Download Magazine - Levin College of Law - University of Florida

CLASS NOTESTomasic 06Zelmer 06Spoont 07and the Sandestin offi ce. Dailey hasbased his preferred areas of practiceon his interests in real estatetransactions and disputes, contractlaw, government law, land use andbusiness law.Sasha A. Klein (LLMT), attorney forComiter, Singer, Baseman & Braun,has been recognized by CambridgeWho’s Who for showing dedication,leadership and excellence in allaspects of the law.Brikena Tomasic was recentlyadmitted to practice before theUnited States District Court of theNorthern District of Florida as wellas to the Middle and SouthernDistricts of Florida. Tomasic is anassociate in the Orlando fi rm ofLowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor& Reed, P.A.Diane J. Zelmer recently qualifi edto be appointed as a Florida Departmentof Transportation DisputeResolution Board practitioner forconstruction matters. Zelmer isan associate in the Miami fi rm ofShutts & Bowen’s constructionlitigation group.2007Hillary A. Hussin has joined theBaltimore, Md. fi rm of GallagherEvelius & Jones LLP as an associate.Hussin will practice in thefi rm’s litigation group principallyon matters involving businessdisputes, employment, propertydisputes and the defense of medicalmalpractice claims. She will alsowork with the fi rm’s religiousclients on matters involvingemployment and tort defense.Farooq Mitha has been awarded aFulbright Grant for the 2008-2009academic year.The law fi rm of Richman Greerannounced that attorney Joshua L.Spoont has joined the fi rm as anassociate in the West Palm Beachoffi ce. Spoont received the highestscore on the February 2008 FloridaBar Examination for the Fourth Districtand as a result, he was invitedto speak at the induction ceremonyfor new attorneys at the FloridaSupreme Court in TallahasseeVeniese A. Wilkinson was recentlyelected treasurer of the CaribbeanBar Association. Founded in 1994and based in Miami, the associationis a volunteer bar organization madeup of attorneys in South Floridaworking in both the public andprivate sectors from an array of lawbackgrounds.2008Zimmerman Kiser Sutcliffe inOrlando announced that Carnesha J.Craft has joined the corporate practicegroup as an associate attorney.Craft 08IN MEMORIAMRobert M. Montgomery Jr. (JD 57) passed away Aug.4, he was 78. Montgomery — known for his successin arguing multi-million dollar cases and representinghigh-profile clients — was a longtime advocate andsupporter of the UF Levin College of Law.During his 40-year career, Montgomery, wholived and practiced in West Palm Beach, Fla., won anestimated 65 settlements of $1 million or more. Herepresented many high-profile clients, including BurtReynolds during his divorce from Lonnie Anderson, and Theresa LePore,the Palm Beach County supervisor of elections during the “butterfly” ballotcontroversy of the 2000 presidential election.But it was his case against the tobacco companies that drew the mostnotice. Montgomery served as Florida’s lead attorney, forcing an $11.3billion settlement from tobacco companies to compensate the state for itsMedicaid expenses related to Floridians’ smoking-related diseases.Montgomery’s most lasting legacy may be his generous philanthropy.He donated an estimated $100 million to charity during his lifetime andwas a devoted supporter of the arts, serving as chairman of the PalmBeach Opera for 25 years. Montgomery has been an influential and supportivealumnus of the UF College of Law, and he served on the college’sLaw Advisory Council for many years. Montgomery’s most recent gift to thelaw school supported the building fund for the Martin H. Levin Legal AdvocacyCenter, which broke ground this summer.Montgomery is survived by his wife Mary and daughter Courtney.Paul G. Rogers (JD 48), who earned the nickname“Mr. Health” during his time in Congress, passed awayOct. 13 of lung cancer. He was 87.Rogers earned the title during his 24 years as aDemocratic representative from West Palm Beach, Fla.,for his work on environmental and health care legislation.His accomplishments during his time in Congressinclude serving as the main sponsor of the Clean AirAct of 1970, leading legislation to establish the National Institute of Aging,and working on legislation that assured used cars adhere to federal safetyrequirements.He was reportedly an advocate of healthy habits and did not smoke.Rogers, a WW II veteran who received a Bronze Star for his actionin the European theater, was reelected 11 times to his seat representingFlorida’s Ninth Congressional District.After leaving Congress in 1979, Rogers joined the Washington law firmHogan & Harston where he began the firm’s health law practice.He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Rebecca, his daughter, RebeccaLaing Sisto, a brother and four grandchildren.T. Paine Kelly Jr. (JD 36) passed away Aug. 5 fromcomplications of a stroke. He was 95.Kelly practiced law until he was 92 and built hisnearly 70-year career in his hometown of Tampa, Fla.Most of his 56-year career in trial law was withMacfarlane Ferguson & McMullen.Well known and liked in Tampa courtrooms,Kelly’s personality was larger than life, as the storyof his WWII service demonstrates. He was capturedby Germans as a young colonel in command of the 589th Field ArtilleryBattalion during the Battle of the Bulge in 1944. Following his capture,he orchestrated a successful escape with two others from a German POWcamp, reportedly using a compass hidden in his jacket to make it back toAllied lines.His involvement in the Tampa community earned him an OutstandingCitizen award. He also served on the State Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission,local Red Cross committees, the Committee of 100, the Tampa Boys’Club and as president of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce.In addition to his community involvement, Kelly was a devoted supporterof the UF College of Law, serving as an active trustee for many years.He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Jean, and two daughters, Josieand Carla.56 UF LAW