Ed de la Parte Discusses E-Discovery with Florida Trend Magazine

Our managing partner, Ed de la Parte, recently had the opportunity to talk with Florida Trend magazine about the challenges law firms face dealing with e-discovery. Mr. de la Parte shared how de la Parte & Gilbert, PA stays ahead of the curve by embracing the use of software tools to help lower costs to clients through greater efficiency in reviewing the voluminous number of documents exchanged in legal proceedings.

Art Levy’s resulting article was published in the June 2015 edition of Florida Trend and is reprinted here with permission. In the article, Mr. Levy delves deeper into the challenges particular to e-discovery and also addresses how local companies and The Florida Bar are trying to help meet those challenges.

Mr. de la Parte is Florida Bar Board Certified in State & Federal Government & Administrative Practice and focuses his practice on Government, Administrative, Environmental Land Use and Water Law issues. He has appeared before most administrative agencies of the State of Florida in areas such as rule making, rule challenges, rate hearings, administrative hearings, environmental permitting and professional licensure proceedings.

If you have questions or we can help with these issues, please contact Ed de la Parte or call (813) 229-2775.

de la Parte & Gilbert, P.A. Lawyers Selected as Faculty for Environmental Permitting Summer School

Edward de la Parte and Nicolas Porter have been selected as faculty members for the Florida Chamber’s 29th Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School. The conference is produced by the Florida Environmental Network, Inc. (FENI) and is attended by more than 850 consultants, engineers, developers, landowners, government officials and others with an interest in Florida’s environmental issues.

The conference is July 7 – 10, 2015 at the Marriott World Center Resort in Orlando, Florida. Registration is currently open at www.floridaenet.com.

Ed de la Parte will participate in a panel discussion about Emerging Water Supply Issues in which topics will cover emerging challenges in meeting future water demands; innovative water supply projects; meeting the conceptual costs of distribution and storage of reclaimed water; legal and policy issues regarding the control of reclaimed water for future public and private use; and regulatory challenges. The panel will answer questions including how the implementation of the Florida Land and Water Conservation Amendment will impact future water supply; and how do we engage the public to improve awareness of future water supply needs?

Nicolas Porter’s presentation will provide insight into the regulatory, planning, and water supply development programs of Florida’s five water management districts; discussion of water resource development and water supply planning, adoption and implementation of MFLs; integration with Florida Forever work plans with WMD land acquisition and management programs; ERPs, watershed planning, secondary and cumulative impacts; and other emerging programs and issues.

The conference curriculum offers continuing education credits for attorneys, engineers, architects and environmental professionals.

de la Parte & Gilbert Attorneys Named To Florida Trend’s Legal Elite

Patrick McNamara and David Caldevilla have been named to Florida Trend’s Legal Elite for 2015. Florida Trend’s Legal Elite recognizes the top tier of attorneys as chosen by their peers. Only 2% of the over 90,000 active Florida Bar members were selected for inclusion.

Pat has practiced with de la Parte & Gilbert since 1987; he practices in the fields of commercial, civil, and personal injury litigation, health law, construction law and appeals. Pat is a Shareholder at the firm and can be reached at pmcnamara@dgfirm.com.

David focuses his practice on appellate, administrative, civil litigation, environmental, eminent domain and government cases. David is also a Shareholder at the firm and can be reached at dcaldevilla@dgfirm.com.

Rich Gilbert Teaches at Advanced Trial Advocacy Seminar

de la Parte & Gilbert Shareholder, Richard Gilbert, recently participated as an instructor at The Florida Bar’s Advanced Trial Advocacy Seminar held on May 12-16, 2015 at the University of Florida. The program was sponsored by The Florida Bar Trial Lawyer’s Section and the University of Florida Frederic G. Levin College of Law.

The Advanced Trial Advocacy Seminar is an intense interactive program that provides lectures, demonstrations and hand-on trial skills training. The faculty consists of trial court judges and board certified trial lawyers from around the state.

Rich practices primarily in the areas of professional liability, corporate litigation and products liability. He can be reached at rgilbert@dgfirm.com.

Dan McBreen Talks with the Sarasota Herald Tribune About Serious Medical Malpractice Case

When Christopher Datta was arrested for possession of marijuana and Xanax, he never imagined his sentence would be surgery and a lifetime of disability and pain. On February 13th, we filed suit on his behalf against Armor Correctional Health Services which provides medical care for Sarasota County Jail. Dan McBreen spoke with Elizabeth Johnson of the Sarasota Herald Tribune about the case and Chris’ painful experience. See the complete story here.

