Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-84-1370AND CORRECTNESS: MAURICE A. FERRE MAUR ICE A. FERRE MAYOR CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF DEC 19 1O JN No. 94-ol 3-84-1103 kt RESOLUTION NO. 84-":1370 A RESOLUTION ~AUTHORIZING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO EMPLOY THE LAW FIRM OF FOWLER, WHITE, BURNETT, HURLEY, BANICK & STRICKROOT9 P.A., TO SERVE AS CONSULTANT IN CONNECTION WITH THE CASE OF SORELLY SALAZAR AS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF, THE ESTATE OF FABIO DE JESUS GUZMAN, DECEASED, PLAINTIFF VS.. PEDRO GONZALEZ, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS A FORMER POLICE OFFICER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI; -EDUARDO ROGUE, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS A POLICE OFFICER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI; KENNETH I. HARMS, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS THE CHIEF OF POLICE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI; AND THE CITY OF MIAMI, A MUNICIPALITY OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, USING MONIES THEREFOR FROM THE SELF-INSURANCE TRUST FUND. _ BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLOR IDA: Section 1. The City Attorney is hereby authorized to employ the law firm of Fowler, White, Burnett, Hurley, Banick & Strickroot, P.A., to serve as consultant in connection with the case of Sorelly Salazar, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Fabic De Jesus Guzman, deceased, Plaintiff vs. Pedro Gonzalez, individually and as a former police officer of the City of Miami; Eduardo Roque, individually and as a police officer of the City of Miami; Kenneth I. Harms, individually and as the Chief of Police of the City of Miami; and the City of Miami, a municipality of the State of Florida, using monies therefor from the Self -Insurance Trust Fund. PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 13th day of DECEMBER , 1984. T: LPH G. ONGIE, CITY CLER PREP RED AND APPROVED BY: A &OSE<` ROBERT F. CLARK, DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY APPR D A {..V...in n. vuuu CITY ATTORNEY CITY OF MIAMI. FLORIDA 6 INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM To, Howard V. Gary DATE: November 20, 1984 Fme: City Manager SUBJECT: City Commission Meeting December 13, 1984 FROM: L is A. Doug er REFERENCES:Consent Agenda City Attorney i1) ENCLOSURES: The attached memorandum to the Mayor and City Commissioners dated November 6, 1984 should be placed on the December 139 1984 meeting Agenda and due to the noncontroversial nature of the subject matter each resolution may be properly included as a separate item in the Consent Agenda for that meeting. LAD/RFC/rr cc: City Clerk . 3, CITY OF MIAMI. FLORIDA INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM Honorable Mayor and Members he i Commission 1 DATE: November 69 1984 R'LE° SUBJECT: Authorization to Hire Outside Counsel ... •. .. � .. j.c •.�erisY7/1.tm.•.: . <'— _ (1) Michael Johnson v. City, ROM, j LUcia A i -Dougherty REFEAENccf: et al., Case #84-2087- City Attorney Civ-Aronovitz; and ENGLofuRE:: {2) Salazar v. City, at al., It is recommended that the City Commission adopt separate resolutions authorizing and approving employment of outside counsel to serve as consultant to the City Attorney in two cases involving police related Title 42 §1983 (civil rights) litigation, with funding therefor available from the Self -Insurance Trust Fund. (Separate resolutions are attached). Each of the two following cases may be termed high profile and since both involve a claim for denial of civil rights, each may be considered to be a high exposure case in that the limitation on damages provided by Florida Statute 768.28 does not apply and attorneys' fees may be assessed if the Plaintiff is successful upon the civil rights claim. It is anticipated that in regard to each case, the consultant will assist the Assistant City Attorney in the preparation of the case for trial and that the consultant will also participate in the trial; however, the Assistant from my office will handle most of the discovery and other day to day matters concerning the case in consultation with the consultant retained. Funding to meet the cost of the consultants is available from the self-insurance trust fund: (1) The Michael Johnson case, filed in the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida has been assigned Case No. 83-2087-Civ-Aronovitz. The Defendants in this