Th o m a s La w y e r

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1 St. The Th o m a s La w y e r St. Thomas University School of Law Miami Gardens, Florida March 2014 Dean Douglas E. Ray s Annual Report Law Review Celebrates 25 Years Alumni Leaders in Higher Education The Hon. Peter R. Palermo Program Begins

2 A Message from the Dean Dear Alumni and Friends, St. Thomas Law is a special place. It is special because of the people who make up our community, what they do, and how they do it. As you will see from the Dean s Annual Report included in this issue, we have had a busy and productive year. Our students have made a difference in the community and our faculty and alumni have made a difference in the region, in the country, and in the world. The reason I consider St. Thomas Law to be so special, however, goes far beyond the many accomplishments of our people. There is an underlying attitude of service and good will here that permeates everything we do. You see it in the more than 20,000 hours of volunteer work our students perform each year and in the way they support each other in moot court, mock trial, law reviews, and study groups. You see it in the service of our faculty, in their open door policies, in their dedication, and in the extra study sessions, practice exams, and caring mentorships they provide. You see it in administrators and staff as they open doors of opportunity, provide guidance, offer countless career programs, and are a source of constant support to our students. You see it in the service of our adjunct faculty, members of the bench and bar who join us after long days at work to provide insight and inspiration to our students. Finally, you see it in our alumni who reflect these values in their extensive community service and, as they return to the law school, in the way they mentor students, provide them insights into practice, and, with other friends of the law school, provide the financial support that will help us provide opportunities to the next generation of lawyer-leaders. I also write to share the news that, after fifteen years as a law school dean, including the past four at St. Thomas, I will be stepping down from the deanship this summer. I am thankful to be part of your community and look forward to a new role on the faculty. I am very pleased to report that Rev. Monsignor Franklyn M. Casale, our University President, has appointed Professor Alfredo Garcia, who served as Dean from 2007 to 2010 and Associate Dean before that, to be our next Dean. With more than two decades of experience in higher education, Al Garcia is reflective of this special community. He is an accomplished and respected scholar who has written two books on criminal procedure and several law journal articles. He is also the co-author of a criminal law casebook used at law schools across the country. As many of our alumni know, he is an outstanding teacher as well. Most important, however, is the kind of person he is. He will be a thoughtful and caring leader and it will be my pleasure to welcome him back to the deanship this summer. It has been an honor and privilege to serve as your dean. With warmest regards, Douglas E. Ray Dean and Professor of Law St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e Mar c h 2014

3 contents Special Section The Dean s Report The Annual Report of St. Thomas Law for the Academic Year Law Review Milestone Alumni, Students, Faculty, and Friends Set Sail to Celebrate Law Review s 25th Anniversary A Higher Calling Alumni Leading the Way in Higher Education Teaching Tomorrow s Leaders St. Thomas Law Launches The Honorable Peter R. Palermo Program: A Community Partnership with Miami Carol City Senior High School 2News Campus Updates, Events and Awards 12Faculty Recent Faculty Publications 14Giving 2013 Honor Roll of Donors 24Alumni Alumni Donor Profile: Alex Hanna 00 Alumni Events 28Class Action Alumni Class Notes In Memoriam Mar c h 2014 St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e 1

4 Breezeway Briefs news Florida s Finest Three Former Governors Address Florida s Foremost Environmental Issues Former Florida Governors Bob Graham, Buddy MacKay, and Charlie Crist at St. Thomas Law Three former governors of Florida Charlie Crist, Bob Graham and Buddy MacKay visited St. Thomas Law in February 2013 to discuss environmental issues affecting Florida. The Honorable Bob Butterworth, former Dean of St. Thomas Law and former Attorney General of Florida, introduced the distinguished panel, Each of these leaders accomplished so much good in public service and each continues to do so much. All have been true champions of the environment. The environmental topics discussed ranged from restoration of the Florida Everglades to global warming and its impact on South Florida. Graham commented on the repeal of land use regulations. I believe that the recent rollback of much of the legislation is the result of us having a legislature and an executive branch that has very little knowledge of Florida, its history and the accumulated wisdom of what it takes to live in a special, fragile place like our peninsula state. MacKay warned younger generations of the policies that are enacted today. If you think that the old people aren t aware that they re dumping these costs on the young people, you have got another thing coming. The former governors were optimistic, sharing their insight with law students from St. Thomas Law, Florida International University School of Law, Ave Maria, and Nova Southeastern Law School, in hopes that they would make better environmental choices for the future. I m a firm believer that the future can always be brighter and relationships can always be better, said Crist. The event was organized by Assistant Professor Keith Rizzardi, and was sponsored by The Florida Bar Environmental and Land Use Section and the Florida Earth Foundation. The respective law schools from Ave Maria University, Nova Southeastern University, and Florida International University also served as co-sponsors of the event. 2 St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e Mar c h 2014

5 news Faster Is Better Speed Networking Event a Success In March 2013, St. Thomas University School of Law hosted its first speed networking workshop, providing students the opportunity to meet with alumni to improve their networking skills. Held on campus and co-sponsored by the St. Thomas Law Alumni Association and St. Thomas Law s career services and alumni relations offices, the speed networking session lasted one hour, allowing each student to sit down with 10 to 12 attorneys for five-minute conversations. A reception for the students and alumni took place afterward, providing students and attorneys another opportunity to mingle with one another in a more casual environment. The 35 students who participated were pleased to meet alumni they might not have otherwise have had a chance to speak with in a much larger setting. St. Thomas Law has been great in teaching us the law. It is encouraging and nice to know that they are concerned about our future employment as well, said Rishma Sooknandan, a third-year student who graduated in May Networking skills are important for our students professional development, and through this event I was hoping to provide them the chance to meet with multiple successful attorneys from different practice areas and professional backgrounds, said Peter T. Kelly, Assistant Dean for Alumni Relations at St. Thomas Law. I think it helped, too, that the attorneys had something in common with the students they were once in their shoes here at St. Thomas. I think it s fantastic that the law school is connecting its alumni with its current students, remarked Armando G. Hernandez, Esq., a 2010 St. Thomas Law graduate and now an associate at Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell in Miami. I was happy to speak with the students tonight. The speed networking session brought a diverse group of experiences and practices together in a unique way. Students who are nervous about entering a challenging job market appreciated the experience. Networking events can be very impersonal and frequently do not allow true connections to happen when you are a student. If you are not practicing yet, you may feel like you do not have that much to offer. Having the alumni here to help and guide me makes me feel better prepared to face the market when I finally graduate, said Ms. Sooknandan 13. Mar c h 2014 St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e 3

6 The Class of 2013 performed over 23,000 hours of pro bono service during their law school tenure. news Pro Bono Pride Dean Ray congratulates Marbely Hernandez 13 for her 1,230 hours of pro bono service to the community. Law Day Luncheon Gwynne A. Young, Esq., President of The Florida Bar, joined the St. Thomas Law community for its annual Law Day luncheon in April President Young spoke to the students about the importance of professionalism. Pictured with President Young: Herman J. Russomanno, Esq., Chair of the St. Thomas Law Board of Advisors and past President of The Florida Bar (2000); Jacqueline Bowden 13, President of St. Thomas Law s Student Bar Association; and Dean Douglas E. Ray. At St. Thomas Law s second annual public service awards ceremony on April 10, 2013, Dean Douglas E. Ray and Associate Dean Cecile Dykas honored 77 students who each completed more than 100 individual hours of pro bono service. Together, the law school s students performed over 23,000 hours of pro bono service hours in the community. Today we celebrate the difference a lawyer can make in people s lives, and the particular difference our students make in this community, said Dean Ray. Marbely Hernandez 13 was specially commended for providing 1,230 hours of pro bono service, and Francoise Blanco 13 and Robert (Mitch) Altman 13 also received awards for their work with low-income taxpayers. Howard Blumberg, Esq., who directs both the law school s appellate clinic and its moot court program, and recently retired after 35 years as an assistant public defender in Miami s Office of the Public Defender, delivered the keynote remarks. He also received the Outstanding Public Service Supervisor award for his steadfast commitment to the School s Pro Bono Leadership Program. St. Thomas Law s Pro Bono Leadership Program, directed by Jennifer Portwood Gordon, Esq., of the law school s Career Services Office, encourages students to start a lifelong commitment to volunteer service. If you, as an alumnus/alumna or friend of St. Thomas Law, would like to become involved with future pro bono projects, please contact Jennifer Portwood Gordon directly at (305) or [email protected]. 4 St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e Mar c h 2014

