Court disbars Jacksonville attorney
Martin Joseph Mickler of 5515 Phillips Highway was one of seven Florida attorneys disbarred following recent Florida Supreme Court orders. The most recent disciplinary actions were released last week by the Florida Bar.
Mickler, according to the Bar, “failed to provide competent representation to a client; engaged in conduct in connection with the practice of law that was prejudicial to the administration of justice; and failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client.”
Mickler, who served a suspension in 1998, could not be reached for comment.
Geiger appointed to board
Rogers Towers attorney Allan Geiger has been appointed by the American Heart Association as the chairman of the Florida/Puerto Rico Affiliate board. Geiger’s term started July 1 and he’ll stay on as chairman through the AHA’s 2006-07 fiscal year. Geiger has been involved with the AHA for eight years and has served locally as president of the First Coast Division board, chair of the Board Nominating Committee and Heart Walk Sponsorship Committee and has served on the Heart Walk and Heart Ball executive committees.
Merit retention poll
Supreme Court Chief Justice Fred Lewis and justices Barbara Pariente and Peggy Quince lead the list of 20 appellate judges who will be on the merit retention ballot this fall. Voters will be asked whether the justices and the District Court of Appeal judges should be retained for six-year terms in the November general election. The Florida Bar will poll its membership about the judges and justices standing for merit retention this year, as it has in the past, to assist the public with the merit retention process. Ballots went out Aug. 1 and must be returned to the Bar postmarked no later than Aug. 21. The results will be published on Sept. 11.
Super Lawyers at Zisser firm
Five attorneys from the firm of Zisser, Robison, Nowlis & Maciejewski were recently selected as “Florida Super Lawyers”: Barry Zisser (family, divorce and criminal law), Elliot Zisser (marital and family), Donald Maciejewski (aviation, airplane and helicopter crash litigation, products liability and personal injury), Howard Talenfeld (civil litigation, personal injury, civil rights, commercial litigation and child advocacy) and John Eversole III (aviation, products liability and medical negligence).
Hone your skills
Florida Community College Legal Studies Institute at Kent Campus will offer an online accelerated Legal Secretary program beginning Sept. 18. The program is designed for support staff who wish to increase their skills and knowledge of the law office, refresher training for legal secretaries and for those entering the legal job market. Students will receive training in all areas of working in a law office including preparing documents, making appointments and billing. The 45-hour online program results in Continuing Education units and a Certificate of Successful Completion. The cost for the program is $279.65, plus books and a one-time membership fee of $15 for new FCCJ students. For more information, call 381-3589 or visit www.fccj.edu/campuses/kent/workforce/legal/index.html.
Legal seminars
There will be a construction management seminar Sept. 29 at the Hyatt aimed at everyone from attorneys to engineers to subcontractors. Jacksonville attorney Jeffrey Regan of Regan Zebouni & Walker is one of the guest speakers. Regan has 22 years on experience in the construction industry. If you register before Aug. 11, you’ll get $50 off the enrollment fee. The Hyatt will also be the site of a seminar in in-depth title insurance principles Oct. 18. Teaching the seminar will be local attorneys Matthew Breuer of Foley & Lardner, Charles McCall of Holland & Knight and Joseph Shields of Rogers Towers. “A plaintiffís personal injury: tips and application” seminar is set for Oct. 19 at the Hyatt.
Wiegand joins developer
Bob Wiegand has joined Louisville-based Aslan, a leading southeast real estate development and holding company, as vice president and general counsel. Wiegand will provide his legal expertise as well as operational oversight with senior management. He will be based at the company’s Jacksonville office. Most recently, Wiegand served as vice president and general counsel for Website Pros where he assisted in the company’s IPO. Prior to that, he served as counsel with Milam & Howard, P.A., a Jacksonville law firm where he specialized in corporate law.