2010 Constitution Day Essay Contest

September 17, 2010 is the 221^st birthday of the United States Constitution. Help us celebrate by entering our Constitution Day Essay Contest!

Rules

1. The contest is open to all middle school students in Palm Beach County, i.e., 6^th, 7^th and 8^th graders.
2. Essays must be 500 words or less, neatly handwritten or typewritten.
3. Essays must respond to the Essay Question posed below and be submitted on or before September 10, 2010 to: Essay Contest, c/o McCabe Rabin, P.A., 1601 Forum Place, Suite 301, West Palm Beach, FL 33401.
4. Essays will be judged on argument, clarity and persuasiveness.
5. Please include the student’s name and contact information so winners can be notified.

Prizes

The first place winner will receive $250. Second place will receive $150. Third place will receive $100.

In addition, all students, teachers and families are invited to attend our “America Reads the Constitution” event on Thursday September 16, 2010 from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM at the Okeechobee Marriott, 1001 Okeechobee Boulevard, West Palm Beach. We will have a group of 40 elected officials and distinguished citizens read the text of the Constitution in a public forum. Click here for a video of last year’s event.

If you plan to attend, please rsvp to janet@McCabeRabin.com before Sept. 10, 2010.

The first place winner will also be invited to read the Preamble (the “We the people” part) at our event!

The first ten amendments to the Constitution are known as the “Bill of Rights.” These amendments guarantee many of our individual rights including freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, the right to bear arms, the right to be free from warrantless searches and seizures, the privilege against self–incrimination, the right to trial by jury in civil and criminal cases, and the right to legal counsel in criminal cases.

In 500 words or less, explain which of these rights is the most important and why.

McCabe Rabin - Newsletter Summer 2010

S.D. Fla. Hosts Successful Second Biennial Bench & Bar Conference

On April 30, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and the South Florida Chapters of the Federal Bar Association (www.fedbar.org) jointly hosted its Second Biennial Bench & Bar Conference at the Doral Resort in Miami-Dade County. Adam Rabin co-chaired the conference. 750 people attended.

The conference consisted of a combination of plenary sessions, breakout seminars, and networking receptions throughout the day.

The plenary sessions consisted of a speech by Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals Chief Judge Joel Dubina and panel discussion of Best and Worst Practices before the Court with Chief Judge Federico Moreno, Judge Kenneth Marra and Judge Cecelia Altonaga serving on the panel.

The breakout seminars consisted of sessions on Legal Writing; Discovery Abuse; Employment Law; Expert Witnesses, CM/ECF and the Local Rules; Managing Complex Litigation; Criminal Pretrial, Post-Trial Practice and Criminal Sentencing. Each breakout seminar includes a defined agenda of topics, a moderated discussion led by attorneys serving on the conference steering committee, and a distinguished panel of District and Magistrate Judges.

Several networking receptions occurred throughout the day, including a cocktail reception at the end of the day. The opportunity to network with federal judges and practitioners throughout South Florida and across six counties was a unique and rare experience.

The next conference is tentatively scheduled for April 2012 at a venue in Palm Beach County.

McCabe Rabin, P.A. Receives the Judge Paine Federal Court Service Award

On November 12, 2009, McCabe Rabin, P.A. received the first annual Judge James C. Paine "Unsung Hero" Award from the Judges of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Named in honor of retired District Judge Paine, the award was created to recognize attorneys who have selflessly served the court through voluntary bar work and other service. Chief Judge Federico Moreno and Judge Kenneth Marra presented the award to firm attorneys Ryon McCabe and Adam Rabin, noting their many contributions to court projects, committees and voluntary bar organizations. The award was voted upon by the judges of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and presented at a reception of the Federal Bar Association, West Palm Beach Chapter.

Adam Rabin Co-Chairs Palm Beach County’s Inaugural
Diversity Summit Featuring Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Peggy Quince

On September 24, 2009, the Palm Beach County Bar Association (“PBCBA”) hosted its Inaugural Diversity Summit (“Summit”). Adam Rabin, John Howe and Jessica Callow co-chaired the program, which was attended by nearly 250 judges and attorneys. The Summit featured Chief Justice Peggy Quince as its keynote speaker.

After Justice Quince’s keynote speech, a “town hall” meeting was held to discuss hard questions about diversity and inclusion in our legal community. The town hall featured Chief Justice Quince, Justice Barbara Pariente, Justice Jorge Labarga, and Justice Harry Anstead (ret.) and other distinguished panelists. During the discussion, the moderators presented statistical figures that painted the picture of where the Palm Beach County legal community currently stands in the area of diversity. The following figures were presented comparing the Palm Beach County legal community with information from the 2008 U.S. Census for the county as a whole:

The purpose for presenting this data was to underscore why the issue of the diversity is one that deserves the legal’s community’s attention.

