Howard Shelanski, director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Economics, discussed how antitrust agencies are dealing with the changing digital marketplace at the Bayard Wickliffe Heath Memorial Lecture Series Nov. 16 at UF Law. (Photo by Haley Stracher)

By Francie Weinberg
Student writer

Students, faculty and staff poured into the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center Courtroom Nov. 16 to hear Howard Shelanski speak about antitrust law in his presentation, “Information, Innovation, and Competition Policy for the Internet.”

Shelanski, director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Economics, discussed how antitrust agencies are dealing with the changing digital marketplace. He examined the theory that under-enforcement of antitrust laws in the digital world results in lower-error costs than over-enforcement, and how competition policy can improve on assessing costs, benefits and risks in digital markets.

“I don’t think it is news to anybody that competition enforcement and antitrust enforcement in high-technology markets, particularly in what we call digital platform markets, has been a very major focus of antitrust agencies around the world,” he said. “This set of industries is very central to antitrust enforcement and for good reason: these are industries that are responsible for a tremendous amount of economic growth, a significant amount of investment and frankly, they affect our everyday lives in somewhat dramatic ways.”

Shelanski praised UF Law as possessing an incomparable antitrust program, unlike any other college in the nation. This includes Georgetown Law, where he is a professor.

“The University of Florida is quite remarkable in the percentage of the faculty that are leading antitrust scholars,” he said. “You all are very lucky to be here. Take advantage of these offerings and go forward in this fantastic field of ours.”

Though Shelanski works for the FTC, he noted that the views expressed in his lecture were his and did not reflect those in the Bureau of Economics. He also said that the references he made of any ongoing investigations did not actually portray the future outcomes but rather his personal thoughts on the matter. A webcast of the Heath Lecture is available here.

Shelanski is the fourth annual speaker brought to the University of Florida Levin College of Law for the Bayard Wickliffe Heath Memorial Lecture Series. He has co-written six books and contributed to myriad law reviews and scholarly journals. In 2004, he received Berkeley Law’s Rutter Award for Teaching Distinction. Shelanski’s teachings and research focus on antitrust, regulation and telecommunications policy.

The Heath Memorial Lecture Series is made possible by a gift from Inez Heath, Ph.D., widow of Bayard “Wick” Heath. Before his death in 2008, Heath was the senior competition consultant with Info Tech, a Gainesville firm specializing in statistical and econometric consulting, expert witness testimony and antitrust law. Previous lecturers include Herbert Hovenkamp, William Kovacic and Joseph Harrington.

“Attorney: 94-year-old lost $55,000 from fake papers for Sam Snead’s Tavern” (Nov. 18, 2012, Naples Daily News)

Davis commented on a case of a shopping center in North Naples demanding more than $55,000 from a 94-year-old Pennsylvania resident because her signature appears on her deceased son’s lease agreement for his former business. She is stating the signature is forged and the witness signatures are not legible or notarized.

From the article:
“If it’s a forged signature, it’s not a valid note,” said Jeffrey Davis, who teaches contract law at the University of Florida’s Fredric G. Levin College of Law. “It comes down to a matter of proof. It’s a question of fact, whether it is her signature or not. They must prove it’s her signature.”

Martin J. McMahon, Jr.
Stephen C. O’Connell Professor of Law

McMahon presented Nov. 16 at the Tennessee Tax Conference in Nashville on “Recent Developments in Federal Income Taxation” jointly with Prof. Ira Shepard.

McMahon presented Nov. 9 at the 28th Annual Arizona Federal Tax Institute in Phoenix on “Recent Developments in Federal Income Taxation.”

Jon Mills
Dean emeritus

Mills was an invited panelist for New England Law Review’s Fall 2012 Symposium “Crisis in the Judiciary” held Nov. 15 in Boston for the panel “State Court Systems in Financial Crisis.” This panel discussed how justice has changed in judicial systems of vastly diminished resources. Other panelists included Hon. Robert J. Cordy, associate justice, Massachusetts Supreme Court; Stewart Aaron, partner, Porter & Arnold, LLP, and president, New York County Lawyers’ Association; Paul T. Dacier, executive vice president and general counsel, EMC Corporation; Professor David A. Hoffman, Harvard Law School; and Harry Spence, court administrator, Massachusetts Trial Courts. New England Law Professor Jordan Singer was the moderator.

