FLORIDA STATE LAW Inside Congresswoman Kathy Castor Delivers in Washington Annual Report Alumni Recognitions ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL 2008 51018-FSULAW 2008 Covers.indd 4 10/28/08 10:30:44 PM Welcome from the Dean One Success at a Time Our law school is about one thing above all others: helping our students to launch their careers. Our alumni have always played a critical role in this eff ort. Your help is needed now more than ever, given the unprecedented fi nancial diffi culties that face our nation and state. Please send your job openings to Cristina Carter, [email protected], 850.644.4495, or directly to me, dweidner@law. fsu.edu, 850.644.3071. In the meantime, consider the good news of some of the destinations of our current 3Ls and 2Ls: 3L Matthew Beville to Venable in Washington, D.C. William Brown to Baker Hostetler in Orlando. Tim Garding to Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick in Tampa. Malinda Hayes to bankruptcy judge J. Rich Leonard in Raleigh, North Carolina. Lauren Jacobellis to Milton, Leach, Whitman, D’Andrea & Milton in Jacksonville. Ryan Lukson to Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell in Orlando. Robert Powell to Clark, Partington, Hart, Larry, Bond & Stackhouse in Pensacola. James “Danny” Puckett to Smith, Currie & Hancock in Atlanta. Sarah Donini Rodriguez to Akerman Senterfi tt in Orlando. Trevor Th ompson to federal district judge Robert Hinkle in Tallahassee. David Weiss to Ausley & McMullen in Tallahassee. Ashley West to Arnall Golden Gregory in Atlanta. Bradley White to GrayRobinson in Melbourne. 2L Stacy Cleveland to the Offi ce of the City Attorney in Tallahassee. Brandon C. Dodd to Fowler White Boggs Banker in Jacksonville. Nicholas Dyal to Smith, Gambrell & Russell in Jacksonville. Lawton Graves to McGuireWoods in Jacksonville. Donald McGraw to McGuireWoods in Chicago. Conor McLaughlin to Williams, Gautier, Gwynn, DeLoach & Sorenson in Tallahassee. Nathan Paulich to Rogers & Hardin in Atlanta. Zack Scharlepp to Akerman Senterfi tt in Tallahassee. Amanda Swindle to Florida Municipal Power Agency in Tallahassee. Travis Th ompson to Alston & Bird in Atlanta. Laura Westerman to split her summer between Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz and Lightfoot, Franklin & White, both in Birmingham, Alabama. Emily Whelchel to Hill Ward Henderson in Tampa. Th anks in advance for any help you can give us placing our wonderful students! Sincerely, Don Weidner Dean and Alumni Centennial Professor 51018-FSULAW 2008 Covers.indd 1 10/28/08 10:30:38 PM Table of Contents CONTENTS DEAN AND ALUMNI Features CENTENNIAL PROFESSOR Donald J. Weidner ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR Cover Story ACADEMIC AFFAIRS Wayne A. Logan 2 CASTOR DELIVERS IN WASHINGTON ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR Congresswoman Kathy Castor serves her Tampa Bay neighbors in the STUDENT AFFAIRS Nancy Benavides U.S. House of Representatives ASSISTANT DEAN FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS Alumni Focus Janeia R. Daniels 6 TOM CLOUD: ASSISTANT DEAN FOR ADMINISTRATION Old Battles and New Rosanna Catalano ASSISTANT DEAN FOR 8 PURE ENTERTAINMENT DEVELOPMENT Ryan Little Leron Rogers is a household name with recording artists and athletes DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI 10 ARGUING AGAINST ACCUTANE AFFAIRS & ANNUAL FUND Becky B. Shepherd A career change has Mike Hook representing hundreds of victims of Accutane DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Student Focus AND EDITOR Christi N. Morgan 12 EXTERNS ENJOY SUMMER IN NATION’S CAPITAL WRITERS Sally Bowman, Christi N. Morgan Faculty Focus PHOTOGRAPHY 14 M ANUEL UTSET: Jeff Camp, Ray Stanyard Cuban-American Authority on Behavioral Law and Economics GRAPHIC DESIGN Perry Albrigo, Pomegranate Studio DEPARTMENTS 16 Noteworthy Please send editorial Alumni Profi les, Philanthropy, Events contributions, including Class Action submissions 20 Class Action and changes of name Alumni Notes and address to Offi ce of 34 For the Record Development and Alumni Faculty News and Notes Affairs, College of Law, Florida State University, 42 Around the Law School Tallahassee, FL 32306- Florida State Law News 1601, e-mail: alumni@law. fsu.edu. Cover Photography Jeff Camp FALL 2008 1 51018-FSULAW 2008 01-19.indd 1 10/28/08 10:45:23 PM Cover Story CASTOR DELIVERS IN Congresswoman Castor talks to the media about the need for quality, affordable ongresswoman Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) has been busy since her election to health care. the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006. Her inaugural term representing Cthe residents of the Tampa Bay area began with her being the fi rst freshman to speak on the House fl oor and is ending with the economic crisis. Along the way, she focused on issues including health care, energy