VOLUME 46, NUMBER 2 STETSON FALL 2006 The Magazine of Stetson University Lawyery College of Law Practicing in-house Alumni share career experiences as counsel at major corporations Justice after the storm New Orleans leaders discuss the legal aftermath at Stetson conference Crossing bridges Civil rights history students follow the footsteps of the Freedom Riders Hall of Fame Meet the 2006 recipients of Stetson Law’s highest honor Katrina Lindsey ’99, Walt Disney Co. LawyerSTETSON VOLUME 46, NUMBER 2 FALL 2006 STETSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW Darby Dickerson Vice President and Dean Theresa Pulley Radwan Associate Dean of Academics John Cooper Associate Dean, International and Cooperative Programs Ellen S. Podgor Associate Dean of Faculty Development and Distance Education Nancy Kelsey Assistant Dean of Academic Records and Registrar Karen Griffin Interim Director of College Relations Aleksandra Jagiella ’04 Alumni Relations Coordinator EDITORS Davina Y. Gould The Docket Editor and Associate Director of Communications Frank Klim Executive Director of Communications DECEMBER 2006 FEBRUARY 2007 1 5th Annual Mad Hatter Golf Classic spon- 2 Equal Justice Works Auction sored by Carlton Fields, Westchase Golf CONTRIBUTORS/PHOTOGRAPHERS 9 Judge Stringer Youth Day, Gulfport Campus Robert D. Bickel Course, Tampa 17-21 CLE: National Conference on Law and 7-9 CLE: 31st Annual Conference on Bankruptcy Brooke J. Bowman ’02 Higher Education, Sheraton Sand Key Resort, Law and Practice, Sheraton Sand Key Resort, Peter L. Fitzgerald Clearwater Beach Clearwater Beach Trudy Futch 13 Alumni Holiday Open House, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Ana Garcia Mann Lounge, Gulfport Campus Tyler Branch Hickey MARCH 2007 15 Fall Honors and Awards Ceremony, Great 3 SBA Barristers Ball Karla Jones Hall, Gulfport Campus Brandi Palmer 31 Admitted Law Students Day, Gulfport Campus 16 Fall Commencement Ceremony and Aaron Reincheld Reception, 2 p.m., Courtyard, Gulfport Campus C.J. Sagorski APRIL 2007 Chris Stickney 13-15 American Mock Trial Competition, Gulfport Shannon Tan JANUARY 2007 Campus Patricia Toups 16 First Day of Classes 20 Stetson Lawyers Association Advisory William White 26-27 International Wildlife Law Conference, Council Dinner, Gulfport Campus Gulfport Campus The Stetson Lawyer is published twice a year by the 21 Stetson Lawyers Association Advisory Offices of Communications and College Relations for 26 Wm. Reece Smith Distinguished Lecture and Council Meeting, Gulfport Campus alumni and friends of Stetson Law. Inns of Court Banquet with Janet Reno, 6 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dinner, The Lyceum, MAY 2007 1401 61st St. S. • Gulfport, FL 33707 St. Petersburg 1700 N. Tampa St. • Tampa, FL 33602 5 Board of Overseers Meeting, Gulfport Campus 11 Spring Honors and Awards Ceremony, (727) 562-7818 4 p.m., Great Hall, Gulfport Campus fax (727) 347-4183 12 Spring Commencement Ceremony and Reception, 9 a.m., Courtyard, Gulfport Campus www.law.stetson.edu [email protected] © 2006, Stetson University College of Law. All rights reserved. Stetson University College of Law is an equal opportunity educational institution. T AB LE OF CONTENTS f e a t u r e s news briefs 3 Stetson receives ABA Gambrell Award 14 Justice after Katrina Louisiana attorneys speak at Stetson about 3 Stetson to offer online LL.M. degree the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the program in elder law justice system and lessons learned in the storm’s aftermath 4 Stetson, NASPA announce partnership 6 4 History book, cookbook released 20 Crossing bridges Stetson, USF students follow the steps of 5 Advocacy news: Stetson wins silver the Freedom Riders on a four-state, 2,000- in world competition, takes best brief at plus mile trip workers’ comp event 6 Commencement coverage 6 Stetson honors Smith award recipients p r o f i l e s 9 Academic news: Brown, Morgan receive 18 Hall of Fame inductees awards Meet the six newest members of 10 Stetson welcomes new and visiting faculty the Stetson University College of Law Hall of Fame departments 14 26 Practicing in-house Stetson alumni from Disney, Publix, Jabil 2 From the Dean Circuit and other major corporations discuss their careers as in-house counsel 7 Faculty Forum 13 Faculty Viewpoint: It’s time to forget about Cuba and really focus on terrorism 28 College Relations: Planned giving— leaving your legacy; Carlton Fields scholarship winners named 29 Class Notes: In memoriam, alumni events, weddings, new additions 35 History Book, Cookbook Order Form 36 Alumni News/Information Update Form 20 37 Gulfport Commemorative Brick Campaign Form ON THE COVER: Katrina Lindsey ’99 of Walt Disney Co. is one of the many Stetson alumni serving as counsel for top corporations. Story on page 26. F a l l 2 0 0 6 1 30 F R om T H E D E A N Students experience law inside, outside classroom Stetson’s primary mission is to provide its students with an outstand- international