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Coffee Talk (Tampa edition)
Back to his roots
Clinton Paris has quietly returned to GrayRobinson PA after an 18-month term as an assistant Tampa city attorney. Although Paris isnit talking publicly, sources say economics factored into his decision. Heis now focusing on a lucrative area of law: insurance litigation defense.
However, the attorneyis job switch happened around the time he publicly chastised the Hillsborough County School Board over its decision to replace long-time school board attorney Crosby Few with a close ally, Thomas M. Gonzalez of Tampais Thompson Sizemore & Gonzalez PA.
Paris originally practiced law at Annis Mitchell Cockey Edwards & Roehn PA, a mid-sized Tampa firm that splintered into receivership a few years ago. He and a group of other Annis Mitchell lawyers then joined the Tampa office of Squire Sanders & Dempsey LLP. Later he joined GrayRobinson.
Besides his law practice, Paris also serves as president of the George E. Edgecomb Bar Association, an association for minority lawyers. He grew up in West Tampa, graduated from the University of South Florida and then earned a masteris degree in business administration and a law degree from Stetson University.
Imitation is flattery
Finding your cultural creative side o itis not just for the Tampa Bay area anymore.
Following in the footsteps of Creative Tampa Bay, a committee has formed to look into making Sarasota a more inviting place for young professionals. Both groups were inspired by best-selling economic development guru Richard Florida, who preaches that cities with hip populations achieve the greater prosperity.
The Sarasota committee, known as the Creative Services Cluster, has been meeting in conjunction with the countyis efforts to diversify the local economy.
One of the clusteris initiatives would change land-use regulations to permit a nightclub district in downtown Sarasota, away from the constant noise complaints of high-rise condominium dwellers.
Another initiative is designed to attract Hollywood producers and directors to the county for film projects. A summit is planned for January. The cluster is scheduled to hold its next meeting on Dec. 13 at Digital Three Studios, 1419 Boulevard of the Arts, beginning at 3 p.m.
A draw
Bankers and credit unions fought to a tie in the 108th Congress. But the Independent Community Bankers of America expects the credit union lobby to be back in full force on Capitol Hill in 2005.
Legislation to liberalize federal regulation of credit unions is a big sticking point.
The bankers believe the tax-exempt status of credit unions already puts them at a competitive disadvantage. Something like the Credit Union Regulatory Improvements Act of 2003, which went nowhere in this election year, would have really tilted the playing field toward credit unions, bankers say.
Among the provisions in that proposal, business loan portfolios could have expanded to 20% of a credit unionis net worth, up from the current roughly 12% cap. Credit unions could also invest in securities for their own accounts.
The bill, HR 3759, had 36 congressional co-sponsors, none from Florida.
Rather than play defense, community bankers would prefer pressing their case that credit unions should be forced to pay taxes. The bankers say many credit unions have outgrown their former lowly status as depository institutions for select groups of citizens, such as employees of a business. But President George W. Bush told the Credit Union National Association last spring that he opposed stripping credit unions of their tax exemption.
Giving thanks
Once again Gay Inskeep, the Pinellas-Pasco courts administrator, is showing the true meaning of Thanksgiving. She and husband, Paul, planned to feed about 200 homeless people this holiday at the Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ, St. Petersburg.
This is the fourth year the Inskeeps, along with several other family members and friends, have prepared holiday meals for the less fortunate. The Inskeeps will prepare 14 turkeys, 16 dozen homemade rolls and stuffing made from scratch. One anonymous donor contributed 10 turkeys.
Professional singer and keyboardist Mike Balisteri is among those who donate their talents for free. He foregoes private bookings to play for the crowd.
To encourage attendance, Gay Inskeep announces the meals program to homeless shelters, domestic violence centers, transition houses, substance abuse groups, the Veterans Administration and other groups.
No insurance against suit
It doesnit look to be a happy holiday season for Missouriis First Financial Planners Inc., which is suing Bradenton-based IGIC Management Co. and its officers Bernard and Connie Koyen of Bradenton and Gary Pridgen of Jacksonville. IGIC is accused of over-representing the Tampa-based Cumberland Investment Advisors Professional Liability Insurance policy they sold.
According to First Financial, IGICis marketing materials stated Cumberland would cover 50% of the risk to the financial company when in reality the policies were significantly less broad. The suit also accuses IGIC of failing to tell First Financial about problems with the Cumberland insurance program. The firm is accused of fraud and negligent misrepresentation.
iObviously we donit think they have a claim,i says Bernard Koyen, president and CEO of IGIC. iWe donit think we have done anything wrong. Since Cumberland has gone into receivership, they are left with losses and are looking for places to recover it.i
Koyen says his company wasnit aware of the risk cap and feels it was First Financialis responsibility to investigate since his company made no representations about it. IGIC is in process of shutting down.
Economist speaks
The Manatee Chamber of Commerce is again bringing noted Florida economist Henry Fishkind to Bradenton for a 2005 forecast.
Fishkind will present his views on local, regional and national economic trends at a Jan. 12 breakfast in the City Center Auditorium. The former University of Florida professor, who now operates his own Orlando consulting firm, also addressed the chamberis annual economic review breakfast last January.
Call the chamberis Economic Development Council at (941) 748-4842 for information.
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