and education, and is especially proud of her work to increase the value of Pell Grant scholarships. Th e 1991 Florida State Law graduate also spent the last several months of her freshman term running for re-election and co-chairing Barack Obama’s Florida campaign. When talking with the congresswoman, one gets the impression that it is a strong 2 FLORIDA STATE LAW 51018-FSULAW 2008 01-19.indd 2 10/28/08 10:45:24 PM WASHINGTON affi nity for her hometown that guides I was young,” said Castor. “My parents do even after being here, that the folks Castor’s service in the House. were very involved in Tampa in public up here are so off track; they are just not “It is such a privilege and an honor service. My father, Judge Don Castor, in touch with what is happening back to be the advocate for my neighbors in was a county court judge for 30 years home,” said Castor, who as an Emory my hometown that I love, on issues that and my mother, Betty Castor, was a undergraduate interned for Lawton really matter to them,” she said. “I think trailblazing female politician in the Chiles when he was a U.S. senator. coming from local government helped – Tampa Bay area and then the state of “Th ere were many ethics scandals going it has taught me a lot. You have to keep Florida.” on in Congress and the war in Iraq, and your focus on what is happening at home and in people’s lives and how we can help During fewer than two years in Congress, Castor has them or stay out of the way.” been an instrumental member of the powerful House Castor’s love for the area she represents – which includes parts of Hillsborough, Rules Committee, which usually is reserved for more Pinellas and Manatee counties – runs senior members. deep. When she is in D.C., she misses excellent Cuban cuisine, especially roast pork sandwiches, black beans and rice In 2002, 30 years after her mother I just wanted to come up here and fi ght and café con leche. She also roots for was elected to the Hillsborough County for change.” Tampa’s sports teams from afar during Commission, Castor was elected to After prevailing over four Democratic the legislative session. She loves football the same body. The Florida native’s candidates in her primary election and and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but as first elected position allowed her to then beating the Republican nominee, one who prefers college football, she at- impact the city she loves. While on the Castor began serving in D.C. in 2007. tends more University of South Florida commission, Castor worked to secure During fewer than two years in Con- Bulls games with her family when she Hillsborough County’s award-winning gress, Castor has been an instrumental is in Tampa. And no matter where she health-care plan, to improve transporta- member of the powerful House Rules is, she also roots for the Florida State tion and to halt runaway development. Committee, which usually is reserved for Seminoles. Her dedication to sound growth man- more senior members. Castor also serves Th e self-described “huge sports fan” agement stems from her previous work on the House Steering and Policy and also enjoys watching baseball and favors enforcing growth management laws Armed Services committees. Her work the Tampa Bay Rays. “It is all the rage as an assistant general counsel at the on these committees has allowed her to, in Tampa – we can’t believe that we Florida Department of Community among other things, enforce rules in the have the team with the best record in Aff airs. House, combat terrorism, create a new baseball,” said Castor, who stayed awake Castor had not aspired to run for GI bill that provides four-year college late the night before she was interviewed national offi ce prior to 2005, but with scholarships for Iraq and Afghanistan for this article to watch an extra-innings her term on the county commission veterans, and improve care for critically- Rays game. ending and the House seat she holds wounded veterans who are being treated Th e lifestyle of a United States rep- opening, the timing was right for her at Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa. resentative – fl ying back and forth from to make a change. Castor realized that She also used her fi rst term in the U.S. the district to D.C. – is not for everyone, her neighbors needed a Washington, House to work on other issues important but Castor learned from her parents at D.C., outsider representing them in to her constituents, including housing, an early age the importance of serving. Congress. energy and health care. “I always loved public policy, from when “I just thought at that time, and I still Because her district was one of the FALL 2008 3 51018-FSULAW 2008 01-19.indd 3 10/28/08 10:45:26 PM Cover Story nation’s hardest hit by the housing crisis, A bill to expand health- right off the coast of Florida, that is big correcting it is a priority for Castor.