law, but they ing educational experience. We strive to help them become professionals can explore and interact who will positively impact their clients, the judicial system, and the greater with other cultures and their community. Stetson also has been a leader in providing experiential learn- legal systems. ing opportunities for students. We had moot court from the earliest days This summer, through of the College of Law, and we started the first legal clinic in Florida. I am the vision of Professor proud to say that our innovation continues. Robert D. Bickel and USF From their very first semester, Stetson students learn in context—they Professor Ray Arsenault, participate in exercises that allow them to develop and hone skills that will and the generosity of key donors, Stetson offered students a life-altering be important after graduation. Students have the opportunity to interview experience. As you will read in this issue, 12 law students and 12 graduate clients, draft documents, and negotiate with each other. As they progress history students participated in a 2,000-mile bus journey to visit individuals through the curriculum, students also have the opportunity to participate and sites important to the civil rights movement. They met with Freedom in a wide variety of simulation courses. The best known is our outstanding Riders. They visited the historic Brown Chapel. They walked across the trial advocacy course, which culminates in students trying a four-hour case bridge in Selma that was the site of Bloody Sunday. The students in the before an actual judge and jurors from the community. We also offer hands- program learned first-hand that lawyers can and do impact justice, and that on courses in interviewing, counseling and negotiation; appellate practice; individuals can change the world. alternative dispute resolution; and pretrial practice. I’ve been fortunate to Speaking of individuals who have had a tremendous, teach these last two courses. In both, students are put into real-world situ- positive impact, I would like to say just a few words ations and must apply their lawyering and counseling skills. For example, about my good friend, Dotti Bressi, who passed away in in ADR, students participate in many exercises during the semester, and July. For almost six years, Dotti served as the College of typically have an opportunity to participate in a mock mediation with a Law’s Associate Vice President of College Relations. For certified mediator. In pretrial practice, students work with mock clients and the three years before her death, Dotti and I were on witnesses, and handle a case from the moment a client seeks representa- Dotti Bressi the road constantly, meeting with our alumni and seek- tion through the final pretrial conference. Students draft pleadings, conduct ing to strengthen the College’s financial base. From that time together, I discovery, write and argue motions, and much more. had the great pleasure to learn what an extraordinary person she was. Dotti In recent years, we have added simulation courses for students who was always positive. Two of her trademark phrases, “it’s all good” and “no desire experience in corporate and transactional practice. In Organization of problem,” will forever echo in my head. Business Enterprise, for example, students develop a planning model and Because Dotti was the Associate Vice President of College Relations draft critical documents to create a corporation, S corporation, partnership, at Stetson, many might assume assume that her primary job was rais- or limited liability company. Also, students who participate in the In-House ing money. And of course, that was a big part of it. But her talent was in Counsel Internship work closely with counsel in nonprofit and for-profit cor- building relationships. She loved meeting and getting to know people, porations. This course has provided our students with a better understand- and people were drawn to her. She was magnetic. In the end, Dotti’s body ing of this exciting type of practice, which is featured in this issue of the needed a rest, but her spirit lives on. I challenge all of us to honor her spirit Stetson Lawyer. by adopting the positive nature she exuded, by valuing each other, and by Stetson’s clinical and internship programs continue to provide cap- cherishing life. stone experiences to our students. Students can work with state and fed- eral judges, state attorneys, state public defenders, legal services providers, Sincerely, and many others to learn what it means to be a legal professional. Stetson’s summer abroad programs in Argentina, China, Germany, The Hague, and Spain also provide students with significant experiential Darby Dickerson learning opportunities. Not only do students learn about various aspects of Vice President and Dean 2 s t e t s o n Lawyer N E W S B RI efs Stetson receives ABA Gambrell Professionalism Award The American Bar Association honored Stetson with its E.