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MEDIA ADVISORY: Stetson Law hosts fair housing and rebuilding communities seminars April 21-22 in Tampa

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. –
WHO: Stetson Law
WHAT: Two free seminars about fair housing and compliance issues
WHERE:Tampa Law Center, 1700 N. Tampa St.
WHEN: Friday, April 21, 8:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Fair Housing Seminar, and
Saturday, April 22, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Rebuilding Communities: Accessibility Requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Sec. 504

Stetson Law hosts two interdisciplinary seminars April 21-22, co-sponsored by the Bay Area Apartment Association, Bay Area Legal Services, Inc., Boley Centers, the City of Clearwater, the City of Largo, the City of St. Petersburg, the City of Tampa, Gulfcoast Legal Services, Inc., Hillsborough County, the Office of Equal Opportunity and the Pinellas County Office of Human Rights.

  • Friday’s free Fair Housing Seminar will cover the Fair Housing Act and compliance training for the Fair Housing Act.

Kim Kendrick, Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, will introduce the program.

  • Saturday’s Rebuilding Communities training workshop will address dwelling units, a legal overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 and common errors and omissions.

There is a fee for lunch at both programs. To register, call 813-228-0226.

Stetson promotes administrators

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
(727)562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – Laura Zuppo-Headley has been promoted to director of admissions and Michael Farley has been promoted to director of student life at Stetson University College of Law.

Zuppo-Headley, a native of Philadelphia, began working at Stetson Law in April 2001 as assistant director of admissions. Before joining Stetson, she was assistant director of admissions at Keller Graduate School.

“In the new position, I look forward to continuing to build Stetson’s commitment to diversity, not only by including more ethnic and racial diversity in our prospective student pool, but also by reaching more applicants from other states,” said Zuppo-Headley.

Zuppo-Headley holds a master’s in business administration from Keller Graduate School of management and a bachelor’s in sociology from Cedar Crest College, where she graduated magna cum laude. She serves on the Law School Admissions Council Advisory Board for Admit-M software and is a member of the National Association of Female Executives as well as the National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals. Each year in her spare time, Zuppo-Headley organizes a team to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s annual Walk for the Cure.

Michael Farley joined the law school as associate director of student life in 2005. Prior to coming to Stetson, he was assistant dean of student services at the University of Florida, director of alumni services at Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity headquarters and coordinator of student affairs at the University of South Florida.

“This position will first and foremost allow me to interact with Stetson students in a significant way,” said Farley. “As director, I will be able to meet the new students at day one at orientation and be part of their lives during their three years of education here at Stetson. We’ll do this by encouraging their co-curricular involvement in leadership programming, student organizations and pro bono service activities.”

Farley received his master’s degree in higher education administration from Indiana University in 1994 and his bachelor’s degree in public relations from the University of Florida, where he was named the 1992 “Outstanding Male Graduate.” He has been a state and national leader in the Association of Fraternity Advisors, the National Association of Campus Activities and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.

Stetson hosts ABA National Client Counseling Competition

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law hosted the 2005-2006 ABA Law Student Division National Client Counseling Competition on March 17 and 18 in Gulfport.

“The national competition marked the culmination of months of hard work for the competitors,” said Professor Kelly Feeley, who serves as the ABA Law Student Client Counseling Competition subcommittee chair.

In February, 12 regional competitions were held throughout the country with 140 teams competing. The winner from each of the regionals advanced to the national competition held at Stetson. Each team competed in three preliminary rounds, with the top six teams advancing to the semi-finals.

The three semi-final rounds were a head-to-head competition with the top three teams advancing to the final round on March 18. South Texas School of Law won the competition, with Pace University coming in second, and William S. Boyd School of Law, University of Nevada Las Vegas coming in third. South Texas will now compete at the International Client Counseling Competition in Wales in April.

“This is such an honor for Stetson to host this competition and this year was no exception. The talent was tremendous,” said Feeley. “The competition was a complete success because of help from the local legal community, faculty, staff and our own Stetson students.”

Stetson will host this national competition every three years. Client Counseling will be back in Gulfport in 2009.

Stetson Law again ranked first in trial advocacy by U.S. News & World Report

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – U.S. News & World Report has again ranked Stetson University College of Law first for trial advocacy. Stetson has consistently ranked among the top law schools for trial advocacy since these rankings began in 1995. In addition, Stetson was ranked fourth in legal writing this year. U.S. News ranks law school specialties based on nominations by legal educators at peer institutions.

Last year, Stetson was tied for first in advocacy by the 2006 U.S. News & World Report national rankings.

“Stetson is again proud to be recognized as a national leader in training skilled lawyers,” said Vice President and Dean Darby Dickerson, who also directed the legal writing program until 2004. “Being ranked highly in both advocacy and legal writing reflects our mission to prepare students for the profession.”

Stetson’s Center for Excellence in Advocacy strengthens the school’s commitment to advocacy training, hosting a national tournament for the American Mock Trial Association which brings more than 400 undergraduate student trial teams together from around the nation.

