Firm News
Gulf Power Granted Permission for Rate Hike
KAGM partner Jon Moyle was recently quoted in two local newspapers for articles about the approval of a 4% rate hike by Gulf Power. Mr. Moyle, who represents Florida Industrial Power Users Group, a group of large users of electricity that advocates for affordable rates and reliable electricity, stressed that with a sluggish economy, “now is not the time” for a raise in rates.
Read the Northwest Florida Daily News article HERE
Read the Pensacola News Journal article here: HERE
Update on Insurance Reform
Governor Scott recently signed into law an insurance reform bill (Senate Bill 408) that will have significant consequences for consumers in the case of a catastrophic hurricane. Insurance companies will only pay the “Actual Cash Value” (ACV) of a damaged property, leaving it up to the property owner to pay the difference between the ACV and the cost of repair. Only after the owner has paid for the replacement work will the insurance company reimburse them for the full cost of repair.
“Upshot”: Property owners should be prepared to have cash on hand to cover the gap between the cost of repair and the amount of money their insurance company will reimburse them in the event of a hurricane. It may be wise to establish an emergency line of credit to help cover the cost of repair in the aftermath of the storm.
Expedia v. Broward County
Keefe Anchors Gordon & Moyle is part of the legal team assisting Broward County and Osceola County in litigation against online travel company Expedia and others. The case centers on whether Expedia and other major online travel companies owe millions of dollars in tourist-development taxes to local governments. Expedia and other internet-based travel companies charge customers for room rentals and add tax and fees to the amount charged to the customer. However, the internet companies do not pay tax on the retail rate the customer pays for the room, and instead pay tax only on the wholesale rate that the internet companies pay the hotel.
Broward County argues that Florida law is clear that the tax should also apply to the retail rate that the internet company charges customers. In addition to claims based on failure to pay the tax due and owing, Broward County has pending claims for conversion and civil theft.
With the Emerald Coast’s tourist-driven economy, this case has important implications for local government. Check back for further updates as this case progresses.
KAGM Partner Jon Moyle Quoted in Forbes Article
KAGM partner Jon Moyle was recently quoted in an article on Forbes.com about the future of a proposed nuclear power plant to be built by Progress Energy in Levy County. Mr. Moyle, who represents Florida Industrial Power Users Group, a group of large users of electricity that advocates for affordable rates and reliable electricity, is working against an increase in energy rates for consumers that Progress Energy will use to pay for the future construction of the plant. Mr. Moyle and other opponents of the rate increase allege that the plant will end up costing more than predicted, be delayed, and may not even be built, but customers are still being asked to pay hundreds of millions of dollars now for the project.
Click HERE to read the full article on Forbes.com.
Courthouse Annex Extension Nears Completion
After almost 20 years of debate over how to relieve crowding at the aging courthouse annex in Shalimar, the county will have a modern facility.
While opponents have decried its price tag, supporters say it was the only solution to the lack of access and security at the annex. Perhaps most importantly, the new courthouse enabled the county to avoid a trial over the annex’s non-compliance under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
“Courthouses are the one place where we all seek equality, and yet the courthouse we have in Shalimar doesn’t enable equality,” said local attorney Michelle Anchors. (The annex extension) is truly needed to protect the public and give those people in and out of the courhouse every day a place to be that’s safe and healthy.
The building’s six courtrooms are also larger, with wood paneling and trim. They also are equipped with the latest technology, such as video monitors in the jury boxes and witness stands.
“Using technology can be a real benefit to the lawyers, the judges at the jury,” Anchors said. “In our present courtrooms, we can’t take advantage of what technology offers.”
As attention turns to the future, some observers speculate that the new annex extension could spur development nearby.
Anchors’ law firm- Keefe, Anchors, Gordon & Moyle- moved to a new office on Lewis Turner Boulevard in February because of its proximity to the judicial center, Northwest Florida Regional Airport and Air Force bases.
Anchors said the annex extension is a “large, well staffed, frequently visited building” that is likely to bring with it economic growth and redevelopment of existing buildings.
“I think that happened in Shalimar,” she said. “There’s a wonderful opportunity for businesses that support just the day-to-day needs of people.”
Article Excerpt from the Northwest Florida Daily News
For more information visit: http://www.nwfdailynews.com/articles/walton-42875-fort-judicial.html
County reaches final settlement in ADA lawsuit
Okaloosa County commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved a final settlement with a man who filed a lawsuit in 2006 to force the Shalimar courthouse annex to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Wayne Smith, who uses a wheelchair, served as a juror in 2005 and struggled to get around the aging courthouse annex. The 1970s-era facility was never brought fully into compliance with the ADA law of 1990, which requires that public buildings be accessible to the disabled.
