Ramsey Revell and Riley Landy Named 2022 Florida Rising Stars
Andrews, Crabtree, Knox and Longfellow, LLP is pleased to announce that Ramsey Revell and Riley Landy have been named 2022 Rising Stars by Florida Super Lawyers.
The selection process for the Rising Stars list is a rigorous selection process, with nominations being made by their peers and being reviewed by Florida Super Lawyers to ensure the worthiness of each nomination. To be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must also be either 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less. All attorneys first go through the Super Lawyers selection process. Those who are not selected to the Super Lawyers list, but who meet either one of the Rising Stars eligibility requirements, go through the Rising Stars selection process. While up to five percent of the lawyers in the state are named to Super Lawyers, no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list.
The firm is proud to be associated with these fine and outstanding attorneys.
Congratulations to Joe Longfellow on becoming a member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel!
Joe Longfellow's nomination to become a member of the Federation of Defense Counsel & Corporate Counsel (FDCC) has been accepted by the organization. He is the first attorney from the firm to be nominated and accepted into this professional organization of defense attorneys. FDCC, composed of recognized leaders in the legal community who have achieved professional distinction, is dedicated to promoting knowledge, fellowship, and professionalism of its members as they pursue the course of a balanced justice system and represent those in need of a defense in civil lawsuits.
On behalf of the firm, we congratulate Joe on this great accomplishment! We look forward to seeing the positive impact he will make as a member of the FDCC.
Court Grants Renewed Judgment as a Matter of Law following Adverse Verdict
In June 2021, Joe Longfellow and Riley Landy tried a week long federal false arrest claim in the Northern District of Florida. The case dealt with where the arrest of the Plaintiff was initiated--outside vs inside the home. The jury found the arrest was initiated outside the home and was completed inside the home. The jury then erroneously found that the deputy was not in hot pursuit of the Plaintiff, yet found the arrest was continuous without a break from initiation to completion. Judgment was entered for the Plaintiff and he was awarded damages.
Joe Longfellow and Riley Landy did not let the verdict stand. They believed this was an inconsistent verdict. So, after multiple oral motions for judgment as a matter of law made during trial, they filed a Rule 50/59 Motion asking the Court to reverse the jury's verdict. After months of briefing and the Court carefully considering the case law and facts, entered an order granting the deputy's Renewed Judgment as a Matter of Law and reversed the judgment in favor of the deputy. This was a big win for the deputy! This is an example of a judge doing the right thing despite the difficulty of having to grant such significant relief that is normally denied. Another big win for law enforcement!
Joe Longfellow participates as a panel member of Attorney-Client Relationships
Joe Longfellow was asked to participate as a panel member in the Student Education and Admission to the Bar Committee's Student Workshop on the Attorney-Client Relationship. This workshop covered a variety of topics, including when an attorney-client relationship was formed versus ended, responsibilities and duties associated with the relationship, conflicts of interest, billing and how to work with clients on a variety of issues. This workshop was recorded and will be made available for anyone who missed it at a later date.
Joe has been a member of this Florida Bar committee for 4-5 years and enjoys working with its members and on the committee's mission.
Another Win for the Defense-Jeannette Andrews and Joe Longfellow obtain summary judgment in Medical Malpractice case
On August 2, 2021, Jeannette Andrews and Joe Longfellow had a hearing on a Motion for Summary Judgment in a medical malpractice case against Capital Regional Medical Center. The case involved a patient leaving the hospital against medical advice. A prior motion for summary judgment had been filed two years ago under the old summary judgment, but was re-filed with additional arguments under the new summary judgment standard in Florida in accordance with Wilsonart, LLC v. Lopez. Following oral arguments, the Court entered summary judgment on behalf of all the defendants. This was a big win on behalf of the hospital as the Plaintiffs were seeking millions of dollars in damages.
Riley Landy named Florida Super Lawyer Rising Star in Employment Law
Andrews, Crabtree, Knox & Longfellow are excited to announce Riley Landy was recently named a Florida Super Lawyer Rising Star by Thomson Reuters in the area of Employment Law. Riley Landy is an associate with the firm and brings a wealth of experience in employment law. She is well versed in not only issues involving litigation in Florida state and federal courts, but also on advising and counseling companies and corporations on general employment issues ranging from creating and implementing policies and procedures to employee relations. Check out Riley's bio on our website or give her a call to see what she can do your business or litigation issues.