“The Advocacy Center provides students with hands-on experiences that teach them to represent their clients in and out of the courtroom,” said Professor and Center Director Roberta Flowers. “Stetson is proud of its legacy of teaching students not only to think like lawyers but also to act like lawyers.”

Stetson offers full and part-time programs leading to the J.D., J.D./M.B.A., and LL.M. degrees and is the headquarters for the National Conference of Law Reviews.

Stetson Law student team wins vis arbitration moot pre-competition in Orlando

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – A student team from Stetson University College of Law won the Second Annual Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Pre-competition on March 18 in Orlando.

Stetson’s team competed against three other teams from Florida, winning each round of the pre-competition. Stetson Law student Kathryn Christian also won the award for best oralist.

Students Garett Raines and Marina Braginskaya won the first round against Nova Southeastern University. Kathryn Christian and Jared Dolan then argued and won the round against the University of Miami and Hugh Higgins and Adam Williams beat the University of Florida team in the final round.

“It could not have gone better,” said Professor Joe Morrissey, who coached the winning team with Professor Stephanie Vaughan and student coach Ryan Jones. “All of our students participated in earning this victory and argued better than I’ve ever seen them argue. We hope that our preparation here in Florida will lead all of the Florida teams to success in the international competition in Vienna, where this year more than 150 law school teams will compete from over 45 countries.”

Arbitrators from many of the top law firms in Florida judged and helped underwrite expenses. The competition was organized and hosted by the Vis Competition Subcommittee of the International Litigation and Arbitration Committee of the International Law Section of The Florida Bar.

Stetson’s moot court team also took home an award for the best memorial at the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition last month.

Last year in March, Stetson Law became the first American law school since 1996 to win the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot competition, held in Vienna, Austria. Teams from 150 law schools in 47 countries competed.

Stetson Law Professor Royal Gardner selected as 2006 National Wetlands Awards winner

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – The Environmental Law Institute in Washington D.C. has selected Professor Royal Gardner as one of six winners of the 2006 National Wetlands Awards.

Winners of this award, selected from around the country for their dedication to conservation and protecting natural resources, will be honored at a ceremony in Washington D.C. on May 10.

Professor Gardner is head of the Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy at Stetson, which serves as an interdisciplinary focal point for education, research, and service activities related to global, regional, and local biodiversity issues. He was also appointed to the Scientific and Technical Review Panel of the Ramsar Convention as North America’s regional representative.

Gardner writes extensively on wetland mitigation and restoration policies. His work as a member of the National Research Council’s Committee on Mitigating Wetland Losses contributed to a re-examination of federal wetland mitigation policies. Professor Gardner, together with Stetson colleague Professor Paul Boudreaux, was named to the board of managing editors for the Journal of International Wildlife Law and Policy.

In 1996, Professor Gardner co-founded Stetson’s Annual International Environmental Moot Court Competition, designed to increase international attention on environmental issues, including wetland protection. More than 60 student litigators from around the globe competed for a chance to make it to Stetson’s international finals. The 2005 winning team was from Kolkata, India.

The 2006 National Wetlands Awards are co-sponsored by the Environmental Law Institute, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Forest Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Federal Highway Administration and NOAA Fisheries.

Stetson Law Review publishes book on Terri Schiavo

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – The Stetson Law Review is proud to announce the publication of its latest issue, Vol. 35, No. 1, entitled “Reflections on and Implications of Schiavo.” In light of this particular issue’s importance, the Stetson Law Review will make the book available to the public for the first time in its publication history.

“In the years leading up to her death, Terri Schiavo’s situation was discussed and debated at every level of the federal and Florida State governments,” said Stetson Professors Rebecca Morgan and Michael Allen.

This issue of the Law Review provides insights into the Terri Schiavo case from legal practitioners directly involved in the case and prominent scholars in the areas of elder law and constitutional law.

“It is clear that the issues raised by the Terri Schiavo case are going to continue to shape our legal system for years to come,” said Stetson Law Vice President and Dean Darby Dickerson. “It’s an issue of critical importance.”

Members of the public may purchase the book in person at the Stetson University College of Law bookstore, or may order a book through a secure Web page at http://justice.law.stetson.edu/bookstore/Schiavo/. The book is being sold at cost.

UPDATE: Please click  here  to access this volume online at no cost.

Stetson’s trial team wins the regional ATLA

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law’s trial team won the regional Association of Trial Lawyers Association competition in Atlanta this month.

The student trial team of Cameron Croft, Brandon Held, Dennis McCarthy and Susan Gregory defeated a team from Wake Forest in the final round of competitions. Sixteen teams from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina competed.

“The Stetson team performed outstandingly well in this regional competition,” said Professor Lee Coppock, who directs the trial team program at Stetson. “I have no doubt that they will prove a force to be reckoned with at the national level as well.”

The Stetson team travels to Miami at the end of March for the national ATLA competition.

In January, a team of Stetson students won the Chester Bedell Memorial Trial Competition in Miami. It was Stetson’s 16th win in the history of the competition. Stetson’s student team of Arturo Rios, Angie Torrents, Senovia Lance and Ruel Smith defeated Florida State University’s team in the final round.

Stetson has earned a national reputation for excellence in trial advocacy, ranking first in the specialty by the 2006 edition of the U.S. News & World Report of best graduate schools.

