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2012.01.04_TC_Minutes_Special (2)Page: 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH TOWN COMMISSION MEETING ATTORNEY -CLIENT PRIVATE SESSION Wednesday, January 4, 2012 9:02 a.m. - 9:31 a.m. PERSONS PRESENT: BERNARD FEATHERMAN, MAYOR MIRIAM S. ZWICK, VICE MAYOR DORIS M. TRINLEY, COMMISSIONER JOHN J. PAGLIARO, COMMISSIONER DENNIS J. SHERIDAN, COMMISSIONER KATHLEEN D. WEISER, TOWN MANAGER GLEN J. TORCIVIA, ESQUIRE, TOWN ATTORNEY ROBERTS, REYNOLDS, BEDARD & TUZZIO, P.A. 470 Columbia Drive Suite C101 West Palm Beach, Florida 33409 Attorneys for the Town of Highland Beach BY: LYMAN H. REYNOLDS, JR., ESQUIRE Florida Court Reporting 561-689-0999 Page: 2 � 0 I* 10 1 MAYOR FEATHERMAN: Good morning, and happy 2 holiday season to all. This is Wednesday, January 3 4, 2012. I now call to order the Town Commission 4 Attorney/Client Private Meeting. Would you please 5 have a roll call, Madam Clerk. 6 * * *(PORTIONS OMITTED)* 7 MAYOR FEATHERMAN: Very well. We would move 8 on, we will have Town Attorney Torcivia to review 9 the proceedings of this meeting for the Commission 10 and the public. 11 MR. TORCIVIA: Mayor, good morning, 12 everybody. The Mayor will close this session to 13 the public and it will become a private 14 attorney/client session consistent with the law. 15 Individuals who are present are the Mayor, the 16 members of the Commission, myself, the Town Clerk, 17 the Town Manager, the court reporter and Mr. Lyman 18 Reynolds, who will be discussing the case of 19 Sugerman versus Town of Highland Beach this morning 20 with you. 21 At the conclusion of that private session you 22 will then end the session, reopen to the public for 23 a short period of time, and then the session will 24 be completed. 25 MR. PAGLIARO: Is it necessary to close the Florida Court Reporting 561-689-0999 Page: 3 1 • 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 • 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 door? THE CLERK: I have one question. I generally don't stay for this meeting. As soon as you're finished I will leave and I will close the door. MAYOR FEATHERMAN: At this time the Town Clerk and the public will leave the meeting and the Town Clerk will please close the door, in an appropriate manner. (Members of the public and the Town Clerk withdrew from the room.) MAYOR FEATHERMAN: Now I will call again on the Town Attorney. MR. TORCIVIA: Well, at this point I would actually turn this part over to Mr. Reynolds who has been representing the Town in the case of Sugerman versus Town of Highland Beach and has much more information regarding the facts of this case and is going to present information regarding litigation strategy and settlement options. MR. REYNOLDS: Good morning. MAYOR FEATHERMAN: Press that button down. 22 Thank you. 23 MR. REYNOLDS: Good morning. Does that work? 24 My name is Lyman Reynolds, I'm with the law firm of 25 Roberts, Reynolds, Bedard & Tuzzio. I think many Florida Court Reporting 561-689-0999 Page: 4 16 10 140 1 of you have known my partner George Roberts, Rusty 2 Roberts, for a number of years. I'm proud to tell 3 you we just celebrated our 25th anniversary of 4 partnership together. We're representing the Town 5 and the individuals who have been sued by 6 1 Dr. Sugerman in this pending litigation. 7 Presently we have motions to dismiss filed 8 against the claims on behalf of not only the Town 9 but all of the individuals. With regard to the 10 individual claims, we've additionally filed with 11 opposing counsel what are called 57.105 sanction 12 motions, potentially seeking our attorney's fees 13 and costs if we have to go forward with the defense 14 1 of the individuals, because we do not believe that 15 is a well taken complaint against them. 16 We have a mediation scheduled for a week from 17 1 today on the llth of January. The insurance 18 company is interested in trying to obtain an early 19 settlement of the case. Pursuant to the agreement 20 between the insurance company and the Town, the 21 Town has to approve any settlement. 