The library will be open every day from 7:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. until Dec. 13. On Dec. 14, the library will open at 7:30 a.m., and will close at 5 p.m. It will be closed Dec. 15 and Dec. 16. The Lic will be open Dec. 17-21 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will be closed Dec. 22 through Jan. 1 and will reopen Jan. 2 at 8 a.m.

Save the dates: Summer abroad interest sessions

Interested in studying abroad in France, South Africa or Costa Rica? Check out the website and save the following dates for interest sessions hosted by the Office of Student Affairs. France – Monday, Jan.14, 1-2 p.m., HOL 360; South Africa – Tuesday, Jan. 15, 12-1 p.m., HOL 270; and Costa Rica – Tuesday, Jan. 22, 12-1 p.m., HOL 382.

3L publishes scholarly book chapters

Caroline Joan S. Picart (3L, joint J.D. and M.A. in Women’s Studies) has three refereed scholarly book chapters and one refereed scholarly article forthcoming in 2013.  The book chapters are:  “Media Myths Regarding Serial Killers: A Gothic Criminology” in The Poetics of Crime – Excursions into Creative Criminologies, Michael Hviid Jacobsen, ed. (Ashgate, forthcoming 2013); “Is Life Beautiful?: Humor, Horror, Fantasy, and History” in The Fantastic in Holocaust Literature, Judith Kerman and John Edgar Browning, eds., (McFarland, expected Spring 2013); and “The Documentary Impulse and Reel/Real Horror” in A Companion to the Horror Film, Harry Benshoff, ed. (Wiley-Blackwell, forthcoming, 2013). The article is forthcoming in a journal of Communication: “Reflections on Power and Intersectionality,” Qualitative Inquiry, forthcoming, Spring, 2013 (Edited by Lonnie Athens).

LIC Notes: CLEs in the LIC

It is a little known fact that the Legal Information Center has Continuing Legal Education materials in its collection. While it receives all of The Florida Bar CLE course books, it also acquires a few CDs and DVDs that attorneys can use to obtain CLE credit.  Each year, The Florida Bar sends all public Florida law libraries a free copy of the Survey of Florida Law CLE for distribution to patrons and Florida Bar members. In addition, the LIC collects CLEs that are of interest to UF Law faculty and students, such as its recent acquisition, the Practice Management Track of the 6^th Annual Solo & Small Firm Conference – The Extraordinary Lawyer: Minding Your Own Business. This CLE focuses on building a law practice, which many students and alumni may find of interest in the current economy.  If you would like to see our current CLE holdings, the list is available at: http://guides.uflib.ufl.edu/CLEs. As always, the LIC welcomes your suggestions for additional titles that would enhance the collection.

Stay tuned for Dean Jerry’s Music Night 2013

Watch FlaLaw in January for the announcement of the spring scheduling of Dean Jerry’s “Music Night 2013” at his house. The rules are that any student who participates must bring a dessert and perform a musical piece.  Faculty who participate must comply with a substantially identical rule, which often results in the appearance of a kazoo band. When it’s announced, sign-up will be first-come, first-served. If you’re interested, you might want to do a little practicing over break. (But the dean says: Don’t over-prepare; this is informal and meant to be fun – i.e., it’s definitely “recital-lite.”)

Moot court team elects new exec board; Dylan Shea receives award

The UF Moot Court Team has elected new members to the executive board this spring:

Internal Vice President: Ian Dankelman; Executive Vice President: Chelsey Clements; Vice Chair for Intermural Competition: Victoria Forson; Secretary: Jessica Clements; Chairs for Intramural Competition: Megan Coughlin and Stephanie Generotti; Special Events Chair: Heather Griffin; Special Events Co-Chair: Kate Livanec; Chair for Education and Training: Nate Diehl; and Vice Chair for Historical Society: Alfredo Ferrer.

The team voted Dylan Shea to receive the Gaither Award for the most outstanding team member.

In September, the task force appointed by Gov. Rick Scott convened to hear the CJC’s findings. Acting Criminal Justice Center Director Monique Haughton-Worrell reported that the CJC research was inconclusive about whether there is a definite relationship between the homicide rate in Florida and 2005’s “Stand Your Ground” law.

“The data that we collected in response to the task force is insufficient to provide a conclusion on this issue. It’s a complex issue, requiring complex analysis,” Worrell said at the September meeting, according to the Tampa Bay Times. A more in-depth study would be necessary to make a correlation between Stand Your Ground and increasing crime rates, she said.