7 The Princeton Review ranks St. Thomas Law #4 for Best Law School Environment for Minority Students news Commencement 2013 At St. Thomas Law s commencement exercises on May 11, 2013 in the Fernandez Center for Leadership & Wellness, Msgr. Franklyn M. Casale, President of St. Thomas University, noted that the Fernandez Center was filled with pride, and we congratulate the source of that pride: the 178 graduates of the School of Law s Class of Dean Douglas E. Ray stated that the day was one to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates, and to welcome them into a profession that will give them the opportunity to spend their lives serving others. Highlighting the 23,000 hours of pro bono service that the Class of 2013 had provided in the past three years, Dean Ray pointed out to proud family members and friends that the these graduates were already making a difference in the South Florida community. Dean Ray presented awards to four members of the Class of 2013 for their exemplary leadership and service: Rachel Walker, who received the American Law Institute-American Bar Association award for scholarship and leadership; Marbely Hernandez, who received the Outstanding Public Service award for her 1,230 pro bono hours as a certified legal intern in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement branch within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; and Jackie Bowden and Francoise Blanco, who each received Outstanding Leadership awards for their tireless work and service as president and treasurer, respectively, of the St. Thomas Law Student Bar Association. The commencement speakers were the Honorable Adalberto J. Jordan, United States Circuit Judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and Josh Simon, the valedictorian. Mr. Simon encouraged his fellow classmates to take with them the lessons they had learned at St. Thomas Law, and to follow the example of truly great leaders who selflessly touch the lives of others by making a positive impact upon those around them every day. Judge Jordan congratulated the members of the Class of 2013 on the culmination of three years of hard work, and then reminded them that there was nothing more important in their lives and professional careers than their reputations. Your name, your reputation, your integrity is the greatest asset that you will have today, and that you will have going forward. Mar c h 2014 St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e 5

8 In the last three years, the annual Toys for Tots event has raised $4,408 and has collected 487 toys for the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots program. news A Special Class Gift The Joy and Spirit of the Class of 2013 During the May commencement ceremony, Jackie Bowden 13, the President of the Student Bar Association (SBA), and Francoise Blanco 13, the SBA s treasurer, on behalf of their fellow classmates, presented to Dean Douglas E. Ray and the law school community a unique class gift a large, colorful painting depicting daily life in the city of Port-de-Paix, St. Thomas University s sister diocese in Northwest Haiti. The gift of the large painting (measuring 6 feet by 8 feet) was made possible through donations from the members of the Class of 2013, and now permanently hangs in the law school s newest building, the Center for Professional Development, that houses the alumni relations, career services, and pro bono outreach offices. In presenting the painting, Francoise Blanco noted that he and his classmates selected a gift that would provide a benefit to the community, enhance the School of Law, and showcase the joy and spirit of the Class of After accepting the gift on behalf of the St. Thomas community, Dean Ray shared that it would serve as a symbol of the University s special partnership with Haiti, and its long standing commitment to helping the poor and underprivileged in Haiti. 6 St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e Mar c h 2014

9 Community Outreach Toys for Tots 2013 news At the 12th Annual St. Thomas Law Benefit for Toys for Tots in Miami in December 2013, Dean Douglas E. Ray (center) and Assistant Dean Peter T. Kelly thank the alumni sponsors of the event: (L-R) Carlos Santisteban, Jr. 09, Joshua J. Hertz 01 and Herman J. Russomanno III, 04. Selfless Service Law School Honors Dr. Marta Perez 13 Assistant Dean Peter T. Kelly; Chris Wolfe (Dr. Marta Perez s fiancé); Associate Dean Cece Dykas; Dr. Marta Perez 13; Assistant Dean John F. Hernandez; Career Services Outreach Coordinator Teresita Chavez Pedrosa, Esq.; and Stanley Tate, Esq., Member of the St. Thomas University Board of Trustees. On October 16, 2013, St. Thomas University representatives attended the Miami-Dade County School Board s meeting and surprised recent alumna, Dr. Marta Perez 13, with a special commendation in recognition of her commitment to education and dedication to public service. Visibly touched by the surprise ceremony, Dr. Perez told community members, the media, and her fellow board members that St. Thomas Law is a hidden jewel, and I m honored to be part of their wonderful community. She shared stories about how University Trustee Stanley Tate, Associate Dean Dykas, and Assistant Deans Kelly and Hernandez each had a role in contributing to her success as a law student. The St. Thomas group also recognized another school board member and fellow St. Thomas Law alumna, Raquel Regalado, Esq., 01, for her service to the community. Mar c h 2014 St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e 7

10 The Law School hosted eight alumni events throughout Florida in For photos, turn to page 27. news Law School Hosts Induction Ceremony Thirty-two members from the Class of 2013 returned to the law school s Moot Courtroom in September for the second annual St. Thomas Law Induction Ceremony, during which they officially became new members of The Florida Bar before a large crowd of family and friends, as well as members of the law school community. Continuing a tradition that began the previous fall, Honorable Peter R. Lopez of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida presided at the ceremony. After Assistant Dean Barbara Singer formally presented the candidates for admission to the Bar, Judge Lopez swore in the new lawyers and congratulated them on all their recent accomplishments. St. Thomas s President, Msgr. Franklyn M. Casale, and Dean Douglas E. Ray also took part in the ceremony and wished the group well as they formally began their legal careers. Score! St. Thomas Graduate Earns High Score on Bar Exam At the Third District Court of Appeal s annual induction ceremony in September 2013, alumna Stephanie M. Michel, Esq., who graduated in May 2013 summa cum laude, was invited by the Court to address her fellow inductees during the ceremony. Ms. Michel, now an associate at Keller Landsberg, P.A., in Fort Lauderdale, received this honor for having one of the highest scores in the State of Florida on the Bar exam administered in July At the Third DCA ceremony: Assistant Dean Peter T. Kelly, Professor Gary Kravitz; Stephanie Michel, Esq., Professor Howard Blumberg, and teaching fellow Amar Patel, Esq. 10. [Photo credit: Associate Dean Cece Dykas] 8 St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e Mar c h 2014

11 news Professor Pati Meets the Pope Prof. Roza Pati, who was named a member of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, participated in the Days of Celebration for the 50th Anniversary of the Publication of the Encyclical Letter Pacem in Terris of Blessed John XXIII, organized at the Vatican on October 2-4, 2013 by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. Prof. Pati moderated four panels on: social justice and social politics; the common good and new conditions for its pursuit; the engagement of the Pontifical and Catholic Universities in the relationship between the Church and the world today; as well as these universities role in preparing the new generation of leaders engaged in responsible politics. A special document reflecting the deliberations of the day will be put together and shared later with all Pontifical and Catholic universities worldwide. Faculty Forward On October 3, 2013, Professor Pati had the distinct honor of meeting with His Holiness Pope Francis, who has just recently tasked the Pontifical Academies and the World Federation of Catholic Medical Association to focus on human trafficking and ways to combat it. Honorable Mentions Matthew Dietz, Esq. received the Lawyer of the Year award in March 2013 from Lawyers to the Rescue, a Miami nonprofit committed to providing humanitarian and financial assistance to individuals and communities in times of crisis. Hon. Milton Hirsch received The Honorable Gerald Kogan Judicial Distinction Award at the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Miami chapter s annual banquet in May Professors Gary Kravitz (upper level professor of the year), Todd Sullivan (first year professor of the year), and teaching fellow Amar Patel, Esq. 10 (administrator of the year) each received welldeserved honors at the law students annual Barristers Ball in April Michael Mayer, Esq. 07 and Enrique Zamora, Esq. each received an adjunct professor of the year award from Dean Ray at the annual adjunct faculty appreciation dinner in March In July 2013, Hon. Frank A. Shepherd became Chief Judge of the Third District Court of Appeal. Prof. Michael Vastine received the 2013 Elmer Fried Excellence in Teaching Award, presented by the American Immigration Lawyers Association Prof. Siegfried Wiessner received the Professor of the Year award in March 2013 from Lawyers to the Rescue. Mar c h 2014 St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e 9

