Not a decade too soon, Florida’s State Courts System is entering the social media age.
To serve the courts’ larger mission and fulfill the Court Communication Plan for the Judicial Branch of Florida, the Office of State Courts Administrator has launched social media to reach out to the citizens of the state, provide essential news and offer information about the work of the judicial branch. The effort will provide information about OSCA, the administrative arm of the State Courts System, as well as highlight the work and social media of other courts around the state.
“This is the right time to expand into social media,” said State Courts Administrator PK Jameson. “Courts are not early adopters. We do put to use proven methods to help the administration of justice and now is the right time to reach out with these incredible tools.”
From news released on Twitter to videos featuring compelling stories on Facebook, from job postings and court education information on LinkedIn to photos of historic courthouses on Instagram, the social media accounts will provide content about the work of the Office of State Courts Administrator as well as district and circuit courts around Florida. Those courts are increasingly using social media themselves. The Florida Supreme Court has for more than seven years effectively used social media to announce opinion releases and has itself expanded into other social media.
Judges and court personnel have a special responsibility to maintain their impartiality. The social media initiative will respect that duty and adhere to the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct.
“Courts as an institution and the people who work in them are deliberative by nature. We don’t rush into anything and there is a purpose to what we do,” Jameson said. “It is important for the courts to communicate about the great work being done for the people of Florida, recognize the successes of our judicial branch and make sure we’re providing information that furthers our mission.”
Florida’s State Courts System is now on
Twitter at @Florida_Courts
Facebook at Florida Courts
LinkedIn at Florida Office of State Courts Administrator
Instagram at FloridaCourts
Insurance Company Employee Arrested for Stealing $1 Million from Employer
Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater today announced the recent arrest of Jennifer Summerlott, a licensed Customer Service Representative, following a scheme that allegedly bilked her Ft. Lauderdale-based employer, Fairway Insurance Group, LLC (Fairway) out of more than $1 million. Summerlott is accused of orchestrating an elaborate scheme to defraud her employer through the use of fake insurance invoices to reroute company funds for her personal financial benefit.
Summerlott served as the accounts payable and commercial lines manager for Fairway from 2006-2015. In 2015, account irregularities were noticed by other Fairway staff members who, after suspecting that they might have uncovered insurance fraud, reported their findings to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. The case was referred to insurance fraud investigators within the Department of Financial Services’ Division of Investigative and Forensic Services (DIFS).
The subsequent investigation revealed that between 2010 and 2015, Summerlott allegedly created and submitted dozens of fake electronic invoices that were supposedly from various insurance companies that regularly conducted business with Fairway. Summerlott would then prepare company checks tied to Fairway’s company account to pay these fabricated invoices. Doing so enabled Summerlott to retrieve the fake payments and divert them to a personal bank account.
In addition, DIFS’ investigation found that Summerlott refinanced 40 insurance policies that Fairway clients had previously paid in full. As a result, Fairway received checks from third-party financing agencies to cover the cost of the insurance premiums. Summerlott used those payments to cover up the massive company losses that accrued as a result of her fake invoice scheme.
Summerlott was arrested February 27, 2017, and transported to the Broward County Jail. She has been charged with four first-degree felonies, including organized scheme to defraud, grand theft, criminal use personal ID and diverting insurance trust funds.
This case will be prosecuted by the Broward State Attorney’s Office, 17th Judicial Circuit. If convicted, Summerlott faces up to 30 years in prison.
Cape Coral woman claims top prize in new $500,000 GOLD RUSH DOUBLER Scratch-Off game
Sharon Halek poses with her oversized check after claiming a top prize
in the $500,000 GOLD RUSH DOUBLER Scratch-Off game.
The Florida Lottery announces that Sharon Halek, 60, of Cape Coral, claimed a top prize in the $500,000 GOLD RUSH DOUBLER Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. She purchased her winning ticket from Circle K, located at 2808 Del Prado Boulevard in Cape Coral.
