Liggio Law partner Jeff Liggio, a West Palm Beach-based trial attorney, visited Jacksonville Area Legal Aid last week to deliver donations to three local pro bono legal service providers.
He presented checks for $69,274.54 to JALA, $57,806.27 to Three Rivers Legal Services and $15,807.61 to Clay County Legal Services.
The donations were derived from damage awards that were unclaimed after Liggio settled a class action lawsuit.
Liggio said the litigation against a propane gas company went on for 12 years on behalf of about 65,000 plaintiffs.
After $7.7 million was distributed to the plaintiffs, nearly $4 million remained.
The court ordered that it be distributed to charitable organizations, including $2.2 million to help legal aid agencies provide representation for Florida residents who can’t afford to hire an attorney.
In addition, The Florida Bar Foundation received $500,000 earmarked for legal aid at its discretion, “so get get your money,” Liggio said to the legal aid executives.
The Florida Bar board of governors nominated lawyers for the two vacancies on each of the state’s 26 judicial nominating commissions at its March 23 meeting in Sarasota.
Gov. Rick Scott will make the final appointments for four-year terms beginning July 1.
Earl Googe Jr., a shareholder at Smith Hulsey & Busey, was nominated for the 1st District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission.
Candidates for the 4th Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission are Henry “Chip” Bachara Jr., Jacksonville; Charles Cofer, Jacksonville; Clyde Davis, Fernandina Beach; Courtney Grimm, Green Cove Springs; Carla Newman, Orange Park; and Mitchell Stone, Atlantic Beach.
The Florida Bar President Michael Higer said more than 900 applications were submitted for the vacancies.
The D.W. Perkins Bar Association will mark its golden anniversary April 28 at its 2018 Scholarship and Awards Gala at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront.
The keynote address will be delivered by retired state Supreme Court Justice James E.C. Perry. He was appointed to the bench in the 18th Judicial Circuit in 2000 by Gov. Jeb Bush and was later appointed in 2009 by Gov. Charlie Crist to the state’s highest court. Perry retired in 2016.
The 50th anniversary event begins at 5 p.m. Tickets are $125 per person or $1,000 for a table for 10. Sponsorships also are available. Visit dwperkinsbar.com to register.
The National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations has selected the Florida Association for Women Lawyers to receive its 2018 Public Service Award for its “Nursing Rooms in Courthouses” project.
The Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association dedicated its nursing room in the Duval County Courthouse in November. At the time, it was the fourth such courthouse amenity in the state. Four more counties have established or are planning nursing rooms in their courthouses.
“This initiative was spearheaded by our chapters which have done an amazing job bringing attention to this issue and putting in the work to ensure a clean and private space for nursing mothers including our clients, judges, court staff, jurors and attorneys,” said Florida association President Jen Sullivan.
The award will be presented in August at the national organization’s annual Leadership Summit in Chicago.
Former Hinshaw & Culbertson partner Glenn Banner opened the Law Office of Glenn S. Banner P.A., a civil practice representing consumers and small businesses.
He’s a 1999 graduate of Florida State University and graduated from Florida Coastal School of Law in 2002.
