Faculty Spotlight

Associate Professor Randall Abate

Professor Randy Abate was a speaker on a panel addressing the Gulf oil spill at a symposium held at FAMU College of Law on May 22. Organized by Professor Abrams, the "Contemporary Issues in Water Law" symposium included three panels of scholars and practitioners from throughout the nation that addressed cutting-edge issues in water law in Florida and in the Eastern United States. Professor Abate addressed common law liability issues relating to the Gulf oil spill in his presentation, Exxon Valdez Deja Vu? Common Law Theories and Potential Obstacles to Recovery for the Gulf Oil Spill.

Dean Leroy Pernell

Dean LeRoy Pernell was tapped by two local television stations as a legal expert regarding the Casey Anthony case. NBC affiliate WESH-Orlandoreporter Greg Fox sought insight regarding a motion filed by the defense to have Circuit Judge Stan Strickland recuse himself from the case citing an inappropriate relationship with a Casey blogger. The very next day, news reporter Holly Bristow of FOX affiliate WOFL-Orlando called upon Dean Pernell to provide insight into what the defense team can expect from Chief Judge Belvin Perry, Jr. who took the case after Judge Strickland recused himself. A write up and video of the WESH story can be viewed at the following links: http://www.wesh.com/news/23197786/detail.html
http://www.wesh.com/video/23198433/index.html

The FOX35 story can be viewed at the following link:
http://www.myfoxorlando.com/dpp/news/orange_news/042010newanthony-
judge-seen-as-no-nonsense-jurist

Associate Professor Rhoda Pierre Cato

Associate Professor Rhoda Pierre Cato was contacted by news reporter Jacqueline Fell of Central Florida News 13 to serve as a legal expert regarding the Casey Anthony case. At issue was a motion filed by Anthony’s defense team requesting Judge Stan Strickland recuse himself from the case due to a conflict of interest with a Casey Anthony blogger. The segment aired at 4 p.m. just before Strickland recused himself the same afternoon. Both Dean Pernell and Professor Cato were cited in a blog by Orlando Sentinel reporter Hal Boedecker. The post can be viewed at the following link:
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/?s=cato

Associate Dean Darryll Jones

Darryll Jones, Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development, appeared as a legal expert on a segment of CNBC’s Power Lunch program. “Should PE Hedges Pay More?” examined how the push to raise taxes on hedge funds and private equity is stalling on Capitol Hill. The segment can be viewed at the following link:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1467810605&play=1