22 1 So what we wanted to do is come before you, 23 1 before we go to mediation, to apprise you, answer 24 any questions you may have with regard to the 25 litigation, so that if there are any issues with Florida Court Reporting 561-689-0999 Page: 5 [7 1 regard to the insurance company's potential 2 settlement at the upcoming mediation we can discuss 3 those now so that we don't have either a surprise 4 or anyone who's strongly opposed to resolving this 5 matter ahead of time. 6 This is not asking for any type of a carte 7 blanche from the Town. It's simply to discuss the 8 fact that it's the insurance company, it's a 9 decision that they weigh in terms of the risk of 10 what they may have to pay if the case were to be 11 lost, what the cost would be for the defense of the 12 013 14 15 case, because obviously we have our fees. There, in our opinion, is not a presently pending attorney's fee claim that's valid on the part of the plaintiff, but they can amend their 16 complaint to seek one, for which, again, that would 17 add to their damages. 18 The bottom line is, as it relates to the 191 Town, the decision the Town would have to make 20 subsequent to mediation if you were not to approve 21 the settlement, if it were to be reached at 22 mediation, is that if the Town doesn't approve it, 23 the Town then has to assume the defense of the 24 case, and the responsibility for potentially 25 payment of any judgment, if it went adverse. Florida Court Reporting 561-689-0999 Page: 6 � 0 10 10 1 And so that's one of those things that, 2 again, it's necessary for me to point out to the 3 Town ahead of time. In my experience, in cases 4 like this sometimes there is a personal factor 5 involved. You'have a former City Manager who's 6 making allegations with regard to, again, personal 7 issues that from a defense standpoint I do not 8 consider to be viable. But from a personal 9 standpoint, it may cause some hesitation in wanting 10 1 to settle the case. 11 As in my experience, again, there's the "we 12 do not want to settle as a matter of principle" 13 posture that can be taken, has been taken by other 14 governmental entities in the past. But that's a 15 different viewpoint obviously than the insurance 16 1 company has in evaluating the case. 17 Now, this case in its present posture has not 18 been filed as a discrimination action. That's the 19 EEOC claim, Title VII claim that was threatened 20 prior to suit being filed, but is not actually part 21 of their claim. That's where the attorney's fees 22, potentially would come in if they amended to bring 23 that in. 24 So setting that aside, what we really have 25 here is an alleged breach of contract claim. Dale Florida Court Reporting 561-689-0999 Page: 7 • C, 140 1 Sugerman's attorneys are alleging that the Town did 2 not have the authority to suspend him for his 3 failure to modify the disciplinary action that he 4 invoked in this case. Again, we respectfully 5 disagree, but the question of fact, the issue that 6 would go before a jury would be the interpretation 7 of the contract between the Town and Dr. Sugerman. 8 His position is that the contract 9 automatically renews and it's not an option for the 10 1 Town to not renew it. And that any non renewal was ill a de facto termination, which is a breach of that 121 contract. 13 What he's seeking in damages is approximately 14 $166,000 in one year of pay and a little over 15 $31,000 in past medical approved leave, unused. 16 His attorney's fee claim again is in dispute, 17 from our standpoint, but at this point it's 18 approximately, I'm estimating in the $10,000 range, 19 so what you're really talking about is essentially 20 about a $200,000 claim. 21 1 Now as I said, the defamation, the tortious 22 interference claims, I can represent to you, I have 23 been universally successful in either getting those 24 1 knocked out through either a motion to dismiss or a 25 1 motion for summary judgment, under 768.28, because Florida Court Reporting 561-689-0999 Page: 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 • 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 those are not torts for which the Town can be responsible, or the individuals in their official capacity can be responsible. So what we're really here to talk about, and this is what I'm going to discuss at the mediation, with the mediator, is the breach of contract claim. And that's what the insurance company is looking at. The thing to remember in a breach of contract claim is, your 768.28 protections do not apply. There is no cap on a breach of contract claim. As I'm sure you all are aware from other matters, if you have a tort claim, if it's a defamation claim, if it's a car accident claim, those are the type of claims for which during the time period involved here there's a cap of $100,000. But that does not apply to a contract claim. Again, that causes the insurance company obviously to be nervous in terms of their amount of potential exposure in the case if they were to lose it. 22 So that's really all I'm here for today is to 23 inform the Town as to the cost of the insurance 24 company going into next week's mediation. It will 25 be subject to your approval, but again, wanting to Florida Court Reporting 561-689-0999 Page: 9 • 16 I* 1 point out the business side of the insurance 2 company in weighing its options next week. 3 Yes, sir? 4 COMMISSIONER SHERIDAN: May I? 5 MAYOR FEATHERMAN: Yes, you may. 6 COMMISSIONER SHERIDAN: Sir, do we have any 7 idea what the insurance company is offering at this 8 point? 