“We are fortunate to have opportunities for our faculty and students to research this vital issue, providing needed assistance to the decision-makers who are trying to improve our nation’s response to these types of disasters and to bring back the natural resources and economy of our Gulf Coast,” said CGR Director and Dean Emeritus Jon Mills, who met with Task Force staff in Washington earlier this year.

The McIntosh award is the second grant CGR has received to study issues related to response, recovery, and restoration from the oil spill. Michael McIntosh provided the first grant to establish CGR more than 35 years ago.

In November, Ocean Therapy Solutions, Inc., a company affiliated with the actor Kevin Costner, contracted with CGR for research on the legal foundations of response to the oil spill. Costner has been active in efforts to improve the response process from oil spills.

Beginning last summer, CGR coordinated a group of law faculty and student volunteers, which researched general liability issues under federal law and state laws in the Gulf Coast region. It monitored the proposed state law changes circulating at the time. The research assistants reported their findings at a law school symposium in October, at which the faculty members of the UF Law Oil Spill Working Group served as respondents and commentators.

UF law students involved in the projects are Alyssa Cameron, James Davies, Carli Koshal, Austin Moretz, Fay Pappas, and Jesse Reiblich. The UF law Oil Sill Working Group includes Mills, Alyson Flournoy, Mary Jane Angelo, Richard Hamann, Tim McLendon, Joan Flocks, and JoAnn Klein.

Starting in the fall, CGR’s group worked on the Ocean Therapy contract, researching the response requirements to oil spills imposed by federal and state law on petroleum producers and transporters, as well as the infrastructure established by state and federal law to guide and manage this response. The project concluded with an examination of the legal status and legal process for the use of chemical dispersants and burn agents in responding to an oil spill.

The current project is examining issues regarding the authority and funding for restoration and reviewing socio-economic data that will be used in developing Gulf Coast restoration plans.

A recent $50K commitment from Gene and Elaine Glasser will mean meatier barbecues in the future. (File photo)

“Anytime someone said ‘JMBA barbecue pit, law school, 1 p.m.,’ we all knew exactly what you were talking about,” he said.

The law school community may look forward to the barbecue with even more anticipation now that Glasser and his wife Elaine have significantly increased their endowment with an additional $50,000 commitment to make the event “bigger and better,” as Senior Development Director Kelley Frohlich said.

He set up the endowment as a way to promote the sense of community at the law school, and to commemorate the special relationships and experiences that he credits to UF Law.

“The endowment is not something that most would call ‘conventional,’” said Glasser, a member of the UF Law Center Association board of trustees. “But there are needs that are important that just cannot be budgeted.”

Each fall, the Glasser Barbecue is one of the most popularly anticipated events at UF Law, providing an opportunity for students, faculty, staff and administration to take a short break while enjoying some good food and company.

The goal is to allow Student Affairs to serve more people and be able to host events like the barbecue more than once a year. The larger endowment may also qualify for state matching funds.

“The purpose of the additional endowment is the same as it has always been — to help fund activities that create a sense of community at the law school,” Frohlich said. “We’ve generally held the barbecue in the fall, and a smaller event, such as an ice cream social in the spring. By providing the additional funds, the Glassers hope to enhance what the fund already supports.”

Frohlich, who has been working with the Glassers on the endowment since it began in 2005, said that it’s unique to have a donor interested in contributing to the law school in this way.

“The barbecue is one of the only social events the law school offers on a regular basis that brings the entire law school community together at the same time and the same place,” she said.

Anitra Raiford (2L) attended the barbecue last year.

“It sponsors a sense of fellowship between us, allows us to take a break and communicate with each other. It reminds us that we have a great network of attorneys out there,” Raiford said.

Glasser, managing partner at Greenspoon Marder, P.A., in Ft. Lauderdale, is the second of his family to have graduated from UF Law. The first was his father-in-law, Sidney Aronovitz (JD 43), for whom the U.S. Courthouse in Key West was named in 2009. He also shares the tie with his son, Evan (JD 02), who is an associate at Greenspoon Marder, P.A.

From left, Florida Supreme Court Justice Jorge Labarga, Justice Peggy A. Quince, Justice Barbara J. Pariente, Chief Justice Charles T. Canady, Justice R. Fred Lewis, Justice Ricky Polston and Justice James E.C. Perry stand with UF Law students from left, Monica Haddad, Mary Katherine Tinsley, Leah Edelman, Wilbert Vancol, David Hughes and David Evans. (Photo by Nicole Safker)

In the fictional appeal case of Zydeco, Inc. v. Mary Macdonald, Leah Edelman (3L) and Wilbert Vancol (3L) were the petitioners on behalf of pharmaceutical company Zydeco, Inc., challenging the constitutionality of “The Drug Free Texifornia Act of 2010.” David Evans (3L) and Monica Haddad (2L) were on the responding team representing Texifornia Attorney General Mary Macdonald. Alternates were Mary Katherine Tinsley (3L) and David Hughes (3L).

As the petitioners and respondents stated their cases, members of the Florida Supreme Court asked questions and challenged the competitor’s arguments, allowing the team members to demonstrate their appellate advocacy skills. The Maguire Competition provides the Florida Moot Court Team with valuable practice for the upcoming American Bar Association National Appellate Advocacy Competition.

At the end of the competition, Chief Justice Charles T. Canady announced that Vancol won the award for best oralist in the competition and the best team award went to the petitioning side.

“I just want to say that we’ve heard some outstanding advocacy today,” said Canady. “It is obvious that the people arguing here before this court today were well prepared and are skillful advocates who have a very promising future as advocates in the law, so we want to congratulate all of you.”