Dan McBreen is a Shareholder with the firm and focuses his practice in the areas of Medical Malpractice, Wrongful Death Litigation, Civil Litigation, Business Litigation, and Personal Injury.

de la Parte & Gilbert Recognized as a 2014 Sustaining Law Firm of Bay Area Legal Services

de la Parte & Gilbert was recognized as a 2014 Sustaining Law Firm of Bay Area Legal Services (BALS), which is a nonprofit, public interest law firm that provides civil legal assistance to low-income residents in the Tampa Bay area. Last year each of our lawyers contributed at least $350 to BALS to assist them in providing legal services and to advocate on behalf of those most in need including seniors, veterans, victims of domestic violence, and children in foster care. BALS serves clients in Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota Counties.

“We are proud to support the services that BALS provides to tens of thousands of individuals and families who otherwise would be denied access to our system of justice,” said Richard Gilbert, one of our firm’s earliest members and a current member of the BALS Development Council.

de la Parte & Gilbert P.A. was founded in 1975 and serves numerous and varied state and national clients in many diverse areas of the law, including civil litigation, environmental, administrative, eminent domain, personal injury, professional negligence, and health care law. The firm has been involved in shaping much of the law that affects Florida’s environmental, health, social and governmental policies.

Attorney Dan McBreen Receives AV Preeminent® Rating

de la Parte & Gilbert, P.A. is proud to announce that Dan McBreen has achieved an AV Preeminent® Rating from Martindale-Hubbell®. The AV Preeminent Rating recognizes the highest level of ability and ethical service and is the highest rating available to any attorney.

Dan is a Shareholder with the firm and focuses his practice in the areas of Business Litigation, Medical Malpractice, Wrongful Death Litigation, Civil Litigation and Personal Injury.

Kristin Melton Named a Shareholder

de la Parte & Gilbert is pleased to announce that Kristin Y. Melton has been named a Shareholder at the firm. Kristin has extensive experience with permitting issues, rule development, phosphate mining challenges, comprehensive plan challenges and legislative and regulatory guidance for clients across the state of Florida.

Kristin received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2006, and her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2003. She has been recognized in Super Lawyers Magazine as a Rising Star every year since 2010. In her free time, Kristin enjoys going to the gym, watching college football and spending time with her husband and daughter.

Kristin joined the firm in 2007 and practices primarily in administrative, environmental, water, government and sports law.

Personal Injury Lawyer Eric Nowak Interviewed Regarding Garbage Truck Collision

Attorney Eric Nowak and the parents of Kevin Heredia were interviewed by reporters about Kevin’s tragic death last year after being struck by a garbage truck. As recorded in this NBC News 6 video (or Spanish version):

Mr. Nowak and Kevin’s family discussed some of the facts surrounding the collision and also the public safety aspect of the case and their desire to prevent the same heartbreak from happening to other families.

In March 2014, eighteen year old Kevin was riding his bicycle to classes at a local college in Coconut Creek, Florida. As Kevin navigated the crosswalk at an intersection, a privately owned garbage truck struck him and he was killed. The family has filed suit in Broward County Circuit Court.

Eric Nowak graduated from New College of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and received his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Florida, Levin College of Law. He joined de la Parte & Gilbert, P.A. in 2009 and practices primarily in personal injury, medical malpractice and civil litigation.

Kristin Melton Comments on Jameis Winston Student Conduct Hearing in Associated Press Article

de la Parte & Gilbert associate, Kristin Melton, talked with Associated Press reporter, Kareem Copeland, about Florida State University quarterback Jameis Winston’s student code of conduct hearing that began on December 2, 2014. The resulting article outlines the key details of the hearing including the parties involved, a brief history about the case, possible sanctions, when a ruling is expected, and the appellate process.

Kristin, who has experience in administrative law and in representing clients involved with NCAA compliance cases, explained the difference between the code of conduct hearing and a criminal procedure.

With the worldwide reach of the AP, Kristin’s commentary was featured on nearly every television and radio news site, online publication, and daily newspaper including USA Today, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, and ESPN.

See the complete story on the Associated Press web site.