9 MR. REYNOLDS: We do not. I spoke with them 10 yesterday and without being too complimentary, 11 great minds think alike. My statement to the 12 insurance company was, I think the very first 13 question I'm going to be asked is how much. 14 And the response was that they have not yet 15 made that determination, and we're going to do that 16 in the mediation process, but that figure has not 17 been shared with me. But I had the exact same 18 thought, which is, how much? 19 The only thing that I would point out, 20 because I want to make this clear, I'm paid by the 21 insurance company, but I'm the Town's attorney. I 22 represent you. And I want to make that absolutely 23 clear. There is no conflict in my representation 24 of the individuals who have been sued in this case 25 because, again, there's not a viable claim there. Florida Court Reporting 561-689-0999 Page: 10 I• 1 My only suggestion or advice to the Town is 2 the old adage, OPM, other people's money. It's the 3 insurance company's money. And unless there's such 4 an overriding principle here that you as the Town 5 representatives feel it necessary to not approve 6 the settlement and take it on as a burden for the 7 Town, I would, again, suggest to you that they are 8 going to do their analysis, their risk evaluation 9 analysis and that's where they are going to come up 10 with whatever that figure is. 11 Obviously I would have to come back before 12 you with that figure but that's why I'm giving the 13 parameters of here's what they are asking for, and 14 then the insurance company is going to decide how 15 much of their money they are willing to pay. 16 MAYOR FEATHERMAN: How much are we covered by 17 the insurance? 18 MR. REYNOLDS: Kathleen may know that better 19 than me. I don't really get into coverages, but 20 for non capped events -- 21 MS. WEISER: We have a $5,000 deductible. 22 MAYOR FEATHERMAN: How much? 23 MS. WEISER: $5,000 deductible. 24 MAYOR FEATHERMAN: $5,000 deductible. 25 MS. WEISER: Which is very low compared to -- Florida Court Reporting 561-689-0999 Page: 11 1 • 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 • 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 MR. REYNOLDS: I think he was talking about the upper end. Okay. I don't know off the top of my head. Generally there's a cap underlying, and then you have an excess policy. I would flat out be guessing but my guess would be a million. MAYOR FEATHERMAN: Okay. MR. REYNOLDS: And the reason being is for this type of case. A lot of times people ask in the underwriting process, although I'm not involved with that, I'll occasionally get questions from various towns and cities, and in terms of, well, why do I need coverage over and above my statutory cap, my 100/200? And it's for this type of case, a breach of contract case, or in your police cases, your Section 1983, discrimination, Section 1981, federal cases are not governed by that. So I'm quite confident you all have an excess policy of at least a million. 20 MAYOR FEATHERMAN: I'm familiar with it 21 because I come from the business world. I'm CEO, 22 president of a company, and we've gone through this 23 several times ourselves. 24 The amount of money that you will offer, and 25 they accept, you will be coming back to us from Florida Court Reporting 561-689-0999 Page: 12 � 0 10 140 1 what you've said, and if we do not accept it, then 2 of course we have to take over on the legal end. 3 So therefore the insurance company is representing 4 us and hopefully in a proper manner, as you said. 5 What are our other liabilities in this 6 instance than what you've mentioned? 7 MR. REYNOLDS: As it relates to this case? 8 MAYOR FEATHERMAN: Yes. 9 MR. REYNOLDS: If it's settled, we would 10 settle any and all claims, so those would be out. 11 The only thing that is not, in my opinion, 12 presently pending, which would provide them with 13 this potential viable claim for an attorney's fee, 14 is this alleged Title VII, discrimination. 