12 The Princeton Review ranks St. Thomas Law #4 for Best Quality of Life for Law Students. news New Role for Professor Lawson Named Associate Dean for Faculty Development In August 2013, St. Thomas Law welcomed its newest faculty member, Marcia Narine. Professor Narine currently teaches civil procedure to first-year students. Professor Narine received her bachelor s degree cum laude in political science and psychology from Columbia University. She then attended Harvard Law School, where she also graduated cum laude. In addition to her expertise in civil procedure, Professor Narine has scholarly and practical expertise in corporate governance, compliance and social responsibility, legal ethics, human rights, and employment law. Prior to joining St. Thomas Law, Professor Narine served as Visiting Assistant Professor of Law at the University of Missouri Kansas City. She previously worked as the Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Ryder System, Inc., in Miami, where she also served as the Vice President, Global Compliance and Business Standards, and Chief Privacy Officer. Before joining Ryder, Professor Narine was an attorney with Morgan, Lewis and Bockius labor and employment practice in Miami. She has also worked as a commercial litigator with Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen and Hamilton in New York, and as a law clerk to former Justice Marie Garibaldi of the Supreme Court of New Jersey. In November 2013, Dean Douglas E. Ray appointed Professor Tamara Lawson as the law school s first Associate Dean for Faculty Development. In the new position, Associate Dean Lawson will help raise the profile of the law school by publicizing the faculty s scholarship and other achievements. She will also assist with faculty development in scholarship, teaching, and engagement with the bench and bar, and will facilitate the faculty s involvement in national/regional conferences and symposia. In addition, Dean Lawson will promote faculty engagement in regional, state, national, and international bar organizations, and help expand the faculty s network of attorneys and judges for the benefit of students and alumni. Associate Dean Lawson, who teaches criminal law, criminal procedure, evidence, and a seminar on race and the law, was recently selected as a Reporter for the American Bar Association s Task Force on Stand Your Ground laws, and she has served as chair of a task force on this subject. She has also presented at other law schools and various conferences on Stand Your Ground laws. Associate Dean Lawson will continue to teach while serving in her new role. Professor Narine Joins Faculty 10 St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e Mar c h 2014

13 Lawyers to the Rescue recognized the law school s Graduate Program in Intercultural Human Rights as its Law Institution of the Year. news Supreme Honors Professor Blumberg Earns Accolades From the Capitol to the Classroom A St. Thomas Law contingent attended the May 2013 FACDL banquet to see Professor Howard Blumberg and Judge Milton Hirsch receive well-deserved honors. Pictured (L-R): Daniel Garza 13, Veronica Rivera, Associate Dean Cece Dykas, Professor Gary Kravitz, Professor Alfredo Garcia, Nick Reed 11, Therese Savona 11, Professor Blumberg, Shannon Healy 12, Michael Vera 11, Lauren Shoemake 11, Assistant Dean Jessica Fonseca-Nader 97. St. Thomas Law congratulates Professor Howard Blumberg on his many recent awards. Professor Blumberg directs both the law school s appellate clinic and its moot court program, and recently retired after 35 years as an assistant public defender in Miami s Office of the Public Defender. The Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (FACDL Miami chapter) presented to Professor Howard K. Blumberg its Daniel Pearson-Harry Prebish Founders Award for lifetime achievement at the FACDL annual banquet in May A month prior, Professor Blumberg received the Outstanding Public Service Supervisor award at St. Thomas Law s annual public service awards ceremony for his steadfast commitment to the School s Pro Bono Leadership Program. In December 2013, he received the Most Effective Appellate Lawyer award from the Daily Business Review (DBR) at its annual luncheon recognizing South Florida s most effective lawyers. During the presentation, the editor-in-chief of the DBR cited the Florida v. Jardines case which Professor Blumberg argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in October In its decision last year, the Court ruled in favor of Blumberg, concluding that a dog sniff of a residence constituted a search under the Fourth Amendment. On the Move Prof. Roy Balleste was named to the Executive Committee of the Noncommercial Users Constituency of the Generic Names Supporting Organization for ICANN, the regulatory body for the overall Internet. Prof. Jennifer Martin was named Vice President of CALI (The Center for Computer Assisted Legal Instruction), and was chosen to write the CALI book on contracts. Prof. Anthony Musto was elected chair of the Florida Bar s Public Interest Law Section. Prof. Marcia Narine spoke at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C., about corporate governance and proxy trends, and she also spoke at the University of Oslo on the United States approach to climate change and business as part of the Sustainable Companies Project. Prof. Ira Nathenson was elected to the Executive Committee of the Association of American Law School s Section on Civil Procedure. Prof. Keith Rizzardi was reelected as chair of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration s (NOAA) Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee. Prof. Carol Zeiner spoke at the 33rd International Congress on Law and Mental Health on the topic of therapeutic jurisprudence (TJ) and eminent domain. Mar c h 2014 St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e 11

14 faculty publications Books Roy Balleste (co-author) Law Librarianship in the Twenty-First Century (2013, Scarecrow Press) (Previous edition: 2007). Alfredo Garcia (co-author) Criminal Law: Concepts and Practice (2013, Carolina Academic Press) (Previous edition: 2009). Lenora Ledwon (co-author) Law and Popular Culture: Text, Notes, and Questions (2012, LexisNexis) (Previous edition: 2007). John Makdisi (co-author) ESTATES IN LAND AND FUTURE INTERESTS: PROBLEMS AND ANSWERS, 6th ed. (Aspen Publishers, 2014) Douglas E. Ray (co-author) Labor Management Relations: Strikes, Lockouts and Boycotts (2012, West). Book Chapters Raul Fernandez-Calienes Health Insurance Portabililty and Accountability Act, in Encyclopedia of the Fourth Amendment ( John R. Vile and Davis A. Hudson, eds., 2012, Sage Publications). Golden Rule, in Dictionary of the Bible and Western Culture (Mary Ann Beavis and Michael J. Gilmore, eds., 2012, Sheffield Phoenix Press [University of Sheffield]). Lauren Gilbert Deportation Cases and Legislation, in Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in Politics, Law and Social Movements (2012, Oxford University Press). McKinney v. Saviego, in Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in Politics, Law and Social Movements (2012, Oxford University Press). SB 1070 Politics of, in Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in Politics, Law and Social Movements (2012, Oxford University Press). Marc-Tizoc Gonzalez Antonia Hernandez, in Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in Politics, Law and Social Movements (2013, Oxford University Press). Three Strikes Law, in Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in Politics, Law and Social Movements (2013, Oxford University Press). John M. Kang Manliness s Paradox, in Masculinities and Law: A Multidimensional Approach (Frank Rudy Cooper and Ann C. McGinley, eds., 2012, NYU Press). Jennifer S. Martin Advising the Dissatisfied Buyer, in Commercial and Consumer Warranties (2012, LexisNexis). Warranties and the Battle of the Forms, in Commercial and Consumer Warranties (2012, LexisNexis). Notices, in Commercial and Consumer Warranties (2012, LexisNexis). The Relationship of Warranty and Unfair and Deceptive Acts and Practices (UDAP) Claims, in Commercial and Consumer Warranties (2012, LexisNexis). The Impact of Bankruptcy on Warranty Obligations, in Commercial and Consumer Warranties (2012, LexisNexis). Advising the Seller Accused of Breach, in Commercial and Consumer Warranties (2012, LexisNexis). Implied Warranties of Quality and Fitness in the Sale of Residential Property, in Commercial and Consumer Warranties (2012, LexisNexis). Informal Dispute Settlement Procedures and Administrative Remedies in Consumer Cases, in Commercial and Consumer Warranties (2012, LexisNexis). Anthony C. Musto Pro Bono and Public Service, in Essential Qualities of the Professional Lawyer (forthcoming 2014, American Bar Association). Roza Pati The Categorical Imperative to End Modern-Day Slavery: Subsidiarity, Privatization, and the State s Duty to Protect, in Der Staat im Recht (The State in Its Legal Dimension) (2013, Duncker & Humblot). Combating Human Trafficking Through Transnational Law Enforcement Cooperation: The Case of South Eastern Europe, in Policing Across Borders: The Role of Law Enforcement in Global Governance (2012, Springer). No Cierre Sus Ojos: La Trata Existe--The Global Effort to Combat Human Trafficking: Its Strengths & Weaknesses, in Libro De Derecho Penal Especial (2012, Universidad Libre, Columbia). Siegfried Wiessner The State and Indigenous Peoples: The Historic Significance of ILA Resolution No. 5/2012, in Der Staat im Recht. Festschrift für Eckart Klein Zum 70. Geburtstag 1357 (M. Breuer et al., 2013, Duncker & Humblot). The Cultural Dimension of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, in International Law for Common Goods. Essays in Honor of Francesco Francioni (forthcoming 2014, Oxford University Press). Doctors of the Social Order : Introduction to the New Haven Methodology, in Handbook on: Human Trafficking, Public Health and the Law: A Spring School from the New Haven Perspective (forthcoming 2014, Georg Thieme Verlag). Culture and the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, in The Cultural Dimension of Human Rights (2013, Oxford University Press) Collected Courses of the Academy of European Law. Indigenous Self-Determination, Culture and Land: A Reassessment in Light of the 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, in Indigenous Rights in the Age of the UN Declaration 31 (Elvira Pulitano, 2012, Cambridge University Press). Roy Balleste Articles Signs and Portents in Cyberspace: The Rise of Jus Internet as a New Order in International Law, 23 Fordham Intell. Prop. Media & Ent. L.J (2013) (co-author). Rising Toward Apotheosis: The Deconstruction of the WSIS Tunis Agenda for the Information Society, 12 PGH J. Tech. L. & Pol y 153 (2012). Alfredo Garcia Regression to the Mean: How Miranda Has Become a Tragicomical Farce, 25 St. Thomas L. Rev. (forthcoming 2014). Lauren Gilbert Obama s Ruby Slippers: Enforcement Discretion in the Absence of Immigration Reform, 116(1) W. Va. L. Rev. (2013). Immigrant Laws, Obstacle Preemption, and the Lost Legacy of McCulloch, 33 Berkeley J. Emp. & Lab. L. 153 (2012). 12 St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e Mar c h 2014