Under the terms of the final settlement, the county will pay Smith $25,000.
“We’re very pleased with it because it turned out best for everybody,” said Bob Kerrigan, Smith’s attorney.
Kerrigan said it was unfortunate that litigation was necessary and the annex’s deficiencies weren’t the fault of today’s county commissioners.
He praised the county for going ahead with plans to build the new judicial center now under construction on Lewis Turner Boulevard.
County Administrator Jim Curry said the construction of the new judicial center “is really what allowed this case to be settled.”
“We were facing hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees just to litigate this case,” he said
The final settlement also calls for dedicating the jury assembly room in the new judicial center as the “Wayne E. Smith Jury Assembly Room.”
“It’s a high compliment to him,” Kerrigan said.
Smith was never looking for a large payout but instead wanted to “remedy a terrible problem.”
In early April, the county reached a partial settlement with Smith. Under that agreement, Okaloosa paid $55,996.79 of Smith’s $66,814.97 in legal costs. The county also paid $9,225 in attorney’s fees to the firm of Clark, Partington, Hart, Larry, Bond & Stackhouse.
The law firms of Kerrigan, Estess, Rankin, McLeod & Thompson and Keefe Anchors Gordon & Moyle — which represent Smith — waived their fees.
Article excerpt from Northwest Florida Daily News.
For more Information visit:
http://www.nwfdailynews.com/
FORT WALTON BEACH – Larry Keefe, partner at Keefe, Anchors, Gordon & Moyle, was recently appointed to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Florida College of Law.
Keefe practices in the areas of business and commercial litigation, insurance claim and coverage litigation, real estate litigation, construction litigation, employment law litigation and condominium/homeowner’s association litigation. Keefe graduated with honors from the University of Florida, earning his B.S. in Journalism in 1983 and J.D. in 1986.
Larry Keefe named “Super Lawyer”
Portfolio
Magazine recognizes ‘Super Attorney’
Larry Keefe, partner at Keefe, Anchors, Gordon & Moyle was recently named a Florida Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers magazine.
Highlighting the top 5 percent of Florida attorneys overall, candidates are selected through an extensive process of peer nominations, blue ribbon panel review and independent research. For the past six years, Keefe has been named a Florida Super Lawyer.
Super Lawyers is an annual guide that names the outstanding attorneys in each state. The comprehensive and diverse directory of attorneys is used as a resource for attorneys and consumers searching for legal counsel.
Keefe practices in the areas of business and commercial litigation, insurance claim and coverage litigation, real estate litigation, construction litigation, employment law litigation and condominium/homeowner’s association litigation. Keefe graduated with honors from the University of Florida, earning his B.S. in Journalism in 1983 and J.D. in 1986.
Excerpt taken from North West Florida Daily News. Read more at NWF Daily News online editon.
KAGM in the News
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MOYLE LAW FIRM
Larry Keefe, who grew up in the area, can’t give a short answer for the relocation of the law firm of Keefe, Anchors, Gordon and Moyle. The reasons are extensive, but the location is perfect.
“First and foremost, we’re a growing law firm, and we needed more space,” Keefe said of the move that took place last month. The group of lawyers is housed in a new building that accommodates the expansion of the firm.
Growth and easy access to the courthouse aside, Keefe said that Lewis Turner Boulevard offers easy access to so many areas within the county. The office is near the Northwest Florida Regional Airport, near Eglin Air Force Base, an easy trip from Hurlburt Field, close to the Crestview connector, and still within Fort Walton Beach.
“It makes all the perfect sense when you combine all those factors,” Keefe said.
As the first law firm to make the jump to Lewis Turner, Keefe said he sees more businesses discovering the area, which opens possibilities for growth in all areas of commerce.
LOCATION: 2113 Lewis Turner Blvd., Suite 100, near the new Okaloosa County Courthouse
OFFICE HOURS: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays
TELEPHONE: 863-1974
E-MAIL: info@kagmlaw.com
WEBSITE: www.kagmlaw.com
Exerpt reprinted from Northwest Florida Daily News.
For more information visit the NWF Daily News online edition.
KAGM attorney Matt Gaetz was recently recognized by News Service of Florida as one of the state’s 25 rising political stars under the age of 30. The list acknowledges young Floridians making a name for themselves in politics and law. Gaetz’s re-election to the House of Representatives in November made him a stand-out candidate for this honor.