Lawyer The - St. Thomas University

Lawyer 

The 

The Magazine of St. Thomas 

University School of Law 

Where in the World? 

On the law school’s 25th anniversary, 

we celebrate its alumni from Arizona 

to Africa who are changing the world.

The Lawyer 

The Magazine of 

St. Thomas University 

School of Law 

Spring 2010 

President 


Rev. Msgr. Franklyn M. Casale 

Dean 


School of Law 

Alfredo García 

Editor 

Karen Malin 

Graphic Design 

Sway Strategic 

Communications 

The Lawyer is published by: 


School of Law 

16401 N.W. 37 Avenue 

Miami Gardens, Florida 

33054 

www.stu.edu/law 

St. Thomas University is an 

equal opportunity employer. 

dean’smessage 

This issue of The Lawyer magazine 

celebrates the rich and exciting 

25 year history of St. Thomas 

University School of Law. While this 

issue briefly looks back at where we 

have been, it is really about where 

we are going. 

In the early years of the law 

school, most of our alumni settled 

in South Florida. Today, the law 

school’s nearly 4,000 alumni live 

and work in 47 states and nearly 

every continent. The article “Where 

in the World?” celebrates the 

accomplishments of our alumni 

from Romania to Rwanda. 

The article “Four Score” shines a spotlight not only on some of the law 

school’s top students but also on the success and significance of the law school’s 

diversity. Educating a diverse student population is a prominent part of our 

past and an ongoing goal for our future. 

This issue of The Lawyer also recognizes outstanding student, alumni, and 

faculty achievements. It introduces four fascinating new faculty members 

who, along with their fellow faculty members, are an important part of the law 

school’s future. 

Professor Lauren Gilbert’s compelling study on the Somalis living in 

Lewiston, Maine, highlights immigration issues that impact not only this 

particular Somali community but also our nation as a whole. A bright future 

for the United States and those who call this country home depends upon a real 

solution to these important immigration issues. 

The 25th anniversary black-tie gala, held in October at the Intercontinental 

Hotel in downtown Miami, was a wonderful celebration of the law school’s past 

and its future. The event honored the Reverend Patrick O’Neill, under whose 

leadership, as President of St. Thomas University in 1984, the law school was 

founded. In attendance were current students, alumni, past and present faculty 

and administration, and community leaders. The photo album pages in this 

issue capture both the excitement of that evening and the excitement of the 

past 25 years of accomplishments and milestones. 

As the law school pauses to look both backwards and forwards, so do I as I 

say goodbye to my role as Dean of this incredible institution and return to my 

beloved role as professor of law. It has been my great honor to serve as the 

Dean of the law school for three and a half years, and I look forward with great 

excitement to watching the bright future of this law school unfold. 


Dean 

18 

contentsspring2010 

Lawyer 

The 

The Magazine of St. Thomas University School of Law 

St. Thomas University School of Law 

Celebrates its 25th Anniversary 

12 

Where in the World? STU Law Alumni 

S p a n t h e G l o b e 

18 

12 

Citizenship, Civic Virtue, & 

I n t e g r a t i o n : T h e S o m a l i s o f 

Lewiston, Maine 

28 

F o u r S c o r e ! To p S t u d e n t s R e f l e c t 

Diverse Community 

34 

28 

Departments 

Campus News 

4 

Student News 

8 

Alumni News 

11 

Alumni Class Notes 

38 

Giving 

44 

Faculty Briefs 

47 

34

campusnews 

Tax Clinic and Professor Larry Fedro Honored 

Legal Aid Services of Broward County honored STU Law Professor 

Larry Fedro and the school’s Tax Clinic with the Legal Clinic of the 

Year Award at the 8th Annual “For the Public Good” event. 

“It is with great pride that we announce Professor Larry Fedro and 

the Tax Clinic as the recipients of one of the areas most prestigious 

legal awards,” said Dean García. “Presented to those who provide 

exemplary free service to low income individuals, this award 

highlights the law school’s commitment to its mission of serving the 

community.” Prof. Fedro and the Clinic were honored for providing 

low-income members of the community with free tax and legal advice. 

Professor Larry Fedro 

The Human Rights 

Institute assisted 

more than 6,000 

people in Palm 

Beach, Broward, 

Miami-Dade, and 

Monroe Counties 

in 2009. 

Dean García Selected to the American Law 

Institute 

Alfredo García, Dean of St. Thomas University School of Law, has 

been selected as a member of the American Law Institute. “This is a 

great honor, not only for me, but for St. Thomas University School of 

Law,” Dean García said. “Being associated with this institution will be 

extremely rewarding personally, and will help fulfill our School of Law’s 

mission to promote service, social justice, and ethical behavior.” The 

ALI produces documents on legal issues, model statutes, and principles 

of law which are used by the courts, legislatures, and legal educators. 

The ALI is the leading independent organization producing scholarly 

work to clarify, modernize, and improve the law. 

St. Thomas Human Rights 

Institute Named Non-Profit 

of the Year 

St. Thomas University’s Human 

Rights Institute received the 2009 

Palm Beach County Hispanic 

Chamber of Commerce Triunfo 

Award for Non-Profit of the Year. 

The Triunfo Award recognized 

the Human Rights Institute, which 

opened its Palm Beach office in 

the fall of 2007, for its excellent 

service to the county’s newly-arrived 

immigrant population. The award 

was presented to the Human Rights 

Institute at a lavish gala in West 

Palm Beach’s Kravitz Center and 

was given to four organizations 

that have shown dedication to the 

county’s Hispanic population. 

The Human Rights Institute 

promotes the dignity of human 

beings through research and 

education on human rights issues, 

social advocacy, and direct service 

to individuals and families in need. 

Professor Mensel was selected as 1L Professor of the Year, Professor Kang as Upper Division 

Professor of the Year, and Director of Student Services Peter Kelly as Staff Person of the Year. 

Congratulations to these faculty and administrators on their hard work, commitment, and 

dedication to the school. 

Fernandez Center Opens 

The Fernandez Family Center 

for Leadership and Wellness is 

a state-of-the-art 62,000 square 

foot facility that is home to the 

St. Thomas University Men’s and 

Women’s Basketball teams and 

Women’s Volleyball team. The 

facility is equipped with a fitness 

center, athletic training rooms, team 

locker rooms, fitness locker rooms, 

a concession area, athletic offices, 

a multi-purpose fitness classroom, 

mezzanine level classrooms, and it 

houses the Sports Administration 

Department. 

Mike Fernandez, chairman of 

MBF Healthcare Partners, who 

donated $3 million to this new 

hub of student activity said, “The 

creation of a leadership and wellness 

center will build an unprecedented 

opportunity for STU. The programs 

offered there will develop students’ 

leadership skills, mold their minds, 

shape their bodies, and build their 

spirits.” 

National Rankings Highlight Diversity 

law school is 

in the country 

#1The 

in number of 

degrees granted 

to Hispanics and #3 in total 

Hispanic enrollment according 

to the December 2009 edition of 

The Hispanic Outlook in Higher 

Education. 

Thomas 

ranks #5 for Best 

#5St. 

Environment for 

Minority Students 

in the Princeton Review’s 2009 

Best 174 Law Schools. 

campusnews 

Ferrell Moot Court Competition Draws Teams from 

Across the Nation and the World 

Finalists from Valparaiso and Howard law schools with Dean García, 

Professor Wiessner, and Professor Pati 

Eight teams participated in the 5th annual Susan J. Ferrell Intercultural 

Human Rights Moot Court Competition: Florida International 

University, University of Miami, Ave Maria, Valparaiso, Villanova, 

Howard, Cayman Islands and National University of Gujarat, India. 

Valparaiso University School of Law defeated Howard University Law 

School in the final round, and Florida International University and the 

team from India finished third and fourth, respectively. 

The topic this year involved issues of human trafficking, state 

responsibility, and jurisdiction. The multi-faceted problem and the 

bench brief were written by the Executive Board of STU’s International 

Moot Court Board: Sarah Robinson Campbell, Kristen Kawass, 

Kenia Figueredo, Stephanie Villavicencio, Jon Minear, and Ferrell 

Coordinator, Ludys Garcia. This year’s final round was judged by His 

Excellency Fausto Pocar, Professor of Law at the University of Milan 

and member and former President of the International Criminal 

Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. A finalist from Howard University 

said about the competition, “Thank you for a truly enriching and 

incredibly well-run competition. It was an incredible experience, and 

my team wanted to express our gratitude to all of the organizers!” 

Law students, Luis Botero 

and Jacqueline Del Valle, 

were awarded the Florida 

Association of Criminal 

Defense Lawyers Miami 

Chapter Scholarship. The 

scholarship is given yearly 

to the two top students 

attending Miami law 

schools. 

4 STULAW spring 2010 spring 2010 THELAWYER 5

campusnews 

campusnews 

Moldovan Delegation Visits STU Law 

The LL.M. /J.S.D. Program in Intercultural Human Rights is an 

international center of dialogue on issues of human trafficking. 

Recently, a delegation from Moldova joined Prof. Pati and her students 

in the Human Trafficking Law & Policy class. The delegates were 

law enforcement officials and representatives of the International 

Center ‘La Strada,’ the Counter-Trafficking Unit of the International 

Organization for Migration, the Center for Prevention of Trafficking in 

Women, and others. The guests gained an increased understanding and 

awareness of the anti-trafficking efforts in the U.S. 

STU Law Class of 2012 

Fall 2009 class: 249 students 

Females: 115 

Males: 134 

Black: 18 

Asian: 8 

White: 125 

American Indian: 2 

Hispanic: 64 

International: 6 

Mexican: 3 

Puerto Rican: 5 

Other: 9 

Unknown: 9 

States Represented: 28 

Countries: 2 

STU Human Rights Law Review Hosts Symposium on 

Immigration Detention 

The Princeton 

Review’s 2009 

Best 174 Law 

Schools ranks 

St. Thomas 

#5 

University 

School of 

Law 

#5 for Most 

Competitive 

Students. 

Center for Earth Jurisprudence Hosts Two Conferences Focused on the Everglades 

The Center for Earth Jurisprudence hosted a policy and law workshop that explored innovative means of 

protecting and managing the Florida Bay and the Everglades at St. Thomas University’s School of Law Moot 

Court Room. The Superintendent of Everglades National Park, Dan Kimball, discussed public participation 

and efforts to incorporate the values of individuals who know and understand the ecosystems into a 

management plan to effectively restore the flow of water in the national park. Jason Bennis, marine policy 

manager of the National Parks Conservation Association, Sun Coast Regional Office, presented the perspective 

of a non-profit advocacy group, underscoring efforts to protect the delicate Florida Bay through innovations 

such as the new Eco-Mariner program that offers boaters information about Florida Bay. Recreational angler 

and president of RS Environmental Consulting, Rainer Schael, added another dimension to the discussion by 

presenting the viewpoint of the recreational users. 

In another event, “The Everglades and Ecosystem Restoration: Sharing the 

Corps Values,” Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Army (Civil 

Works), Terrence “Rock” Salt, discussed the restoration of the Everglades 

National Park with students, activists, and the legal community. A highlyrespected 

national 

leader, “Rock” provides 

vision, direction, and 

oversight to the Army 

Corps of Engineers (ACE) 

regarding ecosystem 

restoration. He shared 

insights about the 

practical and political 

challenges of saving the 

Everglades National Park. 

The Intercultural Human Rights 

Law Review at St. Thomas 

University School of Law hosted 

its annual symposium entitled 

“U.S. Immigration Detention: 

Policy and Procedure from a 

Human Rights Perspective” on 

November 6, 2009. This year’s 

symposium brought together 

scholars and immigration experts 

who discussed their research, 

findings, and experiences in 

immigration law and human 

rights policy. 

Panels highlighted the 

complex challenges facing 

immigration professionals in 

their legal practice. Several 

issues were examined, such as 

the indefinite detention in light 

of the permissible length of 

post-removal period detention 

of deportable aliens, and the 

presentation of scholars’ research 

and findings concerning the 

conditions of some detention 

facilities in the United States. 

Human Rights Institute Assists Haitians Seeking TPS 

in South Florida 

Faculty, staff, and students from the law school and the Human 

Rights Institute volunteered to assist local Haitians seeking 

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) following the earthquake that 

devastated their homeland. TPS is granted to immigrants who 

cannot safely return to their homelands because of natural disasters, 

armed conflicts, or other emergencies. Those eligible are allowed to 

remain here, obtain work permits, and temporarily stay for specific 

periods. Hundreds of Haitians have received help in gaining TPS 

by attending events on campus or by visiting one of five St. Thomas 

University Human Rights Institute offices in Dade, Broward, and 

Palm Beach counties. 


studentnews 

studentnews 

Campus Events 

• The Federalist Society 

welcomed Judge Douglas 

Ginsburg of the United 

States Court of Appeals 

for the District of 

Columbia Circuit who 

discussed “DNA and the 

Prosecutor’s Obligation 

to Remedy Wrongful 

Convictions.” More than 

250 students, faculty, 

and attorneys attended 

the event. 

• The STU Law Cuban 

American Bar 

Association hosted an 

event honoring Dean 

Alfredo García as the 

first Cuban-born dean of 

an ABA-accredited law 

school. 

• The Entertainment 

and Sports Law Society 

chapter hosted a 

symposium on current 

issues related to the 

entertainment and 

sports industry. The 

event featured wellknown 

leaders from 

both the entertainment 

and sports industries 

including keynote 

speaker Marc Stollman 

(S2BN Entertainment). 

• The STU Black Law 

Students Association 

held its spring gala at 

Sofitel Miami. The gala 

was a celebration of the 

contributions of women 

of color to the legal 

community in South 

Florida. 

LL.M. Student Wins Best Oralist at Regional Jessup 

International Law Moot Court Competition 

St. Thomas LL.M. student, Leyla Nikjou, won the supreme honor of Best 

Oralist at the 2010 South-East Super Regional of the Jessup International 

Law Moot Court Competition held at Florida International University 

College of Law. Ninety-one students from across the southeastern United 

States competed for this highest award. Leyla’s is the best oralist placement 

ever achieved by a St. Thomas student in this prestigious competition. The 

STU team, represented by Lazarita Chumpitazi, J.D. ’11, Carem Corvaia, 

J.D. ’11, Allen Gaffney, J.D. ’11, and Leyla Nikjou, LL.M. ’10, and coached 

by Angela Jones, J.D. ’10, turned in an extraordinary performance, 

winning three out of four rounds, beating Washington & Lee, Florida A&M 

University, and Florida State University. 

Student Elected President 

of The Florida Bar’s Law 

School Division 

Jason Silver, a 2L at STU Law, was 

recently elected President of the 

Florida Bar Law School Division for 

2010-2011. Silver will be in charge 

of organizing and coordinating 

Florida Bar events and programs 

with all law schools in the state. The 

mission of the Law Student Division 

of The Florida Bar (LSD) is to assist 

the Florida Bar Young Lawyers 

Division (YLD) in its purposes of 

furthering the goals of The Florida 

Bar. The LSD connects law students 

to YLD members through a variety 

of activities and projects designed 

to be of interest and assistance to 

division members, and engages 

in such activities as shall tend to 

further the best interests of the legal 

profession. 

STU Law Mock Trial Team Takes Home the Gold, Again! 

STU Law’s Mock Trial Team won four trophies at this year’s Nova Law 

School Closing Argument competition. The competition, which was open to 

all Florida law schools, took place March 20th and 21st. After the first day 

of intense competition, 16 students advanced to the second day, 12 of whom 

were STU Mock Trial members and member-candidates. 

Aron Gibson won 1st Place “Best Closer,” Wyatt Holtsclaw won “2nd Place 

Closer,” Brandon Stein won a “Final Four” trophy, and the STU Mock Trial 

team earned the “Best Closing Team” trophy. 

At last year’s competition, the STU Mock Trial team also took home the 

1st Place “Best Closer” and “Best Closing Team” trophies, making STU 

Mock Trial the two-time defending champions of this competition’s highest 

awards. 

During the fall semester of 2009, the STU Mock Trial Team also won 

“First Place Team” at the Florida Justice Association competition. All 

together, STU Law’s Mock Trial team earned five trophies during the 2009- 

2010 year. 

