Super Lawyers has announced its selection of top Florida lawyers for 2017 and we are proud to announce that Creed & Gowdy has again made the list. This year, all of our attorneys have made the Super Lawyers list. Rebecca Creed, Bryan Gowdy, and Jessie Harrell are all named among Florida's top lawyers in appellate practice. Bryan Gowdy and Rebecca Creed are also listed in the Top 100 lawyers in Florida across all practice groups. Rebecca Creed and Jessie Harrell are listed as part of an elite group of women in the Top 50 Women Florida Super Lawyers. Gray Thomas was selected as a Super Lawyer in criminal defense law, while Meredith Ross and Thomas Burns have been named "Rising Stars" in appellate practice.
Each year, Super Lawyers recognizes the top lawyers in Florida. Attorneys are selected by peer nominations and evaluations, as well as third-party research. For more information on Florida Super Lawyers, click here.
Dr. Eileen Hernandez and Women's Care Florida LLC filed a Petition for a Writ of Certiorari in the United States Supreme Court, appealing the Florida Supreme Court's decision from December 2016. Creed & Gowdy represented Lualhati and Jose Crespo in their state court appeals. The Florida Supreme Court ruled to void two provider-patient medical malpractice arbitrations agreements. The Petition argues that the interpretation of the Medical Malpractice Act was inconsistent with the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA). Bryan Gowdy explained to Law360 that the FAA was never included in the Clinic's argument until the Motion for Rehearing, which was denied on February 27th. To read the full Law360 article, click here.
The law suit that Creed & Gowdy filed in July of 2016 on the unconstitutionality of taxing feminine hygiene products is finally seeing relief in Florida. Starting in January, feminine hygiene products will be tax-exempt in the state of Florida. Joining 13 other states and the District of Colombia on tax exempting feminine hygiene products, Floridians will save an average of $11 million per year. Gov. Rick Scott signed the $180 million tax cut package bill on Thursday, May 25, 2017 after it was approved in the Florida House of Representatives and Senate.
To read more, click here to read the article in the Tampa Bay Times and here to read the article in the Huffington Post.
Florida will eliminate taxes charged on tampons under a measure passed by the state Legislature on Tuesday. The Florida House of Representatives and Senate approved the bill with a 109-3 and 34-4 vote, respectively. The bill will become law if approved by Gov. Rick Scott in January, exempting feminine hygiene products from taxation in Florida. Creed & Gowdy filed a law suit on July 6, 2016, alleging that the tax charged on tampons and sanitary pads - products used exclusively by women - is discriminatory and unconstitutional. For more information on the bill, click here to read the full article.
Read the press statement released by Creed & Gowdy's co-counsel, Barrett Fasig & Brooks, here.
The plaintiffs, a family injured when the defendant's employee crashed into the rear of their vehicle, had asked the trial court for separate trials on their distinct and independent claims for damages. The trial court agreed that separate trials were appropriate, and the defendant filed a petition for a writ of certiorari to quash the order. The First District Court of Appeals summarily denied the defendant's petition. Rebecca Creed and Meredith Ross briefed the certiorari response.
Read the response here.