15 faculty publications Marc-Tizoc Gonzalez Critical Ethnic Legal Histories: Unearthing the Interracial Justice of Filipino Agricultural Labor Organizing, 3 UC Irvine L. Rev. (forthcoming 2014). John M. Kang Does Manly Courage Exist?, 13 Nev. L.J. 467 (2013). Martin v. Malcolm: Democracy, Nonviolent Resistance, and Manhood, 114 W. Va. L. Rev. 937 (2012). Hustler Magazine v. Falwell: Worst Case in the History of the World, Maybe the Universe, 12 Nev. L.J. 582 (2012). In Praise of Hostility: Antiauthoritarianism as Free Speech Principle, 35 Harv. J.L. & Pub. Pol y 351 (2012). Tamara F. Lawson A Fresh Cut In An Old Wound--A Critical Analysis of the Trayvon Martin Killing: the Public Outcry, the Prosecutors Discretion, and The Stand Your Ground, 23 U. Fla. J.L. & Pub. Pol y 271 (2013). Powerless Against Police Brutality: A Felons Story, 25 St. Thomas L. Rev. 218 (2013). Lenora Ledwon Using Mel Brooks s The Twelve Chairs to Teach Dying Declarations, Circuit, January 2012, at 72. Alfred R. Light Fracturing Moratoria Under the Dormant Commerce Clause: The Need to Shape Rather Than Resist the Shale Gale, 44(1) Envtl. L. Rep (2014). Get Smart to Go Green? LEED Neighborhood Development and Sustainability, 7 Appalachian J.L. 87 (2013). Regressing Toward Federal Common Law: The Catalytic Effect of CERCLA s Private Cause of Action, 41 Sw. L. Rev. 661 (2012). John Makdisi Uncaring Justice: Why Jacque v. Steenberg Homes Was Wrongly Decided, 51(2) J. Cath. Legal Stud. 111 (2012). June Mary Zekan Makdisi Totality and Integrity in American Case Law, 12 Nat l Cath. Bioethics Q. 43 (2012). Jennifer S. Martin Applying Economic Loss Doctrine to Article 2 Transaction: A Doctrine at a Loss, 25 St. Thomas L. Rev. 19 (2012). The Twilight of Tort? How the Economic Loss Rule Redirects Claimants to Commercial Remedies in Article 2 Transactions, 27 Commercial Damages Reporter (2012). Uniform Commercial Code Survey: Introduction, 67 Bus. Law (2012) (co-author). Uniform Commercial Code Survey: Sales of Goods, 67 Bus. Law (2012). Robert E. Mensel Jurisdiction in Nineteenth Century International Law and Its Meaning in the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, 32 St. Louis U. Pub. L. Rev. 329 (2013). Patricia W. Hatamyar Moore Confronting the Myth of State Court Class Action Abuses Through an Understanding of Heuristics and a Plea for More Statistics, 82 UMKC L. Rev. (forthcoming 2014). An Updated Quantitative Study of Iqbal s Impact on 12(b)(6) Motions, 46 U. Rich. L. Rev. 603 (2012). Ira S. Nathenson Super-Intermediaries, Code, Human Rights, Intercultural Hum. Rts. L. Rev. (forthcoming 2014). Best Practices for the Law of the Horse: Teaching Cyberlaw and Illuminating Law through Online Simulations, 28 Santa Clara Computer & High Tech. L.J. 657 (2012). Navigating the Uncharted Waters of Teaching Law with Online Simulations, 38 Ohio N.U. L. Rev. 535 (2012). Roza Pati Trading in Humans: A New Haven Perspective, 21 Asia Pac. L.Rev. 135 (2012). Domestic Servitude: A Contemporary Form of Slavery, 7 Intercultural Hum. Rts. L. Rev. 9 (2012). Leonard D. Pertnoy Same Violence, Same Sex, Different Standard: An Examination of Same-Sex, Domestic Violence and the Use of Expert Testimony on Battered Woman s Syndrome in Same-Sex Domestic Violence Cases, 24 St. Thomas L. Rev. 544 (2012). Stephen A. Plass Using Pyett To Counter The Fall Of Contract-Based Unionism In A Global Economy, 34 Berkeley J. Emp. & Lab. L. (forthcoming 2014). Keith W. Rizzardi The Duty to Advise the Lorax: Environmental Advocacy and the Risk of Reform, 37 Wm. & Mary Envtl. L. & Pol y Rev. 25 (2012). Amy D. Ronner Let s Get the Trans and Sex Out of It and Free Us All, 16(3) J. Gender Race & Just. 859 (2013). Recreating Dead House: The Ouster of Miranda from Our Prisons, 50 Crim. Law Bull. (forthcoming 2014). Does Golyadkin Really Have a Double?: Dostoyevsky Debunks Our Mental Capacity and Insane Delusion Doctrines, 40 Cap. U. L. Rev. 195 (2012). Nadia Soree Whose Fourth Amendment and Does It Matter: A Due Process Approach to Fourth Amendment Standing, 46(3) Ind. L. Rev. 753 (2013). Show and Tell, Seek and Find: A Balanced Approach To Defining a Fourth Amendment Search and the Lessons of Rape Reform, 43(1) Seton Hall L. Rev. 127 (2013). Siegfried Wiessner Re-Enchanting the World: Indigenous Peoples Rights as Essential Parts of a Holistic Human Rights Regime, 15 UCLA J. Int l L. & Foreign Aff. 239 (2012) Mark J. Wolff Failure of the International Monetary Fund & World Bank to Achieve Integral Development: A Critical Historical Assessment of Bretton Woods Institutions Policies, Structures, & Governance, 3 Global Bus. L.Rev. (forthcoming 2014). Carol L. Zeiner A Therapeutic Jurisprudence Analysis of the Use of Eminent Domain to Create a Leasehold, 33 Utah L. Rev. (forthcoming 2014). Marching Across the Putative Black/White Race Line: A Convergence of Narratology, History and Theory, 33 B.C. J. L. & Soc. Sci. 249 (2014). Kelo Through the Lens of Therapeutic Jurisprudence, 2d Therapeutic Jurisprudence/ Comprehensive Law Issue, 6 Phoenix L. Rev. (2013). Mar c h 2014 St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e 13