The team was coached by the Honorable David M. Gersten, Attorney 

Kimberly Kanoff, and Mock Trial President, 3L Chris Brown. 

Also competing from the STU Mock Trial Team were Nick Filimonchuk, 

Esther Pino, Joey Mccall, Anna Fernandez, Jesus Moises, Shary Glenn, 

Jorge Fors, Gizelle Rodriguez, Ramon Crego, Maziel Sodre, Manuel 

Gomez, Mike Usher, Lincoln Atten, Daniel Lopez, Bryan Paschal, and Tom 

Mirigliano. 

Former Justice Raoul Cantero Speaks to Students 

The STU Law Federalist Society hosted the first Hispanic Chief Justice of 

Florida’s Supreme Court, Raoul Cantero, on campus this fall. The former 

Justice gave a fascinating presentation about judicial restraint. He also 

discussed his experiences on the bench and as a top appellate litigator. 

Campus Events 

• The Student Animal 

Legal Defense Fund held 

“Practical Applications 

of Animal Law.” The 

event was hosted by 

Kimberly Hebert, 

President of SALDF, and 

was moderated by Dean 

Barbara Singer. Topics 

included: Liability 

for Personal Injury 

by Animals by Daniel 

Dolan ’96; Malpractice 

and Injury to Pets & 

Legislation by Marcella 

Roukas ’06; and Family 

Law Issues Involving 

Pets by William Brady ’95. 

• The Florida Third 

District Court of Appeal 

held its official session to 

hear oral arguments on 

campus on Wednesday, 

April 21. A third year law 

student, appearing as 

a certified legal intern, 

presented oral argument 

on behalf of the appellee 

in the first case heard. 

• The SBA, BLSA, 

CASBA, JLSA, and 

The Federalist Society 

hosted a debate for the 

17th U.S. Congressional 

District, featuring most 

of the candidates for 

the national office. 

WPLG Channel 10’s 

Michael Putney was 

the moderator for this 

important community 

event. More than 100 

students, faculty, and 

residents of the Miami 

Gardens area attended. 


studentnews 

Moot Court Team 

Excels at ABA Regional 

Competition 

Congratulations to the Moot 

Court Team at St. Thomas 

University School of Law for 

its excellent performance 

at the Miami Regional 

of the 2009-2010 ABA 

National Appellate Advocacy 

Competition in March. 

Team members Lyda Torres 

and Michael Vera won two 

of their three oral argument 

rounds. The team was coached 

by Brandon Stein, and assisted 

by research assistants Julieth 

Armas and Emily Tompkins. 

The team thanks Professors 

Kang, Kravitz, and Wiessner for 

their assistance, and Professor 

Blumberg for serving as faculty 

advisor. 

STU Law’s participation 

in this prestigious national 

championship competition 

for the first time is another 

step in our efforts to enhance 

the reputation of our school 

through participation 

in national moot court 

competitions. 

Michael Dunlavy ‘12 Receives National Award 

Michael Dunlavy, a first-year law student, was selected by the Casey 

Foundation to receive the prestigious Ruth Massinga Award, given annually 

to recognize foster care constituents who—in working to provide, improve, 

or prevent the need for foster care—have excelled in professional work, 

exemplary leadership, and relentless dedication. STU Law honored Mike 

on January 29 at a ceremony in the Moot Court Room. Alfredo García, 

Dean of the School of Law; George Sheldon, Secretary of the Department of 

Children and Families in the State of Florida (and former Associate Dean 

at STU Law); and Rev. Msgr. Franklyn Casale, President of St. Thomas 

University, congratulated Mike Dunlavy on this outstanding achievement. 

Louis Botero, 3L, was awarded the Ken Feldman Pro Bono 

Scholarship Award for his outstanding dedication to pro bono 

work. Louis performed 350 hours of pro bono service at the 11th 

Judicial Circuit Unified Family Court. 

Recent Graduates Form STU Law Young Alumni Association 

Alumni Ricky Patel, J.D. ’09, and Yara Lorenzo, J.D. ’09, have established the St. Thomas University School 

of Law Young Alumni Association to unite an active and growing alumni base. The Young Alumni Association 

(“YA”) consists of graduates of St. Thomas University School of Law who either graduated within the last six 

(6) years or are 35 years of age or younger. The mission of the YA is to create a strong and united St. Thomas 

alumni community. Moreover, YA aims to provide a forum for graduates to contribute time, resources, and 

experiences to strengthen the mounting reputation of St. Thomas University School of Law. 

The YA is proud to announce the 2009-2010 Executive Committee: Chair: Ricky Patel, Chair: Yara Lorenzo, 

Secretary: Lee Patten, Treasurer: Carlos Santisteban, Jr., and Event Coordinator: Craig Dell. The YA would 

also like to congratulate the members of the Advisory Committee: Wes Farrell, Andrew Gordon, Joshua Hertz, 

Joanna Noriega, and Schuyler Smith. 

The YA has a strong foundation of committed graduates. Membership is complimentary this year, and all 

eligible members are encouraged to join the organization. Please follow the YA on Facebook and visit our 

Website at http://youngalumniassociation.homestead.com/Young-Alumni.html. 

Alumni Awards Recognize Outstanding Achievement 

Outstanding Young Alumni Award 

winners Leanne Polk ‘01 and Erajh 

Panditaratne ‘03 

Dean’s Award of Distinction winner 

Stanley Tate with Joanne Tate 

(right) and STU Vice President for 

Development & Communications 

Beverly Bachrach (left) 

Mark your calendars 

for the 


School of Law 

Alumni Reception 

at The Florida Bar 

Annual Meeting 

Thursday, June 24 

6:30-8:30 p.m. 

Boca Raton Resort & Club 

Outstanding Young Alumnus Award: 

Granted to an individual who has 

graduated in the past seven years, 

and who has shown a commitment 

to professionalism, ethics, and 

service to the School of Law. 

Erajh M. Panditaratne ’03 

Outstanding Young Alumna Award: 

Granted to an individual who has 

graduated in the past seven years, 

and who has shown a commitment 

to professionalism, ethics, and 

service to the School of Law. 

Leanne M. Polk ’01 

Distinguished Alumnus Award: 

Granted to an individual who 

has demonstrated exceptional 

skills in the practice of law, has 

shown a lifelong commitment to 

professionalism and ethics, and has 

proven him or herself as a leader in 

the legal arena. 

Timothy M. Martin ’87 

Arête Award: 

Greek for virtue, excellence, 

reaching one’s highest potentialgranted 

to a graduate who embodies 

these traits through excellence in 

his or her field, and dedication to 

public service, social justice, and 

citizenship. 

Silvia Perez ’01 

Outstanding Jurist Award: 

Given to a member of the judiciary 

who has made a significant impact 

through his or her dedication to 

justice, ethics, and the law. 

The Hon. David M. Gersten 

The Dean’s Award of Distinction: 

Granted to an individual who 

is not a St. Thomas University 

School of Law graduate, or to a 

firm, corporation, or group with 

a demonstrated commitment to 

ethics and professionalism, and to 

advancing the profession of law or 

serving the community. 

Stanley G. Tate 

Noteworthy 

alumninews 

• Mark Romance ’94 

was selected for the Best 

Lawyers in America 

2010 edition. In 2009, 

he was named Chair 

of the Florida Bar Civil 

Rules Committee. He 

is a past president of 

the Florida Bar Young 

Lawyers Division and 

currently serves as Chair 

of the Eleventh Circuit 

Judicial Nominating 

Commission. 

• The Hon. Barbara 

McCarthy ’88 was 

named to the bench 

by Governor Crist who 

released a statement 

saying, “Barbara 

McCarthy’s proven track 

record as an educator 

and as an attorney 

handling a variety of 

civil and criminal cases 

makes her an ideal 

choice for this post. I 

am confident she will 

use her experiences in 

the classroom and the 

courtroom to rule from 

the bench with patience, 

humility, and fairness.” 

• Jude Faccidomo ’04 

was recently voted one of 

“South Florida’s Top Up 

and Coming Attorneys” 

by South Florida Legal 

Guide. 

For more alumni news, 

see the Alumni Class notes 

section on page 38. 



School of Law 

Celebrates its 

25th Anniversary 

For 25 years, St. Thomas University 

School of Law has excelled in its mission to 

educate a diverse student body, promote 

public service and human rights, and 

advance legal ethics within the profession. 

The 25th Anniversary Gala brought together 

alumni, students, faculty, administrators, and 

the legal community to celebrate the 

law school’s rich history. 


Milestones 

1984 

Law School Opens Its Doors 

1987 

Law School Graduates Its 

Charter Class 

1992 

Human Rights Institute 

is Formed 

1994 

Law School Receives Full 

Accreditation from the ABA 

The 25th anniversary gala, 

held in October at the 

Intercontinental Hotel in 

downtown Miami, honored the 

Reverend Patrick O’Neill. It was 

his leadership, as President of 

St. Thomas University in 1984, 

that led to the founding of the 

law school. 

2000 

Law School Initiates Pro Bono 

Program, One of the First of 

Its Kind 

2001 

Law School Admitted into the 

Prestigious AALS 


Milestones 

2001 

Law School Offers LL.M. in 

Intercultural Human Rights 

2002 

Law and Graduate Schools 

Launch Joint Degree 

Programs 

2005 

STU Law Pax Romana 

United Nations Internship 

is Founded 

2006 

Center for Earth 

Jurisprudence is Formed 


On its 25th anniversary, St. Thomas 

University School of Law boasts more 

than 3,500 alumni who live and work in the 

farthest reaches of the globe. They live in 

nearly every state in the U.S., from coast to 

coast, and Alaska and Hawaii. They reach 

across Europe, Africa, Australia, Asia, 

and South America. They are partners at 

international law firms, solo practitioners, 

public servants, judges, law professors, 

human rights activists, authors, and 

entrepreneurs. They practice everything from 

aviation law to biotechnology law to sports 

law to trademark law and more. Most 

importantly, they are making a difference in 

their corner of the world. 


Bryan Sinclair ’93 

Palo Alto, California 

Partner 

K&L Gates 

I am a partner in K&L Gates, an approximately 1800-lawyer 

firm with 36 offices around the world. I am a member of the 

Intellectual Property Litigation section in the Palo Alto, California, 

office. 

My practice focuses on intellectual property litigation (patent, 

trademark, copyright, and trade secret), complex commercial 

litigation, and intellectual property counseling, strategy, licensing, 

protection, and enforcement. 

While working in Washington, D.C., in the ’90s, I worked on my 

second patent infringement case (the first patent case I worked on 

was during my tenure as an associate at Steel Hector & Davis), and 

found the law and the subject matter more interesting than any 

other type of litigation I had been exposed to since concluding 

my clerkship for Judge Fay on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 

11th Circuit. Patent litigation, in particular, is very much like a 

high stakes chess game, and the myriad of issues surrounding 

the law and the technology in each case is both fascinating and 

challenging. 

I very much enjoy counseling and guiding clients through 

the mine field of issues in a patent (or other complex IP) case 

and either protecting their inventions or avoiding claims of 

infringement by others. It is also very difficult and rewarding to 

“translate” or distill down very complex technological concepts 

into understandable language such that the Court and the jury can 

digest the information, and hopefully view and decide the case in a 

manner favorable to my clients. 

St. Thomas law school helped me develop the fundamental 

and critical analytical skills necessary to enable me to handle 

extremely complex legal and factual issues and provide the most 

informed legal advice and opinions to my clients. 

St. Thomas law professors not only taught the black letter law 

but also, more importantly, were truly invested in the overall 

development and future success of their students. My unfettered 

access to and relationships with my professors undoubtedly made 

me a much better lawyer and analytical thinker than I would have 

been in the absence of such personal investment by many of my 

professors. 

Palo Alto, California, 

is in the San Francisco 

Bay area. The city is 

headquarters to a number 

of Silicon Valley hightechnology 

companies 

including Hewlett-Packard 

and Facebook. 

St. Thomas law professors not 

only taught the black letter law 

but also, more importantly, 

were truly invested in the overall 

development and future success 

of their students. My unfettered 

access to and relationships with 

my professors undoubtedly 

made me a much better lawyer 

and analytical thinker. 

As a political officer assigned to U.S. 

Embassies overseas, my job is to make 

contacts within the host government 

and to learn about the host government 

in order to explain their actions to 

foreign policy makers in Washington, 

D.C. I also must be able to explain U.S. 

foreign policy to the host government. 

While I enjoyed being a lawyer, 

I was tired of staying in one place 

for long periods of time. I took the 

Foreign Service Officers exam and 

was lucky enough to be accepted. As 

a foreign service officer, I now have 

wonderful opportunities to live in 

foreign countries, learn new languages, 

immerse myself in foreign cultures, 

and simply travel. 

Law school was a good preparation 

for this job as it requires clear writing, 

an ability to negotiate, and the ability 

to represent your client’s interest—in 

this case that of the U.S. government. 

Even more significantly, my law 

school experience helped lead me to 

the job I have today. In my second 

year, I studied International Relations 

with Professor Siegfried Weissner. 

Studying legal relations between 

countries with Professor Wiessner 

sparked a desire in me to participate in 

those relations and to learn more about 

how governments deal with other 

governments on regional and global 

issues—a desire that drove my decision 

to become a foreign service officer. 

Yerevan is the 

capital and largest 

city of Armenia and 

one of the world’s 

oldest continuouslyinhabited 

cities, dating 

back to the 8th 

century B.C. 

Charles Lobdell ’95 

Yerevan, Armenia 

Foreign Service Officer 

U.S. Department of State 

Studying legal relations between countries 

with Professor Wiessner sparked a desire in 

me to participate in those relations and 

to learn more about how governments 

deal with other governments on 

regional and global issues—a 

desire that drove my decision 

to become a foreign 

service officer. 


Silvia Martis ’04 

Romania 

Human Rights Expert 

The Intercultural 

Human Rights program’s 

methodology of problem- and policy-oriented 

jurisprudence gave me the necessary 

intellectual grounding for my work as a 

government representative, 

scholar, and activist. 

My graduation with honors from the St. Thomas LL.M. in Intercultural 

Human Rights Program helped me to get a place in the invaluable program 

on international policy and development organized by the U.N. and the 

J. Whitehead School of Diplomacy and International Relations. 

Thereafter, I worked with the Romanian Permanent Mission to the 

United Nations—an experience that enabled me to put into action most of 

the knowledge I accumulated during the LL.M. Program. 

While at the U.N., I represented the Romanian Government in meetings 

of the U.N. General Assembly, the Security Council, UNICEF, the U.N. 

NGOs Committee, and the U.N. Commission on Social Development. 

I negotiated, in the name of the Romanian Government, more than 70 

resolutions on human rights issues in the meetings of the human rights 

experts of the United Nations General Assembly’s Third Committee, and 

three human rights presidential declarations of the Security Council. In 

this position, I reported directly to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the 

Romanian Government. 

My affection for my home country moved me, in 2005, to go back to 

Romania and to work on the promotion and protection of human rights 

from the grass roots level. Now, I am a human rights expert involved in 

many European projects on Romania, and am part of academia teaching 

“The European System of Human Rights Protection.” I love what I am 

doing. 

Looking back, I can say without any doubt that all of my professional 

achievements are based on the scientific, cultural, and social education 

provided by St. Thomas law school’s LL.M. degree. The Intercultural 

Human Rights program’s methodology of problem- and policy-oriented 

jurisprudence gave me the necessary intellectual grounding for my work as 

a government representative, scholar, and activist. 

Romania has the 9th largest 

territory and the 7th 

largest population among 

the European Union member 

states. Its capital and 

largest city is Bucharest. 

The most popular sport 

in Romania is Association 

Football (soccer). 

Indianapolis is the 

capital of Indiana, and 

is Indiana’s largest city. 

It hosts the famous 

Indianapolis 500, billed 

as “The Greatest 

Spectacle in Racing.” 

In my career, I have always 

been given a great deal of 

responsibility with little formal 

training, and the skills learned 

at St. Thomas made it easy to 

hit the ground running, learn 

on the job, and achieve the 

results my clients seek. 

