South Florida Lawyer Roundup

Lots of lawyers in the news today. Alan Greer's client, prominent banking attorney Carlos Loumiet, went on the stand yesterday in the Treasury proceeding regarding failed Hamilton Bank. Sources say Carlos help up ok, not great, but that the prosecution is nowhere near being finished.

I'm not sure Greer's central message -- that this is a "death penalty" case for Loumiet, resonates. Why focus on the consequences of an administrative finding of wrongdoing, rather than whether or not there was wrongdoing in the first place? But then that's why Alan earns the big bucks.

Meanwhile, the law of unintended consequences has arisen to bite Miami lawyer John K. Shubin, and his client, The Related Group, firmly in their well-heeled posteriors. As part of their "aggressive" litigation strategy, The Related Group has been suing various enemies -- real and perceived -- all over town, including Miami City Commissioner Marc D. Sarnoff. The suit against Sarnoff deals with an allegedly defamatory internal memo that Sarnoff prepared.

The suit, of course, brought incredible attention on the memo, which naturally -- in the course of a defamation suit -- has to be part of the public record. Or maybe John knows something we don't.

Oops.

Rushing to voluntarily dismiss the suit in order to maintain the document confidential, Shubin has shown us -- and our clients -- that lawsuits have a way of spinning off in directions no one can predict, and that are hard to control.

Voluntary lawsuits are like voluntary wars -- do not bring them unless you are absolutely certain of the outcome, and even then, think twice.