Friday, August 16, 2013

M. Allison Hunnicutt Celebrates 10th Anniversary as a Martindale Hubbell AV® Preeminent Rated Attorney

M. Allison Hunnicutt has been AV rated for the second time, she was originally AV rated in 2003. She received a rating of 5.0 out of 5.0 from peers from the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review. These ratings and recognitions are extremely helpful when evaluating a lawyer. The AV ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of The Florida Bar, the judiciary, and attorneys. The legal abilities on which Ms. Hunnicutt was rated are based on performance in five key areas. • Legal Knowledge - Lawyer’s familiarity with the laws governing his/her specific area of practice(s) • Analytical Capabilities - Lawyer’s creativity in analyzing legal issues and applying technical knowledge • Judgment - Lawyer’s demonstration of the salient factors that drive the outcome of a given case or issue • Communication Ability - Lawyer’s capability to communicate persuasively and credibly • Legal Experience - Lawyer’s degree of experience in his/her specific area of practice(s) Allison Hunnicutt received her Juris Doctorate from Emory University School of Law, Atlanta, Georgia. She was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1989 and the Texas Bar in 1995. Ms. Hunnicutt practices primarily in the areas of employment law and workers’ compensation. She defends employers (self and market-insured) and carriers throughout the state and at the appellate level as well as advises local and national self and market-insured employers, their carriers and third party servicing agents regarding return to work issues, third party liens, and medical management of claims. Ms. Hunnicutt is also a licensed Florida Property and Casualty Insurance Agent since 1997 and defends agents and agencies in administrative matters and Errors and Omissions claims. The AV® Preeminent™ rating is the pinnacle of excellence earned through a strenuous Peer Review Rating™ process that is managed and monitored by the world's most trusted legal resource - Martindale-Hubbell®

Immigration Attorney Giselle Carson Shares Details on the New Form I-9 Email Address section

When an employee provides an email address on the new Form I-9, employers using E-Verify must enter it into the E-Verify system. The government is using this email to notify employees of three situations: 1) that a tentative nonconfirmation (TNC) or record mismatch has occurred during their employment verification process and needs to be resolved; 2) that the employer referred the TNC case to DHS or SSA as a result of the employee's decision to contest the TNC and the employee has not contacted the appropriate agency to try to resolve the TNC; and 3) that the employee must update his/her records with the SSA post naturalization. This new email notification process does not replace the employer's obligation to notify an employee of a TNC. For additional information, click here. To contact Ms. Carson, click here

Attorney Jill F. Bechtold Named Co-Chair of FDLA Committee

Marks Gray Of Counsel, Jill F. Bechtold has been named as the co-chair of the new “Women & The Law” committee of the FDLA. It is a new committee created and launched by the current members of the FDLA. Ms. Bechtold has a civil litigation practice focusing primarily in the areas of commercial litigation, business litigation, medical and professional liability defense, and professional licensing. Ms. Bechtold is a licensed member of the Florida Bar. Ms. Bechtold has been a member of the Jacksonville Bar Association, Jacksonville Area Defense Counsel, St. John’s Chamber of Commerce and Florida Defense Lawyer Association. She has also been a participating member of the Jacksonville Area Legal Aid referral service and Jacksonville Bar Association Legal Referral Service. Ms. Bechtold has been a Rising Star in 2012 and 2013 by Florida Super Lawyers® Magazine.

Giselle Carson releases Marks Gray's August Immigration Update

USCIS Accepting Same-Sex Marriage Petitions Accepting Same-Sex Marriage Petitions ~ In July, Sec. Napolitano stated "...effective immediately, I have directed USCIS to review immigration visa petitions filed on behalf of a same-sex spouse in the same manner as those filed on behalf of an opposite-sex spouse." Click here to read the Update in its entirety.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Shareholder Giselle Carson and Florida Senator Marco Rubio

Speaking at a recent Jacksonville's Rotary Club meeting, Senator Marco Rubio was not at a loss for words as he spoke about his disapproval for the affordable care act also known as 'Obamacare' to the citizens of Jacksonville. He also highlighted the need for immigration reform, a subject featured by Shareholder Giselle Carson in her blogs, newsletters and public speaking engagements. Click here to see a photo of Ms. Carson and Senator Rubio.