16 giving Honor Roll of Donors On behalf of our students at St. Thomas University School of Law, we gratefully acknowledge the alumni, parents and friends, faculty and staff, foundations and corporations that have generously supported us through gifts and in-kind contributions during the last fiscal year (July 1, 2012 June 30, 2013). Thank you for your support! St. Thomas More Society $100,000 and above Honorable Peter R. Palermo Dean s Circle $20,000 and above Alex A. Hanna 00 Barrister s Society Senior Partner $5,000-$9,999 Patrick L. Cordero 87 Adam J. Gersten 07 Michael Gerard Lamia John A. & June Mary Makdisi Nancy H. Maloy Amy D. Ronner & Dr. Michael Pacin David M. Harvan 96 Partner $1,000-$4,999 Gaston Ignacio Cantens Jr. 93 Bill D. Dickey 91 Josefina I. Espino Neil Manuel Gonzalez 96 Mark Dell Kielsgard 09 Robert H. Laghaie Ricky K. Patel 09 Kathleen P. Phillips 98 Douglas E. Ray John C. Redmond Michael Joseph Rinaldi, II 06 The Florida Bar Michelle Otero Valdes 94 Siegfried Wiessner Mark J. Wolff Isaac Wright, Jr. 07 Associate $500-$999 Burri & Company Insurance Agency Gordon T. Butler Cecile Dykas Follett Higher Education Group Jessica Fonseca-Nader 97 Jennifer F. Gabel Haggard Law Firm, P.A. Holland & Knight LLP Alfred R. Light Martin, Lister & Alvarez, PLC Todd J. Michaels Jessica N. Pacheco 06 Adam B. Portnow 08 Carlos Santisteban 09 St. Thomas Law Student Bar Association (SBA) Themis Bar Review Mary Ann Wiznerowicz Enrique Zamora Society of Friends Jurist $250-$499 Barbri, Inc. Tim W. Cox 14 Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Bar Association Inc. LexisNexis Kathleen Mahoney Robert E. Mensel James B. Miller 94 Leonard D. Pertnoy Keith W. Rizzardi Jay Silver Xceptional Business Solutions Susan Warheit Patron $100-$249 Anthony J. Destribats 02 Andrew L. Dixon 99 Suraya Faye Gabel Lauren Gilbert William M. Gladson 97 Murray A. Greenberg Patricia Hatamyar Moore John F. Hernandez Marbet Lewis 04 William Clay Mitchell, Jr. 96 Stephen A. Plass Peter Raben Magda Christina Rodriguez 09 Juan M. Saiz 88 Shahpor Shahbahrami Honorable Michele Towbin Singer Honorable Ronald G. Sonom Carol L. Zeiner Member Up to $99 Arundhuti Adhikari 12 John D. Barker 95 Erik Barnard 13 Francoise J. Blanco 13 Howard K. Blumberg Jacqueline R. Bowden 13 Rose Brill 12 Raymond A. Calderin 13 David L. Cantor 13 The Caribbean Bar Association, Inc. Joseph D. Catania 13 Veronica Cordova 13 John M. Cunill 12 Stephanie D. De la Rosa 13 Yvette Celestin Destin 13 Dennis J. Egitto 13 Nicholas Alexander Ferreiro 13 Jennifer A. Fuentes 13 Daniel J. Garza 13 Andrew Stephen Genden 13 Sean Gold 13 Rosana E. Gonzalez 13 Andrew Michael Gordon 09 Jennifer Marie Gordon 09 Marbely Hernandez 13 Joshua J. Hertz 01 Scarlet Ann Kampa-Dyson 04 John Kang Peter T. Kelly Shane Guy Kilpatrick 13 Gary N. Kravitz Jennifer Rachael Levy 13 Nicole M. Loughlin 13 Rick Medina Leon Mindin 13 Francis J. Mota 13 Ashley B. Moussa 13 Ira S. Nathenson Guy K. Noa 13 Marta Rufina Perez 13 Nicole M. Perez 13 Michael E. Platt 13 Viviana M. Restrepo 13 Cynthia M. Rodriguez 13 William D. Rodriguez 13 Mary Luz Rodriguez Alvare 13 Maria Teresa Sallato 90 Alexandra D. Salvador 13 Eric F. Schulman 13 Lindsay M. Scott 14 Leonardo Bermudez Silveira 13 Wei Su 12 Janette E. Valdes 13 Alex B. Vanicek 13 Janette M. Vargas 13 Andres E. Vasquez 13 Ignacio Jesus Vazquez, Jr. 05 Sabrina V. Velarde 13 Rachel V. Walker 13 Lydia Ailes Worden St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e Mar c h 2014

17 St. Th o m a s La w Re v i e w Ce l e b r a t e s a Quarter Century of Success Above: Assistant Dean Peter Kelly, Editor-in-Chief Lydia Worden 13, Justice R. Fred Lewis, Msgr. Franklyn Casale, Caroline Ray, and Dean Douglas Ray. On a perfect spring night for cruising the Intracoastal Waterway, over 200 alumni and friends of the St. Thomas Law Review boarded the Floridian Princess yacht in Hollywood, Florida, and celebrated a special milestone in the history of St. Thomas Law: 25 years of successful law review publications, countless hours of writing and editing, and hundreds of alumni who contributed to the Law Review as student-members and editors. After Msgr. Franklyn M. Casale welcomed the crowd and congratulated the alumni and students for their many accomplishments over the years, Dean Douglas E. Ray spoke and thanked the current members of the Law Review for all their work in planning the successful event. Dean Ray also thanked all of the former faculty advisors and former editors-in-chief of the Law Review, and especially praised the efforts of the current editor-in-chief, Ms. Lydia (Butler) Worden 13, who worked closely with Assistant Deans Jessica Fonseca Nader (faculty advisor to the Law Review) and Peter Kelly (assistant dean for alumni relations), and the Office for Alumni Relations, in reaching out to alumni and planning the event. Also participating in the evening s program were the Honorable R. Fred Lewis, Justice of the Florida Supreme Court, the keynote speaker and a great friend and supporter of St. Thomas Law; and Alfredo Garcia, the former Dean and longtime professor at St. Thomas Law, who received from the Law Review a special commendation for his leadership and support over the years. The 2013 editorial board noted, in particular, Professor Garcia s great support as Dean in 2008, when the Law Review hosted the National Conference of Law Reviews; and his publication, Is Miranda Dead, Was it Overruled, or Is It Irrelevant, 10 ST. THOMAS L. REV. 461 (1998), which is the most-cited of all articles in the St. Thomas Law Review. Mar c h 2014 St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e 15

18 St. Thomas University School of Law wishes to thank the following sponsors for their support of the St. Thomas Law Review 25th Anniversary Celebration: Editor s Circle $500 and above Alumni and friends celebrate during the St. Thomas Law Review 25th Anniversary Celebration on April 12, Adam B. Portnow, Esq. 08 Professor Gordon Butler Professor Enrique Zamora Assistant Dean Jessica Fonseca Nader, Professor Gary N. Kravitz, and Amar Patel, Esq. 10 Professor Amy D. Ronner and Dr. Michael P. Pacin St. Thomas Law Student Bar Association Martin, Lister & Alvarez, PLC Holland & Knight and Brett A. Barfield, Esq. 99 Themis Bar Review and Nachman Susson, Esq. Members Circle $250 - $499 BARBRI and Elyse DuBois, Esq. James B. Miller, Esq. 94 Lexis Nexis Professor Siegfried Wiessner Friends of the Law Review Up to $249 Professor Lauren Gilbert Professor Murray Greenberg Professor Patricia Moore Professor Stephen Plass Professor Magda Rodriguez Maria T. Sallato, Esq. 90 The Honorable Michele Towbin Singer The Honorable and Mrs. Ronald G. Sonom 16 St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e Mar c h 2014

19 A Higher Calling Alumni Leading the Way in Higher Education By Peter T. Kelly Many of our alumni/alumnae are succeeding in the more traditional careers one would expect to find them: law firms big and small, solo practices, governmental agencies, elected offices and political appointments. Some, however, have gone a less traditional route but have found themselves in a very traditional setting: the college campus. On the following pages are glimpses of four St. Thomas Law graduates who are leaders at their respective universities in different ways: in the classroom, the general counsel s office, the athletics department, and the enrollment/ admissions office. Mar c h 2014 St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e 17

20 Rory Bahadur 03 Professor of Law Washburn University School of Law It s an honor to be in the Rory Bahadur is a Professor of Law at Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kansas, where he has taught torts, civil procedure, federal courts, and admiralty law since The valedictorian of his law school class, Professor Bahadur got his start in academia a year after he graduated from St. Thomas Law, when then-dean Bob Butterworth hired him to head up the academic support office. Rory learned a lot from that experience, recalling that student engagement was (his) biggest motivator. Rory became quite successful on this front, whether filling up a classroom of students who voluntarily attended his academic support sessions on a Saturday morning, or teaching torts to first-year students. During each of the years Rory taught at St. Thomas Law, the students honored him by electing him First-Year Professor of the Year a tradition that Professor Bahadur has continued at Washburn Law (Professor of the Year in 2010 and 2012). Given the honors Rory s received from his students, it s no surprise that his peers have taken notice, too. In 2013, Professor Bahadur was recognized by fellow professors in What the Best Law Teachers Do, a book that identifies the methods, strategies, and personal traits of 26 law professors across the country whose students achieve exceptional learning. It s an honor to be in the classroom, Rory says. Every single day I am so happy to be doing what I m doing. He points to two former teachers, Professors Amy Ronner and Steven Plass, each of whom has helped shape his own work ethic and approach to preparing for class. They walked into the classroom and clearly spent inordinate amounts of time preparing for the classroom. Professor Bahadur has taken his pedagogical talents outside of the country as well, most recently in the Republic of Georgia. Through a USAID grant that Washburn University received to assist with legal education reform in Georgia, Professor Bahadur and his colleagues have recently traveled to Free University School of Law to assist in two main areas: development of commercial law in Georgia, and improvement of teaching methodologies for Georgian law professors. During his several visits to Georgia, Professor Bahadur has trained law professors on teaching methods, and presented on various topics such as interactive teaching methods, modern legal education trends, and the benefits of active learning pedagogy. Just as Professors Ronner and Plass continue to do at St. Thomas Law, Professor Bahadur is surely making a positive impact upon his students, whether in Miami, Kansas, or the Republic of Georgia. classroom. Every single day I am so happy to be doing what I m doing. 12 St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e Win t e r 2012