Ramsey Revell published article on Force Majeure Provisions in Construction Contracts and Covid-19
The Florida Defense Lawyer's Association recently published an article written by Ramsey Revell in the Trial Advocate, Vol. 40, Number 2, on Force Majeure Provisions in Construction Contracts and Covid-19. Ramsey explores the impact and applicability of force majeure provisions in the wake of Covid-19. With the new normal of Covid-19 and its effects on the economy, supply chains and contracts, it's important you have someone who is experienced in dealing with these issues and has the knowledge base to do so like Ramsey. Check out her article at: https://higherlogicdownload.s3-external-1.amazonaws.com/FDLA/874d9258-c7f9-48e0-9140-440273e0fa5e_file.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAVRDO7IEREB57R7MT&Expires=1628782029&Signature=vwK49Im6RDhff%2BG9jvMDSGtVWq8%3D. You can learn more about Ramsey by checking out her bio on our website, or by contacting her at our office. Find out what she can do for your corporation or defending your contract.
Lanisha Thornton has been appointed to the Tallahassee-Leon County Minority, Women & Small Business Enterprise Citizens Advisory Committee
On April 14, 2021, Lanisha Thornton, a legal assistant in the firm, was appointed by the Leon County Board of Commissioners to the Tallahassee-Leon County Minority, Women & Small Business Enterprise Citizens Advisory Committee for the next 2 years.
The purpose of the Tallahassee-Leon County Minority, Women and Small Business Enterprise Citizen Advisory Committee is to monitor the progress of the MSWBE program relative to the goals established by the Board and the Commission. The committee gives input to the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency and the MWSBE Division of the Office of Economic Vitality in the PLACE Department as follows: reviewing and providing MWSBE policy alternatives, as well as providing programmatic recommendations relative to seeking resolution of disputes regarding Certification and Good Faith Effort.
Florida's First DCA Affirms Trial Court's Dismissal with Prejudice
On March 11, 2021, the Florida First District Court of Appeal entered an order affirming the trial court's order dismissing the claims against a law enforcement agency with prejudice for negligence and false arrest/imprisonment.
The claims involved the Plaintiff operating a farm tractor on the roadway without a license. The Plaintiff claimed a license was not needed; however, the Plaintiff was not operating the farm tractor in accordance with the statutory exemptions. The Plaintiff alleged he was returning home on his farm tractor after refueling at a nearby gas station, when he call 911 to report a neighbor driving in circles in his front yard. The neighbor fled, but the responding officer saw the Plaintiff operating his farm tractor on his way to the Plaintiff's home. The Plaintiff had a suspended license. The officer arrested the Plaintiff for driving with a suspended license. The Plaintiff contested the charges, based on a statutory exemption, and the charges were eventually dropped. The Plaintiff brought suit for negligence and false arrest/imprisonment. The law enforcement agency moved to dismiss the claims with prejudice and the trial granted the Motion. The Plaintiff appealed and the First District Court of Appeal held the Plaintiff was required to have a valid license to operate the tractor on the roadway. This is another big win for law enforcement!
Florida 2nd DCA limits introduction of Past Medical Expenses to the amount paid my Medicare
On December 11, 2020, the Florida Second District Court of Appeal affirmed a trial court's order prohibiting the plaintiff from entering into evidence the entire medical bills incurred for the alleged negligence claim to only those amounts paid by Medicare.
In Dial v. Calusa Palms Master Association, Inc., 2021 WL 7310767, the Court reaffirmed its prior 2004 holding in Cooperative Leasing, Inc. v. Johnson, 872 So. 2d 956, 960 (Fla. 2d DCA 2004) and clarified that the Florida Supreme Court's subsequent holding in Joerg v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, 176 So. 3d 1247 (Fla. 2015) did not implicitly abrogate its prior holding.
In Second District Court of Appeal's 2004 holding, the Court held "that the appropriate measure of compensatory damages for past medical expenses when a plaintiff has received Medicare benefits does not include the difference between the amount the Medicare providers agreed to accept and the total amount of the plaintiff's medical bills. The trial court should have granted the appellant's motion in limine and prohibited Johnson from introducing the full amount of her medical bills into evidence."
At the end of opinion, the Second District Court of Appeal certified the following question to the Florida Supreme Court: "Does the holding in Joerg v. Statement Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, 176 So. 3d 1247 (Fla. 2015), prohibiting the introduction of evidence of Medicare benefits in a personal injury case for purposes of a jury's consideration of future medical expenses also apply to past medical expenses?" Until the Florida Supreme Court answers the question, the answer is it does not and a motion in limine is the proper vehicle to exclude the amounts beyond what Medicare paid from introduction into evidence.
This is a great ruling in favor of Florida defendants that will hopefully assist in reigning in higher jury verdicts and settlements. Make sure you are not over valuing a case or missing an opportunity to file a motion in limine to prevent the total amount of medical from being introduced at trial. The attorneys at Andrews, Crabtree, Knox & Longfellow are prepared to defend you and your business. They keep up with the current state of the law in the jurisdictions where they practice.