May 16, 2013 – Filings for the Florida Supreme Court

May 16, 2013 – Filings for the Florida Supreme Court

SC09-1—Michael Joseph Griffin v. State of Florida & SC09-1894—Michael Joseph Griffin v. Michael D. Crews, etc.
SC10-1295—Angela Samples, etc., et al v. Florida Birth Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association
SC11-830—City of Palm Bay v. Wells Fargo, N.A.
SC11-2513—Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. v. Barbara J. Phillips, etc., et al.

sc09-1
sc10-1295
sc11-830
sc11-2513

Jackie Hallifax
Deputy PIO
Florida Supreme Court
(850) 414-7641
hallifaj@flcourts.org

Sachs Media Promotes Jon Peck to VP of Public Relations

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Sachs Media Group, Florida’s dominant public affairs communications firm, today announced that veteran communications professional Jon Peck has been promoted to the new position of Vice President of Public Relations. Peck will help direct the activities of the firm’s award-winning public relations team on behalf of its extensive roster of clients. … Continue Reading

Space Florida Hosts Spaceport Master Plan Public Workshop

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (APRIL 22, 2013) *– Today, Space Florida announced a public workshop to request comment on its 2013 Cape Canaveral Spaceport Master Plan. The plan, compiled every two to three years, provides information to guide Space Florida in its efforts to modernize and expand infrastructure at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport. BRPH is leading the development of the Spaceport Master Plan for Space Florida. … Continue Reading

AIF & CEA Call for Approval of Keystone XL Pipeline

TALLAHASSEE – Associated Industries of Florida (AIF), in partnership with the Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), recruited 27,787 Florida residents who petitioned the U.S. Department of State to approve construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline because of the jobs, energy and economic security generated by the project. “Stronger energy security and lower fuel prices aren’t the only things that come with the new Keystone XL Pipeline. … Continue Reading

Gov. Scott Announces iStorage to Establish Headquarters in Winter Garden; Create 36 Jobs

CONTACT: GOVERNOR’S PRESS OFFICE (850) 717-9282

WINTER GARDEN – Governor Rick Scott today announced that iStorage (Storage Management and Leasing Co.), a company that owns and operates storage facilities nationwide, is establishing its corporate headquarters in Winter Garden. This expansion will add 36 positions to the company’s 12-member staff and includes a $3.02 million capital investment by the company.

Governor Rick Scott said, “Everything we do in Florida is geared toward job creation, and it’s working. The news that iStorage is establishing its corporate headquarters in Florida is more proof that we are implementing policies to create more jobs for Florida families. Over the last two years, Florida has created more than 320,000 private sector jobs and our unemployment rate continues to drop.” … Continue Reading

Florida Taxpayer Independence Day is April 21

PRESS CONTACT:
Anthony Camacho or Chris Barry 850.222.5052

TALLAHASSEE – Did you know that the average Florida household must work 111 out of 365 days this year just to pay their taxes?

This year, April 21, is Florida Taxpayer Independence Day 2013 because it will be the first day of the year where your earnings will be yours, instead of going to pay your taxes, as estimated by Florida TaxWatch. This is four days later than last year, and a full work week after Tax Day on April 15, the deadline for Americans to file their federal income taxes.

Taxpayer Independence Day 2013 comes four days later than it did last year, mostly due to increasing federal taxes and a slowly recovering economy that is starting to grow state tax collections again.

“This year’s four-day increase in tax burden results in the second year in a row that tax independence come later the year before, but the day still falls 10 days earlier than it did in 2006,” said Dominic M. Calabro, President & CEO of Florida TaxWatch. “Although Floridians’ personal income is starting to grow again, Floridians’ total tax bill is expected to rise faster.” … Continue Reading

Poll: Americans would give up sex before smartphones

Smartphones and caffeine top the list of things people can’t live without

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Forty years after Motorola engineer Martin Cooper stood on a New York City street corner and made the first cell phone call, a new poll finds that Americans are twice as willing to go without sex for a week than a smartphone.

The Sachs Media Group poll conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research asked what respondents would be least willing to give up for a week, given a choice between sex, smart phone, alcohol or caffeine. … Continue Reading

Sachs Media Group Named Agency of Record for the National League of Cities

TALLAHASSEE – Sachs Media Group today announced it has been named agency of record for the National League of Cities (NLC), America’s leading advocate for local government. Sachs Media Group is among the nation’s top public affairs communications firms and will raise the NLC’s public profile while working to enhance the League’s ambitious agenda for helping city leaders build better communities.

