Ralph A. DeMeo
119 South Monroe Street, Suite 300
Tallahassee, FL 32301
850.222.7500
rdemeo@hgslaw.com
Experience
- Represents private and public clients in federal and state judicial and administrative forums, and in the Florida Legislature, on environmental, land use, administrative, and civil law and litigation.
- Participated in the development and implementation of many Florida environmental statutes, rules and policies.
- Serves on committees of The Florida Bar, The Florida Chamber of Commerce, and other organizations.
- Past Chairman of The Florida Bar Environmental and Land Use Law Section, past Chairman of The Florida Bar Journal and News Editorial Board, past member of The Florida Bar Administrative Law Section Executive Council.
- Former University English Professor, current Adjunct Professor of Legal Studies, and frequent author and lecturer on environmental, land use, and administrative law and litigation.
- Author of over twenty articles on environmental, land use, and administrative law and litigation, including for The Florida Bar Journal, the FSU Journal of Land Use and Environmental Law, Florida Environmental and Land Use Law Treatise, and Stetson University Law Review.
Education
- Florida State University, J.D. with honors, 1984
- Stetson University, M.A. with honors (English), 1980
- Stetson University, B.A. with honors (English), 1976
Bar and Court Admissions
- Florida Bar, 1985
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
- U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
Publications and Presentations
- "A Super Act for Florida: Funding Cleanup of Leaking Underground Petroleum Storage Tank Sites" for Environmental Law, in the Florida Bar Journal, December 1986 (co-author).
- "All Appropriate Inquiries in Commerical Real Estate Due Diligence: What Inquiring Minds Need to Know" for Environmental and Land Use Law in the Florida Bar Journal, February 2007 (co-author).
- "Insuring Against Environmental Unknowns", Vol. 23, Florida State University Journal of Land Use & Environmental Law Fall 2007 (co-author).
- "Conflicts of Interest" for Ethics in Practice in the Florida Bar Journal, January 1991 (co-author).
- "42 U.S.C. Section 1983 as an Emerging Remedy Against Unconstitutional Local Government Land Use Policies", for Environmental and Land Use Law in the Florida Bar Journal, August 1985 (co-author).
- "Biomedical Waste Regulation in Florida" for Environmental and Land Use Law in the Florida Bar Journal, August 1996 (co-author).
- "Florida Supreme Court Takes Property Owners to the Cleaners: the Impact or Aramark v. Easton" for Environmental and Land Use Law in the Florida Bar Journal, June 2005 (co-author).
- "Environmental Stewardship of Florida Shooting Ranges" for Environmental and Land Use Law in the Florida Bar Journal, June 2006 (co-author).
- "Florida's 1996 Administrative Procedure Act" in the Florida Bar Journal, March 1997 (co-author).
- "More Flexible Cleanup in Florida: RCRA Corrective Actions Reforms" for Environmental and Land Use Law in the Florida Bar Journal, March 2003 (co-author).
- "Legislative History Projects: Finding Intent in Solid Waste and Stormwater Managment Legislation" for Environmental and Land Use Law in the Florida Bar Journal, November 1990 (co-author).
- "Air of Equality: An Analysis of Florida's Encironmental Equity and Justice Act" for Environmental and Land Use Law in the Florida Bar Journal, October 1994 (co-author).
- "By the Way More APA" in the Florida Bar Journal, October 1997 (co-author).
Awards and Recognition
- Listed as one of the "Florida Super Lawyers", for Environmental Law, Environmental Litigation and Land Use/Zoning, in the annual publication of The Florida Super Lawyers, 2007-2009 Edition.
- Has achieved Martindale-Hubbell's highest rating for attorney legal ability and ethical standards.
- Recognized in Chambers USA, America's Leading Business Lawyers, for Environmental Law, 2004-2008 Edition.
- Recognized in Best Lawyers in America, for Environmental Law, 2005-2009 Edition.
- Recipient of: The Florida Bar Environmental and Land Use Law Section's Judy Florence Memorial Outstanding Service Award, and Stephens/Register Memorial Award; The Florida Bar Journal/News Editorial Board's Deborah M. Smoot Memorial Award for Exceptional Editorial Service; The American Jurisprudence Award; The March of Dimes National Legal Counsel of the Year.
- Who's Who Legal: Florida 2008, for Environmental Law.
- "Leaders in their Field", Chambers USA 2009, in the Environment (Florida).
Ralph A. DeMeo Practices in: Administrative Law, Due Diligence / Regulatory Compliance Counseling, Groundwater Reg / Real Property Contamination, Land Use and Growth Management, Litigation, Solid and Hazardous Waste