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The Florida Bar - page 3

Florida bar exam passage rate drops to lowest point in 5 years

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bar exam failure

Florida law school students’ downward spiral continues, with only 68.2 percent passing the latest state bar exam. The state’s Board of Bar Examiners on Monday released the figures for the July 26-27 examination. The results are for first-time test takers only. This July’s overall pass rate was 0.7 percent lower than last year’s, of 68.9 percent. In 2014, it was 71.8 percent for the summer exam; in 2013, it was 77.2 percent. In 2012 and 2011, 80.2 percent and 80.1 percent of first-time test takers passed,…

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Expert witness standard takes center stage at Florida Supreme Court

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

The Florida Bar squared off Thursday against a coalition of corporate and criminal defense lawyers over a change to the state’s expert witness standard. The Florida Supreme Court heard more than an hour of argument on whether to adopt a change to evidence law that lawmakers passed in 2013. The Bar is against it; defense counsel supports it. The switch would align Florida’s courts with the federal system. The federal courts now follow a stricter standard of allowing certain scientific…

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‘Love Sponge’ lawyers permanently stripped of law licenses

in The Bay and the 'Burg by

Two Florida lawyers accused of orchestrating the arrest of a rival attorney have been permanently disbarred by the state’s Supreme Court. The court on Thursday, in its first release of opinions after the 2016 summer recess, unanimously agreed with a referee’s earlier recommendation on Robert Adams and Adam Filthaut of Tampa. A third attorney involved, Stephen Diaco, already had been permanently disbarred. “We can only hope that our unanimous decision to … permanently disbar these attorneys… will serve to warn other attorneys of…

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jacksonville judge accused of calling female attorney “c-word” (no, not counselor)

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A Jacksonville judge now faces judicial misconduct proceedings for reportedly making racially-biased and other derogatory comments off the bench, among other charges. They include referring to a woman attorney by using a vulgar term for female genitalia. The state’s Judicial Qualifications Commission filed its notice of formal charges against Circuit Judge Mark Hulsey III on Wednesday. The commission investigates misconduct accusations against judges; the Florida Supreme Court disciplines them. Hulsey, son of the late Jacksonville legal legend Mark Hulsey Jr., also was charged with mistreating…

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Lawyers for Bubba the Love Sponge ask court not to disbar them permanently

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

Two Florida lawyers accused of orchestrating the arrest of a rival attorney are asking the state’s Supreme Court not to disbar them for good. Robert Adams and Adam Filthaut of Tampa are requesting disbarment with an opportunity for reinstatement in five years. Their attorneys gave oral argument in the matter Thursday. Pinellas County Judge W. Douglas Baird has recommended permanent disbarment. A third attorney involved, Stephen Diaco, already has been permanently disbarred. They were partners in a firm that represented radio personality Bubba “the…

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Appellate court approves of controversial evidence standard

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A state appeals court has upheld the retroactive use of a contentious evidence standard approved by lawmakers in 2013. The 4th District Court of Appeal this week affirmed a trial court ruling against plaintiff Simona Bunin. She’s one of the inventors behind a line of spray-bottle flavored olive oils. Bunin, based in South Florida, also holds a patent for a disposable women’s panty. She wanted to use an expert to help prove her case that she lost her sense of smell after using Zicam nasal…

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Bevy of big cases awaits state Supreme Court

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

A plethora of high-profile matters is scheduled for argument before the Florida Supreme Court next week. The state’s justices will consider questions related to gambling, guns, capital punishment and medical malpractice. Another case involves claim bills, passed by lawmakers to pay people for injuries suffered at the hands of government or a public entity. Still two others involve attorneys fighting to keep their law licenses following accusations they set up an opposing lawyer to be arrested on a drunk-driving charge. First up on June…

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