 50% of the lakes….do not support their designated uses.”

Trading Programs across the Country

Thirteen states are in various stages of development of formalized water quality trading programs in which credits generated when one permitted discharge treats effluent beyond requirements can be traded between dischargers to maintain balance in the receiving water body (http://water.epa.gov/type/watersheds/trading/tradingmap.cfm).  Seven states have statewide water quality trading programs in which parameters traded include nutrients, temperature, sediments, heavy metals, and oxygen demand.

Where Water and Energy Meet

By Robert P. Diffenderfer and Dru Krupinsky

Within the context of our changing climate it is becoming increasingly important to create a meaningful and transparent method for measuring and reporting the water-energy connection to achieve a sustainable supply of both. It generally takes water to make energy, and because treating and moving water is such an energy-intensive process, it is apparent that water and energy are inextricably linked.  In a fractured regulatory landscape, voluntary initiatives have been emerging as the go-to source for this information, but do they go deep enough? You can’t manage what you don’t measure, which raises a question: Are we measuring the most important aspects of the water-energy nexus?

Beyond just presenting the public and decision-makers with pertinent information, disclosure is the first step in a process that can lead to a number of benefits, including system efficiency improvements and demand reductions. But what form does this disclosure take? Much like the emerging importance of advanced statistics and their acceptance in professional sports, stakeholders are beginning to demand a more detailed accounting of environmental impacts associated with water processing and delivery.

In spite of several studies on the subject, there is no definitive answer to the question of the environmental impacts associated with the provision of water services.  Because the boundary for analysis of an entire water delivery system is so complex, the issue of embodied energy (or life-cycle assessment) has been mostly academic, with corporate and water reporting generally taking the form of associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and water use, or sometimes a series of questions and answers. To investigate the gap between approaches, we analyzed recent data from a voluntary registry, and compared published life-cycle assessment studies.

LLW Attorney Spotlight:  Jennifer R. Cowan

As an attorney at the Tampa Bay office of Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A., Jennifer’s practice focuses on local government, land use, and litigation.  Supporting local communities is vital to every aspect of Jennifer’s personal and professional life. Last year, Jennifer co-chaired the Manatee County Young Lawyers Division (YLD) philanthropic project “Teaming-Up with Teachers.” Jennifer co-wrote the Manatee County grant application that sought partial funding from the Florida Bar YLD and was awarded $1,275.  Classroom supplies were also solicited and collected from community donations. As a result of the efforts of Jennifer and the Manatee County YLD, on August 15, 2013, the Manatee County YLD held its “Teaming-Up with Teachers event” that provided Manatee County Title I school teachers information on educational resources within the community and also provided the teachers with a generous amount of school supplies.

Jennifer believes it is important to be involved in organizations benefiting the local community where you work and where you live, which is why Jennifer also devotes time to the Community Law Program in Pinellas County, a non-profit corporation formed by members of the St. Petersburg Bar Association to serve the civil legal needs of low-income and disadvantaged individuals. (http://www.lawprogram.org/).  Jennifer’s Pinellas County public service extends to serving on the City of Gulfport’s Planning and Zoning Board and the PTA board of her daughter’s school.

Jennifer is also a Trustee of the Arthur Family Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps fund programs of other non-profit organizations. The foundation has routinely selected non-profit organizations in Sarasota, Manatee and Pinellas County: InStride Therapy of Sarasota County to support its therapeutic riding program; Legal Aid of Manasota to assist with their medical law and education partnerships; Ready For Life of Pinellas County to assist them in purchasing necessary clothing and supplies for children in the dependency system; Girls Inc. of Pinellas County to assist in their afterschool tutoring program; and H.E.A.T. of Pinellas County to assist with homeless student graduating and preschool readiness programs.

Jennifer makes time to get involved in organizations that give back to the communities that she works and lives in, all while balancing life as an attorney and mother of two small children. It’s no surprise that she was recently nominated for the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division “Most Productive Young Lawyer” Award.

Jennifer Cowan can be reached at jcowan@llw-law.com or at 941-708-4040.

FIRM NEWS

LLW Shareholder Michelle Diffenderfer has been selected to serve as a member of the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI) for a two-year term.  The SEFCRI was formed in May 2003 to develop local action strategies targeting coral reefs and associated reef resources from Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin counties to improve the coordination of technical and financial support for the conservation and management of coral reefs. The SEFCRI team is made up of marine resource professionals, scientists and stakeholders from government agencies and other organizations. To learn more, visit their website athttp://www.southeastfloridareefs.net/. 