Michael Dart ’01 

Indianapolis, Indiana 

Staff Attorney 

Simon Property Group 

As corporate counsel in the Legal Operations department of 

Simon Property Group, I handle hundreds of matters each 

year including business litigation, premises liability litigation, 

landlord/tenant disputes, construction law, regulatory matters, 

tax disputes, and day-to-day legal advice for property managers all 

over the country. 

Simon Property Group, Inc. is an S&P 500 company and the 

largest real estate company in the U.S. The company currently 

owns or has an interest in 382 properties comprising 261 million 

square feet of gross leasable area in North America, Europe, and 

Asia. Simon Property Group is headquartered in Indianapolis, 

Indiana, and employs more than 5,000 people worldwide. The 

company’s common stock is publicly traded on the NYSE under 

the symbol SPG. 

Before joining Simon Property Group, I spent my first few 

years after law school with the State of Indiana, first as a Deputy 

Attorney General handling tax litigation, and later as General 

Counsel and a tax policy advisor to Governor Mitchell E. Daniels, 

Jr. One of my colleagues in the local tax bar introduced me to 

Simon, and it has been an excellent fit. 

Working for the industry leader has many unique rewards and 

challenges, but I most enjoy the diversity of the matters I work on 

each day. With nearly 400 shopping centers, there is a steady flow 

of new and unique matters that make each day exciting. 

The law school’s focus on practical skills that allow students 

to immediately perform legal work in the real world was a huge 

benefit to my career. In particular, Professor Kathleen Mahoney’s 

Advanced Legal Research and Writing stands out as one of the 

most memorable and most helpful courses I had in law school. 

In my career, I have always been given a great deal of 

responsibility with little formal training, and the skills learned at 

St. Thomas made it easy to hit the ground running, learn on the 

job, and achieve the results my clients seek. 


Chris Pardo ’07 

Boston, Massachusetts 

Associate 

Constangy, Brooks & Smith LLP 

I am very grateful 

to Professor Ronner 

for teaching me 

what it means to be a 

professional—probably 

the single most 

important lesson I 

learned in law school. 

As an associate at Constangy, Brooks 

& Smith, a nationwide law firm 

specializing in providing labor and 

employment advice and litigation 

support to employers, I focus my 

practice on the defense of complex 

employment cases in federal and state 

courts, arbitration, and administrative 

agencies. 

I have represented a broad 

range of clients in a wide range of 

issues, including matters involving 

discrimination, complex wage and 

hour issues, wrongful termination, 

trade secrets and noncompetition 

agreements, ERISA, and various other 

claims. I also assist employers in 

responding to the Equal Employment 

Opportunity Commission, 

Massachusetts Commission Against 

Discrimination, and various other 

state agencies. 

Prior to law school, I worked as a 

congressional aide to Congressman 

Lincoln Díaz-Balart who was a 

strong proponent of law school, as 

he felt it was the best education you 

could have. My uncle, a lawyer, 

shared that view, and I decided to 

come to STU to get that education. 

At STU, I graduated valedictorian 

and was fortunate enough to land 

a “big firm” summer associate job 

at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. 

Subsequently, I was asked to join their 

labor and employment practice. I 

got some great experience there but 

relocated to Boston because my 

wife had a once-in-a-lifetime job 

opportunity. When I moved, I knew 

I wanted to stay working in labor 

and employment. I applied for an 

internship with the Massachusetts 

Commission Against Discrimination’s 

enforcement/investigations division, 

where I investigated claims of 

discrimination. Shortly thereafter, I 

met Ellen Kearns, one of the country’s 

foremost wage-and-hour specialists. 

She was planning to open Constangy’s 

first office in the northeast, and I have 

been happily working for Constangy 

since. 

One of the things I enjoy most is 

working closely with clients to help 

them solve “people” problems. Most 

employment cases have a face— 

meaning they are cases about and 

affecting people, as opposed to being 

only about contracts or products. 

St. Thomas prepared me well for my 

work today by teaching me never to 

take anything for granted. If you want 

to achieve something, you have to 

work as hard as possible to achieve it. 

We were expected to figure things out 

at St. Thomas, and be able to solve real 

world problems because that is what 

real world lawyers are expected to do. 

I was privileged to have many 

wonderful professors and mentors at 

Boston was founded in 

1630 by Puritan colonists, 

and is where the Boston 

Massacre and the Boston 

Tea Party took place. 

Boston is home to the 

Boston Red Sox and 

famous Fenway Park. 

STU (like Professors Pendo, Zeiner, 

and Lawson, and Dean Singer, just 

to name a few). But I had Professor 

Ronner for Property my first year at 

STU. My first semester, she gave us a 

midterm and I got an awful grade. The 

midterm was unlike any other exam I 

had ever seen. It only asked questions 

about the most obscure facts or 

footnote cases, and I was entirely 

unprepared for that kind of test. 

When I met with her to discuss it, she 

told me that she was very disappointed 

because she expected much more from 

me, and that if I was not willing to 

devote myself to treating the law as a 

profession - as opposed to just a job - I 

should pack up and never come back. 

When I got home, I was so frustrated, 

I threw my backpack up into a tree, 

the thing unzipped, and all my books 

and notes blew all over the yard. My 

neighbors must have thought I had 

lost my mind. But Professor Ronner 

challenged me to be a professional, 

and I ended up working as hard as I 

could and being very successful in law 

school from that moment forward. 

To this day, whenever I work late, or 

feel like I am working particularly 

hard, I think about that conversation 

with Professor Ronner and remind 

myself that working hard is my duty 

to my clients as a professional. I am 

very grateful to Professor Ronner 

for teaching me what it means to be 

a professional—probably the single 

most important lesson I learned in law 

school. 

Jessica Madsen JD ’09, LLM ’10 

Rwanda 

Intern, International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda 

From the courses taught by faculty across the globe to 

the wealth of student organizations, to the incredible 

opportunities for hands-on work through the clinics 

and the Human Rights Institute, St. Thomas University 

School of Law is a truly unique place not only to learn 

the law but also to live it. 

Rwanda, just south of the 

Equator in central Africa, 

is the continent’s most 

densely populated country. 

Abundant wildlife, including 

rare mountain gorillas, 

has resulted in tourism 

becoming one of the 

biggest sectors of the 

country’s economy. 

My clinical internship at the 

International Criminal Tribunal 

for Rwanda was a truly unique 

experience. If I had been at any 

other law school, I don’t think 

it would have worked out. The 

Associate Dean created the clinical 

hours for me, and Professor 

Wiessner flew to Africa to meet the 

on-site requirement. St. Thomas law 

school faculty and administration 

worked together to make this oncein-a-lifetime 

experience happen. 

I was part of the legal defense 

team for a man accused of 

committing genocide during the 

1994 Rwandan genocide. For 

nearly two months, I went to court 

each day and learned a great deal 

about the processes involved in 

international criminal courts. It 

was a wonderful experience to 

work with attorneys and judges 

from around the world—many of 

whom I have developed lasting 

relationships with. 

I was well-prepared for my 

work in Rwanda because of my 

experiences at St. Thomas law 

school. I had done pro bono work 

at the St. Thomas Human Rights 

Institute that prepared me for field 

work and gave me the experience 

to work with defendants. I also had 

excellent legal research and writing 

courses that provided me with 

the necessary skills to do in-depth 

research—even in a Third World 

country where the Internet was 

nearly nonexistent. 

I came to St. Thomas because 

of its reputation as a school on 

the leading edge of human rights 

and social justice—and it truly 

is. After completing my LL.M. in 

Intercultural Human Rights this 

May, I hope to secure employment 

as an international human rights 

attorney, or as a representative 

working for an NGO to stop the use 

and recruitment of child soldiers in 

Africa. 

The opportunities I had at 

St. Thomas were incredible. From 

the courses taught by faculty across 

the globe to the wealth of student 

organizations, to the incredible 

opportunities for hands-on work 

through the clinics and the Human 

Rights Institute, St. Thomas 

University School of Law is a truly 

unique place not only to learn the 

law but also to live it. 


Chris Raddatz ’01 

Phoenix, Arizona 

Director & Shareholder 

Fennemore Craig, P.C. 

Phoenix, the capital of Arizona, 

is the fifth most populated 

city in the U.S. and has the 

hottest climate of any major 

U.S. city. It has been home to 

numerous influential American 

politicians and other dignitaries, 

including William Rehnquist, 

John McCain, and 

Sandra Day O’Connor. 

Peter Egan ’01 

Panama City, Florida 

Managing Attorney, Panama City 

Office 

Kelley, Kronenberg, Gilmartin, 

Fichtel, Wander, Bamdas, Eskalyo 

& Dunbrack, P.A. 

I was introduced to Kelley, Kronenberg, Gilmartin, Fichtel, Wander, Bamdas, 

Eskalyo & Dunbrack, P.A. by a fellow STU Law graduate and classmate. I 

began in the Liability department and later joined the Workers Compensation 

department. I worked in South Florida servicing Broward, Dade, and Palm 

Beach Counties for two years, then was offered opportunity to open our 

Panama City office as the Managing Attorney. 

Currently, I handle cases from Tallahassee west to Pensacola and all points 

in between. Eighty percent of my practice is workers compensation defense, 

and twenty percent is general liability focusing mainly on premises liability and 

construction conflicts. 

One of the things I enjoy the most about my job is the close client 

relationships I have been able to develop over my seven years with the firm. I 

enjoy practicing in northwest Florida as the attorneys I deal with are cordial 

and, in my opinion, extremely professional—sort of like a Key West setting with 

North Carolina weather. 

One of the greatest assets of St. Thomas law school is the diversity of the 

faculty. From full time professors who had previously been in practice to 

legal scholars focused on analysis and critical writing and adjuncts, including 

judges, the faculty brought a broad range of experiences and perspectives to 

the classroom. 

I feel strongly that my education at STU Law provided me with a good, solid 

foundation for my practice. Although I did not understand a lot of the methods 

used at the time, the curriculum taught me how to think critically and analyze 

situations with good perspective. Certainly, the foundation was provided, and 

I was given the tools to grow into a good attorney and advocate for my clients. 

I feel strongly that my education at STU Law provided me with a good, solid 

foundation for my practice. Although I did not understand a lot of the methods 

used at the time, the curriculum taught me how to think critically and analyze 

situations with good perspective. Certainly, the foundation was provided, and I 

was given the tools to grow into a good attorney and advocate for my clients. 

I am a Director and Shareholder at Fennemore Craig, P.C., in Phoenix, 

Arizona, a position I fell into somewhat accidentally. I practice in the 

areas of real estate development and real estate finance. Phoenix is a 

dynamic real estate market, even in challenging economic times, and 

I followed the opportunities. With my strong background in business 

and tax law, it was natural fit. 

My practice focuses primarily on commercial real estate 

transactions, federal taxation, and business and finance. It includes 

corporate and limited liability company formation and taxation, 

preparation of covenants, conditions and restrictions affecting real 

property, and real estate purchase and sale agreements. What I most 

enjoy about my job is negotiating deals—the more complex the deal, 

the better. I enjoy overcoming the challenges and seeing it come 

together. 

As a student, you cannot compare your educational experience 

at St. Thomas law school with that of students at other law schools. 

It was not until I began practicing that I realized the quality of the 

education I received at STU Law. In particular, Professor Mark 

Wolff is the gold standard as a professor and mentor. His ability, 

as a professor, to push students academically is matched only by his 

abilities, as a mentor, to convince those same students that they could 

be pushed harder and do more. 

Professor Mark Wolff is the 

gold standard as a professor 

and mentor. His ability, as a 

professor, to push students 

academically is matched only 

by his abilities, as a mentor, to 

convince those same students 

that they could be pushed 

harder and do more. 

Legend has it that early 

in its history, the Panama 

City area was home to 

pirates, and many a treasure 

lies buried here. The city 

itself was founded in 1936, 

and its name was reportedly 

based on its being the 

nearest U.S. port to the 

Panama Canal. 


CITIZENSHIP, CIVIC VIRTUE, AND 

IMMIGRANT INTEGRATION 

THE SOMALIS OF LEWISTON, MAINE 

In February 2001, Somali 

refugees resettled by the U.S. 

government in major urban areas 

began a secondary migration to 

Lewiston, Maine, after Somali 

elders sent scouts across America 

in search of a home where they 

could raise their children and 

practice Islam in relative peace. 

After the first group settled 

in Lewiston in early 2001, 

Somalis arrived in increasing 

numbers, overwhelming the 

city’s social services. The Mayor 

issued an Open Letter to the 

Somali community, telling local 

Somalis to advise their friends 

and relatives to stop coming to 

Lewiston. This incident sparked 

the interest of a White supremacist 

group from Ohio that organized a 

hate rally in downtown Lewiston 

in January 2003. That same day, 

a peace rally in support of the 

Somalis was held at Bates College 

in Lewiston, which approximately 

4,500 attended. 

Since then, Maine and the 

neighboring towns of Lewiston 

and Auburn have struggled to 

meet the needs of the Somali 

refugees for social services, 

English classes, and job training 

while dealing with the social 

unrest their presence has created 

in this overwhelmingly White, 

insular, Roman Catholic 

community. 

Government officials continue 

to face the challenge of defining 

to what extent they can 

accommodate the religious and 

cultural differences of the Somali 

community without infringing 

on the rights of Somali women or 

low-caste and minority clans. 

This piece is the result of 

two summers of ethnographic 

research, in 2007 and 2008, in 

the town of Lewiston and the 

neighboring town of Auburn. By 

examining the Somali community 

in Lewiston at close range, 

my study reveals that national 

citizenship norms, state and 

local integration policies, and 

norms and dynamics internal to 

immigrant groups themselves 

appear to share a surprising 

commonality: They are all driven 

by community-based norms. Even 

citizenship theory can be reduced 

to three competing visions of 

community: a nationalist coreculture 

model, a liberal model 

based on tolerance and mutual 

respect, and an accommodationist 

model allowing for the existence 

of semi-autonomous immigrant 

enclaves alongside the dominant 

culture. The story of 

the Somalis of 

Lewiston, 

Maine, and their host society 

reveals these various norms in 

play, but it also reveals the limits 

of a community-based approach. 

A Nation of Immigrants 

The conviction that we are 

a nation of immigrants still 

influences much of the debate on 

immigration. The mythological 

“melting pot” has shown great 

resilience in the United States as 

the dominant paradigm. Under 

this model, immigrant groups 

and the majority culture become 

more and more alike over time, in 

characteristics, norms, behaviors, 

and values. 

This view of immigrant 

assimilation has been subject to 

challenge in recent years. Some 

scholars have adopted a “core 

culture” model of assimilation, 

which defines U.S. identity as 

the product of a distinct Anglo- 

Protestant culture, key facets 

of which include the English 

language, Christianity, and 

English concepts of the 

rule of law. 

By Lauren Gilbert, Professor of Law 

It is not uncommon in Western societies for immigrants and refugees with cultural and religious values 

different from the host society to adopt a stricter set of beliefs and practices in the host country than they 

had practiced in their native lands. This phenomenon is a mechanism that, at least in the short-term, tends 

to insulate members of immigrant groups from what community leaders see as the negative effects of 

Westernization and assimilation. This piece explores how these issues have played out in one community in 

the United States, the Lewiston/Auburn area of south central Maine, which has become home to as many as 

5,000 Somali refugees. 


Many 

barriers to 

the Somalis’ 

integration 

into 

Lewiston’s 

social fabric 

are external, 

while others 

can be 

attributed to 

intragroup 

barriers 

within the 

Somali 

community 

itself. 

Multicultural accommodationists, 

in contrast, would advocate for 

a model that would allow for the 

coexistence of different cultures, 

religions, and values without them 

dissipating or fusing together. 

For immigrant groups with 

cultural and religious traditions 

distinct from the host society, 

such as the Somali community 

in Lewiston, multicultural 

accommodation is appealing 

because it offers the possibility of 

a certain degree of religious and 

cultural autonomy. 

Good Moral Character and 

Community Norms in U.S. 