21 It s not just a matter of what s legal. It s doing what s right for the students, faculty and staff. Claire Konopa Aigotti 96 General Counsel Butler University Claire Konopa Aigotti, Esq., was appointed as Butler University s General Counsel in August At the Indiana school, Ms. Aigotti oversees all legal matters, including human resources and employment issues, student policies and discipline, business negotiations and contracts, real estate, litigation, and risk management. The first general counsel in Butler s history, Claire is enjoying the opportunity to build the university s in-house law office essentially from scratch. I like the autonomy I have, and (having) the ability to develop an office. A native of South Bend, Indiana, Claire graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1993 before starting law school that August. She chose St. Thomas Law on the recommendation of her grandfather, the Honorable Mallory H. Horton, one of the first three judges to have served on Florida s Third District Court of Appeal. After graduating from St. Thomas Law in 1996, Claire returned to South Bend, where she practiced at Konopa, Reagan and Aigotti, P.C. until A partner at the firm, she focused her practice on a variety of civil litigation matters, including personal injury, product liability, insurance bad faith, and divorce matters through mediations, trials, and appeals. In 2007, Claire left private practice for an opportunity to return to Notre Dame, where she became the University s associate general counsel and led the litigation and student issues team for the Office of General Counsel. At Notre Dame, she represented her alma mater in all aspects of state and federal court litigation, including personal injury, discrimination, breach of contract, student issues, collections, tenure and employment, and worker s compensation. Noting that the change from private practice to the world of higher education can have its challenges, Ms. Aigotti says that the transition prepared her well for her current position at Butler. Going from private practice to higher education is a different dynamic. The learning curve can be a little overwhelming, but I m glad to have worked six years at Notre Dame it broadened my overall experience as an attorney. With the education she has received from Notre Dame and St. Thomas Law, and the experiences she gained both in private practice and at Notre Dame, Claire is happy to be in her new role at Butler, and clearly has the right focus: It s not just a matter of what s legal. It s doing what s right for the students, faculty and staff.

22 Brian A. Baptiste 08 Associate Athletic Director for Compliance Northwestern University The most satisfying part of my job is working in a field that I have a great deal of passion for. Athletics has always given me great joy and I am truly fortunate enough to make a living in an area that I love. The Associate Athletic Director for Compliance at Northwestern University in Chicago, Brian Baptiste is responsible for directing, planning and organizing all phases of the University s compliance program. Brian began working at Northwestern in January 2013 after serving in the same capacity at the University of Delaware for three years. While it is a daunting challenge to oversee the entire compliance program and ensure that administrators, staff members and student-athletes comply with all N.C.A.A. rules and regulations, Brian very much enjoys what he s doing. The most satisfying part of my job is working in a field that I have a great deal of passion for. Athletics has always given me great joy and I am truly fortunate enough to make a living in an area that I love. It was during Brian s law school years as vice president of St. Thomas Law s sports and entertainment law society that he first considered a career in athletics. Having an interest in athletics administration and seeing the potential for a lawyer in that field, that experience opened my eyes to a world of possibilities. Also at St. Thomas Law, Brian served as the southern regional chair of the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA), which provided him the opportunity to represent St. Thomas Law and develop contacts around the country. In addition, Brian served as a certified legal intern with the Office of the State Attorney in Broward County, and was a judicial intern for the Honorable Donald L. Graham, a United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida. A Maryland native and member of the Maryland Bar, Mr. Baptiste first entered the world of N.C.A.A. athletics at Georgetown University, which hired him in 2009 to be its assistant director of compliance in the athletics department. At Georgetown, Mr. Baptiste was responsible for monitoring compliancerelated issues such as amateurism, eligibility, recruiting, financial aid, and the National Letter of Intent program. Thanks to his experiences at St. Thomas Law, as well as his positions at Georgetown and the University of Delaware, Brian has prepared himself well for his current post at Northwestern, and he is determined to continue his employer s notable track record: Northwestern is the only school in the Big Ten (and one of just a handful of universities in the country) never to have committed a major N.C.A.A. infraction. St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e Win t e r 2012

23 Jessica Fonseca-Nader 97 Assistant Dean for Enrollment and Scholarships St. Thomas University School of Law Giving these future lawyers an opportunity to pursue their own dreams, and perhaps their family s dreams, too that s not only a Jessica Fonseca-Nader has taught legal research and writing at St. Thomas Law since 2003, and was appointed as the law school s first assistant dean for enrollment and scholarships in January In this capacity, Jessica leads and directs the school s admissions and recruiting efforts throughout the year, and also oversees the merit scholarship program for all students. She brings to this new position a unique blend of experiences as a former student, current professor, and practicing attorney. Assistant Dean Fonseca-Nader returned to St. Thomas Law as an adjunct professor in 2003 before joining the legal research and writing faculty on a full-time basis a few years later. In addition to research and writing courses, she also teaches appellate advocacy, advanced legal studies, and a seminar class on moral dilemmas. In 2006, after serving for nine years as a career law clerk for the Honorable David L. Levy at Florida s Third District Court of Appeal in Miami, she joined Black, Srebnick Kornspan & Stumpf as Special Counsel. She focuses her practice on litigation support and appellate work in both state and federal courts. As head of enrollment and scholarships, Assistant Dean Fonseca-Nader says that the new role has given her great satisfaction both as a professor and a mentor. Giving these future lawyers an opportunity to pursue their own dreams, and perhaps their family s dreams, too that s not only a great responsibility, but a great privilege. To then see the students succeed here at St. Thomas Law that has been very rewarding. During her law school years, Jessica served as editor-in-chief of the St. Thomas Law Review, and also had her first teaching moment in the school s Street Law program. It was then that she knew that she d eventually like to teach. Looking back on that experience (at MAST Academy, a magnet school in Key Biscayne), she recalls: It opened my eyes to the difference a teacher can make in a student s life. St. Thomas Law is fortunate that Assistant Dean Fonseca-Nader, through her various roles and experiences, is now making a difference in the lives of many students. great responsibility, but a great privilege. To then see the students succeed here at St. Thomas Law that has been very rewarding. Win t e r 2012 St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e 15

24 Tea c h i n g Tom o r r o w s Lea d e r s St. Thomas Law Launches The Honorable Peter R. Palermo Program: A Community Partnership with Miami Carol City Senior High School On September 19, 2013, the St. Thomas Law community gathered for a luncheon to officially launch the Honorable Peter R. Palermo Program, which has been established to educate high school students about the United States Constitution, civics and the law. Thanks to the generous support of Judge Palermo, a United States Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida since 1971, this new program puts into action Judge Palermo s strong belief that today s youth tomorrow s leaders have to become engaged citizens, and that their engagement requires knowledge of civics and the law. Since the summer of 2013, the law school has worked with Carol City High in Miami Gardens in developing this partnership that will allow for Carol City High students to study these important topics from second and third-year law students, or Palermo Fellows. Currently there are 11 Palermo Fellows taking part in the program, and they have been mentoring 32 Carol City High students, conducting sessions on St. Thomas s campus as well as at Carol City High. During the luncheon, Judge Palermo spoke to the Carol City High students, each of whom received a copy of the U.S. Constitution, and told them, as well as the law students, that You are the future! Also attending the luncheon were Msgr. Franklyn M. Casale, the President of St. Thomas University, Dean Douglas E. Ray, St. Thomas Law faculty and staff, as well as Carol City High teachers and Miami Gardens community leaders. On behalf of the St. Thomas community, Msgr. Casale thanked Judge Palermo for his friendship and support of the university over the years. Not only is Judge Palermo a great friend of St. Thomas and a leader in the South Florida community, he s also just a great guy. After thanking Judge Palermo for his constant support of the law school, Dean Ray presented to him a plaque recognizing your service to our country, your commitment to justice, and your unwavering support of our students.

25 Dean Ray also thanked Jennifer Portwood Gordon, Esq., 09, the law school s Director of Pro Bono and Public Interest Career Counselor, and Ms. Asiah Wolfolk-Manning, Esq., a teacher at Carol City High and the school s legal affairs director, for their efforts in starting the program, advising the students, and coordinating all logistics. I am excited about this new collaboration, and am inspired by the students enthusiasm and energy, said Ms. Portwood Gordon. And we re just beginning. I look forward to creating additional opportunities for even more law students next year by involving more high schools in the community. The Palermo Program, which continued throughout the Fall 2013 semester, is already reaping great rewards. In December 2013, the Carol City High students won first place for their congressional district in Florida s We the People Competition, advancing to the State finals in January The students could not have done this without the assistance of St. Thomas Law and Jen Portwood Gordon, said Ms. Wolfolk-Manning. Thank you for believing in them and giving your time to help them accomplish this amazing feat! This new program puts into action Judge Palermo s strong belief that today s youth tomorrow s leaders have to become engaged citizens, and that their engagement requires knowledge of civics and the law. At the annual Red Mass in Miami in May 2013, Msgr. Casale, President of St. Thomas University (left), and Most Rev. Thomas G. Wenski, the Archbishop of Miami, thanked Judge Palermo for his continued support of St. Thomas Law.

