ARCHIVES

Board Members for the Center for Human Resource Management

Michael Spellman and board members of the Center for Human Resource Management (HR Center) in the College of Business at Florida State University at the Fall Board Meeting held at Kaplan University in Fort Lauderdale, FL. 

The HR Center is an excellent example of effective collaboration between HR professionals in business and academia. The mission of the HR Center is to facilitate networking among HR professionals, FSU faculty and students, to establish and transfer current best practices that support the advancement of HR as a business discipline in member organizations.

Appellate Victory for Sniffen & Spellman, P.A.

On July 27, 2011, the 4th District Court of Appeal overturned a $1,010,000.00 jury verdict awarded to a Plaintiff on her claims of being subjected to racial and religious discrimination and a hostile work environment, and retaliation for engaging in activity protected by Florida’s Public Whistle-blower’s statute.  The case was briefed and argued by Todd D. Engelhardt on behalf of Florida’s Department of Children and Families.  In addition to erasing the jury’s award, the Court directed that judgment be entered in favor of the Department. 

Sniffen & Spellman, P.A. Earns Defense Verdict
On May 11, 2011, a jury returned a verdict in favor of the City of Tallahassee and one of its police officers in a civil rights lawsuit alleging racial profiling which stemmed from a traffic stop and automobile search.  The trial team of Michael Spellman and Brett Waronicki were counsel of record for Tallahassee Police Department Officer Evan Alwine in the two-day trial in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida.  In the case, a motorist alleged that his constitutional rights were violated when Officer Alwine stopped him for an obstructed license plate, and then allegedly detained him longer than necessary and unlawfully searched his car.  The jury found that Officer Alwine had probable cause to initiate the traffic stop, that Officer Alwine did not detain the motorist any longer than necessary, and that the motorist voluntarily consented to the search of his automobile.

Super Lawyers 2011 Rankings
Super Lawyers magazine names attorneys in each state who received the highest ranking through peer nominations, evaluations and third party research. Only five percent of the total lawyers in the state are selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers. 
Robert J. Sniffen and Michael P. Spellman were both selected again in 2011 by Super Lawyers Magazine as top attorneys in Employment & Labor Law. This marks the fifth consecutive year that each lawyer has been named to this impressive list of state-wide lawyers.

Florida Trend Magazine’s “Legal Elite”
Robert J. Sniffen and Michael P. Spellman have again been named to Florida Trend Magazine’s “Legal Elite” in Labor and Employment Law. Florida Trend's Florida Legal Elite 2011 recognizes the top tier of attorneys practicing in Florida as chosen by their colleagues. 

WFSU Spring Pledge Drive Robert Sniffen and Michael Spellman participated in the public radio spring pledge drive at WFSU on April 13.  During their on-air segment, they broke pledge drive records with 127 callers in 2.5 hours and assisted in collecting over $10,000 in contributions for public radio.  Many thanks to all who made a donation to WFSU!

U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers in America ranks Sniffen & Spellman, P.A. as one of the "Best Law Firms in America"
Sniffen & Spellman, P.A. has been ranked among the best law firms in Tallahassee in the inaugural edition of U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers in America's "Best Law Firms in America," which will be published in U.S News next month.  We were specifically ranked in the areas of Employment Law – Management, one of four firms listed, and Labor Law – Management, one of three firms listed.  “Best Law Firms in America” ranked some 8,800 firms across the country in 81 practice areas.  The rankings were based on 9,500 client surveys, including survey responses from every Fortune 100 company as well as evaluations from 1,850 law firms and more than 8,800 lawyers.  The surveys and evaluations were voted on expertise, responsiveness, integrity, cost-effectiveness, civility, and whether the client would refer another client to the firm.

To see the rankings visit: http://bestlawfirms.usnews.com/Default.aspx

Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Registry of Preeminent Lawyers
Robert J. Sniffen was named to Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Registry of Preeminent Lawyers.   America’s most exclusive directory of lawyers for more than 90 years, The Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers lists only those select lawyers and law firms that have earned the AV® certification rating in the Martindale-Hubbell® Law Directory, and been designated by their colleagues as preeminent in their field.