The task force released its final report in November, backing the framework of the law, while suggesting more specific guidelines about the roles of neighborhood watch volunteers and removing automatic immunity from criminal prosecution for those who claim Stand Your Ground as a defense.

The Communications Office at UF Law seeks a talented writer to assist with news, events and feature stories for its weekly publication, FlaLaw Online, beginning in January. Stories may also be considered for publication in UF Law eNews and UF LAW magazine for alumni. Students are welcome to apply for this fun and flexible position. Organization and ability to meet deadline a must. Knowledge of AP Style preferred. Approximately 10-15 hours per week. Send writing samples and resume to Editor Whitney Smith at smithw@law.ufl.edu.

Spring Supreme Court externships

Two positions are now available at the Florida Supreme Court for the Spring 2012 semester. They are each a five-credit externship, running Jan. 14 – April 26, 2013, and require 20 hours per week. You must have a clearance letter from The Florida Bar to participate. For more information or to apply, contact Tim McLendon in CGR in 230 Bruton-Geer, by email at mclendon@law.ufl.edu or by phone at 273-0835.

Applications open for 2013 Evan Yegelwel Summer Fellowship

The Evan Yegelwel Summer Fellowship award permits one UF Law student to participate in a paid Summer Fellowship Program at the Anti-Defamation League, Florida Regional Office in Boca Raton. The Yegelwel Summer Fellowship award is $4,000. The ADL is a premier national civil rights organization that fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry in the U.S. and abroad, combats international terrorism, probes the roots of hatred, comes to the aid of victims of bigotry, develops educational programs, and serves as a public resource for government, media, law enforcement, all toward the goal of countering and reducing hatred. A generous gift from Evan Yegelwel (JD 80) has made this fellowship possible. Yegelwel is a partner in the Jacksonville law firm of Terrell Hogan Ellis Yegelwel, P.A. Click here for more fellowship and application information.

Spring Semester Foreign Enrichment Course and Spring Break Field Course will feature international development law and policy

The UF Levin College of Law Environmental and Land Use Law Program will offer conservation and development practice related courses for spring semester. Students are eligible to enroll in either or both:

• Contemporary International Development: Law, Policy and Practice (1 credit) (spring semester on campus)
• Sustainable Development Field Course: Law Policy and Practice (2 credits) (spring break in Belize)

Contemporary International Development: Law, Policy and Practice (1 credit) addresses the international and comparative law framework within which international development is carried out. The course will explore models of international development and development assistance as these have evolved since the Post-WWII Breton Woods accords that created the World Bank Group and regional progeny. Topics that will be addressed include, but are not limited to, free and fair trade, environmental security, human rights and global health. The course will be coordinated by UF Law faculty and taught by law and policy practitioners from Costa Rica, Argentina and Jamaica. Course instructors include Otton Solis, a Costa Rican development economist, former minister of the economy and presidential candidate; Oscar Avalles, an Argentine attorney and World Bank country director for Guatemala; and Danielle Andrade, a Jamaican environmental and human rights attorney with the Jamaica Environment Trust. The one-credit course will meet for one hour on Tuesday and Wednesday at 9 a.m. and conclude on Feb. 27 before spring break.

SPRING BREAK FIELD COURSE IN BELIZE

Sustainable Development Field Course: Law Policy and Practice (2 credits) will provide students with an on-site, interdisciplinary understanding of the law and policy challenges associated with “sustainable development” in a developing country. Students will travel to and within Belize over spring break and delve into international and domestic law issues concerning protected areas, indigenous land rights, intellectual property in biological diversity, water, mining and energy development, fisheries and coral reef conservation – all within the context of national pressures for human development. In addition to domestic Belizean law and international development policy, students will be exposed to the unique legal framework of the commonwealth Caribbean. The course will include skills exercises based around ongoing projects of the UF Law Conservation Clinic. The course includes a Program fee that will cover in-country expenses and students must make their own international travel arrangements. Enrollment is capped at 12 students. Preference in given to students enrolled in the college of law’s Environmental and Land Use Law Program, but others may apply on a space-available basis.

Students interested in either course can contact Professors Tom Ankersen (ankersen@law.ufl.edu) Mary Jane Angelo (angelo@law.ufl.edu) or Research Assistant and Joint J.D./M.D.P candidate Gentry Mander (Gentry.Mander@gmail.com )