The new $5 Scratch-Off game, $500,000 GOLD RUSH DOUBLER, launched on January 17, and features more than $182.8 million in prizes, including 44 top prizes of $500,000. The game’s overall odds of winning are one-in-3.98.
Scratch-Off games are an important part of the Lottery’s portfolio of games, comprising approximately 65 percent of ticket sales and generating more than $734 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) in fiscal year 2015-16.
Vance Aloupis Files to Run for State House District 115 Seat
Vance Aloupis, CEO of The Children’s Movement of Florida, has filed to run in 2018 for State Representative as a Republican in House District 115. The current state legislator for HD 115 is Rep. Michael Bileca, who will be term-limited.
“For the past seven years, I’ve traveled throughout every part of Florida to bring attention to our state’s most valuable natural resource — our children,” said Aloupis. “It’s with that continued commitment to education and opportunity for all — founded within a steadfast determination to serve both my district and our state — that I proudly announce my candidacy for the Florida House.”
Aloupis, 33, practiced law for several years after graduating from the University of Miami and the University Miami School of Law. He quickly realized his passion for public service and recognized Florida’s need for education and public policy reform. In 2010, he joined The Children’s Movement, one of the state’s most significant early childhood organizations, where he now serves as the CEO. Through his leadership, Aloupis has built support for smart investments in early education and common sense policies that will ensure a competitive workforce in Florida.
“As we eagerly anticipate the 2018 election, I look forward to meeting with the voters in District 115 and discussing our community’s priorities so I can best represent them in Tallahassee,” Aloupis added.
Aloupis lives in Miami with his wife, Mariella, and their two daughters Isabella (5) and Aria (3).
Political advertisement paid for and approved by Vance Aloupis,
Republican, for State Representative, District 115.
People can help nesting sea turtles!
Green Turtle Nesting
Photo courtesy of FWC
March is the beginning of Florida’s sea turtle nesting season, when female sea turtles leave the ocean to dig nests and lay golf ball-size eggs in the sand.
People can help sea turtles that nest on Florida’s beaches at night by leaving the beach as natural as possible. To do this, beachgoers should remove beach furniture and other obstacles before sunset each day.
“Anyone spending time on Florida’s beaches can do something to help save Florida’s threatened and endangered sea turtles. People’s actions on the beach can have a positive impact on whether our loggerhead, leatherback and green sea turtles nest successfully,” said Dr. Robbin Trindell, who leads the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) sea turtle management program.
“Whether you are a resident or a visitor, remember to take beach furniture, boats and canopies off Florida’s sandy beaches at night so these items won’t block sea turtles attempting to nest,” Trindell said. “When departing at the end of the day, beach visitors should fill any holes dug in the sand so nesting and hatchling turtles don’t become trapped. Please be careful not to disturb nesting sea turtles by getting too close, shining lights on them or taking flash photos.”
At this time of year, FWC-authorized marine turtle permit holders and volunteers begin their annual ritual too – walking beaches in the morning to look for “crawls” resembling tire tracks. Crawls indicate a sea turtle has landed and nested on a beach the previous night. On some of the beaches, nests are marked with a yellow sign and plastic tape, since sea turtles and their eggs are protected. This monitoring continues through October, the official end of sea turtle nesting season.
Exactly when sea turtle nesting season starts depends on where you are in Florida. While it begins in March on the Atlantic coast, it starts later in the spring, in late April or May, along the Gulf coast. Yet wherever you are in the state, what you do on the beach can make a significant difference on whether sea turtles nest successfully.
In the 2016 sea turtle nesting season, more than 120,000 loggerhead nests, more than 5,000 green turtle nests and over 1,000 leatherback nests were documented by the FWC. With Florida hosting nearly 90 percent of loggerhead nests within this species’ northern Atlantic Ocean population, the state plays an important role in its conservation.
