this issue

this issue BURMAN, CRITTON LUTTIER COLEMAN LLP ISSUE 05 SUMMER 2012 Letter From Our Partners Friends, Colleagues and Clients: With summer here, many of you are planning to spend days at the pool or beach with the kids. We'd like to take this opportunity to remind you to be extra vigilant with your young children while swimming or hanging out by the pool. Precautions include: creating barriers around the pool, watching children closely and starting swim lessons early. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning kills more American children ages 1-4 than any other cause except birth defects. We'd also like to take this opportunity to inform you of the recent re-launch of our firm's website at www.BCLCLaw.com. The new site is easier to navigate and features blog postings, links to archived newsletters, profiles on the firm partners and associates, and morel Please take a look and let us know your thoughts. And don't forget to like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/BurmanCritton) and follow us on Twitter @BCLCLaw. Sincerely, BCLC Partners MAIN OFFICE: WEST PALM BEACH. FLORIDA • 561-515.3130 IAVWRCLCLAW.COM I WWW.FACEBOOKCOM/BURMANCRITTON 31e 31 son^ Letter From Our Partners P.1 Practice Areas P.1 New Associate Spotlight P.2 News & Updates P.2 Be In the Know P.2 practice areas Complex Commercial Litigation Civil Litigation Personal Injury & Product Liability Insurance Bad Faith EFTA01177158 NEW ASSOCIATE SPOTLIGHT: Stephen Walker Stephen Walker, a Palm Beach County native, joined the Law Firm of Burman, Critton, Luttier & Coleman as an associate attorney in March, 2012. Stephen has over a decade of experience, practicing in the areas of complex commercial and construction litigation, as well as marital and family law. As a former prosecutor, Stephen has extensive trial experi- ence. As a civil litigator, Stephen has successfully represented a variety of clients — from individuals to multi-national corporations. The breadth of Stephen's experience provides him with the perspective to prudently and effectively handle a wide spectrum of matters. Stephen earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and received his Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from the University of Florida. He is admitted to practice before the courts of the State of Florida. and the United States District Court for the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida. Stephen is a member of the Florida Bar and the Palm Beach County Bar As- sociation. Stephen has been recognized as a 'Rising Star by Super Lawyers magazine. Stephen's areas of practice include: • Complex Divorce Litigation • Complex Commercial Litigation • Construction Litigation • Personal Injury • Wrongful Death Contact Stephen at [email protected] or 561.842.2820. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW...PORTABLE POOL SAFETY By: Dean Xenick. BCLC Associate Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus. Ohio released a study which reveals that portable swimming pools, including the increasingly popular. inflatable models, pose serious risks to Et young children. Researchers studied the drowning deaths of more than 200 children under 12 years old, and found a link to a fiat variety of above-ground pools. some large and deep, others small ,,./Qpi,; and shallow. According to lead researcher Dr. Gary A. Smith. director of the hospital's Center for Injury Research and Policy, "About every five days a child drowns in a portable pool in the U.S.." and because these pools are inexpensive and easy to assemble. many parents may not consider them as big a risk as in-ground pools. he said. Sion In the Nationwide Children's Hospital study, using 2001-2009 data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Smith's team of researchers identified 209 drowning deaths and 35 near-drovmings in children under 12. The team discovered that 94 percent of the children were under 5 and most (56 percent) were boys. Further, about three-quarters of the deaths took place in the child's own yard. usually during the sum- mer. Over 40 percent of the drownings happened while the child was being supervised: 39 percent occurred with no adult supervision: and 18 percent were blamed on a lapse of supervision. The study also concluded that about 40 percent of the drownings took place in a shallow wading pool. "That's in 18 inches or less of water,' Smith said. "Children can drown in very small amounts of water. Very young children can drown in a five-gallon bucket with water in the bottom. It only takes a couple of inches and a few minutes. Close supervision of young children around water is really important. but supervision alone isn't enough." he continued. While in-ground pools have a variety of safety measures available for parents to purchase, such as fencing and pool alarms. this is not the case for portable pools. Thus, in their study, Smith and his researchers make a call for industry development of reliable pool alarms, covers, and affordable fencing for portable pools. 'We have to come up with other strategies that are affordable and effective for portable pools.' Dr. Barbara Gaines. director of trauma and injury prevention at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, said that "this reminds us that while water is very inviting for children, it is also extremely hazardous. Never underesti- mate water." Gaines' advises that parents need to be very watchful when their children are in and around water. including pools. ponds and bathtubs, to empty wading pools when not in use. it out when the pool is not in use, and parents must actively supervise their children "Someone has to be on pool duty." at all times. tamt6cuo\, Vil‘k.U.to NtLJ News & Updates • Congratulation to BCLC Associate Daniel Lustig and his wife Dara on the birth of their first child—Jacob Samuel Lustig. • On the weekend of May 18, BCLC sponsored the 12th annual Palm Beach County Justice Association (PBCJA) Fishing Tournament. A portion of the event's proceeds went to the Legal Aid Society, an organization committed to provid- ing high quality civil legal advice, representation and education to the disadvantaged of PG County. • On May 1/, BCLC partner and PBCJA president Mike Pike joined with local Bar association presi- dents in welcoming a newly minted group of PBC practicing lawyers. • In May, BCLC associate Dean Xen- ick was rewarded a "Superb" rating by Awo and American Registry. The rating reflects facts about an attorney's career accomplishments and is earned by onFy a select few. • The Law Firm of BCLC was a proud supporter of this year's "Raise the Bar" event hosted by the Women's Foundation of PBC. Partner Mike Pike attended the event and was featured in the Sun-Sentinel. • New BCLC associate Stephen Walk- er was featured in the South Flori- da Sun-Sentinel, Palm Beach Post, and South Florida Business Journal as a "Person On The Move." • BCLC Partner Mark Luttier was profiled in the Florida Bar News for his recent appointment as President of the Boy Scouts of America—Gulf Coast Council. • In April, Partner Mike Pike was named a trustee of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. MAIN OFFICE: IS/ ST PALM REACH. FLORIDA • S61-5 I 5-3130 WWW.ICLCLAW.COAt I MILAW.FACEBOOKCOM/BURMALCIUTPON EFTA01177159