case are the City of Miami, former police officers, John Dees and Kenneth Kemp, present police officers George Roschel, Lt. G. Lane Bradford, Sgt. Norris Lowe and Col. Kelly England. I recommend that we retain the law firm of Fine, Jacobson, Block, Klein, Colan and Simon, P.A.; specifically, Henry Latimer, who has recently been involved in the defense of the Alvarez (Nevell Johnson) case, on behalf of the City. Attached hereto you will find a copy of Mr. Latimer's resume. +r • Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission November 6, 1984 Page 2 (2) The Guzman case is formally styled Sorelly Salazar, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Fabio De Jesus Guzman, deceased, Plaintiff vs. Pedro Gonzalez, individually and as a former police officer of the City of Miami; Eduardo Roque, individually and as a police officer of the City of Miami; Kenneth I. Harms, individually and as the Chief of Police of the City of Miami; and the City of Miami, a municipality of the State of Florida. The case has been assigned Case No. 83-2402-Civ-Kehoe in the United States District Court of the Southern District of Florida. I recommend that we retain the law firm of Fowler, White, Burnett, Hurley, Banick 6 Strickroot, P.A., specifically Fred R. Ober, who has had extensive experience in the defense of police related Title 42, §1983 litigation (civil rights). Attached you will find a letter regarding Mr. Ober's prior experience in these matters. We are attaching a separate resolution authorizing employment of each consultant for your favorable consideration. LAD:kt Enclosures (4) } d(, ��l,�i• • 1 .. ,`:', Myi Xi�i•.Mr+�l.+��.: ��eM°SI�T!VE"Ss �' ' r HENRY LATIMER BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY Early Childhood: Jacksonville, Florida Educational Backqround: ° Honor graduate, New Stanton Senior High, 1956, Jacksonville, Florida. ° Honor graduate, Florida A&M University, 1963; B.S. degree, political science. ° Honor graduate, Florida Atlantic University, 1967; Master's degree, supervision and administration. ° Cum Laude graduate, University of Miami School of Law, 1973; Juris Doctor. Work Experience: 1962 - 1963 Park Ranger, U.S. Dept. of Interior, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. 1964 - 1967 Broward County School Board, ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Teacher of economics and history; Coach of basketball and tennis. 1967 - 1973 Wage -Hour Investigator, U.S. Dept. of Labor, Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. 1974 - 1975 Business Law Professor, Broward Community College, North Campus, Pompano Beach, Florida. 1974 - 1979 Practicing Attorney, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (Partner: Ford, Marvides & Latimer); civil trial practice. 1979 - 1983 Circuit Judge, 17th Judicial Circuit, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. 1983 - Present Practicing Attorney, Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, (Partner: Fine, Jacobson, Block, Klein, Colan & Simon, P.A.; Resident Partner, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida); general practice, emphasis in civil litigation. I :OR z - HENRY LATIMER BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY Page 2 Military Status: 1957 - 1960 Sergeant, United States Marine Corp. Organizational Affiliations: ° General Counsel, Florida Chapter of the National Bar Association. ° Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. ° Fort Lauderdale Elks. ° Flack Historical Society, Eroward County, Florida. ° County, State and National Bar Associations: ° The National Par Association ° The Florida Chapter of the National Bar Association ° American Bar Association ° The Florida Par ° Broward County Trial Lawyers ° Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers ° The Association of Trial Lawyers of America ° The Broward County Bar Association ° The Dade County Bar Association ° Florida Par, Rules of Civil Procedure Committee ° Former Offices, Boards and Committees: ° Past President of the Florida Chapter of the National Bar Association. ° Former Chairman, Judicial Counsel, Florida Chapter of the National Bar Association •yf�!