You can help sea turtles by reporting those that are sick, injured, entangled or dead to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline, 888-404-FWCC (3922), #FWC or *FWC on a cellphone, or text [email protected]. Purchase of a “Helping Sea Turtles Survive” Florida license plate at Buyaplate.com contributes to sea turtle research, rescue and conservation efforts. People also can donate $5 and receive an FWC sea turtle decal.
Go to MyFWC.com/SeaTurtle for information on Florida’s sea turtles and how to get decals, and click on “Research,” then “Nesting” for more data on sea turtle nesting.
State Sen. Audrey Gibson urges veterans' health care to remain top priority under new administration
Senator Gibson, who chairs the state Senate Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security wants less red tape and more access to health care for vets
In a letter to the newly confirmed Secretary of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, state Senator Audrey Gibson is urging David Shulkin to retain the health care of military veterans as his top priority.
“As you may know, with over 1.5 million veterans, the state of Florida is home to the third largest veteran population in the nation,” wrote the Jacksonville Democrat, who chairs the state Senate’s Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security in a letter sent earlier this month to Secretary Shulkin. “It is the utmost concern of the Committee that Florida’s veterans receive the quality health care promised to them by their government in return for their honorable military service.”
Top among Senator Gibson’s recommendations are reducing the scheduling and wait times for medical services, the delay in veterans’ access to care through the Choice Program, and a more expeditious examination of the prevalance of PTSD among warriors returning home from deployment.
A holdover from President Barack Obama’s administration and the VA’s former undersecretary of health, Secretary Shulkin was unanimously confirmed by the full U.S. Senate in mid-February. He has vowed not only greater transparency and better care access, but opposition to any attempts to privatize the critical federal agency.
Mast Statement on President’s Address to Joint Session of Congress
U.S. Congressmen Brian Mast (FL-18) released the following statement after the President’s address to a joint session of Congress:
“We live in an incredible country where we can all voice our concerns and play a role in the direction of the United States. Last week, I hosted a four-hour town hall meeting where I stayed to answer every question, and it’s clear that people are passionately engaged. Tonight, I was glad to hear a vision of bipartisanship to try to bridge differences that exist. While we may not agree on every issue, I do believe there is more that unites us than divides us, by far.
“I share a desire with all Americans to make our communities and our country safer. As a 12-year Army veteran injured fighting for a country I love, I know as well as any that our enemies in the Middle East literally want to destroy our way of life. Ensuring our military has the resources needed to protect our country and that our veterans have the resources they need when they return home are absolutely critical priorities in the President’s budget request.
“I also share a desire with all Americans to leave the next generation in a better place than we are now. For far too long, Washington has avoided the responsibility to set and live by a budget—a responsibility that families and small businesses are forced to take on every year. Tax-more, spend-more policies have seriously jeopardized our children’s future by driving our country deep into debt. We must work together, with Members on both sides of the aisle, to restore fiscal sanity in Washington—asking government to do more with less instead of asking the American people to do with less.
“Reducing our debt alone is not enough. Improving our country for our children’s generation also means working to improve our schools, protect our environment, strengthen Social Security and Medicare and more. I am deeply alarmed by reports of severe, across-the-board cuts to the EPA and other agencies that are critical to our quality of life in Florida. On behalf of our community, I will continue working to hold the Administration accountable for any actions that threaten our environment and our way of life.
“I’m committed to working with anyone who shares this positive vision for our country and who wants to make Washington work for the American people again. Together, we must put people before politics.”
Governor Rick Scott Appoints Nine to Florida Independent Living Council
Governor Rick Scott announced today the appointment of nine to the Florida Independent Living Council.
Jose “Ernie” Martinez, 53, of Miami, is a disability advocate for the Center for Independent Living of South Florida. He succeeds Carol Ann Christopherson and is appointed for a term beginning February 28, 2017, and ending June 30, 2019.