LLW participated in the Florida Earth Foundation’s Water Ambassador Program. For the last eight years, the Florida Earth Foundation has partnered with UNESCO-IHE, also known as the Institute for Water Education, located in Delft, Netherlands. UNESCO-IHE awards MSc and PhD degrees in water-related disciplines to mainly students from developing countries. The Florida Earth/UNESCO-IHE Partnership brings their Hydroinformatics (Modeling) students to the U.S. to study models developed around the Everglades Restoration program. Water Ambassadors 2013 offers organizations the opportunity to sponsor a student in the program. Sponsoring organizations had an opportunity to meet students in Florida while they were here studying from May 26 – June 9. Diego Molina Maches of Spain is the Water Ambassador for Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A. Click Here to see a picture of Diego.  The mission of the Florida Earth Foundation is “to bring people together through education, outreach, and facilitation to ensure Florida’s environmental integrity and way of life.” LLW shareholder Stephen A. Walker serves as General Counsel for the Foundation. For more information, visit http://floridaearth.org.

The Florida Airport Council Conference will be held July 28-31, 2013 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The conference hosted by the Florida Airports Council is the largest single-state aviation conference in the nation. Bob Diffenderfer, Keri-Ann Baker and Sean Alveshire will be in attendance. Click here for more information.

Dan Richardson presented on ASTM Standards at the BB&T Environmental Roundtable event July 25th in Nashville, TN. Dan was the only lawyer from Florida that BB&T invited to this exclusive event.

Tara Duhy was recognized as a Rising Star by the Daily Business Review. Every year the Daily Business Review Rising Stars program recognizes the region’s 40 most promising lawyers under the age of 40. Click here to view the complete list of winners.

LLW is a proud sponsor of the Palm Beach County Bar Association’s 2013 Diversity Internship Program. This program was formed in 2010 to provide students of diverse backgrounds an opportunity to gain valuable work experience in legal work environments. For more information, visit http://www.palmbeachbar.org/internship.php

LLW attorneys participated in the Florida Chamber’s 27th Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School July 16-19, 2013 in Marco Island, Florida. LLW is a proud sponsor of this event. Eleven LLW attorneys presented at the conference this year.  Kevin Hennessy’s presentation at the event was featured in a recent Herald-Tribune article,click here to read the article.

F. Joseph Ullo participated in a panel discussion at the Northeast Florida Brownfields Workshop held July 12, 2013 in Jacksonville, Florida. The workshop was hosted by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.  LLW was a proud sponsor of the event.

LLW Shareholders Terry Lewis, R. Steven Lewis, Robert Diffenderfer and Alfred J. Malefatto have been selected for inclusion in the International Who’s Who of Environmental Lawyers 2013. The International Who’s Who of Environmental Lawyers is an annual publication recognizing lawyers nominated by clients and peers. Nominees for Who’s Who of Environmental Lawyers were selected based upon comprehensive, independent survey work with both general counsel and environmental lawyers in private practice worldwide. The International Who’s Who of Environmental Lawyers recognizes private practice lawyers with a track record in providing advice to clients in transactional, litigation and regulatory matters. For more information, please visit www.whoswholegal.com.

Michelle Diffenderfer was honored at the All Spice Flavors of the Caribbean Dinner held by the Caribbean American Democratic Club of Palm Beach County on June 29, 2013 in West Palm Beach, Florida. The All Spice Flavors of the Caribbean event was held in celebration of National Caribbean-American Heritage Month. Michelle Diffenderfer was honored as a Champion of the Environment by the Caribbean American Democratic Club of Palm Beach County. The event honored six individuals of Caribbean heritage for their contributions to the community.

John L. Fiveash was featured in an article by Inside Climate News regarding the Michigan Exxon Mobile Oil Spill lawsuit. Click here to read the full article.

LLW sponsored the Sustainable Waterfront Solutions Workshop which was hosted by the Florida Marine Contractors Association on June 28, 2013 in Jacksonville, Florida. The mission of the Florida Marine Contractors Association “is to support, promote, and educate the professional marine construction industry in the State of Florida.” James Charles is on the board of directors of the FMCA. Click here to learn more about FMCA.

LLW sponsored the National Aviation Environmental Management Conference held June 23-25,2013, in Cleveland, Ohio. The National Aviation Environmental Management Conference is hosted by the American Association of Airport Executives. John L. Fiveash was in attendance at the conference. For twenty-two years aviation and environmental professionals have gathered for this important conference to discuss issues and solve problems through interactive sessions. Attendees included a diverse group of airport executives, airline representatives, consultants and service providers. Click here to read more about the event.

The Florida Government Finance Officers Association Conference was held June 22-26, 2013 in Boca Raton, Florida. Jim Linn presented “Pension Reform Ideas and New Plan Designs” and Bill Capko also attended the event. Click here to read more about the Florida Government Finance Officers Association.

Terry Lewis, Bill Capko, Chris Lyon, Lori Killinger and Jennifer Cowan attended the 2013 Florida Association of Special Districts (FASD) Annual Conference held June 10-14, 2013 in Weston, Florida. LLW was a proud sponsor of the conference. Click here to read more about the Florida Association of Special Districts.

Dan Richardson attended the 2013 Environmental Bankers Association meeting June 9-11, 2013 in San Francisco, California. The Environmental Bankers Association (EBA) is a non-profit trade association that represents the financial services industry, including bank and non-bank financial institutions, insurers, asset management firms and those who provide services to them. Dan has served as general counsel of the EBA for more than seventeen years. Click here for more information about the EBA.

