PRACTICE AREAS

When any final administrative, quasi-judicial, or judicial action is final and either party believes the decision making body erred during the process or in the outcome, the parties have 30 days to file a notice of appeal to seek appellate review of issues properly preserved for appeal. Having spent several years managing Florida's 15th Judicial Circuit appellate docket, writing bench briefs to assist the three-judge panel with its decision, and drafting proposed language for the court's opinion, I have extensive experience with the appellate process and may offer guidance for appeals whether appealing a municipal corporation's final zoning decision to the circuit court sitting in its appellate capacity or from circuit trial court to a state district court of appeal. At this point in a case's progression through the judicial system, the facts and record have been determined and the only remaining questions are matters of law and process, which are settled by the attorneys and judges.

Part of my practice is dedicated to helping victims of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) abuse. Read more about this disorder on my Quora page. More informaton is provided in a separate section below.

The "SO CLEAR" acronym is not some catchy gimmick but something more attorneys may want to consider, especially for cases that devolve into zero sum games the parties keep playing. Attorneys have an ethical duty to zealously represent their clients. When a matter languishes in the system for years, considser getting a second opinion review like anyone would with an undiagnosed medical condition. Rarely sought, reviews often yield new insights to help move cases to a resolution. During a review, the task of unifying all known facts and events into a master timeline often reveal patterns, connections, and correlations that offer greater clarity and context to the matter and resolve what previously may have been seen as coincidences or random events. Seeking reviews do not suggest in any way an attorney has offered bad advice. Rather, I have learned that attorneys who get daily updates on a case in real time - myself included - will likely have a different perspective that someone reviewing the case holistically as an outsider who has no prior knowlege of it.

I served on the the Lake Worth Beach Planning & Zoning, Nuisance Abatement, and Historic Resources Preservation Board in one of the two designated attorney seats and currently serve on the Lake Worth Beach Historic Resources Preservation Board. I have hands on experience handling a variety of municipal issues that often accompany property law issues.

Public Defenders are excellent attorneys who are overworked, understaffed, and have enormous caseloads unlike prosecuting attorneys. If you face a notice to appear and wait for court-appointed counsel, feel free to contact me. As a courtesy, I offer tips on what you can do to help your attorney get a jumpstart on your case.  Oftentimes, however, if the conversation reveals mostly undisputed facts, neither court-appointed nor privately retained counsel may be necessary. The more prudent and honest approach is to negotiate a resolution rather than waste the court's time and a client's money by suggesting the need for a prolonged adversarial process. Having advised judges on countless criminal cases, accepting responsibility, apologizing to the state and any victims, and facing the court with honor and integrity will always be respected by the court. In fact, it is often your best defense.

My first real job as I was transitioning out of secondary education and into college was at Attorney's Title and Insurance Defense Fund's Pensacola office helping with title searches, so my work with real property predates my post-secondary education. Property law was my area of focus in law school. From foreclosures to ejectment proceedings for unwanted guests, I have you covered.