Citizenship Law 

Historically, community norms 

have played an important role 

in adjudicating naturalization 

applications. This has been 

particularly true with regard 

to the “good moral character” 

requirement in the naturalization 

statute, which requires that an 

applicant demonstrate that he 

or she is “a person of good moral 

character, attached to the principles 

of the Constitution of the United 

States, and well-disposed to the 

good order and happiness of the 

United States.” 

Current regulations provide 

that the naturalization examiner 

“shall evaluate claims of good moral 

character on a case-by-case basis 

taking into account the elements 

enumerated in this section and the 

standards of the average citizen 

in the community of residence.” 

During much of the twentieth 

century, the U.S. Immigration 

Service and many district court 

judges invoked a community-based 

standard in assessing good moral 

character. 

The next section explores 

barriers to the Somalis’ access 

to U.S. citizenship and to their 

integration into the social fabric 

of Lewiston, Maine. It focuses on 

the implications of an enduring 

community norm in the Somali 

community that could impose a 

barrier to citizenship for at least 

some Somalis: the practice of 

polygamy. 

In the event that naturalization 

examiners decide to focus on 

polygamy, it could lead to renewed 

attention to the sexual mores of 

certain segments of the Somali 

community and to the legitimacy 

of defining good moral character 

in terms of the standards of the 

host society, without considering 

the customs and norms from an 

immigrant’s own culture. 

Barriers to Citizenship and 

Integration 

More than nine years have 

passed since the Somalis first 

arrived in Lewiston. Today, many 

of the Somali men and women 

who were part of the first wave to 

relocate are technically eligible 

to apply for U.S. citizenship. Yet, 

no single agency in Lewiston, 

governmental or otherwise, 

had assumed responsibility 

for providing comprehensive 

citizenship services. Advocates 

for the Somalis caution against 

exaggerating the accomplishments 

touted by the City of Lewiston and 

others, or ignoring the obstacles to 

full participation that still exist. 

Many of these are intergroup 

barriers between the dominant 

White culture and the Somali 

community. Other barriers, 

however, are intragroup barriers 

within the Somali community. 

Somali leaders and Lewiston officials must distinguish between those 

problems that are distinctly Somali and require a Somali solution, 

such as clan rivalries, and those issues, like domestic violence and 

discrimination against low-caste and minority clans, that require 

Intergroup Barriers to 

Integration 

Somalis continue to face 

discrimination and harassment 

from Lewiston residents, 

including private individuals and 

some government officials. While 

city administrators have worked 

hard to incorporate Somali 

residents into the life of the 

community, some elected officials 

have demonstrated resistance 

to their presence in Lewiston 

and their full participation 

in community affairs. By 

naturalizing, Somalis in Lewiston 

could become constituents 

and claim their right to full 

membership, giving them both a 

vote and arguably a greater stake 

in the policy-making process. 

My research revealed, however, 

that many Somalis in Lewiston 

who are eligible for citizenship 

have not chosen to naturalize. 

Many do not possess the literacy 

skills needed to pass the Englishlanguage 

and U.S.-civics portions 

of the exam, cannot afford to 

pay the exorbitant fees, or face 

additional legal obstacles, such 

as the good moral character 

requirement in the statute. 

government intervention. 

Many others, however, while 

satisfying the basic requirements, 

choose not to naturalize. Many 

of the Somalis indicated the 

principle value of becoming a 

citizen was that it would allow 

them to obtain a U.S. passport to 

travel back to Somalia to maintain 

their cultural connections with 

their homeland. Others saw in 

U.S. citizenship the security 

of knowing they could not be 

deported. Elderly Somalis saw 

it as a way to maintain their 

eligibility for public benefits. 

When asked whether 

integration was a desirable goal 

for most Somalis, one student 

leader said she personally resisted 

defining integration as the goal. 

Rather, her goal was to be a 

Somali in an American context, 

not just a passive recipient of 

acculturation but someone 

choosing which Somali cultural 

practices to keep and which to 

abandon, and which American 

practices to accept and which to 

reject. 

Intragroup Barriers to 

Integration 

My research revealed that while 

many barriers to the Somalis’ 

integration into Lewiston’s social 

fabric are external, others can be 

attributed to intragroup barriers 

within the Somali community 

itself. The major intragroup 

barriers to full civic participation 

include cultural reactivism, clan 

rivalries, subordination of women, 

and discrimination against 

minority and low-caste clans. 

1. Cultural Reactivism. One of 

the reasons frequently given 

by educated Somalis for not 

pursuing U.S. citizenship was 

resistance to integration into the 

U.S. mainstream. Many Somali 

leaders view assimilation into 

the American mosaic as a threat 

to the survival of the Somali 

people. Many Somalis in Lewiston 

have worked hard to maintain 

their community’s religious and 

cultural identity, some through 

what scholars would describe 

as the phenomenon of cultural 

reactivism, in which cultural and 

religious values become more 

pronounced in the host society as 

a way to preserve an immigrant 

group’s shared identity. 

2. Persistence of clan rivalries. 

Somalis and experts alike 


emphasize that a Somali’s most 

important identity has traditionally 

been his or her tribe or clan. Yet 

from the perspective of many 

Somalis, it has been a destructive 

force in Somalia, and in the town of 

Lewiston. 

Despite efforts by Somali elders 

in Lewiston to project a united 

Somali identity, the persistence of 

clan rivalries in the Lewiston area 

threatens to divide the community 

and to reinforce deep social 

inequalities. Both traditional and 

more progressive Somali Muslims 

profess that clan divisions are 

contrary to Islam and the teachings 

of Mohammed, but Somalia’s 

legacy of clan conflict continues 

to haunt the Somalis of Lewiston 

and to stand in the way of true 

reconciliation. 

3. “Oppression of Women by 

Women.” In the United States, 

Somali women serve important 

roles, not just as mothers and wives 

but as educators, administrators, 

and enforcers of Somali cultural 

and religious values. 

Most Somali women and girls 

in Lewiston wear some form of the 

veil as a religious duty, a symbol of 

the Somali community’s collective 

identity, or, in some cases, a result 

of community or peer pressure. 

Somali women from the mosque 

will often go door to door through 

the neighborhood, counseling 

other Somali women as to their 

responsibilities as “good Muslims.” 

Another challenge faced 

by Somali Muslims is how to 

address the problem of domestic 

violence. Many Muslims take the 

position that the Qur’an permits 

husbands to use force to discipline 

unruly wives. Somali women 

who seek protection within their 

communities are often scolded for 

not being better wives, and Somali 

women who go to the police or 

to a women’s shelter face social 

ostracism and potential exile. 

Many Somali women are singleparent 

heads of households, 

confronted with the challenge of 

supporting families on their own. 

Some are divorced spouses from 

polygamous marriages. Many are 

dependent on the welfare system. 

Consequently, many Somali women 

are adapting to a lifestyle far 

different than the lives they knew 

in Somalia or the refugee camps. 

4. Discrimination Against 

Minority and Low-Caste Clans. 

The persistence of clan rivalries 

in Lewiston has resulted in 

discrimination against minority 

and lower-caste clans. Nowhere 

is this more apparent than in the 

treatment of the Somali Bantu. 

During the civil war in Somalia, 

entire Bantu villages were wiped 

out, and families were torn apart. 

The United States offered refugee 

status to many of the Bantu people, 

and the first group of Bantu 

refugees were resettled in the 

United States in 2003. By 2005, 

many had begun to make their way 

to Lewiston. 

Bantu Somalis in Lewiston 

describe disturbing instances of 

discrimination by other Somalis. 

Excluded from positions of 

leadership within the ethnic 

Somali community, the Bantus 

have established their separate 

identity and support networks, 

underscoring that, although they 

are Muslim, they do not share the 

same religious practices, social 

norms, or means of livelihood 

as what they call the “regular” 

Somalis. 

Somali Bantus in Lewiston face 

formidable challenges. Members of 

the Bantu community who came to 

the United States starting in 2003 

are now becoming eligible to apply 

for naturalization. The greatest 

challenge is, without question, the 

high levels of illiteracy in the Bantu 

community. For many, inability to 

communicate in English is a major 

obstacle to both entry into the 

workforce and eventual access to 

U.S. citizenship. 

It should be possible for Somalis in Lewiston to rely on their cultural and 

religious ties to their community while seeking full membership within 

the broader community. 

In addition to these obstacles, 

one additional problem looms on the 

horizon for Bantus seeking naturalization. Although 

polygamy is legal in Somalia, polygamous unions are void 

under U.S. law. Several persons reported that Somali men in such 

unions who underwent overseas refugee processing, particularly in the Bantu 

community, were required by the U.S. government to divorce all their wives but one 

as a condition of admission. Subsequent wives and their offspring were frequently admitted 

as refugees separately. Many of these family members ultimately resettled in Lewiston, and in some 

circumstances, resumed their old households. For many Somali Bantu men applying for naturalization, this 

creates a quandary: If they are actively supporting their former families, they could be accused of practicing 

polygamy; if they sever ties to these family members, they may be accused of willfully failing or refusing to 

support dependents. Either way, they may be found to lack the good moral character essential to naturalization. 

Perspectives on Citizenship and Belonging 

This piece has explored the interplay among competing community-based norms at the national, local, 

and group level in terms of how they have affected the Somali community’s willingness to integrate into the 

host community’s social fabric and into the life of the nation. I have tested various theories of nationalism, 

pluralism, and multiculturalism for understanding the relationship between the host society and immigrant 

communities. I ultimately conclude that a pluralist theory based on tolerance, trust, and solidarity offers far 

better prospects for immigrant integration than either a nationalist or multicultural approach. Multicultural 

accommodation embraces the right of each ethnic group to define its own identity and formulate its own set 

of claims and demands. Yet, as David Miller points out in his book On Nationality, in the end, we live in a 

world of hyphenated identities, but the key is that the latter term (African-American; Somali-American; Irish- 

American; Franco-American) transcends ethnic differences. 

Somali leaders and Lewiston officials must distinguish between those problems that are distinctly 

Somali and require a Somali solution, such as clan rivalries, and those issues, like domestic violence and 

discrimination against low caste and minority clans, that require government intervention. 

Many Somalis in Lewiston take an instrumental approach to U.S. citizenship, naturalizing when it is in their 

self-interest. Others recognize the importance of citizenship to full civic engagement. Just as it is possible 

for Americans simultaneously to be members of their local community, their religious community, and the 

national community, and for Somalis to be Somalis, Muslims, and members of their particular clan, it should 

be possible for Somalis in Lewiston to rely on their cultural and religious ties to their community while seeking 

full membership within the broader community. Fortunately, the Somalis of Lewiston have several community 

leaders who have challenged their elders to work towards a model of civic engagement in which Somalis are 

treated as and consider themselves to be full members of the broader Lewiston community. 

This article was excerpted and reprinted with permission from the full article, “Citizenship, Civic Virtue and 

Immigrant Integration: The Enduring Power of Community Based Norms,” YALE LAW & POLICY REVIEW, 

Vol. 27, No. 2, Spring 2009, pp. 335-397. 


F 

OUR 

Score! 

The top four students in the class of 

2011 each represents a different ethnic 

minority—American-born Chinese, 

Latina, African-American, and part 

American Indian/part Mexican. 

For years, St. Thomas law school has 

been recognized as one of the most 

diverse law schools in the nation. Here, 

these students talk about why it matters. 

Jenkins Chan, Class of 2011 

Although diversity is usually thought of in terms of race, the diversity 

at St. Thomas University School of Law goes much deeper. There are 

so many different experiences represented by the student body that 

each individual is made more aware of what the “outside world” may 

eventually present. This awareness is especially important for lawyers 

because we will have the responsibility of representing people to 

whom we may not be similar. Justice does not always come in 

the same form for all people, so for justice to ultimately be served, 

differences must be appreciated. 

Interacting in a diverse atmosphere educates us in a realistic way 

that can be applied to life. It may be a cliché, but learning takes place 

out of the classroom as much as it does in the classroom. Those 

not immersed in diversity are losing out on a chance for a more 

meaningful education. 

The diversity of STU Law enriches the educational experience by 

allowing the students to hear, understand, and most importantly, 

appreciate different perspectives. When our peers and friends 

represent diverse backgrounds, faces and relationships become 

associated with different perspectives, and respect for our differences 

is ultimately cultivated in a meaningful fashion. 

Growing up in a Chinese household in a predominantly Caucasian 

suburb of Seattle allowed me to develop a strong sense of self; I was 

never the same as those around me. However, I was always treated 

with the utmost respect. I understand there are individuals of diverse 

backgrounds who have not been treated so kindly. These diverse 

individuals are the ones I have chosen to serve, and will continue to 

serve, throughout life. 

Justice does not 

always come in 

the same form for 

all people, so for 

justice to ultimately 

be served, 

differences must 

be appreciated.. 

Those not 

immersed in 

diversity are 

losing out on a 

chance for a 

more meaningful 

education. 


Anthony De Soto, 

Class of 2011 

“At its heart, the practice of law is about 

serving the needs of a wide range of 

people. I feel my Latina heritage and my 

experience at STU Law have allowed me 

to see the world differently than most, and 

have geared my goals toward assuring 

that women and Latinos have a voice in the 

legal community. I truly love St. Thomas. 

I believe the environment the law school 

provides cannot be matched.” 

“We live in a very diverse culture. When we 

get out of law school and begin practicing law 

in our respective fields, we will be representing 

clients with diverse backgrounds. It is 

becoming increasingly important, in today’s 

society, not only to be aware of the extremely 

diverse culture of which we are a part but also 

to have experience in dealing with all types of 

people with which we interact on a personal 

and professional basis.” 

Julieth Armas, 

Class of 2011 

Melodee Rhodes, Class of 2011 

I wanted to go to law school to make a difference in my life 

and in the lives of those around me. Traditionally, African- 

Americans are underrepresented in the legal field; therefore, 

it drives me to succeed on behalf of those less fortunate 

individuals who do not have access to a legal education. 

After visiting other law schools, I felt St. Thomas law school 

was like home—from the moment I encountered the students 

and the administration. The diversity at STU Law enriches 

the educational experience because individuals with different 

backgrounds have unique perspectives, which contributes to 

interesting class discussions and debates. 

I believe it is important to have this diversity in law school 

to foster individual growth, to prepare students for the “real 

world,” because our country is growing ever-increasingly 

diverse, to develop open-minded discussions, and to contribute 

to intellectual development. 

Attending a diverse law school places you at a significant 

advantage because diversity prepares you to deal effectively with 

potential clients from different backgrounds. 

The diverse nature of STU Law has prepared me to become a 

successful lawyer. The staff, administration, and students here 

at St. Thomas University School of Law are truly irreplaceable 

because everyone has your best interest at heart. 

Traditionally, 

African-Americans 

are underrepresented 

in the legal field; 

therefore, i am 

driven to succeed 

on behalf of those 

less fortunate 

individuals who 

do not have 

access to a 

legal education. 


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CLASS OF 1987 

CLASS 

NOTES 

GEORGE METCALFE ’87 lives in 

Ocala, Florida, and breeds show 

quality Paso Fino horses with his wife, 

Leti, and their 12-year-old, Kaitlyn. 

He has two law offices, Leesburg 

and Orlando, where his practice is 

limited to family law. George and 

his wife, a contemporary Christian 

singer from Fort Lauderdale, have six 

children. The twins, George, Jr., and 

Justin, now attend Nova Law School, 

and the daughter, Gabriella, hopes 

to begin law school in the fall. Their 

other children, Andrew, Jessica, and 

Kaitlyn are happily pursuing nonlegal 

interests. 

JASON PSALTIDES ’87 retired 

from the U.S. Army as a Colonel 

and became a member of the bar 

of England and Wales as a Solicitor 

Advocate. He is semi-retired from 

law and is working on his bucket 

list--he just checked off a scuba 

trip to Jamaica. Next up, he has 

planned scuba trips to Palau, Bora 

Bora, Moorea, Tahiti, and the 

Great Barrier Reef. Then, it is off 

to the Trans-Canada Railway. He 

does international business law in 

between his bucket list activities, and 

is working toward admission to the 

Australian bar. He was granted a 

Letter of Patent for the title Count, 

from the old country, but can’t legally 

use the title in the U.S-- plus, he says, 

who wants to be called Counselor 

Colonel Count? 

