Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

Harry Shorstein recenty concluded his fifth term as the State Attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit (covering Duval County, Clay County and Nassau County in Northeast Florida). In 2008, he decided not to run for a sixth term and to return to private practice with Shorstein & Lasnetski, LLC.

Mr. Shorstein attended the University of Florida for college and law school. After graduating from law school, he served as a Captain in the 3rd Marine Division in Vietnam. Upon his return, he worked as a Division Head at the Jacksonville Office of the Public Defender. After leaving that office, he spent several years as a Division Head and then Chief Assistant at the Office of the State Attorney. After the State Attorney’s Office, Mr. Shorstein served as General Counsel for the City of Jacksonville.

In 1991, Mr. Shorstein became the State Attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit. He held that position for almost eighteen years until deciding not run again in 2008. As the State Attorney for the Jacksonville area, he tried a variety of criminal cases, including over 30 murder cases, all of which he won. He also implemented a groundbreaking juvenile justice program that focused on rehabilitation and education that won national acclaim and was copied by prosecutors across the country. His extensive experience and accomplishments as a trial attorney have been chronicled by 60 Minutes, The Newshour with Jim Lehrer, NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw, The New York Times, USA Today, U.S. News & World Report and others state, local and national media outlets. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

After over two decades of public service, Mr. Shorstein decided to return to private practice where he spent 15 years representing the rights and interests of individuals and businesses prior to becoming the State Attorney. In private practice, he defended clients on criminal matters in state and federal court, including complex white collar cases. He handled serious and complex wrongful death and personal injuries cases, and he represented companies in all varieties of business disputes. Another area where he has developed extensive skills and experience is in the representation of professionals in civil litigation and in front of licensing and other administrative boards.

Jeffrey A. Cramer creates estate plans that you understand, that are kept up to date and will work when your family needs them most. His mission is to help you deal with the complexities of life, disability and death. He prepares estate planning documents such as wills, trusts, living wills, powers of attorney and designations of health care surrogate; assists in probating an estate or administering a trust; establishes guardianships, advises on elder law issues such as medicaid planning and will fight for your inheritance rights by contesting a will, if necessary.

Jeff holds an undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University and a J.D., with honors, from the University of Florida - College of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review. He has been admitted to practice law in all state and federal courts in Florida. With more than 33 years experience as a civil trial lawyer, Jeff successfully has handled a wide variety of personal injury and employment-discrimination claims, and contract disputes in both trial and appellate courts. Jeff also has been an adjunct professor of employment law at Florida Coastal School of Law, a frequent lecturer at continuing legal education seminars and has published articles on civil trial issues.

Jeff had been certified by the Florida State Supreme Court as both a civil court and family mediator. He has received the highest rating from his peers, "AV" by the Martindale Hubbell Company, has been listed in the "Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers" and "Who's Who in American Law". Jeff has served as Escambia-Santa Rosa County Bar Association President and both as Northeast Florida Chapter President and member of the National Board of Directors of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates.

The extensive trial experience gathered from handling thousands of diverse civil matters has provided the skills necessary for Jeff to embark on the next phase of his career, helping people and families to plan effectively for their future. Jeff undertook several months of intensive study of all facets of estate planning and now focuses his law practice in all these areas. He is a member of the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys, an experienced, cutting edge group of forward thinking attorneys who collaborate and educate on the latest estate planning laws and techniques. As a result his Jacksonville, Florida estate planning law practice now offers clients the combination of the support of a group of experienced estate planning colleagues from around the country along with Jeff's own extensive legal background and experience.

After 23 years with the U.S. Department of Justice, Charles Truncale practices criminal defense in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. He represents clients facing a wide range of criminal charges in state and federal courts. He also has an extensive practice in appellate and post conviction remedies and ligates wrongful death and complex civil fraud cases.

B. A. in English and Political Science, University of Tennessee, 1964
M.S. in Diagnostic/Prescriptive Teaching, Special Education, Florida International University, 1977.
J.D. Nova Center for the Study of Law, k.n.a. Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 1987.
Practice concentrated in Education Law and Civil Rights. Extensive Experience in Criminal Defense.
Licensed to practice in Florida and Southern District of Florida, Middle District of Florida and 11th Circuit Federal Courts.