Shareholder Michael D. McCoy named Barrister

Marks Gray Shareholder, Michael D. McCoy was invited to become a Barrister in the Chester Bedell Inn of Court for a three-year team, 2013-2016. Mr. McCoy practice focuses primarily on civil trial defense in the areas of medical malpractice, commercial and construction litigation, automobile personal injury, medical liability, professional liability and products liability. Mr. McCoy was admitted to the Bar in May, 2001. He was recently selected to the 2014 Class of Leadership Jacksonville. The Chester Bedell Inn of Court encourages collegiality among law students, lawyers and judges by promoting professionalism, ethical conduct, and competent advocacy. The Chester Bedell Inn of Court was the first American Inn of Court established in Florida and the fourteenth in the US. The Chester Bedell Inn of Court benefits from the committed efforts of federal and state judges and senior trial lawyers and the enthusiastic interest and involvement of younger lawyers and law students.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Marks Gray, P.A. Receives the Circle of Honor Award

Marks Gray, P.A. receives the Circle of Honor Award from the United Way. The award recognizes companies and organizations at the Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze level. Marks Gray was recognized at the Silver level of which there are four criteria of which two must be met to receive the award. • % of participation - 40%-59% • Employee per capita - $100-$149 • % Employee Campaign Increase - 15%-19% • % Employee Giving to the Community Impact Fund - 80%-84% Shareholder Giselle Carson added, 'This is terrific! Good for Marks Gray and our community.'

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Five Marks Gray Shareholders Included in the 2014 Edition of Best Lawyers in America

Attorneys Jeptha "Jep" F. Barbour, Edward L. Birk, Susan S. Erdelyi, Frederick H. Kent III, and Gerald Weedon were selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2014. Mr. Barbour has also been named the Best Lawyers’ 2014 Jacksonville Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants “Lawyer of the Year” Jeptha F. Barbour – Medical Malpractice Law, Personal Injury Litigation and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants Edward L. Birk - Employment Law - Individual Susan S. Erdelyi - Employment Law - Management Frederick H. Kent III - Banking and Finance Law and Real Estate LawGerald W. Weedon - Commercial Litigation, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants and Real Estate Law Gerald W. Weedon - Commercial Litigation, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants and Real Estate Law “It is a great honor to be recognized by our peers and appear in such a reputable publication within the lgal community” said firm President, Gerald Weedon. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Because Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which more than 36,000 leading attorneys cast almost 4.4 million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas, and because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”

Friday, August 9, 2013

Gerald ‘Jerry’ Weedon Certified for Third Time in Business Litigation by The Florida Bar

Marks Gray, P.A. congratulates Shareholder and President Gerald ‘Jerry’ Weedon on his third re-certification in Business Litigation by the Florida Bar. Mr. Weedon was first certified in this specialty in 1997 and re-certified in 2008. He is also certified by the Florida Bar in civil litigation. The Florida Bar’s certification program is consistently recognized as national leader among other state programs. There are 4,601 board certified attorneys in Florida, but only 234 are board certified in business litigation. Minimum standards for business litigation board certification include: • At least five years of the actual practice of law immediately preceding application, of which at least 30 percent has been spent in active participation in business litigation. • A completion of at least 50 hours of approved continuing legal education credits in business litigation within 3 years immediately preceding the date of application. • Evaluated as to character, ethics, and reputation for professionalism and are required to pass a written examination. Mr. Weedon has been recognized as a Super Lawyer by Florida Super Lawyers magazine consecutively since 2006. He has also been named one of the Best Lawyers in America® and is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell with a rating of 5.0 out of 5.0 from his peers. Jerry Weedon received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida, Levin College of Law. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1976. Mr. Weedon’s practice is focused on litigation and business law including all aspects of insurance, automobile, and trucking liability, business torts, premises liability, real estate, foreclosure and banking law, construction defects, products liability, contracts, corporation and estates and trusts.