15 Obviously if they thought that it was strong, 16 they in my opinion should have pled it to begin 17 with. But you're asking me what's potentially out 18 there that they may want to be resolving with all 19 of this, and that would be that. 20 MAYOR FEATHERMAN: Thank you. Are there any 21 other questions? Yes. 22 COMMISSIONER PAGLIARO: Just, I guess I'm 23 slow on the take here. Really what we're doing, 24 then, is, the decision this Commission will have to 25 make is how much, not whether. It's not just the Florida Court Reporting 561-689-0999 PROP.- 1 't I* 0 • 1 case is going to be dismissed because Sugerman is 2 correct, et cetera. It's just a matter of how much 3 money. 4 MR. REYNOLDS: And actually it's somewhat 5 simpler than that. The insurance company, its 6 representative, its adjusters, claims 7 representatives, are the ones who will make that 8 decision at mediation because it's their money. 9 Really the only decision that the Commission makes 10 is, when that's done, yes or no. 11 COMMISSIONER PAGLIARO: Okay. 12 MAYOR FEATHERMAN: Yes, go ahead. 13 COMMISSIONER SHERIDAN: That being the case, 14 would the Commission or individual Commissioners 15 have a right to express their personal feelings 16 regarding the settlement, realizing that the 17 insurance company is going to make some type of 18 settlement, and it will probably be the better way 19 1 to go. 20 However, the feelings of the Commission and 21 myself personally is that this man has gotten 22 everything he should get up to this point and I am 23 opposing what he may get in the future. 24 MR. REYNOLDS: And again, that's why I'm here 25 today, is because if that's the majority of the Florida Court Reporting 561-689-0999 Page: 14 I* I* 14D 1 Commission, I need to advise the insurance company 2 of that, or that potential. 3 But in answer to your question, in our 4 follow-up shade meeting following the mediation, if 5 the majority of the Commission thinks it's better, 6 although it's against their principle, it's better 7 for the insurance company to pay than for the Town 8 to take on that obligation -- 9 COMMISSIONER SHERIDAN: Exactly. 10 MR. REYNOLDS: -- certainly Commissioners or 11 individual members of the council would be entitled 12 to express, as you have, their frustration. But 13 again, that's part of why I came here today, 14 because if there were either a majority or even a 15 unanimous position of absolutely not, under no 16 circumstances are we going to ever approve any 17 settlement, that's something that I would need to 18 let the insurance company know. 19 COMMISSIONER SHERIDAN: That's not my 20 feeling. I think the idea of the insurance company 21 doing what they have to do and mediate down to what 22 we can mediate it down to, that's the way to go as 23 far as I'm concerned. But I do have a personal 24 feeling, that I think this man has gotten every 25 nickel he should from this Town. Florida Court Reporting 561-689-0999 Page: 15 140 [7 � 0 1 MAYOR FEATHERMAN: Are there any other 2 comments? Commissioner Trinley, would you like to 3 make a comment? 4 COMMISSIONER TRINLEY: Yes, I would just like 5 to ask a question. Explain why a case like this 6 goes to mediation, you know, the insurance company, 7 is involved. Because as far as we who sit on the 8 Commission, or some of us who sit on the Commission 9 and were involved at the time, he didn't follow the 10 rules and regulations of the Town's rules and 11 regulations for employees. So why would they say 12 let's mediate and give him something? 13 MR. REYNOLDS: Your analysis, I'm in complete 14 agreement with, and I've supplied the former Town 15 Attorney and your current counsel with our motion 16 to dismiss, which states unequivocally exactly 17 that. 18 But the insurance company looks at it 19 strictly as a business decision, which is, in the 20 state of Florida if I'm granted the motion to 21 dismiss, plaintiffs are granted leave at least 22 twice, if not three times, to amend, to try and 23 state the cause of action. 24 Invariably they are allowed to amend to the 25 point where the judge says, okay, we'll let it go Florida Court Reporting 561-689-0999 Page: 16 1 I forward. Then I move for what's called a summary 2 judgment. That's after everyone's depositions have 3 been taken, including the plaintiff's, and again, 4 the state of Florida, I recently had a summary 5 judgment granted on behalf of the Town of Jupiter. 