Election Spotlight: Florida Health Care Amendment

In November, there will be a total of eleven constitutional amendments on Florida voters' ballots. We want to provide you with information about these amendments so you can make an informed decision, however you vote, when election day comes. Today, we'll spotlight Amendment 1: The Florida Health Care Amendment. 

The Amendment aims to prevent any law which would require a person or employer to purchase or provide for health care coverage in order to comply with the recent federal health care reforms, which are often referred to as “Obamacare.” 

Supporters of the proposed measure argue that the federal health care law is an abuse of federal power, in part because it requires that people buy health insurance. 

Opponents of the proposed measure argue that a constitutional amendment will not protect individuals from the federal reform because the Supremacy Clause in the U.S. Constitution would cause the federal law to override the state law.

Regardless of how you vote on your ballot in November, we encourage you all to get informed on the important issues you are being asked to decide and make your voice heard. 

 

Visit our website to learn more about  The Law Office of Keith R. Taylor, P.A.

What is Judicial Merit Retention?

Among the many important decisions Florida voters will face in November will be a vote on Judicial Merit Retention. Justices and appellate court judges appear on Florida ballots after 6-year terms. Voters are tasked with the decision of whether or not to retain these judges and Justices. This year, there will be three Supreme Court Justices and 15 appellate court judges on Florida's ballots for merit retention vote. However, there are no appellate judges on the ballot for the 5th District Court of Appeals, which is the district where Citrus and Marion counties are located.

Many voters do not know any of the Justices and judges listed on the ballots. We encourage you to get informed on the candidates and their qualifications, and to understand the process of judicial merit retention. You can find more information on the Florida Bar's website, The Vote's in Your Court, or by watching this short video with an introduction from former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. The video is less than ten minutes long and is full of information about how the merit retention system works and how you can make an informed decision in November.

While most citizens don't often consider how our judges and Justices come to be in office, and most don't have regular interactions with them, it is important for every Florida citizen to understand the process involved in electing those individuals tasked with safeguarding justice for our people.

Visit our website to learn more about  The Law Office of Keith R. Taylor, P.A.

Pedestrian Killed on Midway Road

        Late Tuesday night, a pedestrian was struck from behind by motorist Angela Iacobaccio in Silver Springs Shores while walking on Midway Road. The pedestrian, John Bach age 65, was wearing dark clothes and walking just inside the roadway when he was struck at about 11pm according to Sheriff's reports. Officials said the woman did not see Bach and tried to avoid hitting him, but struck him with the right front of her vehicle.

        Iacobaccio, 32, was driving home from work. After the accident, she flagged down another motorist, who took $300.00 from her purse according to deputies. Iacobaccio said that she flagged down a car for help and two women stopped. While they were assisting her, one of the women reached into her front seat and it wasn't until later that Iacobaccio found the $300.00 was missing from her purse. Iacobaccio was not injured in the crash. 

Attorney Adam Czaya Elected as Secretary for Citrus County Bar Association

Associate Attorney Adam A. Czaya

         The Law Office of Keith R. Taylor, P.A. is proud to announce the election of our Associate Attorney, Adam A. Czaya, to the Secretary position for the Citrus County Bar Association. The Citrus County Bar Association is an organization for lawyers, judges, and members of the legal field in Citrus County which promotes attorney professionalism and the administration of justice. Active in Citrus County since 1969, the Citrus County Bar Association provides local legal professionals with opportunities for community involvement through scholarships, community outreach, and public awareness programs.

          The Association held elections at the end of June and will begin meetings for the upcoming year this month. Associate Attorney Steven D. Fichtman served as the Association's President for the past year, and will serve as Past President in an advisory role for the upcoming year. Attorney Adam Czaya is "looking forward to a great year for the C.C.B.A. and a lot of exciting changes and new opportunities for the club and it's members to become involved in the community." All the attorneys at The Law Office of Keith R. Taylor are continuously looking for ways to be more involved in their community in both Citrus and Marion Counties. For more information on how we get involved, visit our website. For more information on the Citrus County Bar Association, visit their blog or facebook page.

Visit our website to learn more about  The Law Office of Keith R. Taylor, P.A.