Thomas DeLilla, 66, of Miami, is the former bureau chief for the Department of Health. He succeeds John Douglas and is appointed for a term beginning February 28, 2017, and ending June 30, 2019.
Andree Aubrey, 61, of Tallahassee, is the director of the Area Health Education Center at the Florida State University College of Medicine. She fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning February 28, 2017, and ending June 30, 2019.
Frank Cherry, 72, of Cantonment, is the executive director of the Center for Independent Living Disability Resource Center of Pensacola. He succeeds Jeannette Kicklighter and is appointed for a term beginning February 28, 2017, and ending June 30, 2019.
Robert Cox, 50, of Lynn Haven, is the executive director of the Disability Resource Center of Panama City. He succeeds Jesus Garcia and is appointed for a term beginning February 28, 2017, and ending June 30, 2019.
Sara Gaver, 23, of Jacksonville, is a therapy audit clerk at Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital. She succeeds Patricia Lipovsky and is appointed for a term beginning February 28, 2017, and ending June 30, 2019.
Tasha Turner, 27, of Key Largo, is a consumer specialist for the Center for Independent Living of the Keys. She succeeds Kathleen Abels and is appointed for a term beginning February 28, 2017, and ending June 30, 2019.
Nicole Attong, of Miami, is the director of operations for Florida International University, Embrace. She fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning February 28, 2017, and ending June 30, 2017.
Whitney Harris, 26, of Tallahassee, is the special projects coordinator for the Florida Chamber Foundation. She fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning February 28, 2017, and ending June 30, 2019.
Naples man claims $1 million prize playing $5,000,000 MONOPOLY FLORIDA EDITION Scratch-Off game
Richard Mizerski poses with his oversized check after claiming a $1 million prize
in the $5,000,000 MONOPOLY FLORIDA EDITION Scratch-Off game.
The Florida Lottery announces that Richard Mizerski, 60, of Naples, claimed a $1 million prize in the $5,000,000 MONOPOLY™ FLORIDA EDITION Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $770,000.
“I can’t believe my good fortune,” Mizerski said. “I’m planning to use my winnings to travel and spend time with friends in different parts of the world.”
Mizerski purchased his winning ticket from Tollgate Shell, located at 3825 Tollgate Boulevard in Naples. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.
The $20 Scratch-Off game, $5,000,000 MONOPOLY FLORIDA EDITION, launched in July 2016, and features more than $346 million in prizes, including six top prizes of $5,000,000 and 20 prizes of $1 million! The game’s overall odds of winning are one-in-2.97.
Scratch-Off games are an important part of the Lottery’s portfolio of games, comprising approximately 65 percent of ticket sales and generating more than $734 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) in fiscal year 2015-16.
Sen. Linda Stewart to highlight Black Bear Act filed for 2017 legislative session
State Senator Linda Stewart (D-Orlando) and Rep. Amy Mercado (D-Orlando) will hold a press event on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 to discuss comprehensive legislation they’ve filed to protect Florida black bears and preserve their habitat. Senate Bill 1304 and HB 491, the “Florida Black Bear Habitat Restoration Act,” also establishes a fund for local governments for the purchase of bear resistant garbage containers.
“At a time when Florida’s native black bears are facing several threats to their habitat, it is our obligation to ensure the preservation of the iconic species as well as the safety of our neighborhoods,” said Stewart. “Today, we are setting out to do just that.”
“By protecting Florida black bear habitats and their food sources, we in turn limit bear-human conflicts and ultimately are closer to ensuring the public’s safety,” said Mercado.
The Orlando lawmakers will be joined by the President of Speak Up Wekiva, Chuck O’Neal, who is supporting the legislation.
The press conference will take place at 1:00 PM at Lake Eola Park in Orlando by the red pagoda by North Eola Drive.
“This bill addresses many of the problems that are driving Florida black bears from public forests and into neighboring subdivisions,” said O’Neal. “In order to reverse that exodus, we must stop destroying their habitat.”