JUAN SAIZ ’87 is a permanent 

full-time instructor at Florida 

International University in the 

Criminal Justice Department, teaching 

three on-site courses and two online 

courses. He practices law part-time. 

CLASS OF 1988 

MICHAEL P. RUDD ’88 has moved 

his offices, Rudd & Diamond, P.A., to 

Hollywood, Florida. The firm also has 

offices in West Palm Beach and Fort 

Myers. Rudd & Diamond provides 

trial work in civil litigation throughout 

the state of Florida. 

CLASS OF 1989 

ESTRELLA GONZALEZ ’89 and 

her husband celebrated their 25th 

wedding anniversary on February 15, 

2010. 

CLASS OF 1990 

BARBARA BURNS ’90 has been a 

prosecuting attorney with the Office 

of the State Attorney in Palm Beach 

County since October 1990. She is 

currently a homicide and major victim 

crimes prosecutor. She lives in Lake 

Clarke Shores, Florida. Her three 

children are happy and successful in 

their own right, and Barbara has five 

gorgeous and active grandchildren. 

She adds, “Life is great!” 

CLASS OF 1991 

CESAR SASTRE ’91 was recently 

elected and appointed to serve on the 

Governing Board of Palmetto General 

Hospital in Hialeah, and recently 

concluded his service on the Board 

of Directors of First Choice Women’s 

Centers, a crisis pregnancy center with 

clinics in North Miami, downtown 

Miami, and Homestead as well as 

a mobile unit. Cesar has served for 

four years as General Counsel at Bass 

Underwriters, a national surplus 

lines wholesale insurance broker. He 

has been married almost 17 years to 

his childhood sweetheart. They are 

blessed with two children, a 

13-year-old girl, and an 11-year-old 

boy. They live in Tamarac with their 

Boston terrier, Lizzie. 

CLASS OF 1992 

CHARLES MOURE ’92 received 

an LL.M. in Maritime Law from 

the University of Miami following 

his graduation from STU Law. He 

lives in Seattle with his wife and 

two children, 8- and 11-year-old 

girls. Charles practices international 

law with a maritime focus at his 

firm, HarrisMoure pllc in Seattle, 

Washington. 

CLASS OF 1993 

LUIS ESTRADA ’93 and his wife, 

Julie, are celebrating ten years of 

marriage this year, and their daughter, 

Sofia, is turning seven. He has been 

with Kelley, Kronenberg, Gilmartin, 

Fichtel, Wander, Bambas, Eskalyo and 

Dunbrack, P.A. since 1999, practicing 

in the areas of worker’s compensation 

defense and appeals. 

LAWRENCE K. FAGAN ’93 is inhouse 

legal counsel at Palm Beach 

County PBA. He is married to Dr. 

Elyse H. Glazer, MD, and they have 

two children, Daniel and Stacy. 

LISA LESPERANCE ’93 is a 

candidate for the Florida House of 

Representatives, District 117. 

ROBERT MCKEE ’93 is a named 

partner at the trial law firm of 

Krupnick Campbell Malone Buser 

Slama Hancock Liberman and 

McKee, P.A., focusing as a plaintiff’s 

lawyer for victims of microbial, 

chemical, and radiation exposure to 

person or property. He is married 

to Angie Tlustos-McKee, has a child 

from a prior marriage, and two 

grandchildren, Ryan and Addison. He 

is currently involved in a multi-state 

pharmaceutical litigation against 

Hoffman La Roche in Illinois. He 

also has two trials against DuPont in 

May and June for cases he has been 

working on since 1997. 

NICHOLAS ROMANELLO ’93 is legal 

counsel to the Health Care District 

of Palm Beach County and has been 

appointed Chair of the American 

Health Lawyers Public Health System 

Affinity Group. 

Nick Romanello ’93 

STEVE SIMON ’93 practices in the 

areas of personal injury, worker’s 

compensation, and Social Security 

disability as a shareholder at 

Rosenthal, Levy & Simon, P.A., located 

in West Palm Beach and Port St. 

Lucie. He lives in Palm City, Florida, 

with his wife of 22 years, Donna, and 

three children, Charlie, 15, Julie, 14, 

and Eric, 12. 

HILLARY WHITE SINGER ’93 is 

married with five children: Michael, 

14, Matthew, 11, David, 9, Danielle, 6, 

and Adam, 3. 

CLASS OF 1994 

YAMILE HAIBI ’94 is chief operating 

officer of 3G Resources LLC, a 

resource for entrepreneurs with 

offices in Tampa Bay, Florida, and 

Winchester, Massachusetts. She 

recently purchased a home in Largo, 

Florida. 

Yamile Haibi ’94 

MELANIE HOROWITZ ’94 opened 

her own practice, Law Offices 

of Melanie E. Horowitz, P.A., in 

September 2004 and moved to her 

current location in Plantation, Florida 

in May 2007. She specializes in traffic 

ticket defense, criminal defense, and 

helping clients reinstate their driver 

license in Miami-Dade, Broward, and 

Palm Beach counties. She can be 

reached at Melanie@fighttraffictix.com. 

Melanie Horowitz ’94 

LANDON MILLER ’94 is with the firm 

of Mangone & Miller Law Offices, P.A., 

in Naples, Florida, where he practices 

criminal defense law. He has been 

married since 1996 to his wife, Kim, 

and has two children, Kaitlin, 11, and 

Matthew, 6. He teaches online classes 

through Kaplan University with his 

chairperson, Jane Paglino, an STU 

Law graduate. He also occasionally 

practices before Bruce Kyle, Circuit 

Court judge, who is also an STU Law 

graduate. 

CLASS OF 1995 

CHARLES “CHAS” LOBDELL ’95 is 

a political officer at the U.S. Embassy 

in Yerevan, Armenia, where he works 

with the foreign assistance programs 

and is trying to improve his Russian. 

CHRISTOPHER METCALFE ’95 

and his wife, Naty, welcomed a son 

Michael Aidan Metcalfe on December 

1, 2009, who joins Jordan, 4, and 

Christopher Jr., 3. Christopher’s 

practice, Law Offices of Christopher 

J. Metcalfe, LLC, is located in Wood- 

Ridge, New Jersey. 


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CLASS OF 1996 

ALEX CUELLO ’96 has his own firm, 

Law Office of Alex Cuello, P.A., and 

practices probate and guardianship 

administration/litigation as well 

as Social Security and Medicaid 

planning. Since graduating from STU 

Law, he has earned his LL.M. in Elder 

Law from Stetson University College 

of Law. He is married to Maricarmen 

Roca Cuello with whom he has two 

children, Carolina, 16, and Nicholas, 9. 

JIM HETZ ’96 and SCOTT 

GOLDBERG ’96 recently joined 

practices to form Hetz, Jones and 

Goldberg, LLC. The firm focuses 

on entertainment and intellectual 

property law with offices in Orlando, 

on the back-lot of Universal Studios, 

and in West Palm Beach, where they 

also handle personal injury, auto 

accidents, bankruptcy, and foreclosure 

defense. The firm’s Website is 

www.HetzandJones.com. 

CLASS OF 1997 

CARLO D’ANGELO ’97 enjoys 

practicing law in Texas. He has two 

offices in Texas serving Dallas and 

East Texas, and he still maintains a 

presence at his former office in Fort 

Lauderdale with Paul Molle ’97. His 

wife, Diana, and their two girls, Ellery, 

6, and Amedea, 3, are doing well, and 

enjoy horses and gardening. They live 

in Mineola, Texas, and love small town 

living. More info can be found on his 

Website, www.dangelolegal.com. 

Ellery and Amedea D’Angelo 

JESSICA FONSECA-NADER ’97 is an 

Assistant Professor of Legal Research 

and Writing at St. Thomas University 

School of Law, where she teaches 

Legal Research and Writing, Advanced 

Legal Research and Writing, Appellate 

Advocacy, and Moral Dilemmas 

seminar. In 2006, she joined Black 

Srebnick Kornspan & Stumpf as 

Special Counsel where she focuses 

her practice on litigation support 

and appellate work in both state and 

federal courts. 

THE HON. STACY GLICK ’97 was 

elected to the 11th Judicial Circuit 

bench in August 2008 where she 

is a Circuit Court judge assigned to 

the Felony Criminal Division. She 

previously served as an assistant state 

attorney division chief in Miami-Dade 

County. 

MICHELLE HOLLISTER ’97 joined 

Solkoff Legal PA in February 2010 

as a partner. The firm’s offices are in 

Delray Beach, Florida. The Website is 

www.solkoff.com, and Michelle can be 

reached at mhollister@solkoff.com. 

STEWART KASNER ’97 is a partner 

at Baker & McKenzie LLP in Miami 

where he practices international 

tax law. He is married with three 

children. 

PAUL MOLLE ’97 still runs his 

practice out of downtown Fort 

Lauderdale, directly across the street 

from the main courthouse. The firm 

has transitioned from D’Angelo, 

LoRusso, and Molle, to D’Angelo and 

Molle, to now the Molle Law Firm- 

Criminal Justice Center. His practice 

continues to grow, and he is thankful 

to all of the STU Law alumni who have 

sent him cases. 

CLASS OF 1998 

MARIA ANTONATOS ’98 is president 

of the North Dade Bar Association. 

NICOLE FROST ’98 is proud to 

announce the formation of Frost 

Law, P.A., with an emphasis in 

assisting mobile home park owners 

and condominium associations in the 

Tampa Bay area. She can be reached 

at info@frostlaw.us. 

GLORIA GARCIA ’98 is a partner 

with Pemsler and Garcia PA in 

Coral Gables, Florida. Her practice 

primarily handles plaintiff worker’s 

compensation cases. She has been 

married to Carlos Garcia for 11 years, 

and they have three children, Carlos, 

8, Kevin, 5, and Gabriela, 2. 

CLASS OF 1999 

ANA URRECHAGA ’99 is an attorney 

with the United States Postal Service 

in the headquarters in Washington, 

D.C., where she practices in ethics and 

federal requirements. She is married 

to Pablo Sanchis and has two children, 

a boy and a girl. 

CLASS OF 2000 

CLAIRE DORCHAK MURRAY 

’00 and MARK MURRAY ’00 have 

lived in Atlanta for nearly ten years, 

recently moving to Chastain Park 

to make room for their second son, 

Landon Clark Murray, who was born 

on Mark’s birthday, January 22. 

Landon joins big brother, Eli Blair 

Murray, who was born in November 

2008. Mark opened his own firm in 

2006, The Murray Law Firm, located 

in Buckhead, Atlanta, and Claire was 

promoted to partner at Weinberg, 

Wheeler, Hudgins, Gunn & Dial, LLC. 

CLASS OF 2001 

BRADLEY DOUGLAS ’01 works at 

the firm, Goldberg & Dohan, with 

a number of STU Law grads. He 

practices in the areas of personal 

injury and worker’s compensation. He 

is admitted to practice in Florida and 

Georgia, and is in the process of being 

admitted in New York. He has been 

married for ten years, and has three 

children, Jillian, 8, Gabrielle, 5, and 

Spencer, 3. 

Brad Douglas ’01 and family 

PETER J. EGAN ’01 and his wife, 

Christie, welcomed Lily Kate Egan 

into their family on March 26, 2009. 

She joins big sister, Grace, who loves 

having a baby sister. They live in 

Panama City, Florida, where Peter is 

Managing Attorney in the Panama 

City office of Kelley, Kronenberg, 

Gilmartin, Fichtel, Wander, Bamdas, 

Eskalyo & Dunbrack, P.A. 

IRIS ESCARRA ’01 is a shareholder at 

Greenberg Traurig, P.A., in the Miami 

office. 

MICHAELLE GONZALEZ PAULSON 

’01 is a judicial candidate for County 

Court Judge, Group 11, with elections 

to be held on August 24, 2010. She 

also has a private practice in Doral, 

Florida, where she handles family, 

immigration, bankruptcy, and civil 

litigation cases. She has been married 

to her husband and fellow STU Law 

graduate, Steven Paulson, for ten 

years, and they have one son. 

JAY HEROLD ’01 is Senior Director 

for mutual fund regulatory risk at 

Fidelity Investments in Boston. He 

and his wife, Jessica, welcomed 

Nathaniel Charles Herold into their 

family on July 11, 2009. Nathaniel 

joins brother, Jack, 7, and sister, 

Remy, 5. 

JOSH HERTZ ’01 moved his firm, the 

Law Office of Joshua J. Hertz, P.A., 

to Aventura, Florida. Josh recently 

organized a fundraiser for fellow STU 

graduate, Michaelle Gonzalez Paulson, 

who is running for county court judge. 

Nathaniel Herold, son of 

Jay ’01 and Jessica Herold 

LEANNE POLK ’01 is the Senior 

Admissions Advisor for the law school 

and has worked for the law school for 

more than eight years. She has served 

on the Education Law Committee for 

the Florida Bar for the past two years 

and was appointed to the Community 

Justice Council for STU for the 2009- 

2010 year. She is licensed to practice 

in Florida and Texas. Leanne and her 

husband have two spirited little boys, 

ages two and four. 

CHRIS RADDATZ ’01 was named 

a director and shareholder of 

Fennemore Craig, P.C., a 125-year-old, 

roughly 200 person law firm based in 

Phoenix, Arizona. He practices in the 

areas of real estate, and business and 

finance. 

ALICIA MARIA ROBLES ’01 and her 

husband, Jose Antonio de la Lama, 

welcomed their first child, Jose 

Antonio de la Lama III, on September 

1, 2009. Alicia is a staff attorney with 

Preferred Care Partners in Miami. 

Alicia Robles ’01 and son, Jose 

CLASS OF 2002 

CARIN BENNETT ’02 has had her 

own practice, Carin E. Bennett, P.A., 

for seven years. She focuses primarily 

on family law at her Jacksonville, 

Florida-based firm. On May 10, 2010, 

she married Cary E. Maxey. 

INIGO DE PABLO ’02 earned 

his LL.M. from University of 

Miami and his M.B.A. from Rice 

University. He authored a book, 

Coolest Entrepreneurs in America, 

available on Amazon.com, and now 

serves as vice president of Interpress 

International, a publishing company. 

THOMAS ZAMPIERI ’02 works at the 

construction litigation firm of Bogert 

& Rembold in Coral Gables. He also 

enjoys spending time with his twoyear-old. 

SANDY YORK ’02 is Real Estate 

Counsel for Assurant, Inc., a Fortune 

500 company with offices in South 

Dade. Before joining Assurant 

three years ago, she worked in 

entertainment law as Associate 

Counsel for Estefan Enterprises, 

the company of Grammy Award 

winners, Gloria and Emilio. Following 

graduation from STU Law, Sandy 

earned her MBA at the University of 

Miami. 

CLASS OF 2003 

AMANDA BLACKLEDGE BARAK ’03 

and her husband, Len, welcomed a 

son, Leo, on September 9, 2009. The 

family lives in Monterey, California. 

Amanda Barak ’03 with 

husband, Len, and son, Leo 


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SUSAN DIERENFELDT-TROY ’03 is 

teaching a course on trademark and 

copyright law, and a course on the 

legal aspects of starting a new business 

at Miami-Dade College through its 

continuing education program. 

FRANCES FACCIDOMO ’03 is legal 

counsel for the south region for the 

Department of Children and Families. 

She and her husband, Jude ’04, 

welcomed their first child in March 

2010. 

JUAN “J.C.” PEREZ ’03 resigned 

from the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s 

Office and currently works as an 

attorney with Angones McClure & 

Garcia, P.A. 

CHRISTIAN STRAILE ’03 opened 

his solo practice, Christian A. Straile, 

LLC, on November 1, 2008. He serves 

north central Florida in the areas of 

criminal defense, traffic, family, and 

business law. In June 2007, his son, 

Robert C. Straile, was born. Christian 

has four children. 

MICHELE VARGAS ’03 is at Carlton 

Fields in the Miami office where she 

works in the insurance practice group. 

She is Martindale Hubbell BV-rated. 

