Brenda C. Garretson The Esplanade Tel: (239) N. Collier Blvd., #203 Fax: (239)

Transcription

1 Brenda C. Garretson The Esplanade Tel: (239) N. Collier Blvd., #203 Fax: (239) Marco Island, Florida EDUCATION Graduate School: Undergraduate School: July present: Juris Doctorate Degree John Marshall College of Law University of Tulsa Tulsa, Oklahoma Bachelor of Science Degree Political Science/English University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, Iowa LEGAL BACKGROUND Rhodes, Tucker Garretson & Phoenix Chartered - Firm s practice focuses on real estate transactions, estate planning and probate in addition to providing mediation and arbitration services. As a retired judge, also available to serve as a private judge in voluntary trial resolutions. Merger with Phoenix File and Pagidipani PLLC expanded the firm s scope into litigation, sports advisory, restructuring and corporate practices and commercial real estate. September present: Special Magistrate, Collier County Code Enforcement - Presides over cases of alleged violations of all County ordinances pursuant to Citations and Notices of Violations written by investigators, rangers and deputies from the Collier County Code Department, the Sheriff s Office, Domestic Animal Services, Parks and Recreation Services, Public Utility Services, among others. - Conducts workshops, including Mock Trials of Code Enforcement cases to educate and inform the Public and Collier County investigators, officers and staff. March present: Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator- Appellate, Circuit Civil, Family and County Trained Arbitrator Experience as a Mediator and Arbitrator: - Handles mediations and arbitrations in hundreds of cases involving diverse areas of law such as personal injury, family law, contract disputes, governmental law, child custody, paternity, construction law, zoning law, wrongful death litigation, medical malpractice, condominium association disputes,

2 employment disputes and real estate litigation; also has written extensive arbitration decisions with findings of facts and conclusions of law in complex multiple party cases. May December 2002: Corporate Counsel - Hartford Aircraft Finance, Inc. and Hartford Holding Corporation - Naples, FL and Annapolis, MD - Responsible for contract negotiation, preparation and review, employment issues, maritime law issues, aeronautical law issues, sales and leases of aircraft, landlord/tenant issues, real property disputes, multi-state litigation and import/export issues. May August 2003: Adjunct Professor - Legal Studies - International College - Responsible for preparation of curriculum, outline of study, purchase of books & workbooks, testing, grading, field trips and student recommendations; classes taught were Evidence, Constitutional Law, Family Law, Civil Procedure, Legal Research and Torts. January December 2000: Judge of the County Court, Collier County, Florida, Acting Circuit Judge - Twentieth Judicial Circuit Accomplishments during tenure as Judge: - Initiated the pilot program with the Collier County Clerk of Courts for collection of fines, costs and fees assessed against defendants by the courts; the program is now utilized by all criminal courts in Collier County and has successfully collected millions of dollars in past due and current assessments since its inception. - nitiated a revision of the procedures of the Small Claims Court to comply with revisions in statutory and case law, and to make this court more accessible to the public. - Organized a Domestic Violence Task Force and served as Chairman of the Task Force which brought together the agencies within the judicial system and the community which deal with domestic violence in an effort to coordinate and maximize efforts. - Served as Chairman of the Election Canvassing Board and as the Judicial Representative during numerous election periods handling controversial election issues. - Appointed as Acting Circuit Judge for complex dissolution of marriage cases, dependency court, domestic violence court, felony arraignments and prolonged circuit civil litigation. - Initiated a special Domestic Violence Unit within the Clerk s office to assist the public regarding domestic violence injunctions. - Assisted the State Attorney s Office in the establishment of a Diversion Program for first offense criminal domestic violence offenders. - Presided over the Domestic Violence Court for two and a half years, hearing all domestic violence misdemeanors and all circuit civil domestic and repeat violence injunctions; appointed by the Chief Administrative Judge as an Acting Circuit Judge in order to serve in this capacity.