The South Florida Manufacturers Association held the Industrial Hygiene & the Changing Regulatory Environment Workshop on June 7, 2013 in Coconut Creek, Florida.  LLW was a co-sponsor of the event with Langan.  Alfred Malefatto and Dennis Stotts participated in a panel discussion on environmental health and safety programs to protect employees and to comply with regulatory requirements.

The Environmental and Land Use Law Section of the Florida Bar hosted a mixer on June 6, 2013 in Tallahassee, Florida.  LLW was a proud sponsor of the event. Click here to read more about the Environmental and Land Use Law Section of the Florida Bar.

Sean Alveshire, Director of Corporate Affairs at LLW, was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT). ACCT is a non-profit educational organization of governing boards, representing more than 6,500 elected and appointed trustees who govern over 1,200 community, technical, and junior colleges in the United States and beyond. Click here for more information.

LLW was a proud sponsor of the First Coast Manufacturers Association (FCMA) 2013 Crane Awards held May 31, 2013 in Jacksonville, Florida.  The Crane Award is the highest honor given to an employee in the Northeast Florida manufacturing industry.  The event is held annually to honor award recipients.

Brenna Durden, Wayne Flowers, Howard Caplan, Sean Alveshire and Kellie Erlacher participated in the Annual Legislative Update Breakfast hosted by the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce on May 30, 2013 in St. Augustine, Florida.  The 2013 Legislative Update featured state and federal lawmakers who provided updates on key changes in the laws impacting business and the economy.  U.S. Congressman Ron DeSantis, State Senator John Thrasher, State Representative Doc Renuart, State Representative Travis Hutson and Brad Swanson, VP of the Florida Chamber were speakers at the event.

Brenna Durden, Wayne Flowers, Howard Caplan, Sean Alveshire and Kellie Erlacher attended the JAXUSA Partnership Luncheon on May 30, 2013 in Jacksonville, Florida. The JAXUSA Partnership Luncheon was hosted by JAXUSA, the nonprofit division of the JAX Chamber.  The purpose of JAXUSA is to “facilitate the creation and retention of quality jobs and significant capital investment, resulting in a higher stand of living and a better quality of life in Northeast Florida.”

Al Malefatto, Ken Spillias and Bill Capko attended the Palm Beach League of Cities Annual Installation Luncheon on May 22, 2013 in West Palm Beach. Florida League of Cities is a nonprofit whose purpose is “to promote and advance the collective interest of the municipalities of Palm Beach County, Florida; to study municipal issues and seek desired results through cooperative effort; to respect the principles of Home Rule; to encourage and enhance the quality of life of the citizens of Palm Beach County; and/or to engage in any other lawful purpose not for pecuniary profit.” Click here to read more about the event.

Ken Spillias attended the Palm Beach County Legal Aid Society 25th Annual Pro-Bono Recognition Dinner on Saturday, May 18, 2013. The annual dinner brings “special recognition to the vital time and resources many attorneys in our community devote to ensuring the principle of “justice for all” holds true in Palm Beach County.”Click here to read more about the PBC Legal.

Michelle Diffenderfer, Steve Walker, Pam Mac’Kie, Kim Scherette, Amy Shepard, Al Malefatto, Tara Duhy and Julie Jennison attended the ‘Cocktails for College’ Event held May 16, 2013 in Palm Beach Gardens. All proceeds from the event support Girls II Women, a nonprofit organization dedicated to “helping girls in under served neighborhoods in Riviera Beach, West Palm Beach and Belle Glades, Florida, achieve their full personal and professional potential.” Michelle Diffenderfer serves on the Board of Directors of Girls II Women.

Wayne Flowers gave a presentation on record retention at the American Association of Port Authorities Port Technology Seminar held May 14-16,2013 in Jacksonville, Florida.

LLW’s Intellectual Property and Business group members were proclaimed allies of the City of St. Augustine during the May 13th City Commission Meeting. The proclamation is to honor the Intellectual Property group’s work securing trademarks for the various logos and slogans for the city’s 450th Commemoration. Howard Caplan, Joe Ullo and Kellie Erlacher were in attendance at the proclamation. Click here to read more about St. Augustine’s 450th Commemoration.

Glenn Thomas and Jennifer Cowan attended the 2013 Public Finance in Florida Conference held May 9-11, 2013 in St. Augustine, Florida. The conference is hosted by the City, County and Local Government section of the Florida Bar Association.

Steve Walker and Sean Alveshire participated in the South Florida Manufacturers Association Annual Manufacturing Excellence Scholarship Golf Tournament & Dinner on May 6, 2013 in Deerfield Beach, Florida.  Proceeds from the tournament provide “Calvin E. Moore” scholarships to the children of employees of member companies.  Over $80,000 dollars in scholarships have been awarded to-date.  Click here to read more about the South Florida Manufacturers Association.