March 10, 2010, was her one-year 

wedding anniversary to her husband, 

Mark Johnson. 

CLASS OF 2004 

BIBIANA ACERO ’04 had a son, 

Kennedy Garay, in May 2007. 

Elizabeth Amaran ’04’s twins, 

Matvey and Mila 

ELIZABETH AMARAN ’04 opened 

her own practice in Aventura in 

December 2009, Amaran Law Group, 

practicing in the areas of immigration, 

personal injury, and family law. She 

also had twins in 2009, a girl and a 

boy, Mila and Matvey Herrera. 

JUDE M. FACCIDOMO ’04 practices 

federal and state criminal defense 

as an associate with the Law Offices 

of Jeffrey S. Weiner, P.A. Jude also 

serves on the Board of Directors of 

the Florida Association of Criminal 

Defense Lawyers, Miami Chapter, and 

is the co-chair of its Young Lawyers 

Division. Jude was recently voted 

one of South Florida’s Top Up and 

Coming Attorneys by South Florida 

Legal Guide. He has lectured on 

criminal law at the Miami-Dade 

Public Defender’s Office, St. Thomas 

University, and the Miami-Dade 

Metropolitan Police Institute. He and 

his wife, Frances ’03, had their first 

child in March 2010. 

SUZANNE GUTIERREZ ’04 practices 

worker’s compensation defense with 

Mcconnaughhay, Duffy, Coonrod, 

Pope, & Weaver, in Miami. She is 

married with two children, Dylan 

Marie, 5, and Gabrielle, 2. Suzanne 

often speaks at seminars for insurance 

companies and clients to educate them 

on changes in worker’s compensation 

law. 

NICK MERLIN ’04 worked in the 

Florida Senate as a legislative intern 

and analyst following graduation. He 

also attended Florida State University, 

earning his Master’s degree in Public 

Administration, with distinction, in 

2007. Nick now works as an Assistant 

Attorney General in the downtown 

Miami office, where he practices in the 

area of criminal appeals. 

MARBET MIER LEWIS ’04 

was promoted to Of Counsel at 

GrayRobinson, P.A., in Miami. She 

practices in the areas of alcohol 

beverage law, administrative law, 

regulatory compliance, land use, and 

hospitality and entertainment law. 

She is married and has a 20-monthold 

son, Morgan Jay Lewis. 

ANDREW SHIRLEY ’04 LL.M. is the 

Academic Legal Department Director 

at the Brown Mackie College-Miami, 

a position he has held for four years. 

He is also CEO of an online business, 

Ronin International, at 

www.ronindefense.com. 

CLASS OF 2005 

GUNBILEG BOLDBAATAR ’05 LL.M. 

earned his Ph.D. in Law in 2009 from 

the National University of Mongolia 

School of Law. He is the author of a 

book, Judge Made Law, 2008, and 

over twenty articles. He is married 

and has a son. 

ERIC RAYMAN ’05 worked four years 

at Ruden McClosky as a commercial 

litigation associate before joining 

Conrad & Scherer as lead plaintiff’s 

counsel in pursuing recovery against 

Scott Rothstein, TD Bank, et al., as a 

result of the largest Ponzi scheme in 

Florida history. He is married with 

two boys and a third child on the way. 

CLASS OF 2006 

ALFRED ANDREU ’06 is an associate 

at the law firm of Mary Lou Rodon, 

P.A., specializing in the areas of 

commercial litigation, real estate, 

and family law. He serves on the 

Florida Bar Student Education and 

Admissions to the Bar Committee. In 

November 2009, he married Angela 

Moro, who is a teacher with Miami- 

Dade Public Schools. 

JENNIFER ARMIGER ’06 joined 

most of her family in North Carolina 

and passed the North Carolina bar 

exam in 2008. She works as an 

attorney-advisor with the Social 

Security Administration’s Office of 

Disability Adjudication and Review 

in Raleigh. Prior to this position, she 

was an attorney with an immigration 

law firm in Fort Lauderdale. 

ARLENYS CASANOVA ’06 and 

TOMAS KUCERA ’06 formed 

Casanova & Kucera, PLLC, in Miami 

in October 2009. The firm focuses 

on civil and real estate litigation, and 

real estate transactions. The firm 

offers a 25 percent discount in fees to 

students, alumni, and their immediate 

relatives. More information on the firm 

is available at www.cklawgroup.com. 

LILY CHANG ’06 recently joined 

Northern Trust’s Palm Beach County 

region where she handles trust and 

estate administration. Previously, she 

was a staff attorney for the Fifteenth 

Judicial Circuit’s Probate Division. 

ARABELLA PUENTES ’06 and 

HUMBERTO RUBIO ’06 were 

recently married. 

LAURIE RICHTER SPECTOR ’06 

is Assistant Regional Counsel at the 

Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil 

Regional Counsel in Broward county. 

She recently married her boyfriend 

of four years, Jonas Spector, and also 

recently earned her MBA from the 

University of Florida. She is an officer 

of the Broward Inn of Court, Executive 

Editor of the Broward Federal Bar 

newsletter, and recently had her 

article published, “Reproductive 

Freedom: Striking a Fair Balance 

Between Copyright and Other 

Intellectual Property Protections in 

Cartoon Characters.” 

CLASS OF 2007 

CAPT. JUDD R. BEAN II ’07 of the 

U.S. Air Force JAG Corps is the 

Chief of Civil Law for the 316th Wing 

at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. 

He provides legal advice to wing 

leadership, unit commanders, and 

supervisors on various topics ranging 

from administrative law and ethics 

to contracts and labor law. He is 

admitted to practice before the 

Supreme Court of Florida, the United 

States Air Force Court of Criminal 

Appeals, and the United States Court 

of Appeals for the Armed Forces. 

Since joining the Air Force in February 

2008, he has received the following 

awards: National Defense Service 

Medal, Global War on Terrorism 

Service Medal, Air Force Outstanding 

Unit Award, Air Force Training 

Ribbon, and Distinguished Graduate- 

Officer Training School. 

ERIK BURKHARDT ’07 founded 

Burkhardt Sports Enterprises, a full 

service sports and entertainment 

management firm specializing in 

representation of NFL players. He is 

now partnered with Premier Sports 

& Entertainment Management, 

running the Dallas, Texas, office. The 

firm represents more than 30 NFL 

players and many coaches including 

Pete Carroll (USC/Seattle Seahawks), 

Lane Kiffin (USC), Steve Sarkesian 

(Washington), and Super Bowl hero, 

Garrett Hartley (New Orleans Saints). 

Last year, they had seven players 

selected in the NFL draft, and this 

year’s draft class includes Charles 

Brown, Dezmon Briscoe, and Leigh 

Tiffin. He married his longtime 

girlfriend, Kari Eckerle, in August 2009. 

KATARIINA JULIAO ’07 LL.M. is 

pursuing a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis 

and Resolution at Nova Southeastern 

University, where she founded the 

International Diplomacy Working 

Group. She serves as the group’s 

president, and STU classmate Janet 

Sigman serves as vice president. 

DANA MANNER ’07 opened a solo 

practice in Miami, Dana L. Manner, 

P.L., focusing in the areas civil 

litigation, consumer credit, and 

bankruptcy. 

ISIS PACHECO ’07 served as a law 

clerk at the U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th 

Circuit, and is now pursuing an LL.M. 

in Real Property Development at the 

University of Miami. 

JAMES THORPE ’07 is an associate 

with Eubanks, Barrett, Fasig & Brooks 

in Tallahassee, Florida. His practice 

areas are personal injury, wrongful 

death, and consumer protection law 

litigation. 

CLASS OF 2008 

REGINA DRENNAN ’08 has opened 

her own firm, The Law Office of 

Regina W. Drennan, P.A., specializing 

in elder law, family law, and civil 

litigation in Fort Lauderdale. Soon, 

she will be a Supreme Court Circuit 

Civil Mediator with a specialization 

in mortgage foreclosure mediation. 

She can be reached at attorney@ 

reginadrennanlaw.com. 

MARC HANTMAN ’08 is an associate 

at Bazinsky, Korman & Baker, P.A., in 

Plantation, Florida. He is a litigator 

focusing on first and third party 

insurance defense, general liability, 

subrogation, and personal injury. He 

and his wife welcomed a son, Bryce, 

on September 10, 2009. 

ANTONIO L. MARTINEZ ’08 and his 

wife, Grettel Martinez, celebrated the 

birth of their first child, Sofia Isabella 

Martinez, born on February 6, 2010, 

in Miami, Florida. 

Antonio ’08 and Grettel 

Martinez’s daughter, Sofia 

MATTHEW A. PRUIETT ’08 is a 

civil trial attorney handling personal 

injury, first and third party insurance 

disputes, automobile negligence 

claims, and all admiralty and maritime 

matters at the Law Offices of Frank D. 

Butler, P.A., in Pinellas Park, Florida. 


classactions 

givingnews 

givingnews 

Matthew Pruiett ’08 

CLASS OF 2009 

PIERRE HACHAR ’09 worked following 

graduation with a company that represents the 

Estate of Grammy award winning artist, Celia 

Cruz, among others. Upon passing the Bar, 

Pierre joined Think Famous, an entertainment 

firm where he continues to represent Grammy 

nominated and winning talent. Additionally, 

he has partnered with an STU colleague, Baldy 

Martinez, to form Hachar & Martinez, LLC., a law 

firm representing artists and entertainers, and 

diversifying into other areas of law including real 

estate, personal injury, and general litigation. 

Pierre Hachar and Baldy Martinez 

ANTHONY VEACH ’09 recently moved to 

Washington, D.C., to work for a boutique law firm 

representing small communications companies. 

In Memoriam 

ABIGAIL “ABBEY” ATKINSON ’09 passed away 

on Monday, April 19, 2010. Our thoughts and 

prayers are with her family and friends during 

this difficult time. In expressing his condolences, 

Dean García remembered Abbey as “a special 

person who exemplified the values and mission of 

our school.” 

Naming the Future 

The School of Law’s naming opportunity campaign 

has raised well over half a million dollars to support 

the school. The campaign offers alumni, firms, 

corporations, friends, and supporters the opportunity 

to name a part of the law school in perpetuity. To 

date, gifts have been made to name everything from 

classrooms to faculty offices to the breezeway. 

For more information on available naming 

opportunities, please contact Mark Casale, Director of 

Alumni Affairs and Major Gifts, at mcasale@stu.edu or 

(305) 474-2423. 

The Shojaee Family donated $100,000 to name the 

law school wing. Masoud Shojaee and Maria Lamas 

Shojaee founded Shoma Group in 1988. Since that 

time, Shoma Group has engaged in the design, 

construction and sale of over 10,000 single family 

homes and townhomes throughout Miami-Dade 

County, Broward County and Palm Beach County. 

Shoma Group has also designed and constructed three 

commercial properties in Miami-Dade County, offering 

Class-A office space, retail space and hotel properties. 

General Counsel for Shoma Group, Frank Silva, 

graduated from St. Thomas School of Law in 1991. The 

Shojaee family is grateful to St. Thomas for providing 

Frank and every other St. Thomas graduate with the 

foundation necessary for them to become successful 

members of our community. Mr. and Mrs. Shojaee’s 

gift to the school is a gesture of that appreciation. 

Michael and Patty Lamia donated $25,000 to name the 

law school Dean’s Office. 

Honor Roll of Donors 

Thank you to the following alumni, friends, faculty, staff, foundations, corporations, 

and organizations who generously supported St. Thomas University School of Law 

by making a gift to the law school between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2009. 

These gifts make possible our commitment to excellence, diversity, professionalism, 

and social justice. Thank you for your generous support. 

Marie V. Gendron, Sisters of St. 

Dominic of Adrian, Michigan/& Barry 

University Law School 

Brad S. Abramson, Esq. ’08 

Ad Valorem Title LLC 

Amarilis Adorno, Esq. 

Adorno & Yoss LLP 

Drs. Aghdasi and Fariba Aghdasi 

Beth Ahmad 

Thomas G. Alberts, Esq. ’87 

Yelizaveta T. Aldzhayeva ’06 

Rebeca C. Almeida, Esq. ’89 

American Seawall Marine Construction, 

Inc./Mitch Scavone 

Ramiro A. Areces, Esq. ’88 

Monica G. Arriaga ’08 

Attorneys’ Title Insurance Fund, Inc. 

Austin Burke Men’s Clothing Store/ 

Ken Stager 

Roy Balleste, J.D. LL.M. ’03 

Amanda Barak, Esq. ’04 

Stephanie Nicole Barilla, Esq. ’04 

Ziba Bashirelahi 

Professor Benton Becker 

Mohammad and Nancy Behforouz 

Cyrus S. Behroozi 

Barry J. Benjamin 

Justin B. and Helen J. Bennett, Esq. ’06 

Paul H. Bersach, Esq. ’98 

Dana Beuoy 

Royce B. Bishop, Esq. ’05 

Dr. D. Michael Bitz ’01 

Lazaro G. Blanco, Esq. ’05 

Bogenschutz Dutko & Kroll PA/ 

Michael E. Dutko, Esq. 

LaTosha Yvonne Bradley-Moore ’02 

Armando A. Brana, Esq. ’90 

Natalia Busquets 

Professor Gordon T. Butler 

Bob Butterworth and Marta Prado 

City of Miami 

Felix M. Caceres, Esq. ’07 

Lourdes T. Cambo, Esq.’89 

Mikki P. Canton, Esq. ’87 

Flavia Carnevale, Esq.’90 

Gail Casale and John Priber 

Professor Annie M. Chan 

Esther V. Chavenson 

Kathleen V. Cirone 

Professor Joni A. Coffey 

Francisco Daniel Coll, Esq.’03 

Professor Elizabeth A. Comeaux 

Conrad & Scherer LLP 

Context Medical Group, Inc. 

Sally Cook 

Law Offices of Patrick L. Cordero, P.A/ 

Patrick L. Cordero, Esq.’87 

Professor Dennis S. Corgill 

Kevin Wayne Crews, Esq.’94 

William Francis Cueto, Esq.’94 

Larry S. Davis, Esq. 

Patricia de L. Guidi ‘03 

Dell & Schaefer, P.A./ 

Steven Jay Dell, Esq. 

Craig Randall Dell, Esq.’09 

Wendy A. Delvecchio, Esq.’93 

Thomas Theodore Demas, Esq. ’94 

Richard J. Diaz, Esq. ’03 

Al DiCalvo, Esq.’95 

Law Office of Bill D. Dickey/ 

Bill D. Dickey, Esq. ’91 

Susan D. Dierenfeldt-Troy, Esq. ’03 

The Honorable Pedro E. Dijols ’87 

Aleksandar V. Djurisic ’05 

Dolan Law Firm/ 

Daniel D. Dolan, Esq. ’96 

Dean Cecile Dykas 

Scarlet A. Dyson, Esq. ’94 

Brett A. Elam, Esq. ’02 

Joshua Michael Entin, Esq. ’01 

Josefina I. Espino 

Dr. Maria Dolores Espino 

Jude ‘04 and Frances Faccidomo, Esq.’03 

Mansoor F. Farahani 

Wesley J. Farrell, Esq. ’09 

Mansoor Farzaneh & Family 

The Honorable Peter T. Fay 

Professor Larry C. Fedro 

Leonard and Judy Feldman 

Lauren Renee Fernandez, Esq. ’96 

Jose R. Fernandez, Esq. ’01 

The Rev. Professor Raul Fernandez- 

Calienes ’04 

Melissa Ann Ferris, Esq. ’99 

The Florida Bar 

The Florida Bar Foundation 

FOLLETT Matching Gift Program 

Lawrence S. Forman, Esq. 

Nathan and Mona Free 

Jennifer and Harold W. Gabel II 

John Gabel 

Myrna E. Gallagher 

Rene Julian García Jr., Esq.’05 

Mariano García, Esq. ’94 

Dean Alfredo García 

The Honorable Ana I. Gardiner 

Charles K. George 

Gerson & Schwartz, LLP, 

Philip M. Gerson, Esq. 