6 It's the first motion for summary judgment I 7 probably have had granted in the last 20 years, 8 because there's always a question of fact. And if 9 10 11 12 • 13 14 15 16 17 there's any question of fact, you then have to go to trial and go in front of a jury. The reason I know, one of my last summary judgments I had granted was when my oldest daughter was born 25 years ago and that was reversed by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, because they decided, well, maybe some fact could eventually come out that would prevent a summary judgment from being granted. 18 Going through that, going through the trial, 19 then the appellate process, costs money. It costs 20 a lot of money. And that's where the insurance 211 company is looking at it strictly from a business 22 standpoint. 23 MAYOR FEATHERMAN: In other words, if the 24 insurance company can settle for much less than 25 going to trial, they will do that. And I've had Florida Court Reporting 561-689-0999 Page: 17 � 0 1 experience in that myself. But mostly in injury 2 claims. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 • 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 024 25 MR. REYNOLDS: Right. And in representing towns and governmental entities, the beauty of having that hundred thousand dollar cap is a real hammer that you can have against a plaintiff's attorney that we do not have here. And going back to the question in terms of why go to mediation. If a case is noticed for trial, the courts automatically send it to mediation. That's a requirement before you can go to trial. We're going to mediation early in this case, very early in this case. Our motions have not even been heard yet, because of this business, economic decision on the part of the insurance company, which is again, to save fees that I will be paid in defending the case. I mean it's absolutely, unequivocally, strictly a business decision on their part. I mean, I never go to mediation as a general rule -- this is an exception to that rule - this early in a case. I think they are just looking at it and saying this is going to be expensive to defend. There's a separate interpretation. I absolutely agree with your interpretation Florida Court Reporting 561-689-0999 Page- 1 R 140 r] 1 and the Town's interpretation of how this matter is 2 handled, and we fully briefed that in our motion to 3 dismiss, but then that's open to interpretation and 4 that costs money. And again, that's what the 5 insurance company is looking at. 6 MAYOR FEATHERMAN: I think that's pretty 7 clear. 8 COMMISSIONER PAGLIARO: Yes, I'd like to -- 9 hopefully you can help me. So as I understand what 10 you're saying, that it's an economic factor that 11 you're looking at it, but you're also saying to us 12 that there's always that risk that the other side 13 might have a case, and then we go to trial and so 14 on, and so this is economic. 15 But I'm going to ask you a question. I get 16 the sense of you're telling us that there may be 17 some factors in the case by the plaintiff and that 18 that would be a risk and a risk on the Town, and we 19 don't want to incur any fees that hit the roof, and 20 I understand your situation. 21 But -- it makes sense, but I didn't realize 22 that we were going to be at this stage, I thought 23 it was going to be, we'll move ahead and not that 24 involved in mediation, and so he wins or he loses, 25 or we win or we lose, and I just wanted that Florida Court Reporting 561-689-0999 Paee: 19 [7 � 0 I[] 1 clarified, and you have. 2 MR. REYNOLDS: And that's why I'm here, 3 because again, I wouldn't want to come here after 4 the mediation and say, oh, by the way, I'm here, 5 the insurance company has settled for X, Y or Z, 6 and have anyone say, wait a minute, we've got 7 motions to dismiss pending. I didn't even think we 8 would go to mediation this soon. 9 And you're exactly right. We are going to 10 mediation soon. But of course, in my case, from 11 the insurance company's standpoint, the clock is 12 ticking, you know, I just cost them money. And 13 their thought is, if they can settle without me 14 having to go to hearings, without me having to do 15 that, they are saving money. 16 And if they are going to settle it, better to 17 settle it early. And if they can't settle it, you 18 know, it's one of those situations that if the 19 plaintiff is so entrenched that there is no room 20 for negotiation that the insurance company finds 21 acceptable, then they have no choice, but at least 22 they have tried and they have tried early. 