3 - Accomplished the revision and update of all forms and procedures and the creation of new forms used by all agencies involved with domestic violence issues; responsible for oversight of statutory compliance by the Court, the Unit and its employees; established standards for all service providers as required by statute and supervised confirmation of their compliance. - Solicited and achieved expansion of services by providers to include certified agencies for visitation exchanges of children, Hispanic and Creole speaking intervention programs, more availability of support groups for victims (both male and female), and greater diversity of programs for perpetrators. - Established and presided over a Domestic Violence Court in Immokalee, FL, hearing cases for a full day twice a month to provide better access to migrant workers and others with limited transportation and financial resources. February 1988 December 1992: Assistant County Attorney, Collier County, FL Senior Trial Attorney Duties as Assistant County Attorney: - Lead counsel in the majority of in-house cases filed for and against Collier County and the Board of County Commissioners; assisted other Assistant County Attorneys to whom cases were assigned. - Liaison for the County Attorney s Office with outside and special counsel retained by the County, assisted in determining when specialization was necessary and prepared recommendations to the Board. - Counsel to the Board of County Commissioners at several public meetings in lieu of the County Attorney or Chief Assistant County Attorney. - Liaison to the Board of County Commissioners regarding potential, pending and ongoing litigation. - Counsel to the Code Enforcement Board, the Contractors Licensing Board, the Tourist Development Council, the Public Vehicle Advisory Committee, among various other Boards; attended and advised at all meetings, prepared advisory opinions, reported the activities of the Advisory boards to the County Commission, provided orientation to new advisory board members. - Author of the original Cablevision Franchise Ordinance, the original Code Enforcement Board Ordinance and the original Tourist Development Council Ordinance, all of which were presented by me to the Board of County Commissioners at public hearings for adoption by the Board. Reviewed, revised and updated numerous other ordinances to provide coherence and uniformity. - Author of numerous formal ballot questions which were ultimately voted on by the citizens of Collier County. - Author of numerous formal requests for Florida Attorney General Opinions regarding legal questions of great public interest. - Counsel to the Collier County Election Canvassing Board during numerous primary, run-off and general elections, providing legal opinions and interpretations of the laws governing elections in the State of Florida.

4 - Counsel to numerous and varied departments within Collier County s government structure, conducting research, providing legal advice, preparing and/or reviewing legal documents, attending staff meetings and workshops to assist staff by answering legal questions and addressing areas of concern. - Coordinator and presenter of orientations for new county commissioners and employees, describing and defining the role of the County Attorney in relation to the Board and the many departments and agencies within the County. - Initiated and supervised revision and updating of the entire system for tracking documents into and out of the County Attorney s Office, as well as the computer and filing system of the Office; created a Request for Legal Services system to monitor the work of the attorneys and staff of the office, to track the sources of the requests for legal opinions and work and to manage the progress of the work being done by the office. - Staff Attorney charged with administrative duties of soliciting, interviewing and screening new attorney applicants, and with hiring, firing, evaluating and supervising the paralegals, administrative assistants and secretaries of the County Attorney s office. January 1986 February 1988 Sole Practitioner - Naples, Florida Counsel to Clerk of Courts - The Honorable James C. Giles - General private practice with primary emphasis on civil litigation; practice included employment law, business law, probate litigation, real estate litigation and transactions, landlord /tenant law, family law, contract disputes, estate planning and probate. - Counsel to the Clerk involved representation on litigation matters and issuing opinions on such diverse areas as governmental law, employment law, labor relations, administrative law, confidentiality and state law compliance. December 1983 December 1985 Partner with private firm - Naples, Florida - Private practice with primary emphasis on civil litigation, employment law, business law, probate litigation, real estate litigation and transactions, landlord /tenant law, family law, contract disputes, estate planning and probate, criminal law and bankruptcy law. December 1980 November 1983 Sole Practitioner - Naples, Florida Counsel to the Collier County Education Association Counsel to Clerk of Courts, The Honorable William J. Reagan - General private practice with emphasis on civil litigation; practice included employment law, business law, probate litigation, real estate litigation and transactions, landlord /tenant law, family law, contract disputes, estate planning and probate, criminal law and bankruptcy law. - Counsel to the Clerk involved representation on litigation matters and issuing opinions on such diverse areas as governmental law, employment law, labor relations, administrative law, confidentiality and state law compliance. September 1978 November 1980 Associate Attorney - Rhodes & Tucker Marco Island, FL