26 alumni giving Alumni Spotlight: Alex A. Hanna 00 Make a Gift! Unrestricted gifts to the Annual Fund have a direct and immediate impact on the education we provide our students. Annual Fund gifts support: Scholarships to students in need; Clinical and public interest programs; Moot court, trial advocacy, and law journal activities; Conferences, distinguished speakers, and symposia; and Career and Professional Development programs that help our students build their futures Please make an online gift at or use the business reply envelope in this magazine to make a gift by check or credit card. Alex A. Hanna, Esq. began his own law practice shortly after graduating from St. Thomas University School of Law in Since that time he has been successfully defending clients in Florida against a wide variety of traffic offenses. Despite the dynamic growth of his business and its demands on his time, Mr. Hanna serves as a model husband and father to his wife Lizet, his children Alexander and Sophia, and the rest of his friends and family. Always a good citizen, Mr. Hanna takes part in civic events, donates to humanitarian causes, and defends the Constitution of the United States of America. As an enduring symbol of Mr. Hanna s intensity to combat injustice, passion for world peace, and respect for human dignity, and in recognition of his significant gift to the law school, the law library was renamed the the Alex Hanna Law Library in 2008 (now the Alex A. Hanna Legal Information Center, pictured below). Mr. Hanna s most valuable experience at St. Thomas University was life preparation. Among other honors and awards, he is the proud recipient of: Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for Outstanding Service to the Community (presented to Hispanic Leaders by the U.S. Congress in 2011) Traffic Ticket Attorney of the Decade (Minority Chamber of Commerce, 2010) The Key of Miami-Dade County (2006) 24 St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e Mar c h 2014

27 alumni receptions Miami Orlando Mar c h 2014 St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e 25

28 alumni receptions Florida Bar Convention Toys For Tots 26 St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e Mar c h 2014

29 alumni receptions Fort Lauderdale Tampa Mar c h 2014 St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e 27

30 class action 1989 KELLY CAMBRON has become a shareholder of Goldstein, Schmitt and Wade, PL, in Stuart, Florida. Kelly s primary practice area is social security disability and workers compensation Kelly Cambron 89 MICHELLE OTERO VALDES was recently named chair of the board of directors of the ReThink and ReUse Center, an environmental and educational Michelle Otero Valdes 94 non-for-profit in Miami. An attorney at the international law firm of Chalos & Co, P.C., Ms. Otero Valdés is board certified by The Florida Bar in admiralty and maritime law, and serves as the chair of The Florida Bar s admiralty and maritime law certification committee. DAVID PREBLE, D.D.S., is the new vice president of the American Dental Association s newly created ADA Practice Institute, which will provide input on programs, products and services to help ADA-members better operate their dental practices. Dr. Preble, who had previously served as the director of the ADA Council on Dental Benefit Programs since 2007, lives in Chicago with his wife, Hong Sun CLAIRE AIGOTTI became Butler University s first general counsel in August She was previously the associate general counsel at the University of Notre Dame. GUY QUATTLEBAUM, a shareholder at Akerman Senterfitt in its West Palm Beach office, was elected president of the Palm Beach County Sports Commission in February 2013 for a year-long term. Quattlebaum works in Akerman s litigation practice group, and concentrates in the areas of complex commercial cases, with experience in banking, labor and employment, probate, condominium associations, and real estate litigation ROBERT J. ROBES, a shareholder at the Boca Raton office of Greenberg Traurig P.A., has been appointed to serve on the Board of Directors of the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Foundation, Inc. Bob is a proud FAU alumnus. WILLIAM R. WOHLSIFER is the author of Certifying Documents via Third-party Software: Binding on the Court?, recently published in The Florida Bar Journal (September/October 2013, Volume 87, No. 8). William is a commercial litigation attorney with the law firm of William R. Wohlsifer, P.A., in Tallahassee, focusing his practice on copyright and trademark infringement SAMUEL S. FRANKEL, JR., LL.M. 05, a partner at Barnett, Lerner & Karsen, P.A. in Fort Lauderdale, is handling Florida workers compensation claims and claims arising under the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act, Defense Base Act, Jones Act, as well as cruise line passenger claims KEVIN F. SANDERSON, LL.M. 06, of Merritt & Sanderson, P.A. in Osprey, Florida, is a member of the 2014 class of Leadership Sarasota, a program of the chamber of commerce in greater Sarasota. Kevin was recently admitted to the Bar of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit BART ARMSTRONG is the Children s Legal Services Southern Regional Director within Florida s Department of Children and Families. Bart recently met with child welfare representatives and members of Congress in Washington, D.C., as part of a conference focusing on juvenile sex trafficking. JOSHUA J. HERTZ, a member of the law school s board of advisors, was selected in 2013 as an inaugural member of The Florida Bar s Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Leadership Academy. Josh recently moved his law practice to Miami Lakes. OLIVER A. RUIZ was named partner at Malloy & Malloy, P.L. in Miami. He concentrates his practice in intellectual property litigation, trademark prosecution, and copyright law. 28 St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e Mar c h 2014

31 class action 2002 WILLIAM T. COTTERALL was recently elected to the board of directors of the Florida Justice Association (FJA). He was also appointed as chair of the FJA s consumer protection section for legislative matters. Mr. Cotterall is the founding partner of The Cotterall Law Firm, a Tallahassee-based law firm focusing on injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida William Cotterall 02 RORY BAHADUR was granted full tenure as a professor of law at Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kansas. Professor Bahadur, who has been chosen by Washburn students as professor of the year on multiple occasions, was recently featured in a new book, What the Best Law Teachers Do. The book is based on a national, qualitative study of 26 law professors nominated as the best by their peers and students. LETICIA (HERNANDEZ) VEGA, who became partner at Fowler White Burnett in Miami in 2012, was voted a rising star in Super Lawyers magazine and just recently became AV rated by Martindale Hubbell. She was also recently honored by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation s Florida chapter as one of its 40 Under 40 Outstanding Lawyers of Miami-Dade County CHRIS AMBROSIO is a partner at Johnson, Anselmo, Murdoch, Burke, Piper & Hochman, P.A., in Fort Lauderdale, where he represents a majority of the municipalities in South Florida and the Florida Keys. JUDE M. FACCIDOMO was honored in November 2013 by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation s Florida chapter as one of its 40 Under 40 Outstanding Lawyers of Miami-Dade County. MARBET MIER LEWIS is a partner at Akerman Senterfitt, focusing her practice on the alcohol beverage industry. She was just recently appointed to serve on the board of Mindful Kids Miami, Inc., a charitable organization focused on teaching mindfulness to local teachers and communities. HERMAN RUSSOMANNO, JR. was selected in 2013 as an inaugural member of The Florida Bar s Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Leadership Academy JUDITH ANGULO and KURT SCHLUETER 09 were married in June 2013 in Orta San Giulio, Italy BRIAN A. BAPTISTE relocated in early 2013 to Chicago, where he is now the associate director of athletics for NCAA compliance at Northwestern University. Brian, who previously held the same position at the University of Delaware, married Jessica McMiller 08 on November 10, 2013 in Washington, D.C. JESSICA McMILLER was recently appointed as Assistant Chief of Staff, Office of Legislative Affairs for the Honorable Pat Quinn, Governor of Illinois. She is focusing on the governor s public safety agenda through legislative policies that serve and protect the people of Illinois. Jessica married Brian Baptiste 08 in November 2013 in Washington, D.C., and the couple resides in Chicago. DANIEL NAGLER is a civil litigation attorney at Mitrani, Rynor, Adamsky & Toland, P.A., in Weston, Florida. Dan founded Involved-Fan.com, which allows people to donate funds to aspiring athletes. ADAM B. PORTNOW, of the Law Office of Adam B. Portnow, P.L. in Sarasota, Florida, successfully completed the United States Patent and Trademark Office s patent bar examination and application process in November 2012, and is now licensed to practice before the USPTO as a Registered Patent Attorney. Portnow focuses his practice in the areas of intellectual property, business law and probate BRANDON ARKIN was selected in 2013 as an inaugural member of The Florida Bar s Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Leadership Academy. Adam Portnow 08 Mar c h 2014 St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e 29