23 And that goes back to the question of how 24 much. I don't know. I know what I anticipate the 25 plaintiff wanting. But what the insurance company Florida Court Reporting 561-689-0999 Page: 20 �0 • • 1 is going to find is that middle ground, or if they 2 are going to sit there and say, okay, fine, we 3 think the risk is, and we'll just pay you what you 4 want to be rid of it. 5 It's a bitter pill, but again, it's the 6 insurance company's money and from my standpoint on 7 behalf of the Town, as I've set forth in my motion 8 to dismiss on behalf of both the Town and the 9 individuals who were sued in this case, I do not 10 see the merits in the plaintiff's case. But 11 that's, again, it's not my money. It's the 12 insurance company's money. 13 MAYOR FEATHERMAN: I think that's pretty 14 clear. Are there any other questions that anyone 15 would like to make? Vice Mayor? 16 VICE MAYOR ZWICK: No. 17 COMMISSIONER PAGLIARO: I would just like to 18 make a statement. I hope a lesson has been learned 19 in terms of this whole situation. I felt 20 uncomfortable from day one in terms of the way the 21 whole thing played out and I just wanted to say 22 1 that. 23 MAYOR FEATHERMAN: I would say that the prior 24 administration did have legal direction on this 25 when they took that action, I assume, to let Florida Court Reporting 561-689-0999 Page- 2 U.J � 0 0 1 Dr. Sugerman go. They did it under advice of 2 counsel, or if they didn't, of course that was a 3 mistake on their part. 4 However, what you've said is exactly what I 5 think we should follow. And we will hear from you 6 as to what -- if you can make a settlement that's 7 acceptable to the insurance company, I don't think 8 we want to step on the insurance company's toes and 9 shoes, to represent us. That's why we have 10 insurance. 11 Thank you very much for coming and I think, 12 if there's no further questions, we've really 13 addressed this correctly. 14 MR. REYNOLDS: Thank you, sir. I appreciate 15 everybody accommodating me. 16 MAYOR FEATHERMAN: Thanks a lot. 17 MR. TORCIVIA: Closing the attorney/client 18 session so the court reporter can wrap up. 19 20 1 (The proceedings were concluded at 21 1 9:31 a.m. ) 22 23 24 25 Florida Court Reporting 561-689-0999 Page: 22 Florida Court Reporting 561-689-0999 Page: 1 WORD INDEX is < $ > $10,000 7:18 $100,000 8:16 $166,000 7:14 $200,000 7:20 $31,000 7:15 $5,000 10:21, 23, 24 < 1 > 100 11:13 11th 4:17 1981 11:16 1983 11:16 < 2 > 20 16: 7 200 11:13 2012 1:4 2:3 22:14 25 16:13 25th 4:3 29th 22:14 • < 3 > 33409 1:21 < 4 > 4 1:4 2:3 470 1:20 < 5 > 57.105 4:11 < 7 > 768.28 7:25 8:10 < 9 > 9:02 1:5 9:31 1:5 21:21 < A > a.m 1:5, 5 a.m. 21:21 absolutely 9:22 14:15 17:18, 25 accept 11:25 12:1 acceptable 19:21 21:7 accident 8:14 accommodating 21:15 action 6:18 7:3. 15:23 20:25 adage 10:2 add 5:17 additionally 4:10 addressed 21:13 adjusters 13:6 administration 20:24 adverse 5:25 advice 10:1 21:1 advise 14:1 ago 16:13 agree 17:25 agreement 4:19 15:14 ahead 5:5 6:3 13:12 18:23 alike 9:11 allegations 6:6 alleged 6:25 12:14 alleging 7:1 allowed 15:24 amend 5:15 15:22, 24 amended 6:22 amount 8:19 11:24 analysis 10:8, 9 15:13 anniversary 4:3 answer 4:23 14:3 anticipate 19:24 Appeals 16:14 appellate 16:19 apply 8:10, 17 appreciate 21:14 apprise 4:23 appropriate 3:8 approval 8:25 approve 4:21 5:20, 22 10:5 14:16 approved 7:15 approximately 7:13, 18 aside 6:24 asked 9:13 asking 5:6 10:13 12:17 assume 5:23 20:25 ATTORNEY 1:17 2:4, 8, 14 3:12 9:21 15:15 17:7 21:17 ATTORNEY -CLIENT 1:3 Attorneys 1:22 7:1 attorney's 4:12 5:14 6:21 7:16 12:13 authority 7:2 authorized 22:7 automatically 7:9 17:10 aware 8:12 < B > back 10:11 11:25 17:8 19:23 BEACH 1:1, 21, 22 2:19 3:16 22:5 beauty 17:4 BEDARD 1:20 3:25 behalf 4:8 16:5 20: 7, 8 believe 4:14 BERNARD 1:11 better 10:18 13:18 14:5, 6 19:16 bitter 20:5 blanche 5:7 born 16:13 bottom 5:18 breach 6:25 7:11 8:6, 9, 11 11:14 briefed 18:2 bring 6:22 burden 10:6 business 9:1 11:21 15:19 16:21 17:14, 19 button 3:21 < C > C101 1:21 call 2:3, 5 3:11 called 4:11 16:1 Florida Court Reporting cap 8:11, 16 11:3, 13 17:5 capacity 8:3 capped 10:20 car 8:14 carte 5:6 case 2:18 3:15, 17 4:19 5:10, 12, 24 6:10, 16, 17 7:4 8:20 9:24 11:8, 14, 15 12:7 13:1, 13 15:5 17:9, 13, 13, 17, 22 18:13, 17 19:10 20:9, 10 cases 6:3 11:15, 17 cause 6:9 15:23 causes 8:18 celebrated 4:3 CEO 11:21 certainly 14:10 certify 22:7 cetera 13:2 choice 19:21 Circuit 16:14 circumstances 14:16 cities 11: 11 City 6:5 claim 5:14 6:19, 19, 21, 25 7:16, 20 8: 6, 10, 11, 13, 13, 14, 17 9:25 12:13 claims 4:8, 10 7:22 8:15 12:10 13:6 17:2 clarified 19:1 clear 9:20, 23 18:7 20:14 Clerk 2:5, 16 3:2, 6, 7,9 Client 2:4, 14 21:17 clock 19:11 close 2:12, 25 3:4, 7 Closing 21:17 Columbia 1:20 come 4:22 6:22 10:9, 11 11:21 16:16 19:3 561-689-0999 