The Honorable David M. Gersten 

Soltan and Mamhood Ghahramani 

Thomas J. Giblin, Esq. ’07 

William McDonald Gladson, Esq. ’97 

Grace Goldstein 

Hugo and Marcela D. Goldstraj 

Monica L. Gomez 

Estrella Fajardo Gonzalez, Esq. ’89 

Law Office of Gonzalez & Associates 

LLC/Neil M. Gonzalez, Esq. ’96 

Andrew M. Gordon, Esq. ’09 

Professor Daniel R. Gordon 

Dara S. Green, Esq. ’06 

Murray A. Greenberg PA 

Grossman Roth PA, Gary M. Cohen 

Professor Karl T. Gruben 

Karen Elizabeth Guito, Esq. ’98 

Marvin and Marcia Halbert 

Alejandro Abreu Hanna, Esq. ’00 

Marc L. Hantman, Esq. ’08 

M. H. Hariri 

Jeannette F. Hausler 

John F. Hernandez 

Arthur Hernandez, Esq. ’90 

Joshua J. Hertz, Esq. ’01 

Harvey and Judy Himelstein 


givingnews 

Honor Roll of Donors 2008-2009 

Judith B. Hoffman 

June and Edwin Hoffman, Esq. ’94 

Melanie Elaine Horowitz, Esq. ’94 

Interpublic Group 

Adnan F. Jafaron 

Kari B. Jahr 

Michele Aimee Johnson, Esq. ’03 

Kalliopeia Foundation 

Peter W. Kamm, Esq. ’04 

Kimberly Kanoff 

Susan T. Karimi 

Anthony J. Karrat, Esq. 

William H. Kennedy III, Esq. ’03 

Janice Marie Kerr 

Mark D. Kielsgard, Esq. ’09 

Marvin Klein, Esq. ’05 

Patricia Marie Kolski, Esq. ’98 

Professor Gary N. Kravitz 

Matthew Kwasman, Esq. ’08 

Robert and Roya Laghaie 

Michael and Patricia Lamia 

Felix M. Lasarte, Esq. ’94 

Greg J. Lawley, Esq. ’06 

Professor Tamara F. Lawson 

Neal B. Lechtner, Esq. ’93 

Alain Tadeo Lecusay, Esq. ’03 

Professor Lenora P. Ledwon 

Javier A. Ley-Soto, Esq. ’05 

Professor Alfred R. Light 

Thomas W. Light 

Christine Marie Limbert-Barrows, Esq. ’03 

Jorge L. Lopez, Esq. ’84 

Professor Richard C. Lorenzo 

Marti Louden 

Ronald Scott Lowy, Esq. 

The Honorable MaryAnne Lukacs ’87 

Professor Kathleen Mahoney 

Professors John and June Mary Makdisi 

Professor Richard H.W. Maloy 

Amy G. Maltzman 

Martin Lister & Alvarez 

Timothy Michael Martin, Esq. ’87 

Ann Mathioudakis 

McCann Worldgroup, 

John J. Dooner ’70 

Terrence Eugene McCartney, Esq. ’94 

William James McClellan, Esq. ’87 

John C. McCloskey Jr., Esq. ’92 

Brad John McCormick, Esq. ’93 

Linda Agnes McVeigh-Matlack, Esq. ’95 

Felix J. Mendigutia, Esq. ’87 

Professor Robert Eugene Mensel 

Christopher Joseph Metcalfe, Esq. ’95 

Dominick and Meike Miniaci 

William Clay Mitchell Jr., Esq. ’96 

Juan E. Monteverde,Esq. ’06 

Moran & Shams, P.A. 

Daniel J. Morrissey 

Paulo Andre P. Moura ’08 

Jerry B. Murphy ’04 

Anthony C. Musto 

Bahram Nasserizafar 

Habib and Mitra Nayerahmadi 

Kooshan Nayerahmadi 

Poorya Nayerahmadi 

New Hope Charities, Inc., 

Fr. Patrick H. O’Neill 

Aristotle T. Nicolaides 

Hooshang Niku 

Sean Nobari 

Kenneth F. Noto, Esq. 

Onochie P. Onwuemene ’09 

Michelle Otero Valdes, Esq. ’94 

The Honorable Peter R. Palermo 

Erajh M. Panditaratne, Esq. ’03 

Christopher M. Pardo, Esq. ’07 

Carlos Pastor, Esq. ’98 

Amit Patel 

Keval Patel 

Niki Patel 

Ricky K. Patel, Esq. ’09 

Dr. Roza G. Pati ’02 

Lee M. Patten, Esq. ’09 

Michaelle Paulson, Esq. ’02 

PAX ROMANA/CMICA-USA 

PCM Medical Center, Inc. 

Professor Elizabeth A. Pendo 

Penrod Brothers, Inc. 

Alfredo and Odi Perez ’91 

Professor Leonard D. Pertnoy 

Kathleen P. Phillips, Esq. ’98 

Jason J. Pieczonka, Esq. ’07 

Professor Lydie C. Pierre-Louis 

Robin Pimentel, Esq. ’06 

Ivonne D. C. Pinedo Julio, Esq. ’05 

Elizabeth C. Pines, Esq. ’94 

Isaura Maria Pino, Esq. ’02 

Professor Stephen Plass 

Jason K. Psaltides, Esq. ’87 

Representative Victor Ramirez ’01 

The John Charles & Kathryn S. 

Redmond Foundation 

Patricia A. Redmond, Esq. 

Joseph R. Reeves ’07 

Ramon G. Regal ’05 

Vytautas Reid 

Professor Paula Revene 

Edward M. Ricci, Esq. 

Richman Greer, P.A. 

Laurie J. Richter, Esq. ’06 

Michael J. Rinaldi, Esq. ’06 

Rafael Jorge Roca, Esq. ’87 

Rodier & Rodier PA 

Tony Jesus Rodriguez, Esq. ’89 

Mark and Connie Romance, Esq. ’94 

Professor Amy D. Ronner and 

Dr. Michael Pacin 

Jonathan Root, Esq. ’92 

Harold and Frances Rosenbluth 

Law Office of Brandon A. Rotbart, P.A. 

Richard E. Rouse 

Michael P. Rudd, Esq. ’88 

Lance John Ruffe, Esq. ’98 

Wanda I. Rufin, Esq. ’88 

Herman J. Russomanno, Esq. 

Juan Manuel Saiz, Esq. ’88 

Julie L. Salarvand, Esq. ’08 

Maria Teresa Sallato, Esq. ’90 

Carlos Santisteban, Jr., Esq. ’09 

Vincent James Sanzone Jr., Esq. ’90 

Ramon Sarmiento, Esq. ’02 

Dennis L. Schaefer, Esq. 

Gerald and Marilyn Scharf 

Dara L. Schottenfeld, Esq. ’09 

Shahpor Shahbahrami 

Orin Sasson Shakerdge, Esq. ’96 

Dr. and Mrs. Homayoon Shidnia 

Shoma Homes/Masoud Shojaee 

Sister Patricia A. Siemen 

Professor Jay Silver 

Bryan James Sinclair, Esq. ’93 

Suzanne A. Singer, Esq. ’92 

George Somer 

Steinger, Iscoe & Greene, P.A./ 

Sean J. Greene ’93 

Tate Enterprises/Stanley G. Tate 

Dewayne and Julie Terry, Esq. ’94 

The Voigt Family 

Emily A. Thomas, Esq. ’07 

The Honorable Daryl E. Trawick 

David J. Tybor, Esq. ’08 

Isis Valle, Esq. ’04 

Valle & Associates Rehabilitation 

Service 

Ana I. Vallejo, Esq. ’98 

Professor Michael Vastine 

Ignacio Jesus Vazquez, Jr., Esq. ’05 

Isis Velasco, Esq. ’07 

Daniel L. Villalobos, Esq. ’06 

Arthur Vincent, Esq. ’95 

Dennis William Ward, Esq. ’89 

Ryan G. Webb, Esq. ’09 

Law Offices of Randy M. Weber, P.A., 

Rosanna M. Weber, Esq. ’96 

Professor Siegfried Wiessner 

Professor Mark J. Wolff 

Isaac Wright, Esq. ’07 

Ryan C. Zagare, Esq. ’06 

Enrique Zamora, Esq. 

Professor Carol L. Zeiner 

Laurie B. Zimet 

This report reflects gifts received 

January 1, 2008, through December 31, 

2009. We strive to produce a complete 

and accurate report. Please notify us of 

any errors or omissions. 

Recent Faculty Appointments 

Dennis Corgill 

Associate Professor of 

Law 

After graduating from Yale 

Law School, Professor 

Corgill practiced with large 

law firms and spent two 

years in the Office of Policy 

Planning for the Antitrust 

Division of the U.S. 

Department of Justice. 

Professor Corgill then taught at the University of 

Missouri - Kansas City, Widener University, and Santa 

Clara University. Most recently, Professor Corgill practiced 

in Silicon Valley for four years. In 2009, Professor Corgill 

returned to academics at St. Thomas University School 

of Law. Professor Corgill has been recognized as an 

outstanding teacher, and his articles have appeared in 

Tulane Law Review, Indiana Law Journal, Fordham 

Law Review, and B.Y.U. Law Review. Professor Corgill’s 

teaching and research interests include contracts, torts, 

intellectual property, and antitrust. 

Jennifer Martin 

Associate Professor of Law 

Upon graduation from 

Vanderbilt Law School, 

Professor Martin became an 

Associate with Baker & Botts, 

L.L.P., and later became 

Principal Attorney for Houston 

Industries Incorporated 

(Reliant Energy), working on 

power generation transactions. 

Professor Martin is a co-author 

for the American Bar Association’s Annual Survey on 

Sales Law and has published many articles and given 

lectures on subjects such as wartime contracting, executive 

compensation, comparative sales law, and piercing the 

corporate veil. 

Professor Martin is a co-founder and contributor to the 

Commercial Law weblog at http://ucclaw.blogspot.com. 

The blog takes up all issues related to commercial law, 

particularly the Uniform Commercial Code. 

Professor Martin has previously taught at University of 

Louisville Law, University of Pittsburgh School of Law, and 

Western New England College School of Law. 

facultynews 

Patricia Hatamyar 


Professor Hatamyar earned 

her J.D. with honors 

from the University of 

Chicago Law School. She 

joined the Chicago office 

of Sonnenschein, Nath & 

Rosenthal, practicing in civil 

litigation, and became the 

first woman to rise through 

the ranks to partnership in the litigation department at 

Sonnenschein. After eleven years in the practice of law, 

Professor Hatamyar joined the faculty at Oklahoma City 

University School of Law. She earned tenure there and 

served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for three 

years. 

Professor Hatamyar teaches Civil Procedure, Evidence, 

Pretrial Litigation, and Complex Litigation. Professor 

Hatamyar incorporates skills learning into all her classes. 

Her major publications, which have been cited in dozens 

of judicial opinions, include: “The Tao of Pleading: Do 

Twombly and Iqbal Matter Empirically?” in American 

University Law Review, and “The Effect of “Tort Reform” 

on Tort Case Filings” in Valparaiso University Law Review, 

among many others. 

Katharine Van Tassel 


Katharine Van Tassel received 

her M.P.H. from the Harvard 

School of Public Health and 

her J.D. from Case Western 

Reserve University. 

She clerked for U.S. District 

Court Judge William K. 

Thomas before joining Squire, 

Sanders & Dempsey. 

In 1991, she became the Owner and Managing Partner 

of Van Tassel & Associates, a 13 lawyer, national law firm 

that specialized in the defense of products liability, medical 

malpractice, and federal multi-district court litigation. 

She has been a faculty member at Ohio Northern 

University and Western New England College School of Law, 

as well as a Visiting Professor of Law at the University of 

Pittsburgh School of Law. 

Professor Van Tassel teaches health law, bioethics, food 

and drug law, law and science, torts, products liability, 

evidence, and civil procedure. She is the Editor of the Health 

Law Prof Blog. 


facultybriefs 

facultyspotlight 

facultyfootnotes 

Prof. Balleste was accepted as a member of the Global Internet 

Governance Academic Network (GigaNet) in February 2010. He 

is also a member of the Noncommercial Users Constituency of 

the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, and 

is a member of the Board of Directors of the Southeast Florida 

Library Information Network. 

The Rev. Prof. Raúl Fernández-Calienes is Associate 

Editor of the Journal of Multidisciplinary Research for 2009- 

2010, and was one of the Associate Editors of the International 

Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences in 2009. 

Prof. Kang participated in a symposium of the Harvard 

Journal of Law and Gender in March 2010, and presented 

a paper and served as a discussant at the annual meeting of 

the Association for the Study of Law, Culture, and Humanities in 

Providence, Rhode Island. 

Prof. Light participated in the 2009 Florida-Holland 

Connection Team in the Netherlands in May 2009. His Tulane 

Environmental Law Journal article grew out of this experience. 

Prof. Nathenson was a presenter at the Second Annual 

Conference in Innovation and Communications Law, Civil 

Procedures for a DMCA World, at the University of Louisville 

School of Law in August 2009. He also presented at the 

Intellectual Property Scholars Roundtable, Harry Potter and 

Muggle Intellectual Property Law, at Drake University Law 

School. Prof. Nathenson was a panelist at the conference, 

FutureWeb: WWWhere Are We Heading, Future of Intellectual 

Property and the Web, at Elon University in April 2010. He also 

was the moderator for the St. Thomas Entertainment and Sports 

Law Society Symposium, Homegrown and Stable: A Look at 

Web Based Content, at St. Thomas University School of Law in 

March 2010. 

Prof. Pati spoke at a conference, Diversity of International 

Law, in honor of Professor Kalliopi Koufa, at the Law School of 

Aristotle University in Thessaloniki, Greece, in September 2009. 

On October 18, 2009, Prof. Pati spoke at Kean University at the 

conference titled Bangladesh 1971: Addressing Claims of War 

Crimes, Genocide, and Crimes Against Humanity. She was part 

of the panel discussing the characterization of the Bangladeshi 

attrocities of 1971 in terms of prosecutable crimes. In December 

2009, Prof. Pati was awarded the Wolf Rüdiger Bub Prize for 

the Promotion of the New Generation of Legal Scholars, for 

her treatise, Due Process and International Terrorism, at the 

University of Potsdam School of Law, Germany. 

Prof. Ronner gave a scholarly presentation, The Learned- 

Helpless Lawyer, at the 31st International Congress on Law and 

Mental Health at the New York University Law School in 2009. 

Prof. Roza Pati received 

the Wolf Rüdiger Bub 

Prize for the Promotion 

of the New Generation 

of Legal Scholars, for her 

treatise “Due Process and 

International Terrorism,” at 

the University of Potsdam 

School of Law, Germany, in 

December. 

Prof. Wiessner with W. Michael Reisman and Andrew Willard 

at the conference, The New Haven School of Jurisprudence: An 

Appraisal of its Contribution to Contemporary World Affairs, held 

in Hong Kong in November 2009. 

Professor Siegfried Wiessner 

Prof. Wiessner served as Fernand Braudel Fellow at the European 

University Institute (EUI) in Florence, Italy, in the fall of 2009, 

and as a Visiting Professor of Law at the City University of Hong 

Kong in October 2009. He also taught Public International Law 

at the University of Prishtina’s 2009 Summer University Program. 

As Chair of the International Law Association (ILA)’s 

Committee on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, he organized 

a joint EUI/ILA conference in Florence on December 14 and 

15, 2009, dedicated to a discussion of the Committee’s draft 

commentary on the 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of 

Indigenous Peoples. 

On March 27, 2009, Prof. Wiessner delivered a keynote address 

to the conference, The Struggle to Vote: The Political Right to 

Self-Determination in the District of Columbia and Beyond, at 

UDC David A. Clarke School of Law, Washington, DC. 

On April 24, 2009, he spoke at a Yale Law School conference 

in honor of W. Michael Reisman, entitled Realistic Idealism in 

International Law. 

On September 26, 2009, he presented at the 6th Annual 

Indigenous Law Conference on The U.N. Declaration and 

Beyond, at Michigan State University College of Law. 

On November 23, 2009, he spoke on Policy-Oriented 

Jurisprudence: Global Problems – Global Solutions at the 

City University of Hong Kong’s conference on The New Haven 

School of Jurisprudence: An Appraisal of its Contribution to 

Contemporary World Affairs. 

