Federal Bar seminar
The Third Annual Ralph W. “Buddy” Nimmons Jr. federal practice seminar is set for March 29 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. in the United States Courthouse in the first floor jury assembly room. Patricia C. Fawsett, the Chief Judge for the Middle District of Florida, will give a lunchtime address on the state of the Middle District. The seminar is worth 4 CLE credits.
Two join Zisser, Robinson
Ernie Dukes and Corrine Bylund have joined Zisser, Robinson, Brown, Nowlis & Maciejewski, P.A. as associates. The firm is in Independent Square and focuses on personal injury, products liability, family and marital law, aviation law, wrongful death, negligence and professional malpractice.
Bankruptcy a heavier burden on minorities
Research by April Charney, a consumer attorney with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, shows that black and Hispanic borrowers are more likely to borrow money at high interest rates. Charney found that black and Hispanic homeowners were much more likely to sign up for subprime financing, which allows individuals with bad credit to borrow money at higher rates. In 2002, 8.2 percent of white homeowners in Jacksonville refinanced into subprime loans compared to 34.1 percent of black homeowners and 16.1 percent of Hispanic homeowners. And minorities are more likely to use subprime financing to buy homes in the first place. Just 6.1 percent of white home buyers used it compared to 30.1 percent of black buyers and 15.2 percent of Hispanic buyers. Charney’s findings were published in The Statement of Affairs, the Jacksonville Bankruptcy Bar Association’s quarterly newsletter.