After the town hall meeting, a roundtable discussed followed with moderators leading discussion groups with attorneys and judges who attended the town hall meeting. A lively discussion ensued and new ideas were exchanged and recorded for addressing diversity issues by the PBCBA Diversity Committee as we move forward.

In sum, while the Summit was only a starting point for tacking the complicated issue of improving diversity within the Palm Beach County legal community, it put the diversity issue on the front burner and was a successful start to building a foundation towards measurable success in the future.

Madoff Investor Action Filed Against Connecticut Bank In Ponzi Scheme For $60 Million In Losses
McCabe Rabin has teamed up with several firms to file a class action against Connecticut Community Bank, N.A., owner of Westport National Bank ("WNB"), on behalf of 26 retirement- account holders who lost $60 million in their retirement accounts, arising out of the Ponzi scheme orchestrated by Bernard L. Madoff.

The lawsuit alleges that WNB pooled $60 million in deposits in retirement accounts and allegedly forwarded them to Madoff for investment. Pursuant to their account agreements, WNB agreed to serve as custodian for all investments made by Madoff. The suit alleges that WNB failed to perform its custodial obligations, which would have required Madoff to deliver the securities he was purporting to purchase in the WNB accounts.

Constitution Day
On September 17, 2009, McCabe Rabin sponsored "America Reads the Constitution" in West Palm Beach, Florida. This program was part of a nationwide event promoted by the National Constitution Center to celebrate the birthday of the United States Constitution. The firm organized a distinguished group of public officials, lawyers and citizens to take part in this public reading of the Constitution. Click here to watch the event.

Ryon McCabe Interviewed by CBS 12 News
Ryon McCabe, who represents victims of Bernard Madoff's scandal, comments on the 150-year sentence imposed by the judge on Bernard Madoff.  Attorney McCabe also discusses the civil process for recovering compensation for persons harmed by the Madoff ponzi scheme.

McCabe Rabin to host "AMERICA READS THE CONSTITUTION"
Joining Philadelphia’s National Constitution Center in a national event, the West Palm Beach law firm of McCabe Rabin, P.A. announced today that it will host a reception to take part in a national reading of the United States Constitution from first words of the Preamble, “We the people,” all the way to the twenty-seventh amendment.

Westport National Bank for Losses in Madoff Ponzi Scheme
Five law firms from Connecticut and Florida – Silver Golub & Teitell (CT), McCabe Rabin (FL), Stein & Stein (FL), Emmett & Glander (CT), and Hurwitz, Sagarin, Slossberg & Knuff (CT) – have joined forces to co-counsel a class action on behalf of 26 investors against Connecticut Community Bank d/b/a Westport National Bank (“WNB”) for investor losses arising out of WNB’s relationship with Bernard L. Madoff Securities.

Connecticut Bank Is Drawn Into Madoff Scandal
The New York Times
Lawyers in Florida say they are investigating the role that a Connecticut bank may have played in steering money to Bernard L. Madoff, the Wall Street trader accused of operating a $50 billion Ponzi scheme ..."

Madoff's Wife Could Face Legal Trouble Attorneys Tell CBS News
CBS News
"Ruth Madoff, the wife of disgraced money manager Bernard Madoff could face conspiracy charges if it is proven that she knew about her husband's massive Wall Street money scam and purposely tried to hide assets..."

US regulator questioned over Madoff scandal
London Times
"The man leading an internal inquiry into the top US financial regulator will be grilled by politicians later today over its failure to uncover the alleged $50 billion Madoff fraud..."

Connecticut bank probed in Madoff scam
China Post
"Two Florida attorneys said they are investigating whether a community bank in Connecticut improperly helped channel money..."

Hotel-Condos: A Broken Promise?
National Real Estate Investor
"Summertime in Las Vegas might be more scorching this year than usual due to the heat from a growing number of condo hotel lawsuits..."

Madoff Investors' Lawyers Investigate Role of Connecticut Bank
Bloomberg.com
"Two Florida attorneys said they are investigating whether a community bank in Connecticut improperly helped channel money from investors into Bernard Madoff's alleged $50 billion Ponzi scheme ..."

Investors Hire Attorneys to Bring Claims Arising From Alleged Misrepresentations and Omissions Regarding the Nature and Safety of Main Street Natural Gas, Inc.'s Series 2008A Gas Project Revenue Bonds
News Blaze
"The law offices of McCabe Rabin, P.A., Neil B. Solomon, P.A. and Stein, Stein & Pinsky, P.A. have been retained by Florida investors to bring claims arising from alleged misrepresentations and omissions regarding the nature and safety of Main Street Natural Gas, Inc.'s Series 2008A Gas Project ..."

Moving up: Ryon McCabe
Palm Beach Post
"Jupiter attorney Ryon M. McCabe was installed as President of the North County Section of the Palm Beach County Bar Association during the bar's annual installation banquet ..."