He also presented on Indigenous Peoples, Governance, 

and Political Autonomy at UCLA School of Law’s January 22, 

2010 symposium entitled Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in the 

International Human Rights Framework — A Comfortable Fit? 

In addition, on July 2, 2009, Prof. Wiessner recorded a lecture, 

The Rights and Status of Indigenous Peoples, for the United 

Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law (available at 

http://untreaty.un.org/cod/avl/ls/Wiessner_HR.html). He also 

wrote an Introduction to the United Nations Declaration on the 

Rights of Indigenous Peoples (available at http://untreaty.un.org/ 

cod/avl/ha/ga_61-295/ga_61-295.html). 

Prof. Wiessner also has a book forthcoming in 2010, Looking 

to the Future: Essays on International Law in 

Honor of W. Michael Reisman, with Mahnoush Arsanjani, 

Jacob Katz Cogan, and Robert D. Sloane. In 2009, he published 

a book chapter, The United Nations Declaration on the Rights 

of Indigenous Peoples: Selected Issues, in The Diversity of 

International Law, Essays in Honour of Professor 

Kalliopi K. Koufa, along with numerous scholarly articles. 

Faculty Publications 2008-2010 

Roy Balleste 

Articles: 

The Earth Alliance Constitution: 

International Human Rights Law and 

Babylon, 5, 10 Fla. Coastal L. Rev. 33 

(2008). 

Gordon Butler 

Articles: 

American Paternalism and the One Fund 

Solution, 9 Wyoming L. Rev. (2009). 

The Essence of Human Rights: A Religious 

Critique, 43 U. Rich. L. Rev. 1255 (2009). 

Larry Fedro 

Book Chapter: 

Larry C. Fedro, William H. Byrnes & 

Christopher H. Sive, Claims for Refund, in 

MERTEN”S LAW OF FEDERAL INCOME 

TAX (2008). 

The Rev. Raúl Fernández-Calienes 

Books: 

Judith Barr Bachay and Raúl Fernández- 

Calienes, eds., Women Moving 

Forward: Volume 3: Justice, 

Toward a System of Right 

Relationships (2008). 

Raúl Fernández-Calienes and Judith 

Barr Bachay, eds., Women Moving 

Forward: Volume 1: NARRATIVES 

OF IDENTITY, MIGRATION, 

RESILIENCE, AND HOPE (1st paperback 

ed., 2008). 

Book Chapters: 

Equal Employment Opportunities 

Commission, in Encyclopedia of Law 

and Higher Education (Charles J. 

Russo ed., 2009). 


Books: 

Ellen S. Podgor, Peter J. Henning, Andrew 

E. Taslitz & Alfredo García, Criminal 

Law: Concepts and Practice (2nd 

ed., 2009). 

Articles: 

Foreword, 21 St. Thomas L. Rev. 1 

(2009). 

Lauren Gilbert 

Articles: 

Citizenship, Civic Virtue and Immigrant 

Integration: The Enduring Power of 

Community-Based Norms, 27 Yale L. & 

Pol’y Rev. 335 (2009). 

National Identity and Immigration Policy 

in the U.S. and the European Union, 14 

Colum. J. Eur. L. 99 (2008). 

Book Reviews: 

Mothers Without Citizenship: Asian 

Immigrant Families and the Consequences 

of Welfare Reform by Lynn Fujiwara, 43 

Law & Soc’y Rev. (forthcoming 2009) 

Daniel R. Gordon 

Articles: 

Examining Justice Breyer’s Constitutional 

Consequential Thinking: Can Justice 

Scalia Be Wrong and Justice Kennedy 

Be Right?, 23 St. John’s J. Legal 

Comment. 137 (2008). 

The Legal Scholar as Talking Head: An 

Ethical Quandary in the Context of State 

Constitutional Law Reform, 10 J.L. Soc’y 

31 (2008). 

Patricia Hatamyar 

Articles: 

The Tao of Pleading: Do Twombly and 

Iqbal Matter Empirically? AMERICAN 

UNIV. L. REV. (forthcoming 2010). 

The Effect of “Tort Reform” on Tort Case 

Filings, 43 VALPARAISO U. L. REV. 559 

(2009). 

John Kang 

Articles: 

The Burdens of Manliness, 33 Harv. J. L. 

& GenDER (forthcoming 2010). 

Appeal to Heaven: On the Religious 

Origins of the Constitutional Right of 

Revolution, 18 Wm. & Mary Bill of 

Rts. J. 281 (2010). 

Manliness and the Constitution, 32 Harv. 

J.L. & Pub. Pol’y 261 (2009). 

Taking Safety Seriously: Using Liberalism 

to Fight Pornography, 15 Mich. J. 

Gender & L. 1 (2008). 

Tamara F. Lawson 

Articles: 

Before the Verdict and Beyond the 

Verdict: The CSI Infection in the Criminal 

Jury Trials, 41 Loy. U. Chi. L.J. 119 

(2009). 

A Shift Toward Gender Equality in 

Prosecutions: Realizing Legitimate 

Enforcement of Crimes Committed 

Against Women in Municipal and 

International Criminal Law, 33 S. Ill. U. 

L.J. 181 (2009). 

If Only They Killed One Mocking Bird: 

Teaching Civil Rights in Required and 

Elective Courses, 54 St. Louis U. L.J. 

(forthcoming 2009). 

Whites Only Tree, Hanging Nooses, No 

Crime?: Limiting the Prosecutorial Veto 

for Hate Crimes in Louisiana and Across 

America, 8 U. Md. L.J. Race Relig. 

Gender & Class 123 (2008). 

Lenora Ledwon 


Harry Potter Goes to Law School, in The 

Law and Harry Potter 275 (Jeffrey 

Thomas and Franklin Snyder, eds., 2010). 

The Top Ten Law & Literature Texts 

You Haven’t Read, in Teaching 

Approaches to Law and 

Literature (Matthew Anderson and 

Cathrine Frank, eds., 2009). 

Alfred R. Light 

Articles: 

The Intergovernmental Relations of Water 

Policy and Management: Florida-Holland 

Parallels, 23 TUL. ENVTL. L.J. (2010 

forthcoming). 

Restatement for Arranger Liability under 

CERCLA: Implications of Burlington 

Northern for Superfund Jurisprudence, 11 

VT. J. ENVTL. L. (2009 forthcoming). 

Restatement for Joint and Several 

Liability under CERCLA after Burlington 

Northern, 39 Envtl. L. Rep. 11058-067 

(Nov. 2009). 

Apportioning Costs by Causation after 

Burlington Northern: Superfund Meets 

NCIS, 24 Toxics L. Rep. (BNA) 948-954 

(Aug. 6, 2009). 

“Minimum Contacts” Under CERCLA: 

Joint and Several “Generator” Liability 

and the Fifth Amendment, 24 Toxics L. 

Rep. (BNA) 545 (2009). 

Beyond the Myth of Everglades 

Settlement: The Need for a Sustainability 

Jurisprudence, 44 Tulsa L. Rev. 251 

(2008). 

CERCLA’s Cost Recovery Statute of 

Limitations: Closing the Books or Waiting 

for Godot, 16 S.E. Envtl. L.J. 245 (2008). 

CERCLA’s Wooden Iron: The Contribution 

Counterclaim, 23 Toxics L. Rep. (BNA) 

642 (July 24, 2008). 

John Makdisi 

Books: 

Michael Makdisi & John Makdisi, 

Introduction to the Study of 

Law: Cases and Materials (3rd ed., 

2009). 

Daniel B. Bogart & John Makdisi, Inside 

Property Law: What Matters and 

Why (forthcoming 2009). 

John Makdisi & Daniel B. Bogart, 

Estates in Land and Future 

Interests: Problems and Answers 

(5th ed., 2008). 


The Kindred Concepts of Seisin and Hawz 

in English and Islamic Law, in The Law 

Applied: Contextualizing the 

Islamic Shari’a (Wolfhart Heinrichs, 

Bernard Weiss & Peri Bearman, eds., 

2008). 

Richard H.W. Maloy 

Books: 

Federalism As Seen By The U.S. 

Supreme Court (2008). 

Richard H.W. Maloy with Kathleen Brown, 

Cyberpiracy (2008). 


facultyfootnotes 

Faculty Publications 2008-2010 

Robert E. Mensel 

Articles: 

The Antiprogressive Uses of Privacy in the 

Federal Courts, 1860-1937, 3 Fed. Cts. L. 

Rev. (2008). 

Anthony C. Musto 

Articles: 

Potato, Potahto: Whether Ineffective 

Assistance or Due Process, an Effective 

Rule is Overdue in Termination of 

Parental Rights Cases in Florida, 21 St. 

Thomas L. Rev. 231 (2009). 

Ira S. Nathenson 

Articles: 

Looking for Fair Use in the DMCA’s Safety 

Dance, 3 Akron Intell. Prop. J. 121 

(2009). 

Roza Pati 

Books: 

DUE PROCESS AND INTERNATIONAL 

TERRORISM (Martinus Nijhoff Publishers 

2009). 


Beyond the Duty to Protect: Expanding 

Accountability and Responsibilities of the 

State in Combating Human Trafficking, in 

THE DIVERSITY OF INTERNATIONAL 

LAW: ESSAYS IN HONOUR OF 

PROFESSOR KALLIOPI KOUFA 319 

(Aristotle Constantinides & Nikos Zaikos 

eds. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers 2009). 

Fair Trial Standards under Human Rights 

Treaty Law and the ICTY: A Process of 

Cross-Fertilization?, in ICTY: Towards 

a Fair Trial? 147 (Thomas Kruessmann 

ed., 2008). 

Articles: 

The ICC and the Case of Sudan’s Omar 

Al Bashir: Is Plea-Bargaining a Valid 

Option? 15 UC DAVIS J. INTL. L. & POL’Y 

265 (2009). 

Schwierige Gratwanderung: Der 

internationale Terrorismus ist für die 

Demokratie eine grosse Herausforderung, 

PORTAL--Das Potsdamer Universitätsmagazin 

28-29 (Januar-März 2009). 

Leonard D. Pertnoy 

Articles: 

Summary Judgment: The Road Less 

Traveled, 20 St. Thomas L. Rev. 69 

(2008). 

Lydie Nadia Cabrera Pierre-Louis 


Farmers and Land Loss: An Historical 

Perspective of the Systematic Loss of 

African American Farms from the 

Nineteenth Century to the Present, 

in Encyclopedia of African 

American History (forthcoming 

2009). 

Corporate Law: An Historical 

Understanding of the Supreme Court’s 

Corporate Law Decisions from the 

Nineteenth Century to the Present, in 

Encyclopedia of the Supreme 

Court of the United States 444 

(David S. Tanenhaus, ed., 2008). 

Stephen A. Plass 

Articles: 

Exploring the Limits of Executive Civil 

Rights Policymaking, 61 Okla. L. Rev. 

155 (2008). 

Amy D. Ronner 

Books: 

LAW, LITERATURE, AND 

THERAPEUTIC JURISPRUDENCE 

(Carolina Academic Press, 2010). 

Book Chapter: 

Dostoyevsky and Confessions, in 

THOMAS D. BARTON, PREVENTIVE 

LAW AND PROBLEM SOLVING: 

LAWYERING FOR THE FUTURE 

(Vandeplas Publishing, 2009) 

Articles: 

The Learned Helpless Lawyer, 24 Touro 

L. Rev. 601 (2008). 

Jay Silver 

Articles: 

Prosser’s Blunder: The Conflation of 

‘Desire’ and Tortious Intent, 30 Nova L. 

Rev. (forthcoming 2009). 

Nadia Soree 

Articles: 

The Demise of Fourth Amendment 

Standing: From Standing Room to Center 

Orchestra, 8 Nev. L.J. 570 (2008). 

Michael Vastine 

Articles: 

Is Your Client Prejudiced? Litigating 

Ineffective-Assistance-of-Counsel Claims 

in Immigration Matters Arising in the 

Eleventh Circuit, 62 U. Miami L. Rev. 

1063 (2008). 

Siegfried Wiessner 

Books: 

Mahnoush Arsanjani, Jacob Katz Cogan, 

Robert D. Sloane & Siegfried Wiessner, 

eds., Looking to the Future: 

Essays on International Law in 

Honor of W. Michael Reisman 

(Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, forthcoming 

2010). 


The United Nations Declaration on 

the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: 

Selected Issues, in The Diversity of 

International Law. Essays in 

Honour of Professor Kalliopi K. 

Koufa 343-361 (Aristotle Constantinides 

& Nikos Zaikos eds., Martinus Nijhoff 

Publishers 2009). 

¡Esa India! LatCrit Theory and the Place 

of Indigenous Peoples Within Latina/o 

Communities, in Latinos and the 

Law, Cases and Materials 166 

(Richard Delgado, Juan F. Perea & Jean 

Stefancic, eds., 2008). 

Articles: 

Law as a Means to a Public Order of 

Human Dignity: The Jurisprudence of 

Michael Reisman, 34 Yale J. Int’l L. 525 

(2009). 

The Cuban Embargo and Human 

Rights: Introductory Remarks, 4 

Intercultural Hum. Rts. L. Rev. 5 

(2009). 

Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Committee 

Report), ABILA Newsletter (American 

Branch of the International Law 

Association), January 2009, at 7. 

Council Comment: The U.S. Supreme 

Court’s Decision in Medellín v. Texas, 

ASIL Newsletter, April/June 2008, 

at 14. 

Indigenous Sovereignty: A Reassessment 

in Light of the United Nations Declaration 

on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 41 

Vand. J. Transnat’l L. 1141 (2008). 

Book Reviews: 

The Reasons Requirement in International 

Investment Arbitration. Critical Case 

Studies by Guillermo Aguilar Alvarez & 

W. Michael Reisman, eds., 4 Global 

Arbitration Rev. 38 (2009). 

Indigenous Rights and United Nations 

Standards: Self-Determination, Culture 

and Land by Alexandra Xanthaki, 103 Am. 

J. Int’l L. 188-193 (2009). 

Mark J. Wolff 

Articles: 

Congressional Unilateral Tax Treaty 

Overrides: The Latter in Time Doctrine 

“Is Out of Time,” 9 Fla. Tax Rev. 699 

(2009). 

The Pax Romana Law-Student Internship 

Program at the United Nations: A Path 

to Leadership in Global Ethics (2008), 

at http://pax-romana-cmica-usa.org/ 

documents.aspx 

La w Sc h o o l Bo a r d o f Ad v i s o r s 

Ch a i r : He r m a n Ru s s o m a n n o, Esq. 

Ch a i r Em e r i t u s : Je a n n e t t e Ha u s l e r 

Roberto C. Blanch, Esq. 

Justice R. Fred Lewis 

Rev. Msgr. Franklyn M. Casale The Honorable MaryAnne Lukacs 

The Honorable Michael B. Chavies Timothy M. Martin, Esq. 

Steven J. Dell, Esq. 

William G. McCormick, Esq. 

The Honorable Pedro E. Dijols Rev. Patrick H. O’Neill 

Daniel D. Dolan, Esq. 

Ricky K. Patel, Esq. 

Brett A. Elam, Esq. 

Juan Carlos Planas, Esq. 

Hadley S. Engelhard, Esq. 

Patricia A. Redmond, Esq. 

The Honorable Peter T. Fay 

Edward M. Ricci, Esq. 

Lawrence S. Forman, M.Ed., JD Maria V. Rives, Esq. 

Dean Alfredo García 

Rafael J. Roca, Esq. 

Philip M. Gerson, Esq. 

Mark A. Romance, Esq. 

Christopher L. Griffin, Esq. 

Herman J. Russomanno, Esq. 

Karen E. Guito, Esq. 

Francisco J. Sanchez, Esq. 

Alejandro A. Hanna, Esq. 

The Honorable Samuel J. Slom 

Jeannette F. Hausler 

Parker D. Thomson, Esq. 

Joshua J. Hertz, Esq. 

The Honorable Daryl E. Trawick 

Anthony J. Karrat, Esq. 

50 STULAW spring 2010

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