Serving cities is a core function of Sachs Media Group. The Florida League of Cities became Sachs Media Group’s first client in 1996 and remains a client today.

“We’re proud and excited to work with the National League of Cities to help push forward its mission to protect community interests, seek federal funding for local investments, and keep national attention focused on what neighborhoods need across the country,” said Ron Sachs, president and CEO of Sachs Media Group. “Surveys keep showing how local government is the most trusted level of government. From challenges to ‘home rule’ to the burden that unfunded mandates place on taxpayers, our long history with the Florida League of Cities has given us a strong appreciation for the great challenges facing our cities and towns.” … Continue Reading

Sachs Media Group Nationally Ranked Among Top 100 Public Relations Firms in the U.S., with Largest Growth in Florida’s Capital Region

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Sachs Media Group, formerly Ron Sachs Communications, this week was named one of the top independent public relations firms in Florida and top 100 firms in the nation by O’Dwyer’s PR Report. The newly rebranded firm showed the greatest business growth of any communications firm in Florida’s Capital region in 2012.

This year, Sachs Media Group was ranked 74th nationally and is one of four Florida firms represented in the U.S.’ top 100 list, along with the Tallahassee-based Zimmerman Agency and Miami-based rbb Public Relations and Max Borges Agency. … Continue Reading

AIA Florida Selected To Receive Top Award For 100th Anniversary Celebration

Tallahassee, Fla. – The Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Florida) has been selected to receive a Component Excellence Award from the American Institute of Architects for its public outreach in the celebration of the association’s 100th anniversary. … Continue Reading

Sachs Media Adds Two Veteran Communications Professionals, Deepening Firm’s Leadership in New Multimedia Era

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Solidifying its reach in new media directions, award-winning Sachs Media Group today announced the addition of two veteran communicators who add extensive expertise in digital and broadcast media to the firm’s already impressive roster. This announcement comes in the wake of the firm’s rebranding and positions it to better meet the challenges of an ever-changing communications landscape.

Sachs Media deepens its strong capabilities with the addition of 11-year Florida television and radio newsman Trimmel Gomes, the award-winning statewide news director of Florida Public Radio; and strengthens its digital media and public affairs expertise with Peter Dowling, a former Marine counter-terrorism team leader who most recently has been a writer and editor within a key unit of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in Washington.

“Sachs Media is adding additional muscle and expertise to the strongest professional team in our industry anywhere in Florida,” said founder and CEO Ron Sachs. “The addition of Trimmel Gomes and Peter Dowling boosts that capability as we ramp up to a more dominant position in the ever-changing space of modern media.” … Continue Reading

Service Contracts Grow in Popularity as New Cars Become More Expensive to Repair

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – As new cars make their debut on the nation’s biggest car sales weekend of the year, more buyers than ever before will decide to purchase a service contract to cover the cost to repair their new ride.

Service contracts are an increasingly popular choice among consumers as car repair costs rise, according to the Service Contract Industry Council (SCIC).

The SCIC estimates that consumers bought more than 10 million service contracts in 2012 for both new and used vehicles. Those service contracts covered 95 percent of annual claims filed, including repairs necessary due to normal wear and tear, providing coverage above and beyond a traditional manufacturer’s warranty. … Continue Reading

New Capitol Consulting Begins Operations

~ Focused on Public Sector Business Development for Information Technology and Business Processing Services Industry in Florida ~

 Tallahassee, Florida – New Capitol Consulting, a governmental business development consulting and lobbying firm, announces that it is now open and has begun operations.  With offices in the heart of Florida’s capital city, the firm specializes in helping companies in the information technology industry do business with Florida government.

The firm’s founder and CEO, Chuck Cliburn, is a long-time Tallahassee resident and business leader. The former executive with both Unisys and Xerox/ACS has more than two decades of first-hand experience working with the State of Florida. Cliburn will continue to work closely with Florida leaders, industry and stakeholder organizations to identify, promote and implement innovative technology-based solutions that enable more efficient and cost-effective government operations. New Capitol Consulting will leverage this experience and expertise to help its clients navigate the complexities of doing business with the State of Florida. … Continue Reading

“Coventry Shield” Fills a Florida Insurance Market Void

Coventry Insurance Services and KnightBrook Insurance Co. have teamed up to offer the Coventry Shield Valuable Personal Articles Coverage, an “all-risk” coverage policy for valuables that are not covered adequately or at all under typical homeowners’ policies: fine jewelry, silverware, fine art, furs, cameras, golf and other valuable sports equipment, musical instruments and other types of property with special value or qualities.

