Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

Dorothy Easley is the founder of Easley Appellate Practice PLLC, a leading appellate law firm that focuses on delivering a full range of appellate and trial support services, particularly in complex and multi-jurisdictional matters. Our core substantive sectors within appellate practice are business/commercial law, health law and medical malpractice (defense), criminal law and complex statutory and constitutional issues. The firm is experienced in prosecuting and defending Florida state and federal civil, administrative and criminal law appeals. We work in an appellate capacity, from the trial court to the Supreme Court.

Robert Stickney's career is one devoted to serving justice and country. He has held key positions on both sides of the court room as a State Attorney and Assistant United States Attorney and as criminal defense attorney handling serious crimes in both state and federal court. In addition to his impressive record as an effective litigator, both in and out of court, Mr. Stickney also has a distinguished career in the United States Navy as a naval officer where he has risen to his current command level rank of Captain.

Mr. Stickney is a South Florida native. He graduated from the University of Michigan acquiring a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science. He also completed the Naval Reserve Office Training Commission program and left Michigan as a commissioned officer in the Navy. After five years on active duty Mr. Stickney commenced law school at the University of Florida.

Upon graduation he worked as an Assistant State Attorney in the juvenile, misdemeanor and felony sections of the State Attorney's Office in Fort Meyers, Florida. Mr. Stickney handled all aspects of pre-trial motions, trial preparations, plea negotiations, and litigation for docket averaging 100 cases per quarter. He prosecuted in excess of 50 bench trials and 35 jury trials to verdict. Mr. Stickney completed four appeals to Circuit Court. He was also responsible for extradition of fugitives.

Mr. Stickney then transitioned to federal prosecution as an Assistant United States Attorney in Tampa, FL. As a federal prosecutor in the Criminal Division he was responsible for all aspects of investigating and prosecuting violations of the United States Code. He conducted federal grand jury investigations working closely with local, state, and federal agencies including the FBI, DEA, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Customs, Fla. Dept. of Law Enforcement, and local Sheriff's Offices. Mr. Stickney prosecuted international counterfeiting conspiracies, international and interstate narcotics trafficking, credit card fraud, bankruptcy fraud, mail fraud, bank robbery, illegal alien smuggling, and corruption cases.

As an AUSA, Mr. Stickney successfully completed 28 jury trials and five U.S. Circuit Court appeals. His most notable cases involved threats against the President's life; wire and mail fraud charges based on a lawyer's scheme to sell Presidential Pardons to federal prisoners; international counterfeiting conspiracies; international narcotics trafficking; armed bank robberies, violations of the U.S. Trade Embargo on Cuba, and illegal alien smuggling.

Due to his competent legal advisement and effective leadership, Mr. Stickney has been recalled to active military duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as part of the global war on terrorism -twice. During these periods his service included critical billets such as the Deputy Chief of International Law for United States Forces, Japan. He advised the Commander, US Forces, Japan on current military operations, international issues, rules of engagement, personnel issues, maritime law, the Mutual Cooperation Treaty and Status of Forces Agreement between the United States and Japan.

In private practice Mr. Stickney's primary focus is on federal and state criminal defense litigation with secondary emphasis on general civil litigation with cases throughout the United States. He maintains on office in downtown Fort Lauderdale in the Regions Bank building steps from both the Fort Lauderdale Florida Southern District Federal Courthouse and Broward County's 17th Judicial Circuit. He is centrally located between Miami and West Palm Beach as to best serve his clients with cases in either federal or state jurisdictions of either county.

Mr. Callison earned his J.D. at Columbia University School of Law in 1988 where he was a member of the Columbia Human Rights Law Review. He earned his B.A., with highest honors, from the University of Tennessee in 1985. Mr. Callison is a life member of Phi Beta Kappa, the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and the Federal Trial Bar. Mr. Callison is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating awarded by that organization.

Steve Cody was born in Massachusetts, but has has lived in Florida almost all of his life. He received his Bachelor's degree from Florida State University and then went on to receive his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Florida College of Law.

Steve concentrates his practice in the areas of litigation and appellate work. He is a member of the Florida Bar and is admitted to practice before all of the Florida courts, as well as the United States Supreme Court, the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida.

After graduating law school, Steve served as a legislative aide to Representative William E. Sadowski. Sadowski was a member of the Florida House. While with the Legislature, Steve helped to author the Florida Voting Rights Act and the Florida Limited Liability Company Act, among other pieces of legislation. He worked on the sunset review of various parts of the Florida Statutes, including the Florida Insurance Code and the Regulated Industries (Gaming) Code. He was also extensively involved in the reapportionment of the Florida House, Florida Senate, and United States Congressional districts for Florida.