5 - General private practice with emphasis on civil litigation; included representation of condominium associations, employment law, business law, probate litigation, real estate litigation and transactions, landlord /tenant law, family law, contract disputes, estate planning and probate and bankruptcy law. JURISDICTIONS ADMITTED TO PRACTICE LAW - State of Florida - United States Federal District Court for the Middle District of Florida - United States Federal District Court for the Southern District of Florida - Certified Appellate Mediator State of Florida - Certified Civil Circuit Mediator - State of Florida - Certified Family Law Mediator - State of Florida - Certified Civil County Mediator - State of Florida - Trained Arbitrator Professional CERTIFICATIONS and TRAINING ACTIVITIES - Special Magistrate, Code Enforcement for Collier County present. - Graduate of National Judicial College, Special Jurisdiction, Reno, Nevada. - Judge for Annual Florida Bar Association Moot Court Competition with teams from all Florida Law Schools 2004 to Member of Collier County Bar Association; Family Law Section ; President pioneered orientations, workshops and retreats for new officers and directors ; President-elect ; Chairman of By-laws Committee; Drafted change in selection process for officers and directors ; Chairman of Judicial Liaison Committee ; Treasurer ; Co-Chair of Law Week Committee ; Board of Directors Florida Bar Family Law Section - Mediation and Collaborative Law Committee Member Member of the Association for Conflict Resolution present. - Member of the Collier County Bar Association Past Presidents Council present; Member of Collier County Bar Association Nominating Committee present. - Past Member of the Sentencing Alternatives Committee - FL Conference of County Court Judges. - Conference Leader on Domestic Violence - National Judicial College, San Diego, CA Past Member of the American Judges Association. - Past Member of the National Association of Women Judges. - Appointed Special Master/Magistrate by Collier County Judges. - Past Member of the Florida Council of Bar Presidents. Community - Leader Bible Study First Baptist Church of Naples present. - Member of the Board of Directors of the Saturnia Lakes Homeowners Association; Chairman, Legal Committee 2007; Member - Appeals Committee Attorney Coach for Mock Trial Teams Community School of Naples &

6 District Winners. - Membership Outreach Committee - Center Point Community Church Leadership Collier Graduate Class of Chairman of Collier County Domestic Violence Task Force Board Member of Child Advocacy Council Board Member for Collier County Extension Service President of The Forum Club ; Vice-President and Charter Member ; Chairman of By-laws Committee ; Board Member , Member of Moorings Park Board of Directors Member of Advisory Board for Model United Nations - sponsored by the Naples Council on World Affairs. - Pageant Judge for Swamp Buggy Queen Contest 1996; Finish Line Judge for Collier County Swamp Buggy Races Member of Collier County Education Foundation Grants Committee Co-Founder of Women s Political Caucus, Collier County Member of Selection Committee for First Annual Golden Apple Teacher Awards given by the Collier County Education Foundation Member of Youth and Family Committee at YMCA as Parent Representative Board Member of Naples Area Chamber of Commerce ; Chairman of Legislative Oversight Committee ; Member of By-laws Committee Originating member of Collier County Rape Crisis Program ; Rape Crisis Volunteer and Trained Counselor Co-Founder of First Naples Professional Women s Network Member of Board of Directors of Abuse of Naples, Inc ; Vice-President ; Trained facilitator to assist groups of abused spouses in dealing with their situations. - Board Member of Naples Area Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee ; Legal Advisor to the Committee; Member of the PAC s By-laws Committee. - Board Member - Citizens for Excellence in Government - Political Action Committee Member of Board of Directors of Naples Wilderness, Inc Past Vice President of American Business Women s Association. - Past Officer and Board Member of Zonta International. HONORS AND AWARDS - Who s Who Among Executive and Professional Women - Honors Edition Woman of Achievement Award - American Association of University Women - Naples branch Rose Recognition Award - Zonta, International - Naples Chapter and Bonita Springs Chapter - given for work improving the status of women She Knows Where She s Going Award Girls Inc Who s Who in American Law 1991, 1987 and 1980 Editions. - Personalities of America Who s Who of Florida Woman Achiever of Collier County - Collier County Salute to Women Executive Director s Award for Pro-Bono Service - Catholic Services Bureau World Who s Who of Women Personalities of the South Outstanding Young Woman of Marco - Jaycettes 1980.