Florida Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Published on: August 9, 2008

Jeffrey R. Garvin Appointed President-Elect of FLABOTA

On August 1st, Jeffrey R. Garvin of Fort Myers, Florida, was appointed president-elect of FLABOTA. FLABOTA is the Florida chapter of ABOTA; American Board Of Trial Advocates, which is an organization of civil Judges and Attorneys from both sides, who are working to preserve the civil jury system in America. Click here for more info on ABOTA. “The general purpose of ABOTA is to foster improvement in the ethical and technical standards of practice in the field of advocacy to the end that individual litigants may receive more effective representation and the general public be benefited by more efficient administration of justice consistent with time-tested and traditional principles of litigation.”

Published on: July 19, 2008

the Garvin Injury Law proudly announces the opening of it’s new Fort Myers office

by Leland Garvin

The Fort Myers Florida office of the Garvin Injury Law is conveniently located at:

7800 University Pointe Drive, Suite 100

Fort Myers, Florida 33907

Published on: July 9, 2008

Higher court fees offset budget shortfalls in Florida

by Leland Garvin

Contemplating divorce? As of Tuesday it cost you an extra $45. Forget to buckle your seat belt? Prepare to fork over an additional $14.50. Want to evict that tenant delinquent in the rent? It’s an extra $190.In an effort to ease budget shortfalls, the Florida Legislature voted to raise more than 140 court fees effective July 1. It’s the first time court filing fees have seen an increase since 2004, when filing fees became uniform in all of Florida’s 67 counties.

Palm Beach County Clerk of Court Sharon Bock wants the public to know that this move is from the state.”A lot of people think the courts or the clerk has some kind of ability to set these fees,” she said. “We are simply the collection agency.”

Increases range from an additional 50 cents to certify a public record to doubled fines for offenses such as driving under the influence. While the cost of a marriage license remains $93.50, filing for divorce jumped to $409 from $364. Click the following link for the whole story: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flpfees0705pnjul05,0,3128762.story

Published on: June 14, 2008

Funny Sign

by Leland Garvin

Funny Sign, Even funnier that you can rent sheep

Published on: May 30, 2008

Registration deadline approaching for Engle Trust Fund

by Leland Garvin

Any Florida resident who is currently suffering (or died from) a smoking related illness must register for their share of the $600 Million dollar trust fund by June 16th, 2008. In order to qualify you must have been a regular smoker prior to November 21st, 1996 and of course a Florida resident.

Please contact my office at (888) 524-2426 if you have any questions or would like us to handle your claim.

Published on: May 27, 2008

Interactive Map of Marijuana Growhouse Busts in Southwest Florida

by Leland Garvin

Check out this interactive map of Southwest Floirda Marijuana Growhouse busts provided courtesy of the Naples Daily News.

http://www.naplesnews.com/growhouse/

Are there any in your neighborhood? Click on the pushpins for a brief description of the Arrest.

Published on: May 22, 2008

Fort Myers Cocaine Bust: VIDEO, Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott

by Leland Garvin

Click the link below for a video of what Sheriff Mike Scott is calling the biggest bust in Lee County’s history. Doesn’t look like all that much if you ask me.

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080522/VIDEO/80522074/1085/RSS0110

Published on: May 12, 2008

Cocaine Is Back, Killing More Than Ever

by Leland Garvin

The signs: Increased business at rehab centers. Those Ski-related personal ads. A big spike in death rates. The trend began to reveal itself about five years ago — in centrifuges and under microscopes — at the University of Florida’s Forensic Toxicology Laboratory. Each year, the lab assists seven Florida medical examiners’ offices with about 3,000 cases, helping to identify toxic substances in bodies as medical examiners perform autopsies. Dr. Bruce Goldberger, the UF toxicologist who runs the lab, says he began to notice a “significant increase” in the number of cases in which cocaine either caused the death or was present in the blood stream. When he and his colleagues looked at data collected by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement from all 24 of the state’s medical examiners, they found that cocaine-related deaths had been rising all over Florida — from 1,034 in 2000 to 2,052 in 2006. The raw numbers also translated into a statistical spike in the cocaine-related death rate, from 6.4 deaths per 100,000 people in 2001 to 11.2 in 2005.

Full Story: http://floridatrend.com/article.asp?page=1&aID=48829

Published on: May 5, 2008

Conference center, plaza may be coming to St. Marks

by Leland Garvin

From deli meats to video rentals, the family store on St. Marks’ main drag has it all; its selection of used paperbacks even serves as the town’s public library. It’s part of a way of life many here want to preserve.
“We all love St. Marks just the way it is,” said Joy Brown, Bo Lynn’s owner for the past 43 years. “We really don’t want another Miami. … We’re not ready for it, and we don’t want it.”
But time is catching up with the town 20 miles south of Tallahassee. A group of citizens is planning to restart the town’s economy following a decade of hardships. Their proposal calls for a conference center and a waterfront plaza that could include the site of the shuttered Posey’s Oyster Bar. Click Here for Full Story: http://tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080506/NEWS01/805060327&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL Take a look at the website, there is a photo gallery and a video about the Confrence Center

Published on: April 18, 2008

Florida Senate amendment takes on ‘Truck Nutz’

by Leland Garvin

The Florida Senate on Thursday passed an amendment to impose a $60 fine on Truck Nutz, one brand name for the novelty item on vehicle trailer hitches that resemble the dangling southern end of a northbound bull.

The proposal would make displaying bull genitalia reproductions on a vehicle subject to a $60 fine, moving violations and points against a driver license. The penalties were proposed by Sen. Carey Baker, R-Eustis. Sen. Jim King, R-Jacksonville, said he had a set on one of his vehicles, which he described as “all pimped out.” They are no more than “an expression of truckliness,” he said, although he’d acceded to his wife’s request to take them off. “I find it shocking we’d tell people with metallic testicles on their bumpers that this is a violation,” said Sen. Steve Geller, D-Hallandale. “There’s got to be better things for us to spend time debating.” Geller suggested this ban might be followed by prohibiting silhouettes of nude women on truck mud flaps.
“We’re basically going to have the bumper police,” King said. “All their concerns are legitimate,” Baker said of the critics. “And I do have more important things to do this session. But I think this is important, too.” The transportation bill was debated Thursday, and a vote is expected next week. The House version, however, doesn’t include the prohibition.

Florida Personal Injury Law Blog