32 class action SLAVA BORSHCHUKOV recently accepted a position with the Duboff Law Firm in North Miami, where he will practice first party litigation. Slava joins civil practice after four years at the Miami- Dade Public Defender s Office, where he handled homicides and other serious felonies. RACHEL A. CANFIELD, an attorney in Greenberg Traurig s Miami office, was recently selected to serve as a mentor in the mentorship program of the South Florida chapter of the Federal Bar Association. In this role, Rachel will be matched with current law students from local law schools to serve as a mentor and help guide the next wave of legal professionals. Rachel Canfield 09 Yara was also recently appointed to fill an unexpired term on The Florida Bar Foundation. RICKY PATEL, senior partner of Farrell & Patel, Attorneys at Law in Miami, was recognized by the South Florida Business Journal as one of its 40 Under 40 honorees. JUDITH ANGULO 06 and KURT SCHLUETER were married in June 2013 in Orta San Giulio, Italy. SCHUYLER A. SMITH is an associate at Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel, LLP, in Miami. She was selected in 2013 as an inaugural member of The Florida Bar s Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Leadership Academy. Schuyler just concluded her tenure as president of the Caribbean Bar Association CHRISTOPHER G. BROWN is a new associate at Adams, Adams, Baca & McMillen in Miami. His areas of practice include medical malpractice, personal injury and civil litigation. JON MCCONNELL, a criminal defense attorney at Monnat & Spurrier in Wichita, Kansas, was named by the Wichita Business Journal as one of its 40 Under 40 honorees for 2013, in recognition of Jon s professional achievements and community involvement. BRANDON E. STEIN recently launched STEINLAW, P.A., in Aventura, Florida, where he specializes in personal injury and civil litigation BRIANNE GARRETSON DESELLIER has provided legal commentary on the following media outlets: Good Morning America, The Nancy Grace Show, ABC World News, National Public Radio, and Yahoo! She also has her own tax-oriented legal blog: com. BRASILIO MACHADO has expanded The Machado Law Firm in Miami and opened its second office in Orlando. The Machado Law Firm is a boutique law firm offering a full service experience to domestic and international clients. MARIA MICHAELS has joined the trust and wealth management department of Coconut Grove Bank. She was previously at the 17th Judicial Circuit where she worked as a staff attorney in the probate division. KENNETH M. KAUP is a new associate attorney at Chasan Leyner & Lamparello, P.C., in Secaucus, NJ. Ken is specializing in insurance defense with a focus on workers compensation matters. YARA LORENZO was honored in November 2013 by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation s Florida chapter as one of its 40 Under 40 Outstanding Lawyers of Miami-Dade County. An associate at Hogan Lovells in its litigation and employment practice group in Miami, Jon McConnell 10 Maria Michaels St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e Mar c h 2014

33 class action BRYAN PASCHAL was selected by Legacy Magazine as one of South Florida s 40 Under 40 Leaders of Today & Tomorrow for Bryan was also elected as vice president of the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association for , and to The Florida Bar s YLD Board of Governors for JUAN C. PEREZ, JR. was promoted in January 2013 to Assistant Chief of County Court in the Miami-Dade State Attorney s Office DOMENICK G. LAZZARA has been promoted to managing attorney at Aronfeld Trial Lawyers, Miami. Domenick will be the managing partner based out of the firm s newly opened Tampa office. MORGAN J. MCGRATH and MICHAEL B. WALKER have started their own law firm, Walker McGrath PLLC, with three offices in Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Boca Raton. They focus their work primarily in the areas of personal injury and intellectual property. JOSEPH E. HUNT IV earned his LL.M. in taxation from Boston University in May Joe received the Ernest M. Haddad Award as the top graduating student, as well as the program s Pro Bono Award in recognition of Joe s volunteer work for Greater Boston Legal Services in its Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. Joe now works in the Boston office of Deloitte Tax LLP, in its mergers and acquisitions practice husband are otherwise kept busy by their daughter, one-year old Lily. Baby Lily, daughter of Rebecca Duffield 13 SEAN GELLIS is an assistant attorney general in the civil division of Florida s Office of Attorney General. Sean is based in the Fort Lauderdale office. JOSHUA SIMON, the valedictorian of the class of 2013, is a new associate with the Law Offices of Cytryn & Velazquez, P.A., a personal injury firm located in Coral Springs, Florida. Download our New St. Thomas Law App! St. Thomas Law information is now at your fingertips, thanks to the new St. Thomas Law app available for iphone, ipad, Android, and BlackBerry. Stay connected with the law school and fellow alumni, and learn of upcoming receptions and events. A directory of faculty members and a list of newly published books by St. Thomas Law faculty members are also available on the app, as well as updates from the Admissions, Alumni Relations and Career Services offices. Scan the QR code below with your device to go to the new St. Thomas Law App. REBECCA DUFFIELD writes from Atlanta, where she is currently pursuing her LL.M. in Transactional Law (with a concentration in Alternative Dispute Resolution) at Emory University. She is the vice president of Amicus, Emory Law s society for parent students, and is also coaching the school s arbitration competition team. Rebecca and her Josh Simon 13 Mar c h 2014 St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e 31

34 in memoriam St. Thomas Dedicates Tree in Memory of Prof. Sandra Ruffin In October 2013, alumni and friends of the late Professor Sandra A. Ruffin gathered with faculty and staff members at a ceremony honoring Professor Ruffin s life and many contributions to the St. Thomas Law community. During the ceremony, Msgr. Andrew L. Anderson, the law school s chaplain, blessed a beautiful Royal Poinciana tree in memory of Professor Ruffin, who taught at St. Thomas Law for eight years (most recently during the academic year) and passed away unexpectedly in July Professor Siegfried Wiessner took part in the dedication ceremony and remembered his late friend and colleague: Sandra leaves us her unforgettable smile, her constant encouragement, and her infectious passion for a better world. Her all-embracing love for humankind across all divides made differences look small and disappear, and made everybody come together. Joey M. McCall, Esq. 09, who was a student in Professor Ruffin s civil procedure class, recalled her willingness to help at all times: No matter how busy Professor Ruffin was with planning our curriculum or grading exams, she answered all our questions and concerns with a beaming smile. I will always appreciate that about her, and she will truly be missed by us all. Professor Ruffin leaves behind her son, Calvin, a sister, Brenda, and countless friends who will forever treasure the life of Sandra Ruffin, the many lives that she touched, and the generosity of spirit that she always exuded. Professor Wiessner speaks at the dedication ceremony honoring the life of Professor Sandra Ruffin. In Memoriam: Judge Amy Karan by Dara Schottenfeld, Esq. 09 Judge Amy Karan, a former adjunct professor at St. Thomas Law who served on the Miami- Dade Circuit Court bench until 2010, passed away in September 2013 after a long and courageous battle with multiple system atrophy. Alumna Dara Schottenfeld 09 offers a reflection on her former professor and mentor. Judge Karan was standing next to me in my first moments as an attorney. She and Judge Gersten, my mock trial coaches, swore me in together. It seemed the perfect ending to my law school career, where mock trial played such a huge part in my experience at St. Thomas. Judge Karan commanded respect, all the while remaining personable and approachable. She was brilliant in a way that few people are. Every day I learn more about her accomplishments in her unceasing mission to help victims of domestic violence, about the bond between Judge Karan and her daughter and about the lifelong impact she had on the people around her. When Judge Karan got sick and began to have trouble walking, she had to give up wearing high heels. Instead of lamenting the loss, Judge Karan made a special occasion out of it. One night at trial practice, Judge Karan called the women on the competition team into a classroom. There, she had laid out rows of her heels. We each left that night with more than one pair of shoes and with a great Judge Karan story to tell. Writing this, I am sad for those people who will never get the chance to meet Judge Karan. I was honored to know her, to have laughed with her, and to have learned with her. I will wear her shoes, think of her often and do my very best to follow in her footsteps. 32 St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e Mar c h 2014

35 calendar of events Spr i n g 2014 Re c e p t i o n s fo r Al u m n i an d Fr i e n d s PALM BEACH GARDENS Thursday, March 6 Seasons Ellison Wilson Road 5:30 to 7:00 PM ST. THOMAS LAW Speed Networking Event & Reception Thursday, March 20 Convocation Hall NW 37th Ave. 6 to 8 PM For above events, RSVP to [email protected] NORTH MIAMI Awards Dinner for Alumni & Friends Thursday, April 10 The Cloisters of the Ancient Spanish Monastery West Dixie Highway 6:30 PM To purchase tickets for Awards Dinner: ORLANDO Networking Breakfast Friday, June 27 (Florida Bar Convention) Gaylord Palms Resort 6000 W. Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee 8 AM The Office for Alumni Relations Mar c h 2014 St. Th o m a s La w Ma g a z i n e

36 Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Permit No South Florida Facility NW 37 Avenue Miami Gardens, FL You are Invited! Join us for the St. Th o m a s La w Aw a r d s Di n n e r f o r Al u m n i & Fr i e n d s April 10, 2014 The Cloisters of the Ancient Spanish Monastery North Miami Beach, FL 6:30 PM To purchase tickets for the Awards Dinner: The Office for Alumni Relations