Department of Justice Release Discrimination Video

Attorney Giselle Carson shares that the Department of Justice (DOJ) signed an agreement with the National Labor Relations Board to better coordinate and share information over potential employment discrimination practices. At the same time, the DOJ released an educational video about discrimination in employment eligibility verification. The video is intended to a provide information to employers avoid charges of employment discrimination relating to the employment verification Form I-9 process and E-Verify. The video addresses issues often encountered during the verification process such as requesting more documents than allowed. For additional information, click here

Termination Ruling Upheld Following E-Verify Non-Confirmation

In another matter regarding E-Verify, attorney Giselle Carson shared a story regarding an employee filed a document abuse and discrimination claim against his employer after he was terminated based on an E-Verify final nonconformation (FNC) notice. The employer attempted to resolve the TNC which occurred as result of an inconsistency on the status of the employee's citizenship (the employee noted on Form I-9 and insisted during meetings with employer, that he is a U.S. Citizen when in fact he is a legal permanent resident (LPR) which created a record mismatch). The court noted "wholly missing from this scenario is any evidence that could support an inference that [the employer] intended to discriminate against [the employee] on any prohibited basis....the employer wanted to keep the employee but was unable to do so after receiving a FNC from E-Verify". To read the final decision, please click here

Friday, August 2, 2013

Marks Gray Attorney Jill F. Bechtold Named Chair of Girls, Inc. of Jacksonville

Marks Gray, P.A, is pleased to announce that on July 1, 2013, Of Counsel, Jill F. Bechtold was named Chair of the Board of Directors for Girl’s Inc. of Jacksonville, the local chapter of the Girl’s Inc. not-for-profit national organization. Ms. Bechtold was first named to the Board of Directors in 2011 and became the Board’s Chair of the Resource Committee in 2012. During her time as the Resource Committee Chair, Ms. Bechtold helped to create and launch the young professionals division of the Board, G.I.R.L.S. (Girls Inc. Rising Leaders Society). She also led the organization’s fundraisers and promoted partnerships with local community members, including the United Way and Jacksonville Children’s Commission. Ms. Bechtold joined Marks Gray in May 2013. She has a civil litigation practice focusing primarily in the areas of commercial litigation, business litigation, medical and professional liability defense, and professional licensing. Ms. Bechtold received her B.A., (2002) and her J.D. (2005) from the University of Florida. Ms. Bechtold is a licensed member of the Florida Bar. She began her legal career in Miami, Florida defending the cruise line industry in commercial litigation and maritime cases. Since moving to Jacksonville in 2006, Ms. Bechtold has been a member of the Jacksonville Bar Association, Jacksonville Area Defense Counsel, St. John’s Chamber of Commerce and Florida Defense Lawyer Association. She has also been a participating member of the Jacksonville Area Legal Aid Referral Service and Jacksonville Bar Association Legal Referral Service. Ms. Bechtold has been a Rising Star in 2012 and 2013 by Florida Super Lawyers® Magazine. Marks Gray, P.A. is a multi-faceted law firm with offices in Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach. The firm’s attorneys specialize in providing highly personal service while offering clients an experienced legal team whom specialize in a broad spectrum of practice areas. The lawyers at Marks Gray represent national, regional and local clients in a variety of matters. The firms diverse practice includes extensive commercial and professional liability and tort defense litigation as well as banking, real estate, business law, probate, tax law, estate planning, immigration and workers’ compensation. To learn more about Marks Gray, please visit the website, www.marksgray.com.