Page: 2 coming 11:25 21:11 comment 15:3 comments 15:2 COMMISSION 1:2 2:3, 9, 16 12:24 13:9, 14, 20 14:1, 5 15:8, 8 COMMISSIONER 1:13, 14, 15 9:4, 6 12:22 13:11, 13 14:9, 19 15:2, 4 18:8 20:17 Commissioners 13:14 14:10 company 4:18, 20 5:8 6:16 8:7, 18, 24 9:2, 7, 12, 21 10:14 11:22 12:3 13:5, 17 14:1, 7, 18, 20 15:6, 18 16:21, 24 17:16 18:5 19:5, 20, 25 21:7 company's 5:1 10:3 19:11 20:6, 12 21:8 compared 10:25 complaint 4:15 5:16 complete 15:13 completed 2:24 complimentary 9:10 concerned 14:23 concluded 21:20 conclusion 2:21 confident 11: 18 conflict 9:23 consider 6:8 consistent 2:14 contract 6:25 7:7, 8, 12 8: 6, 9, 11, 17 11:15 correct 13:2 22:10 correctly 21:13 cost 5:11 8: 23 19:12 costs 4:13 16:19, 19 18:4 council 14:11 counsel 4:11 15:15 21:2 COUNTY 22:5 course 12:2 19:10 21:2 court 2:17 16:14 21:18 courts 17:10 coverage 11: 12 coverages 10:19 covered 10:16 current 15:15 < D > Dale 6:25 damages 5:17 7:13 daughter 16:12 day 20:20 22:14 de 7:11 decide 10:14 decided 16:15 decision 5:9, 19 12:24 13:8, 9 15:19 17:15, 19 deductible 10:21, 23,24 defamation 7:21 8:13 defend 17:23 defending 17:17 defense 4:13 5:11, 23 6: 7 DENNIS 1:15 depositions 16:2 , determination 9:15 different 6:15 Diplomate 22:6, 20 direction 20:24 disagree 7:5 disciplinary 7:3 discrimination 6:18 11:16 12:14 discuss 5:2, 7 8:5 discussing 2:18 dismiss 4:7 7:24 15:16, 21 18:3 19:7 20:8 dismissed 13:1 dispute 7:16 doing 12:23 14:21 dollar 17:5 door 3:1, 4, 7 DORIS 1:13 Dr 4:6 7:7 21:1 Drive 1:20 < E > early 4:18 17:12, 13, 21 19:17, 22 economic 17:15 18:10, 14 EEOC 6:19 either 5:3 7:23, 24 14:14 employees 15:11 entities 6:14 17:4 entitled 14:11 entrenched 19:19 ESQUIRE 1:17, 22 essentially 7:19 estimating 7:18 et 13:2 evaluating 6:16 evaluation 10:8 events 10:20 eventually 16:15 everybody 2:12 21:15 everyone's 16:2 exact 9:17 Exactly 14:9 15:16 19:9 21:4 exception 17:21 excess 11:4, 18 expensive 17:23 experience 6:3, 11 17:1 Explain 15:5 exposure 8:20 express 13:15 14:12 < F > fact 5:8 7:5 16:8, 9, 15 facto 7:11 factor 6:4 18:10 factors 18:17 Florida Court Reporting facts 3:17 failure 7:3 familiar 11:20 far 14:23 15:7 FEATHERMAN 1:11 2:1, 7 3:5, 11, 21 9:5 10:16, 22, 24 11:6, 20 12:8, 20 13:12 15:1 16:23 18:6 20:13, 23 21:16 federal 11:16 fee 5:14 7:16 12:13 feel 10:5 feeling 14:20, 24 feelings 13:15, 20 fees 4:12 5:12 6:21 17:16 18:19 felt 20:19 figure 9:16 10:10, 12 filed 4:7, 10 6:18, 20 find 20:1 finds 19:20 fine 20:2 finished 3:4 firm 3:24 first 9:12 16:6 flat 11:4 Florida 1:21 15:20 16:4 22:4 follow 15:9 21:5 following 14:4 follow-up 14:4 foregoing 22:8, 9 former 6:5 15:14 forth 20:7 forward 4:13 16:1 Fourth 16:14 front 16:10 frustration 14:12 fully 18:2 further 21:12 future 13:23 < G > general 17:20 561-689-0999 Page: 3 • • C7 generally 3:2 11:3 George 4:1 Geraldine 22:6, 19 getting 7:23 give 15:12 giving 10: 12 GLEN 1:17 go 4:13, 23 7:6 13:12, 19 14:22 15:25 16:9, 10 17:9, 11, 20 18:13 19:8, 14 21:1 goes 15:6 19:23 going 3:18 8:5, 24 9:13, 15 10:8, 9, 14 13:1, 17 14:16 16:18, 18, 25 17:8, 12, 23 18:15, 22, 23 19:9, 16 20:1, 2 Good 2:1, 11 3:20, 23 gotten 13:21 14:24 governed 11:17 governmental 6:14 17:4 granted 15:20, 21 16:5, 7, 12, 17 great 9: 11 ground 20:1 guess 11:5 12:22 guessing 11:5 < H > hammer 17:6 hand 22:13 handled 18:2 happy 2:1 head 11:3 hear 21:5 heard 17:14 hearings 19:14 help 18:9 hereunto 22:13 hesitation 6:9 HIGHLAND 1:1, 22 2:19 3:16 hit 18:19 holiday 2:2 hope 20:18 hopefully 12:4 18:9 hundred 17:5 < I > idea 9:7 14:20 including 16:3 incur 18:19 individual 4:10 13:14 14:11 Individuals 2:15 4:5, 9, 14 8:2 9:24 20:9 inform 8:23 information 3:17, 18 injury 17:1 instance 12:6 insurance 4:17, 20 5:1, 8 6:15 8:7, 18, 23 9:1, 7, 12, 21 10:3, 14, 17 12:3 13:5, 17 14:1, 7, 18, 20 15:6, 18 16:20, 24 17:15 18:5 19: 5, 11, 20, 25 20:6, 12 21:7, 8, 10 interested 4:18 interference 7:22 interpretation 7:6 17: 24, 25 18:1, 3 Invariably 15:24 invoked 7:4 involved 6:5 8:15 11:9 15:7, 9 18:24 issue 7:5 issues 4:25 6:7 its 6:17 9:2 13:5, 6 < J > January 1:4 2:2 4:17 JOHN 1:14 JR 1:22 judge 15:25 judgment 5:25 7:25 16:2, 5, 6, 16 judgments 16:12 June 22:14 Jupiter 16:5 jury 7:6 16:10 < K > KATHLEEN 1:16 10:18 knocked 7:24 know 10:18 11:2 14:18 15:6 16:11 19:12, 18, 24, 24 known 4:1 < L > law 2:14 3:24 learned 20:18 leave 3:4, 6 7:15 15:21 legal 12:2 20:24 lesson 20:18 liabilities 12:5 line 5:18 litigation 3:19 4:6, 25 little 7:14 looking 8:7 16:21 17:22 18:5, 11 looks 15:18 lose 8:20 18:25 loses 18:24 lost 5:11 lot 11:8 16:20 21:16 low 10:25 LYMAN 1:22 2:17 3:24 < M > Madam 2:5 majority 13:25 14:5, 14 making 