Stetson’s moot court team takes home an award for best memorial

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law’s moot court team recently took home an award for the Best Memorial at the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition last month.

The student moot court team of Sam Cooley, Amanda Jassem, Alicia Koepke and Ezequiel Lugo advanced to finals in the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, Southeastern Region. Jessup is the largest competition of its kind in the world. A team from Florida Coastal won the regional competition and will advance to the finals in April.

“This is the third year in a row that Stetson’s team took home a first place memorial award in this competition,” said Professor Stephanie Vaughan, who advises the moot court at Stetson. “The school is extremely proud.”

Student Alicia Koepke won the First Runner-Up Individual Oralist Award, one of the highest individual awards anyone can receive in a moot court competition. Stetson Professor Royal Gardner coached the team.

In Minneapolis in March, Stetson’s Civil Rights Moot Court Team of Laurie Sharpe and James McTyier advanced to the final round in the McGhee National Civil Rights Moot Court Competition, with 36 teams competing. Stetson Professor Ann Piccard and student Lavern Wilson helped prepare the team.

Last year in March, Stetson Law became the first American law school since 1996 to win the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot competition, held in Vienna, Austria. Teams from 150 law schools in 47 countries competed.

New Orleans District Attorney heads Stetson Law panel on Katrina’s impact on justice system

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – Hurricane Katrina left prisoners on the loose, legal records in disarray and the region’s justice system mired in confusion. The national impact of these challenges and lessons learned are the focus of presentations by key Louisiana legal experts at the Tampa Law Center, 1700 N. Tampa St., on April 7 at 6 p.m.

Stetson Law Professor Dorothea Beane will host the program.

“Katrina was an eye-opener for the legal community. Legal professionals displaced by Katrina have returned to find that their clients have been displaced and legal records such as property ownership documents have been destroyed. Prisoners evacuated in the storm have disappeared,” Professor Beane said. “What can this disaster teach us and how might Florida prepare for a disaster of this caliber?”

Speakers include:

  • Eddie Jordan, District Attorney for Orleans Parish and former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana
  • Phyllis E. Mann, a law professor and defense attorney from Louisiana who has presented papers on Katrina’s impact on the criminal justice system and criminal defense for the indigent in Louisiana
  • Bobby Marzine Harges, professor of law at Loyola, and former civil and construction litigator
  • Ron Austin, criminal defense and personal injury attorney

The American Bar Association-Law Student Division and Stetson’s Black Law Student Association are co-sponsoring this event.

Please call 813-228-0226 to register for this important event.
Or, register online at http://justice.law.stetson.edu/RSVP/.

Editor’s Note: Presenters will be available for interviews before the program between
5:15 p.m.-5:45 p.m.

Stetson’s National Clearinghouse presents “Terrorists, Hurricanes and Viruses: What’s Next?”

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – The National Clearinghouse for Science Technology and the Law at Stetson University College of Law will host “Terrorists, Hurricanes and Viruses: What’s Next?” in the Great Hall at the Gulfport campus at 1401 61st St. S. at noon on March 13.

Dr. James Young will present the talk. Young, a physician and coroner and special advisor to the deputy minister of public safety and emergency preparedness for the government of Canada, has worked in disaster preparedness at both the national and international levels.

Young co-managed the SARS crisis in Ontario and helped identify the victims of the tsunami disaster, Bali nightclub bombing, 9/11 and Swiss Air. He also supervised the autopsies of four Canadian soldiers killed by American friendly fire in Afghanistan.

“The Clearinghouse has made tremendous strides in its efforts to encourage the scientific, technological and legal communities to share resources in the interest of justice,” said Carol Henderson, Clearinghouse director.

Under Henderson’s direction, Stetson’s National Clearinghouse, a program of the National Institute of Justice, was formed in 2003 to advance the use of science and technology in the law.

The Clearinghouse provides a comprehensive online database of legal and scientific research and educates lawyers, judges and law enforcement personnel about new developments in forensic technology and forensic evidence handling in the courts.

For more information on additional National Clearinghouse programs, please call
(727) 562-7316 or visit them on the Web at http://www.ncstl.org.

Stetson Law presents free seminars in Ocala to help protect elder consumers from scams and fraud

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law will warn elderly citizens about the dangers of scams and fraud at free consumer protection presentations in Ocala in March.

Stetson Law Professor Nick Cox will speak about identity theft March 29-30 at two sessions: 10 a.m.- 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.-4 p.m., at the Ocala Hilton, 3600 SW 36th Ave.

With experience in both the Office of the Florida Attorney General and the State Attorney’s Office, Cox has worked closely with state and federal agencies to educate citizens and law enforcement personnel on consumer fraud issues.

“Identity theft has a devastating impact on its victims,” said Rebecca Morgan, director of Stetson’s Center for Excellence in Elder Law. “Too often seniors are targeted as victims of identity theft. It is critical for everyone to learn more about identity theft and how to protect their identities.”

RSVP by calling toll free 1-800-831-8923.

The seminars are part of Stetson’s elder consumer protection initiatives.