Since entering private practice he has represented the Florida House of Representatives during the period 2001-2004, the Gore/Lieberman campaign in 2000, and the City of Miami. Past and present representative clients include the Royal Bank of Canada, Refco Group, Paine Webber, Banco de Balboa, Banco de Santander, Banco Exterior de Espana, AIG, former Congresswoman Carrie Meek, Rhode Island Hospital Trust, Cessna Finance Corporation, Sears, Dun & Bradstreet, and AT&T. Steve has also represented numerous persons with disabilities and organizations concerned with the rights of the disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Martindale-Hubbell has rated Steve as an "A-V" attorney recognizing him as a lawyer with pre-eminent legal abilities, reflecting his overall expertise, experience, integrity, and professionalism.
Significant reported cases include: In re Constitutionality of House Joint Resolution 25E, 863 So.2d 1176 (Fla. 2003); Martinez v. Bush, 234 F.Supp.2d 1275 (S.D. Fla. 2002); Florida Senate v. Forman, 826 So.2d 279 (Fla. 2002); In re: Constitutionality of House Joint Resolution 1987, 817 So.2d 819 (Fla. 2002); Brown v. Butterworth, 831 So.2d 683 (Fla. 4th DCA 2002); Shotz v. City of Plantation, 248 F.3d 1180 (11th Cir. 2001); Meek v. Metropolitan Dade County, 985 F.2d 1471 (11th Cir. 1993); Meek v. Metropolitan Dade County, 805 F.Supp 967 (S.D. Fla. 1992); 1401 Brickell Associates, Ltd. v. Stinson, Lyons & Schuette, P.A, 522 So.2d 459 (Fla. 3d DCA 1988); Lowy v Roberts, 453 So.2d 886 (Fla. 3d DCA 1984).
Because of Steve's unswerving efforts to bring fairness to the way in which members of the Miami-Dade County Commissioners were elected, the very Commission that Steve forced to reform, proclaimed May 18, 1993 as "Stephen Cody Day" in Miami-Dade County.
Representative news articles that have focused on cases Steve has been involved in include:
"Battle Over Political Maps Pricey", The Miami Herald, April 23, 2002, page 3B.

"Trip to Polls can be so Difficult Disabled Often Do Not Vote", Orlando Sentinel, March 28, 2001.

Obstacles at Polls Spur Disabled Voters to Consider Lawsuit", Orlando Sentinel, Mar 28, 2001, page A1.

"PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: Disabled Say Florida Makes Voting Difficult", The National Law Journal, December 11, 2000.

"Rare Hospitality?", The Miami Herald, February 27, 2000, page 1B.

"Deals and The Ballot: Miami Vote Could Help Carollo Foes Living Outside City", The Miami Herald, October 31, 1999, page 1A.

"Disabled Rally Against Eviction of Party Boat from Miamarina", The Miami Herald, August 19, 1999, page 3B.

"Suarez Launches His Comeback Bid: Lawyers Seek Review Of Court Decision Naming Carollo Mayor", March 18, 1998, page 1B.
"When is House not a Home?", Miami New Times, June 19, 1997.

"Experts Predict Lots of Challenges to Minority Voting Districts in View of the Ruling Against Race-Based Districts, Fights are Likely at All Levels of Government", Orlando Sentinel, July 1, 1995, page A14.

"Historic Shift in Store for School Board", The Miami Herald, November 22, 1994, page 1A.
"He fought for right and changed the state of politics", The Miami Herald, April 26, 1993, page 13A.

"Judge Orders Single Member Districts In Dade: The Federal Order Will Give Hispanics the Most Commissioners with Whites and Blacks Dividing the Rest", (Associated Press) Orlando Sentinel. Dec. 24, 1992, page. B.5.

Maternity Creates Pregnant Pause: Expectant Employees Face Volitile Workplace Face Workplace Bias, Studies Says", Chicago Tribune, July 28, 1991, page 1.

"Reform Now or ...", The Miami Herald, December 19, 1990, page 20A.
EDUCATION:

Florida State University, Bachelor of Science
(with dual majors in Government and English)

University of Florida, Juris Doctor
PROFESSIONAL:
The Florida Bar
The American Bar Association
United States Supreme Court
United States Circuit Court, Fifth Judicial Circuit
United States Circuit Court, Eleventh Judicial Circuit
United States District Court, Southern District of Florida
United States District Court, Middle District of Florida