News

HGS Attorneys Ralph DeMeo and Jake Cremer recently published their article “Applying Old Methods to New Values: Considerations for Green Leases” in the American Bar Association’s Smart Growth and Green Building Committee’s newsletter.

On Saturday, January 14, 2012, HGS attorney Jennifer Kilinski received the Triathlete of the Year Award from the Gulfwinds Track Club. This award is given to the individual whose passion for the sport is demonstrated not only in competition, but also in commitment, service and inspiration.

The Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) has established the Wade L. Hopping Institute for Private Property Rights as an arm of PLF to take on precedent-setting environmental and land use law cases to protect private property rights in Florida and to inform the public about the importance of private property in a free society.

HGS attorney Diane Carr was one of six Florida Chamber Foundation Trustee’s invited to participate in DEO’s strategic planning exercise. Along with other business leaders and government officials, she worked to prioritize strategies to create high-paying jobs, vibrant communities, and global competitiveness for Florida. Diane chairs the Foundation’s Business Climate & Competiveness Caucus.

In partnership with the Florida BioEnergy Association and other organizations, Hopping Green & Sams co-hosted a bioenergy symposium prior to the opening of the recent Florida Energy Summit in Orlando Florida.

Hopping Green & Sams sponsored the 2011 Sustainable Florida Conference held in Tallahassee on October 24-25, 2011. About 300 people from government, industry, and academia attended the Conference. HGS Shareholder Ralph DeMeo led a panel discussion with representatives of federal, state and local government on the topic: “Smart Growth and the Triple Bottom Line - Nation¬al, State and Local Involvement in Redevelopment.”

Two HGS attorneys recently co-authored an article in Cement Americas (October 2011), regarding (EPA’s) new rule defining solid waste for purpose of air regulations.

Court of Appeals will weigh whether beach should remain available to the public

WFSU’s “It’s About Florida” radio program recently featured a debate between HGS’s David Childs and EarthJustice’s David Guest on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s numeric nutrient criteria rulemaking for Florida.

Carl Eldred recently spoke at the Air and Waste Management Association Annual Conference.

Hopping Green & Sams is proud to announce that Connect Florida has selected Jacob T. "Jake" Cremer for membership in its Class II.

Firm commits funding, manpower to complete new Habitat home by January 2012

HGS Attorney Cheryl Stuart moderated a panel on community development districts at the American Planning Association Florida 2011 Conference in Palm Beach, Florida.

The September / October issue of the Florida Bar Journal includes an article by HGS’s David Powell about Florida’s new sector planning law for large landholdings.

On June 2, 2011, HGS attorney Kent Safriet addressed the members of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association’s Government Affairs Committee regarding recent legislative amendments to the Bert J. Harris Jr., Private Property Rights Protection Act, §70.001, Florida Statutes, and the 2011 Growth Management Act.

Carl Eldred spoke at the Florida Chamber's 25th Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School held in Marco Island on July 22, 2011.

At the 25th Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School in Marco Island, Kent Safriet served as one of three property rights experts in the session entitled “Property Rights and Bert Harris Act Update”.

Winston Borkowski moderated the NPDES Permitting short course at the Florida Chamber’s 25th Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School held in Marco Island on July 22, 2011.

The Pacific Legal Foundation has announced the formation of the Wade L. Hopping Institute for Private Property Rights at its Atlantic Center in Stuart, Florida, and the establishment of the Pro Bono Attorney Network which will operate as part of the Institute.

At the 25th Annual Permitting Summer School in Marco Island, David Powell moderated a panel of eight growth management experts on Florida’s landmark new growth management law.

HGS client, Rentech, Inc., has secured a final air construction permit for its proposed 55-megawatt biomass power plant in Port St. Joe, Florida.

HGS attorney Jacob T. Cremer was recognized earlier this year by his alma matter, Rhodes College, and by the Florida Forestry Association. He was also named to the Florida Forestry Association’s 40 Under 40 Young Leaders Program.

On June 2nd, 2011, Governor Scott signed into law House Bill 7207, the Community Planning Act. Ch. 2011-139, Laws of Fla. The new law marks the most significant change to land use regulation and growth management since 1993. Because the law is effective immediately and is being applied to all proposals pending before the state land planning agency, Hopping Green & Sams has prepared a flowchart which provides a graphic representation of the reformed comprehensive plan amendment process.

Hopping Green & Sams is circulating to clients, former clients, friends of the Firm and others a 20-page summary and analysis of the landmark reforms to Florida’s Growth Management Act, which were enacted by the Florida Legislature before adjournment on May 6.

On behalf of Charter Operators of Alaska, a non-profit organization, HGS Shareholders, D. Kent Safriet and Winston Borkowski, filed a complaint against the United States Department of Commerce in US District Court for the District of Columbia in Washington, DC.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection recently adopted a new policy regarding requests for additional information (RAIs) relating to applications pending before the Department.

For the 14th year Hopping Green & Sams, together with Florida State University and the Tallahassee Scientific Society, co-sponsored the Annual Joseph Lannutti Memorial Lecture delivered on March 24th by Dr. Jorge G. Morfin, a world-class neutrino physicist at Fermi Lab near Chicago