Super Lawyers 2010: Top 100, Top 5%, and Rising Stars
Super Lawyers magazine names attorneys in each state who received the highest ranking through peer nominations, evaluations and third party research. Five percent of the total lawyers in the state are selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers. Rising Stars names the state's top up-and-coming attorneys. No more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are named to the Super Lawyers Rising Star list.  Robert J. Sniffen was selected by Super Lawyers Magazine as one of the top 100 lawyers in the State of Florida in all practice areas as well as a top attorney in Labor and Employment Law.   Michael P. Spellman was selected by Super Lawyers Magazine as one of the top attorneys in Labor and Employment Law.  Terry J. Harmon was selected by Super Lawyers Magazine as a Florida Rising Star.

Sniffen and Spellman Named to Florida Trend’s 2010 Legal Elite
Robert J. Sniffen and Michael P. Spellman have been named to Florida Trend Magazine’s “Legal Elite” in Labor and Employment Law. Florida Trend's Florida Legal Elite 2010 recognizes the top tier of attorneys practicing in Florida as chosen by their colleagues. The 2010 list of 1,160 attorneys represents approximately 1.8% of the over 64,000 active Florida Bar members who practice in the state.

Spellman Receives Presidential Appointment to University of Florida Alumni Association Board of Directors
Michael P. Spellman has been appointed as a member of the University of Florida Alumni Association Board of Directors. The UFAA is responsible for a network of nearly 100 Gator Clubs® in Florida, across the U.S. and internationally. These clubs are composed of alumni and friends who represent UF in their communities. The UFAA also recruits superior students to attend the University with financial assistance programs in the form of scholarships sponsored by the Gator Clubs®.

Spellman Appointed to the Federal Court Practice Committee
Michael P. Spellman has been appointed by The Florida Bar as a member of the Federal Court Practice Committee. The Federal Court Practice Committee serves as the Bar's liaison to the federal courts, the standing committees of the Federal Judicial Conference, and to chapters of the Federal Bar Association in Florida, and those committees of The Florida Bar interested in federal practice. The committee reviews proposed changes to the federal rules, including all local rules. The committee publishes the Florida Federal Court Judges' Practice Guide which describes the practices of individual federal judges in all three districts.

Sniffen and Spellman Named to Florida Trend’s 2009 Legal Elite
Firm shareholders Rob Sniffen and Michael Spellman were named to Florida Trend magazine's Legal Elite in the area of Labor and Employment Law for 2009. This marks the third consecutive year that each lawyer has been named to this prestigious list of state-wide lawyers." The Florida Legal Elite is comprised of the top 2% of attorneys practicing in Florida, according to the results of the magazine's statewide attorney surveys.

Spellman named Chair of local Grievance Committee
Michael Spellman has been appointed Chair of the Second Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee "A". The Grievance Committee is comprised of lawyers and non-lawyers appointed by the Florida Bar, who reside within the Second Judicial Circuit. The Committee has the jurisdiction and power to hear and act upon complaints alleging misconduct and violation of the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar.

Harmon Selected for Inclusion on the Florida Rising Stars List for 2009
Terry Harmon has been selected for inclusion on Super Lawyers’ Florida Rising Stars list for 2009. No more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are named to this list of outstanding young attorneys.

Sniffen Named to Florida Super Lawyers Magazine's "Top 100"
Firm founder, Rob Sniffen, was recently named to Florida Super Lawyers Magazine’s “Top 100” List, a list of the State’s top lawyers in all practice areas. He was also selected for inclusion in Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Registry of Preeminent Lawyers.

Sniffen Law Firm Submits Amicus Brief in Immunity Case
Sniffen Law Firm recently filed an amicus brief in an important case addressing whether the sovereign immunity caps under Florida law apply to discrimination and retaliation lawsuits filed under the Florida Civil Rights Act. In Zamora v. Florida Atlantic University, the 4th District Court of Appeal held that the damages caps do apply to such actions when they are filed against the State of Florida and its subdivisions. The amicus brief filed by the Firm argued in favor of applying the caps.

 

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