The competition is named after Raymer F. Maguire Jr. (JD 15), son of the founder of Maguire, Voorhis & Wells, P.A., managing partner of the firm, and UF Law alumnus. In the summer of 1998, Maguire, Voorhis & Wells, P.A. merged with the law firm of Holland & Knight LLP, who continued the tradition of sponsoring the competition.

For more photos, view the gallery on our Facebook page.

UF Law Trial Team members from left, Dan Hogan (3L), Michael Quintero (3L), Anita McNulty (2L) and Rhett Parker (3L) went undefeated in every round of the National Criminal Trial Competition. (Photo by Vincent Massaro)

Dan Hogan (3L), Anita McNulty (2L), Rhett Parker (3L) and Michael Quintero (3L), went undefeated in every round of the National Criminal Trial Competition, beating the first, second and 10th nationally ranked teams.

In order to “win” a round the team had to carry two of the three judge’s ballots. This marks the seventh national win for the Levin College of Law Trial Team in the past eight years. Parker and Quintero also won Best Advocate Awards.

The team felt a “tremendous amount of elation and accomplishment” when they realized they won the award, Parker said. One of Parker’s favorite parts of the tournament was watching McNulty’s advocacy skills grow before team members’ very eyes, as this tournament was her first competition.

The Honorable Paul C. Huck (JD 65), a U.S. District Court Judge for the Southern District of Florida and a double-Gator, presided over the exhibition proceedings, and members of the Levin family served on the jury. The criminal case involved allegations of involuntary manslaughter and assault with a dangerous weapon. The jury returned a verdict of “not guilty” on both counts and Judge Huck, Fred Levin and Martin Levin critiqued the team’s performance.

Martin Levin was “blown away” by the exhibition and said the team’s presentations were “as good as you would see in a courtroom.”

“I couldn’t have asked for a better avenue to prepare for my career as a public defender,” Parker said. “Trial Team has provided me with a wonderful opportunity to learn from the best.”

For more photos, view the gallery on our Facebook page.

Fredric Levin, left, and Dean Robert Jerry listen as former ABC News President David Westin delivers keynote remarks at the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center coutroom opening celebration last Thursday. (Photo by Amanda Adams)

“I’m very privileged and honored to do this for Allen and to live the legacy of this incredible family,” Teri Levin told a crowd of about 150 in the courtroom, her voice breaking. “And I will say, and I will continue to say: Go Gators!”

Teri Levin’s $1 million donation in the name of her late husband, Allen Levin, a Pensacola developer, will allow the second floor of the 19,500-square-foot center to be completed. She was named an honorary alumna Thursday in recognition for her philanthropy to UF and numerous other causes, an honor for which she said she was grateful.

Teri Levin noted that she gave the money for the advocacy center at the guidance and encouragement of her brother-in-law Fredric G. Levin (JD 61). The law school bears Fredric Levin’s name, and he donated $2 million for construction of the advocacy center.

“I hope with the facility here, the advocacy center, that it will become the go-to place for young law students who want to become trial lawyers and they certainly have the facility to do it,” said Fredric Levin, a renowned trial lawyer. “I have tried cases all over the country. I’ve never seen a more beautiful courtroom or a more well-equipped courtroom.”

Architect Sol J. Fleischman Jr., A.I.A., CEO of Tampa-based FleischmanGarcia, said the courtroom is geared to its teaching function through monitors, data, phone and Internet connections, and especially the tiered seating giving students a clear view of the proceedings.

“It’s certainly a nice upgrade from Bailey courtroom,” noted James Baley (3L), a member of the UF Law Trial Team.

Fredric and Teri Levin spoke before the nearly 150 guests who filled the courtroom, including students, faculty, alumni and administrators.

Among the administrators was University of Florida President J. Bernard Machen. Machen noted that Fredric G. Levin donated $10 million to the law school in 1999. At the time it was the largest gift ever given to UF.

“When the history of this law school is recounted 50 or 100 years from now, Fred Levin will be known as a transformative force,” Machen said.

The center is named after Fredric’s son, Martin Levin (JD 88).

“It’s obviously an incredible honor to have this building bear my name. But the reality is I’ve done nothing to have my name up here. My name’s up here because my father gave $2 million,” Martin Levin told the guests, who responded with laughter.

Martin Levin, who serves as general counsel for the Washington, D.C.-based Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, further illuminated what has driven his father to become the prime benefactor of UF Law in general and the advocacy center in particular.

He said his father believes that advocacy is a way of arriving at conclusions that instill confidence in the advocate to speak even if the point of view is unpopular. The meticulous research and critical thinking upon which advocacy relies allows conclusions based on reality rather than self-interest, Martin Levin said.

“It’s very simple. Dad honestly believes that advocacy is the single-most important action that can sustain this country’s greatness and, certainly, sustain justice,” said Martin Levin, who finished first in his class at UF Law and holds two advanced degrees from Harvard as well as an undergraduate degree from Stanford.

Martin Levin said his father has done this regularly during his 50-year career. “He spoke out no matter what the consequences were going to be to him. He never backed down.”

David Westin, the former president of ABC News who delivered the keynote address, amplified the theme of advocacy as a vehicle for social good.

Westin, a University of Michigan graduate who once litigated in the federal courts, said he used to think televising federal court proceedings was a bad idea.

He now believes Supreme Court and other federal proceedings should be broadcast to show people the shared commitment to the rules of procedure and common principles. He said it is instructive the way “all of the arguments get resolved on the merits.”

Westin said the media could learn from how the court system settles disputes as the media turns to ever-more rancorous commentary and opinion to generate audiences.

For example, he said the contentiousness of news programs could be moderated if hosts question political adversaries about how they agree as well as how they disagree.

For more photos from the courtroom opening celebration, view the gallery on our Facebook page.