Amendments to Rules Regulating The Florida Bar
Place of origin: statewide impact
The Florida Bar petitions the Court to make changes in the rules governing the legal profession.
Matthew Marshall v. State of Florida
Place of origin: Martin County
Marshall was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death for the
November 1988 murder of fellow inmate Jeffrey Henry in
Martin Correctional Institute. His sentence was affirmed on appeal.
He now challenges its validity.
Orange County v. Costco Wholesale Corp.
Place of origin: Orange County
Costco and other liquor vendors filed suit challenging an Orange County zoning ordinance prohibiting any vendor from opening a new store within 5,000 feet of an existing liquor store. Orange County contended that the separation requirement was meant to disperse liquor stores rather than let them become concentrated in “combat zones.” The trial court upheld the ordinance, but the Fifth District Court reversed on appeal, finding that the only plausible purpose underlying the ordinance was to create zones in which
established stores would have a virtual monopoly.
Ronald Lee Bell, Jr. v. State of Florida
Place of origin: Okaloosa County
Bell and others were charged with the February 1999 murder of
Cordell S. Richards. He was tried and convicted, and the jury
recommended the death penalty 12-to-0. The trial judge agreed.
This is Bell’s direct appeal.
Tuesday
John C. Marquard v. State of Florida
Place of origin: St. Johns County
Marquard was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death for the June 1991 murder of Stacey Willets. His sentence was affirmed on appeal. He now challenges its validity.
Joseph Cephas v. Mark J. Letzter, M.D.
Place of origin: Palm Beach County
Cephas was diagnosed with diabetes in 1990, and a doctor later discovered he had a gangrenous toe. The doctor allegedly failed to amputate the toe, resulting in infection and the partial loss of a foot. A second doctor allegedly neglected to follow up with necessary medical care after surgery, resulting in the loss of the leg below the knee. Both physicians were found partially at fault by a jury, which awarded Cephas $1.8 million. This case involves how that fault should be apportioned.
Louis B. Gaskin v. State of Florida
Place of origin: Volusia County
Gaskins was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death for the
December 1989 murders of Robert and Georgette Sturmfels. His
sentences were affirmed on appeal. He now challenges their
validity.
Harry Franklin Phillips v. State of Florida
Place of origin: Dade County
Phillips was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death for the August 1982 murder of Bjorn Thomas Svenson near the Parole & Probation Building in Miami. His sentence was affirmed on appeal. He now challenges its validity.
Wednesday
Allen Ward Cox v. State of Florida
Place of origin: Lake County
Cox was charged with the December 1998 murder of fellow inmate Thomas M. Baker Jr., in Lake Correctional Institute. A jury found him guilty and recommended the death penalty 10-to-2. The trial judge imposed it. This is his direct appeal.
Loretta Reed v. State of Florida
Place of origin: Columbia County
Reed was accused of several charges related to child abuse. She was convicted following a jury instruction that failed to inform the jury about a disputed element of the crime. The judge sentenced her to prison. On appeal, the State conceded error, but the First Districtrejected this concession and affirmed.
Richard Bryant Weddell v. State of Florida
Place of origin: Bay County
Weddell was tried and convicted of dealing in stolen property taken from Eastern Shipbuilders, Inc. The judge sentenced him as a habitual felony offender to 25 years in prison. On appeal, the First District affirmed Weddell’s conviction but also ruled that a standard jury instruction was not legally correct. Weddell now challenges the validity of his conviction, while the State challenges the ruling on the jury instruction.
Jan. 15
Amos Lee King, Jr. v. State of Florida
Place of origin: Pinellas County
King was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death for the March 18, 1977, murder of Natalie Brady. His sentence was affirmed on appeal.
The governor has now issued a death warrant for King, to be executed at 6 p.m., Jan. 24.
Jan. 29
Larry Bottoson v. State of Florida
Place of origin: Orange County
Bottoson was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death for the December 29, 1979, murder of Catherine Willie Alexander. His sentence was affirmed on appeal. The Governor has now issued a death warrant for Bottoson, to be executed at 6 p.m.