| PRACTICE AREAS:
Complex family law matters involving marital agreements, child custody,
identification and valuation of assets, alimony, child support, paternity,
jurisdictional disputes, and all aspects of marital dissolution and modification
proceedings. Negligence and wrongful death actions. Contract disputes.
EDUCATION: Emory University 1982, B.A.
with high honors in Political Science and second major in
Philosophy. Honor Societies: Pi Sigma Alpha; Phi Sigma Tau.
Georgetown University Law Center (J.D., 1985). Staff Member,
American Criminal Law Review, Georgetown University Law
Center, 1983-1985.
ADMITTED TO PRACTICE: The Supreme Court
of the United States. The Florida Bar. The United States
Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. The United States
District Court for the Middle and Southern Districts of
Florida.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Partner, Gunster,
Yoakley, Criser & Stewart, P.L. to 1994. Counsel associated
with Montgomery & Larmoyeux (now Montgomery & Associates)
to 1996. Fisher & Bendeck, P.L. 1996 to present.
MEMBERSHIPS AND CERTIFICATIONS: Board
Certified Marital and Family Law Lawyer, Florida Bar Board
of Legal Specialization and Education. AV Peer Review Rated.
The Florida Bar (Served on Grievance Committee, 1997-2000;
Member, Sections on Trial Lawyers and Family Law; Family
Law Section Co-Secretary, 2007-2008, Continuing Legal Education;
Commissioner, Hawkins Commission on Review of Discipline
System, 2011-2012); Palm Beach County Bar Association (Vice Chairperson, Family
Law Continuing Legal Education Committee, 1987-1988, Chairperson,
1988-1989); American Bar Association (Member, Sections on:
Litigation and Family Law).
PUBLICATIONS: Author: “Florida’s
Cohabitation Statute: The Revolution That Wasn’t,”
The Florida Bar Journal, June 2008; Co-Author: "Court
Rules As Gate Keeping: A Case Study of Rule 27(9),"
Presented at the Annual Meeting, Southern Political Science
Association, Atlanta, Georgia, 1982. Author: "Equitable
Distribution: An Overview and Case Law Update," Selected
Topics in Family Law, Palm Beach County Bar Association
Family Law Continuing Legal Education Committee Seminar,
October 1987; "Marital Agreements: The Basics,"
Palm Beach County Bar Association Family Law Continuing
Legal Education Committee Seminar, October 1988.
PUBLISHED OPINIONS:
- Pereboom v. Pereboom, 959 So.2d 1205 (Fla. 4th DCA 2007)
Obtained ruling that both parties should bear income taxes
incurred during the divorce proceedings, when the wage
earner's salary was utilized for family expenses. In addition,
established that the client's accounting practice was
a nonmarital asset, and that no part of its value should
have been considered in distributing the assets. Net result
was that the wife owed money to the husband rather than
the husband owing money to the wife.
- Phillips v. Phillips, 502 So.2d 2 (Fla. 4th DCA 1986)
Succeeded in reversing a contempt ruling against the client
which would have allowed his former spouse to obtain a
court order for his imprisonment based upon acts that
might have occurred in the future, rather than based on
his current alleged failure to abide by a court order.
- McArthur v. Huff, 506 So.2d 481 (Fla. 4th DCA 1987)
On behalf of the wife on appeal, reversed the trial court
concerning the manner in which jewelry should have been
valued.
- Sulman v. Sulman, 510 So.2d 908 (Fla. 4th DCA 1987)
Precedent-setting case in favor of the mother establishing
that the father's obligation to provide "medical expenses"
for a child encompassed reasonable and necessary expenses
for psychological care.
- Wenzel v. Wenzel, 512 So.2d 275 (Fla. 4th DCA 1987)
Reversed order for temporary alimony to be paid by the
client based on the fact that the trial court awarded
the wife an amount of alimony which exceeded the standard
of living during the marriage.
- Mettler v. Mettler, 569 So.2d 496 (Fla. 4th DCA 1990)
Precedent-setting case establishing that attorneys fees
could be assessed against the mother for her "inequitable
conduct which resulted in needless litigation and legal
fees."
- Lickle v. Lickle, 606 So.2d 391 (Fla. 4th DCA 1992)
In the era prior to child support guidelines, obtained
a ruling in favor of the father that he should not be
obligated to pay 100% of the children's expenses when
he was caring for the children 40% of the time.
- Boswell v. Boswell, 877 So.2d 829 (Fla. 4th DCA 2004)
On behalf of the wife, established that the trial court
should not have denied her request for temporary support
without permitting a full hearing or without other proper
basis.
SIGNIFICANT REPRESENTATIONS:
Many - names withheld due to privacy concerns of high net worth individuals.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS:
- Listed, Florida Super Lawyers 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
2010, 2011 & 2012
- Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating – AV
Preeminent
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