Click here to view the original article published in The Florida Bar News.

What the Justice Teaching program is doing to improve civic education in Florida schools, the Bar’s Judicial Independence Committee would like to accomplish for the state’s adult population.

The committee, which met during the Bar’s recent Midyear Meeting, is hoping to kick off a public education program this spring aimed at informing the state’s residents about the importance of the legal system and the third branch of government.

“The goal of our effort is to stimulate discussion and education,” said committee Chair and Bar Board of Governors member Eugene Pettis, as the committee examined possible course materials for the program.

The concept of the program is simple. Take course material already developed by the Florida Law Related Education Association and modify it, if necessary, for adult audiences such as Rotary or Lions clubs. Make the materials available online, so volunteer lawyers can download a course outline, including Powerpoint presentations, and most, if not all, the materials they will need as handouts. Then match the volunteer attorney with a civic organization eager to learn about the justice system.

Pettis and other committee members emphasized they do not want to take volunteers or resources from the Justice Teaching program. Rather, they want to set up a similar project to reach adults, which will complement Justice Teaching. Pettis noted that surveys show most people have a poor understanding of how American democracy is structured, even to the point of being unable to name the three branches of government.

Annette Boyd Pitts, executive director of the Florida Law Related Education Association, presented course outlines that could be used in the adult classes.

In one exercise, the audience is divided in half and one side is given cards with questions and the other cards with answers. Audience members are then instructed to find the person who has the question or answer to match their card. Questions range from naming a right granted in the First Amendment to what system prevents one branch of government from becoming too powerful.

Pitts said the questions come from the judicial-related section of the citizenship test given to those who want to become U.S. citizens. Sometimes she follows up by giving the audience the full 100-question citizenship exam.

Pettis said the committee hopes to have lesson outlines and materials completed in the next 60 or so days, and then have an event to kick off the education campaign. The committee is looking to local bars, inns of courts, and sections for volunteers, and Bar President Jesse Diner, who stopped by the meeting, suggested that law students could also be enlisted.

Pettis said in many cases, lawyers could make a presentation to a civic organization in which they already belong.

He also reiterated that the committee is looking into CLE credit for participating lawyers.

Click here to download a PDF version of the news release.

News Conference with Attorney, Victim at 10:30 a.m. Today

ORLANDO, Fla. – Feb. 1, 2010 – Richard B. Schwamm, managing partner of the Orlando office of Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm (HPS), will announce during a news conference today the filing of a lawsuit on behalf of a woman who alleges she was raped by an Orlando bail bondsman at a bonding agency. The news conference takes place at 10:30 a.m. today at the law firm of Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm, 225 East Robinson Street, Suite 475, Orlando, Fla., 32801. The victim will provide interviews under conditions of anonymity.

According to the complaint filed today in Orange County Ninth Circuit Court, the victim was sexually assaulted by Allen Robert Burns Jr. while completing bond paperwork at Michael C. Snapp Bonding Agency in Orlando, Fla. The suit, which alleges sexual assault, battery, infliction of emotional distress, negligence and false imprisonment, seeks compensation for the physical injuries and psychological damages the 20-year-old woman suffered.

Burns, 36, who lives in Apopka, Fla., was arrested Jan. 20 on sexual battery charges. According to the arrest report, Burns had called the woman Jan. 19 about the status of her account. When she arrived at the agency, he demanded more collateral and threatened to revoke her bond and put her back in jail, where she had been sent on a 2009 theft charge, unless she had sex with him. She complied with Burns’ demands, according to the report. Orange County Sheriff’s deputies investigated and arrested Burns, who was released on $10,000 bond. On Jan. 25, authorities dropped the woman’s 2009 theft charge.

“This is a sad case of a man abusing his authority and position of power to instill fear and take advantage of a woman he should have been helping,” said Schwamm, an AV-rated attorney who regularly helps victims seeking civil legal remedies. “The Michael C. Snapp Bonding Agency is equally negligent by not properly investigating Burns’ background and allowing this crime to occur at its facility.”

Added Schwamm: “Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm is dedicated to helping victims seek civil justice and works hard to raise public awareness of these issues with the hopes of preventing similar tragedies from happening to others.”

A spokesperson with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office has been quoted in the news media as saying that other victims are expected in this case. He has told the media that this isn’t the first time Burns has been accused and investigated for a crime, citing an alleged 2005 assault and 2008 sexual battery claim.

About Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm, P.A.
Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm, P.A., with Florida offices in Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, is a full-service law firm known for litigating complex, multi-party cases to help individual, corporate and governmental clients achieve their goals. The firm’s trial attorneys have decades of experience in civil and commercial litigation, personal injury and wrongful death, medical malpractice, health care law, employment law, workers’ compensation, professional liability and appellate practice. The diverse law firm provides clients with litigation teams that reflect Florida’s unique racial and ethnic makeup. The firm, founded in 1996, is rated “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell. For more information, visit www.haliczerpettis.com or call (407) 841-9866.

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Editor’s notes:    Copies of all court filings, statutes and other documents are available.
The victim and her family must remain anonymous.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Dec. 1, 2009 – Richard B. Schwamm, managing partner of the Orlando office of Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm, today announced that Maria B. Vazquez has joined the law firm as an associate. Vazquez will focus her practice in the areas of medical malpractice litigation, personal injury, premises liability, wrongful death and commercial litigation.

“We added Maria out of our commitment to meet our community’s growing demand for Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm’s legal services,” Schwamm said. “We are proud that Maria has joined our team and expect she will be an outstanding asset to our community and our firm.”

Prior to joining HPS, Vazquez worked as attorney at several Florida law firms. Vazquez received a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of Virginia, in Charlottesville, VA, in 1992, and a law degree from the Western New England School of Law, in Springfield, MA, in 1996.

Ms. Vazquez is admitted to the Florida Bar (1996). She is also admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Her professional affiliations include membership in the Orange County Bar Association.

About Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm, P.A.
Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm, P.A., with offices in Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, is a full-service law firm known for litigating complex, multi-party cases to help individual, corporate and governmental clients achieve their goals. The firm’s trial attorneys have decades of experience in civil and commercial litigation, personal injury and wrongful death, medical malpractice, health care law, employment law, workers’ compensation, professional liability and appellate practice. The diverse law firm provides clients with litigation teams that reflect Florida’s unique racial and ethnic makeup. The firm, founded in 1996, is rated “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell. For more information, visit www.HaliczerPettis.com or call the Orlando office at (407) 841-9866 or the Fort Lauderdale office at (954) 523-9922.

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Editor’s Notes:        Maria B. Vazquez lives in Orlando, FL. Zip code: 32835.

As Broward County’s school children enjoy the long Thanksgiving break—no class today—some students at Lauderdale Manors Elementary School munched on turkey-day leftovers, if there were any, thanks to a local law firm.

Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm P.A. and Partners in Education donated 25 Thanksgiving meal baskets to families of students who attend the Fort Lauderdale school.

Partners in Education partners businesses with public schools to help students succeed. If you’re interested in helping out, here’s a list of schools and what they need, which is everything from mentors to career day speakers to math tutors to incentives.