�Q HENRY LATIMER BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY Page 3 ° Personnel Advisory Board, Broward County ° Community Service Council, Broward County ° Former Director, Florida Endowment for the Humanities ° Former editor, newsletter, Florida Chapter of the National Bar Association ° Past President, Sickle Cell Disease Foundation of Broward County ° Former Vice -Chairman of the Committee on Advocacy of the Section of Ceneral Practice, American Bar Association ° Former Eoard Member, Florida Prepaid Legal Services ° Former Board Member, Urban League of Broward County I ° Former Executive Committee Member of the Trial Lawyers Section of the Broward County Bar Association f ° Former Vice -Chairman, Continuing Legal Education Committee, Broward County Bar Association ° The Florida Bar - (a) Former Member, Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee and (b) Labor Relations Law Committee Awards: ° Athletic and academic scholarships throughout college and law school. ° Superior Performance Award - United States Department of Labor, 1972. ° Winner - Freshman Moot Court competition, University of Miami, Law School. q r; x •24 HENPY LATIMER BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY Page 4 ° Law School Book Awards - highest average, Agency and Contracts. ° Summer 1978 - Cutstanding Achievement Award, Florida Chapter, National Bar Association. ° Summer 1978 - Presidential Achievement Award, National Bar Convention. ° March 1979 - Outstanding Leadership Award, National Ear Association. ° outstanding- Achievement - Florida Endowment for the Humanities.. ° February 1981 - Chairman's Meritorious Service Award, Judicial Council, National Bar Association. ° 1982 Judicial Poll - rated Number One by Broward County Criminal Defense Lawyers. ° Numerous others from civic and fraternal groups. 0455B '1, .. _ LAW Orricee • FOWLEU, +W WHIT, 1 3URNaTT, li1_UR1rXY, 13ANICK & A PROPt ZONAL ASSOCIATION MORRIS It. WHITE MtNRY SURNtTT JAMB L. HURLEY RICMARD S. SAMICK WILLIAM C, NORWOOD JOMN C STRICKROOT rRANK J. MAIlSTON A. SIACKWELL STIEGLITZ rREO M. OSER MICMAEL J. CAPPUCIO CHARLES L. MUMt STUART M. ALTMAN JOMN R. KtLSO GREG M. GAESt KARL CONNELL THOMAS F. MARTIN A. MODOER TRAYNOR, JR. CURTIS CARLSON MICMAEL J. MURPMY STEVEN C. SMILtY MICMAEL A. MULLEN ALLAN R KELLEY JAMES L. DENNIS MOMENT NELSON ALLEN, JR, MOMENT E. ALSURT, JR. SMERRYLL MARTENS DUNAJ KATMY M, KLOCK MENRY M. KNOSLOCK CHARLES G.D[LEO DOUGLAS C. SROEKER COMA NELL HAGGARD PATRICIA EWING MAMK R. ANTONELLI JAMES N. rLOYD DAVID S, MICMAEL SRETT A. RIVKIND MANUEL E. CASEZA MAPIIVONNE SASTEN STEPMtN E. COOK JOMN W. KELLER MARIA ISASEL GOMEZ Lucia A. Dougherty, Esquire City Attorney City of Miami, Florida 169 E. Flagler Street Miami, Florida 33131 Dear Mrs. Dougherty: September 20, 1984 Hand Delivered _'� WALTER MUMKEY (ISI= • 1574� ALAN S. rOGG, JR. Or COUNSEL rIrTM rL00R CITY NATIONAL SANK SUILDING !S WEST rLAOLER STREET MIAMI, rLOR10A 33130 TtLEPMONE (SOS?,SA•4DS0 CASLE AOOMtiiI "rOWMITE" TELL% "441.404 FOWMITE" (ITT) 51•t4S3 rOWMITE MIA" (WU) I very much enjoyed meeting with you and Miss Cardonne concerning potential representation of the City of Miami in connection with the defense of Title 42 Section 1983 litigation. As I advised, our 1970's, represented in Florida: law firm has since the late 1960's, early the following municipalities and counties 1. City of Miami 2. Dade County 3. City of Homestead 4. City of Florida City 5. City of Mi imi Shores 6. City of Sweetwater 7. City of Hialeah 8. City of Hollywood r; 9. City of Fort Lauderdale 10. Broward County 11. Collier County 12. Indian River County 13. Monroe County 13. City -of Key West 14. City of North Miami Beach 15. City of North Miami 16. City of Miami Gardens Most of the above representation was insurance related, 1' we did for a time, represent Dade County through engagement by the County itself following termination of it coverage. f Lucia A. Dougherty, Esq. September 19, 1984 Page Two. We presently represent the City of Hialeah through its Risk Management and are retained by Vanguard Insurance Company, to represent the City of Miami Beach and the City of Homestead. We are given to understand that they will be coming into this area with insurance on most of the municipalities. I have tried to conclusion several Title 42 1983 cases. The Judges presiding were Judge Kehoe, Judge Aronovitz, Judge Hoeveler, Judge Faye, Judge Fulton, and visiting Federal Judge from Kansas, Judge Theiss. In addition, several other ,members and associates of this firm have tried civil rights cases in Federal Court. Among these are Henry Burnett, Mike Mullen, Greg Gaebe and Sherryll Martens Dunaj. If you are in need of any further information please advise. Very truly your311 FRO/m FRED R. OBER FoW=X. WE=. Bvsxsrr. 302=T. B.Ucs & STWCZWAW A PROMOSIONAL ASSOCIATION