Coventry Shield coverage will be available only to Florida Association of Insurance Agents members through FAIA’s in-house general agency, FAIA Member Services, starting February 15, 2013.   … Continue Reading

Goodwill Big Bend Launches Donate Movement to Help Consumers Reduce Waste and Improve Communities

~ New “D” Icon on Donatable Items to Become Universal Symbol ~

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Hoping to spark a movement with huge environmental and social benefits, Goodwill Industries – Big Bend, Inc. is launching a local version of the national “Donate Movement”.  This public awareness campaign is to emphasize the positive impact that donating clothing and other household goods can have on communities and the planet.

Along with the launch of the “Donate Movement,” Goodwill Big Bend is introducing a new “D” donation icon which represents responsible donating. The hope is that the symbol will become universally known for donating like the universal three arrow recycling symbol. … Continue Reading

Ron Sachs Communications Named Agency of Record for Service Contract Industry Council

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Ron Sachs Communications, one of Florida’s top independent communications firms and among the top 100 in the nation, has been named Agency of Record for the Service Contract Industry Council. In this capacity, the firm will be providing strategic communications consultation and support.

The Service Contract Industry Council (SCIC) is a national trade association that works with state lawmakers and regulatory agencies across the country to develop fair and uniform regulation to protect consumers, and is an advocate for the regulation of the service contract industry. … Continue Reading

Miami Beach Community Health Center Files Suit Against Former Accounting Firms For Negligence and Fraud

~ Seeks compensation over firms’ failure to reveal $6.8 million theft by former CEO ~

MIAMI BEACH, FL – The Miami Beach Community Health Center (MBCHC) has filed suit against McGladrey LLP and CohnReznick LLP, its two former independent public accounting firms, for their failure to reveal a $6.8 million theft by the Center’s former longtime CEO. The former executive, Kathryn Abbate, was fired last year after her wrongdoing was uncovered.

The suit, filed in Miami-Dade Circuit Court (Case No. 12-47887 CA 23), alleges that the two auditing firms committed negligence, gross negligence and fraud in the performance of their professional duties.   … Continue Reading

Ron Sachs Communications Nationally Recognized for Third Straight Year by Bulldog Reporter

~Takes Home Top Award in Nation for Health Care Social Media Campaign ~

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —For the third straight year, Ron Sachs Communications has been awarded a prestigious Bulldog Award, this time receiving the top award in the nation in the category of “Best Health/Fitness/Medicine Digital/Social Campaign” for the firm’s work on the Water Quality & Health Council’s “Healthy Pools” Campaign. The Bulldog Awards are coveted among communications professionals because they are the only public relations awards judged exclusively by working journalists and bloggers.

In addition to the national first-place Gold Award, Ron Sachs Communications received Best Online/Social Media Community of the Year Bronze (top three) recognition for the Consumer Federation of the Southeast’s “Protect People with Brain Injuries” campaign.

These awards continue a streak of Bulldog honors for Ron Sachs Communications. The firm won the National Silver Bulldog Award for “Best Education/Public Service Campaign” in 2012 and was named one of the nation’s “Top Three Public Affairs and Crisis Firms” by the respected industry journal. In 2011, Ron Sachs Communications won Bulldog’s celebrated national “PR Agency of the Year” Gold Award for outstanding achievement by communications agencies and professionals among firms its size. … Continue Reading

President and CEO Tom Feeney Announces New AIF Governmental Affairs Team

5th Annual Robby’s Reef ‘Fun’raiser’ Features Local Bands

TALLAHASSEE, FL, December 6, 2012 – A showcase of local bands is once again the heart of the 5th Annual “Robby’s Reef Fun’raiser” (www.robbysreef.org), which takes place 6:00 pm to midnight the day after Christmas, December 26th, at the American Legion Hall at Lake Ella.

Local and visiting musicians are donating their talent and will be entertaining young and old from 6:00 p.m. to midnight. Tickets are $20 and all funds raised – including sales from t-shirts, Red Elephant pizza and license tags – will go to the nonprofit Organization for Artificial Reefs (OAR). … Continue Reading