How Does Social Media Effect a Family Law Case

By: Steven D. Fichtman

In this digital age, we’ve all gotten used to sharing a lot about our lives on our social media accounts. But there are some things that should never be posted! If you’re staying home “sick” from work, don’t talk about your actual whereabouts; if you’re going out of town, don’t tell everyone when your house will be vacant; and don’t post about your ongoing family law case.

There is a good chance your spouse will check your social media accounts and, now, opposing lawyers and even judges are getting in on the act. It is common place in today’s family law cases for participants to use social media to learn more information about you from your social media pages. Sometimes, a person’s Facebook account can provide enough information to lose their family law case.

Often a party will not need to look too far to find messages about a spouse, lawyer, or even the Judge. These messages can be easily saved, printed, and used against you. A good rule of thumb is not to post statements that you would not want your mother to read (or, at the very least, your judge).

Another issue we have run into is that individuals involved in family law cases sometimes post embarrassing photographs of themselves which can also be used in court. While a photograph from a party you went to six months ago may sound like a great image to include in your profile, that same image can be used by an opposing lawyer against you. During your family law case it is not a good idea to post photographs of yourself that you would not want a judge to see. Obviously it will be hard to convince a judge what a wonderful parent you are – even if it’s true – when there are photographs of you intoxicated, incapacitated, or in an uncompromising position available for anyone to see.

The most egregious mistake you can make is to post information you have discussed in communication with your lawyer. Often times in your family law case there is a strategy adopted from the onset which will be used throughout the case and ultimately through to trial. Clients sometimes post those private communications and even trial strategy on their social media accounts. Needless to say, this can be devastating to your family law case as it will not only encourage your spouse to change their behavior, but the opposing lawyer will also learn your strategy and be prepared to defend against it. When information is posted for everyone to see, it may have a devastating impact on your case.

So if you’re involved in a family law case, before you post about your spouse, children, opposing counsel, judges, or communications you had with your lawyer, understand that social media can easily jeopardize your case long before you ever step foot into a courtroom.

What if my will was written in another state?

By: Attorney Adam A. Czaya

Wills written outside of Florida are valid in here in Florida if they were validly written in that state (or country). Florida, however, does not recognize holographic wills (wills that do not have two witness signatures and the signature of the testator). So you will need to make sure that your will does have two witness signatures and your own signature in order for it to be valid here in Florida.

However, even if your will is valid, you may want to consider re-writing your will now that you're here in the Sunshine State. There are advantages to having a Florida will including that Florida allows the testator to create a separate document that distributes tangible personal property without amending their will. Tangible personal property includes things like fur coats, specific pieces of jewelry, or pieces of art. This is very convenient and many people like the advantage of being able to keep a separate list of these tangible personal property items and who they want to leave them to because the process for updating or changing this list is much simpler than revising your will.

A separate writing is only valid if the document is specifically referred to in the will itself. If your will was written in a state that does not allow the use of the separate tangible personal property list, it will most likely not be referred to in your will and you will not be able to take advantage of this convenient statutory provision. More detailed information regarding the separate memorandum distributing tangible personal property can be found at § 732.515, Florida Statutes. If you're considering updating your last will and testament from Florida or from another state, feel free to call our office and schedule a consultation with me.

Marion County Holiday Events for December

There are a number of exciting events and activities going on in Marion County this December to celebrate Christmas. Here are some highlights you won’t want to miss!

December 1, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20 (6:00-8:00 pm) – Santa on the Square Ocala

In downtown Ocala on the square, you can see a festive holiday program including music, snacks, a hay ride and a visit from Santa himself! With lots of dates through December 20^th, there are plenty of chances to join the fun.

December 10^th – Ocala Christmas Parade (5:30 pm)

Beginning at 5:30 pm, the Ocala Christmas Parade will take place on East Silver Springs Boulevard. The parade attracts over 60,000 spectators every year. Bleacher seats are available for $9 each. To reserve a seat or for more information, see the parade website (http://www.ocalamarionchristmasparade.com/).

December 17^th – Greater Dunnellon Christmas Parade (5:30pm)

Traveling on East and West Pennsylvania, the parade will begin at 5:30. If you would like to help volunteer before, during or after the parade contact Charlene Williams at 465-0668. Applications to enter floats are still being accepted and can be picked up at Superior Bank on Williams.