Name: Brian Joseph Cabrey
Age: 41
Family: Married, seven children (four with us here, three upstairs)
Pets: Three dogs, one genetically altered frog, and an unknown but dwindling number of tropical fish (freshwater)
Education: Miami University (1990, Oxford, Ohio, a university before Florida was a state!). University of South Carolina School of Law (1993, now a Steve Spurrier fan!)
Admitted to the Bar: 1994
Employed by: Zisser, Robison, Brown, Nowlis, Maciejewski & Cabrey, P.A.
Fields of practice:
1. Plaintiff’s representation: Personal injury & wrongful death, professional malpractice, products & premises liability; civil rights of foster/dependent children in state care; child victims of physical and sexual abuse.
2. Child welfare, juvenile dependency & termination of parental rights.
3. Child advocacy.
Professional organizations:
Florida Bar Association, Jacksonville Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Association for Justice, Florida Justice Association, Jacksonville Justice Association, National Crime Victim’s Bar Association, Catholic Lawyers’ Guild
Community involvement:
Among others, Florida’s Children First (FCF), Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Vice-President;Member, Board of Directors; Chair, FCF Northeast Florida Host Committee.
How did you get involved?
Upon leaving the Florida Department of Children & Families, I was invited by FCF Founder, Howard Talenfeld, to join the board of directors of the newly formed FCF. Since that time, FCF has grown into the preeminent child advocacy organization in Florida.
How can someone else get involved?
Call me!
What have you learned/achieved through the experience?
How much can be done by a committed and motivated group of people, no matter how small. FCF has made great strides improving the plight of foster children in Florida. However, the more progress we make, the more I realize how much still needs to be done for these kids.
What was the last book you read or are reading?
“Fatima in Lucia’s Own Words” (I’m Catholic!).