6:6 man 13:21 14:24 MANAGER 1:16 2:17 6:5 manner 3:8 12:4 matter 5:5 6:12 13:2 18:1 matters 8:12 MAYOR 1:11, 12 2:1, 7, 11, 12, 15 3:5, 11, 21 9:5 10:16, 22, 24 11:6, Florida Court Reporting 20 12:8, 20 13:12 15:1 16:23 18:6 20:13, 15, 16, 23 21:16 mean 17:18, 20 mediate 14:21, 22 15:12 mediation 4:16, 23 5:2, 20, 22 8:5, 24 9:16 13:8 14:4 15:6 17:9, 11, 12, 20 18:24 19:4, 8, 10 mediator 8:6 medical 7:15 MEETING 1:2 2:4, 9 3:3, 6 14:4 members 2:16 3:9 14:11 mentioned 12:6 merits 20: 10 middle 20:1 million 11:5, 19 minds 9:11 minute 19:6 MIRIAM 1:12 mistake 21:3 modify 7:3 money 10:2, 3, 15 11:24 13:3, 8 16:19, 20 18:4 19:12, 15 20:6, 11, 12 morning 2:1, 11, 19 3:20, 23 motion 7:24, 25 15:15, 20 16:6 18:2 20:7 motions 4:7, 12 17:13 19:7 move 2:7 16:1 18: 23 < N > name 3:24 necessary 2:25 6:2 10:5 need 11:12 14:1, 17 negotiation 19:20 561-689-0999 Page: 4 nervous 8:19 never 17:20 nickel 14:25 non 7:10 10:20 notes 22: 10 noticed 17:9 number 4:2 <O> obligation 14:8 obtain 4:18 obviously 5:12 6:15 8:19 10:11 12:15 occasionally 11: offer 11:24 offering 9:7 official 8:2 oh 19:4 Okay 11:2, 6 13 15:25 20:2 old 10:2 oldest 16:12 OMITTED 2:6 ones 13:7 open 18:3 opinion 5:13 12 16 OPM 10:2 10 :11 :11, opposed 5:4 opposing 4:11 13: 23 option 7:9 options 3:19 9:2 order 2:3 overriding 10:4 < P > P.A 1:20 PAGLIARO 1:14 2:25 12:22 13:11 18:8 20:17 paid 9:20 17:17 Palm 1:21 22:5 parameters 10: 13 part 3:14 5:15 6:20 14:13 17:15, 19 21:3 partner 4:1 partnership 4:4 pay 5:10 7:14 10:15 14:7 20:3 payment 5:25 pending 4:6 5:14 12:12 19:7 people 11:8 people's 10:2 period 2:23 8:15 personal 6:4, 6, 8 13:15 14:23 personally 13:21 PERSONS 1:10 pill 20:5 place 22:9 plaintiff 5:15 18:17 19:19, 25 plaintiffs 15:21 plaintiffs 16:3 17:6 20:10 played 20:21 please 2:4 3:7 pled 12:16 point 3:13 6:2 7:17 9:1, 8, 19 13:22 15:25 police 11:15 policy 11:4, 18 PORTIONS 2:6 position 7:8 14:15 posture 6:13, 17 potential 5:1 8:20 12:13 14:2 potentially 4:12 5:24 6:22 12:17 PRESENT 1:10 2:15 3:18 6:17 Presently 4:7 5:13 12:12 president 11:22 Press 3:21 pretty 18:6 20:13 prevent 16:16 principle 6:12 10:4 14:6 prior 6:20 20:23 PRIVATE 1:3 2:4, 13,21 probably 13:18 16:7 proceedings 2:9 21:20 22:8, 11 process 9:16 11:9 16:19 proper 12:4 protections 8: 10 proud 4:2 provide 12:12 public 2:10, 13, 22 3: 6, 9 Pursuant 4:19 <q> question 3:2 7:5 9:13 14:3 15:5 16:8, 9 17:8 18:15 19:23 questions 4:24 11:10 12:21 20:14 21:12 quite 11:17 < R > range 7:18 reached 5:21 real 17:5 realize 18:21 realizing 13:16 really 6:24 7:19 8:4, 22 10:19 12:23 13:9 21:12 reason 11:7 16:11 regard 4:9, 24 5:1 6:6 regarding 3:17, 18 13:16 Registered 22:6, 20 regulations 15:10, 11 relates 5:18 12:7 remember 8:9 renew 7:10 renewal 7:10 renews 7:9 reopen 2:22 report 22:8 reporter 2:17 21:18 22: 7, 20 represent 7:22 Florida Court Reporting 9:22 21:9 representation 9:23 representative 13:6 representatives 10:5 13:7 representing 3:15 4:4 12:3 17:3 requirement 17:11 resolving 5:4 12:18 respectfully 7:4 response 9:14 responsibility 5:24 responsible 8:2, 3 reversed 16:13 review 2:8 REYNOLDS 1:20, 22 2:18 3:14, 20, 23, 24, 25 9:9 10:18 11:1, 7 12:7, 9 13:4, 24 14:10 15:13 17:3 19:2 21:14 rid 20:4 right 13:15 17:3 19:9 risk 5:9 10:8 18:12, 18, 18 20:3 ROBERTS 1:20 3:25 4:1, 2 roll 2:5 roof 18:19 room 19:19 room. 3:10 rule 17:20, 21 rules 15:10, 10 Rusty 4:1 < S > sanction 4:11 save 17:16 saving 19:15 saying 17:23 18:10, 11 says 15:25 scheduled 4:16 season 2:2 Section 11:16, 16 see 20: 10 is seek 5:16 561-689-0999 Page: 5 • U seeking 4:12 7:13 send 17:10 sense 18:16, 21 separate 17:24 SESSION 1:3 2:12, 14, 21, 22, 23 21:18 set 20:7 22:13 setting 6:24 settle 6:10, 12 12:10 16:24 19:13, 16, 17, 17 settled 12:9 19:5 settlement 3:19 4:19, 21 5:2, 21 10:6 13:16, 18 14:17 21:6 shade 14:4 shared 9:17 SHERIDAN 1:15 9:4, 6 13:13 14:9, 19 shoes 21:9 short 2:23 side 9:1 18:12 simpler 13:5 simply 5:7 sir 9:3, 6 21:14 sit 15:7, 8 20:2 situation 18:20 20:19 situations 19:18 slow 12:23 somewhat 13:4 soon 3:3 19:8, 10 spoke 9:9 stage 18:22 standpoint 6:7, 9 7:17 16:22 19:11 20:6 state 15:20, 23 16:4 22:4 stated 22:9 statement 9:11 20:18 states 15:16 statutory 11:12 stay 3:3 stenotype 22: 10 step 21:8 strategy 3:19 strictly 15:19 16:21 17:19 strong 12:15 strongly 5:4 subject 8:25 subsequent 5:20 successful 7:23 sued 4:5 9:24 20:9 Sugerman 2:19 3:16 4:6 7:7 13:1 21:1 Sugerman's 7:1 suggest 10:7 suggestion 10:1 suit 6:20 Suite 1:21 summary 7:25 16:1, 4, 6, 11, 16 supplied 15:14 sure 8:12 surprise 5:3 suspend 7:2 < T > take 10:6 12:2, 23 14:8 taken 4:15 6:13, 13 16:3 22:11 talk 8:4 talking 7:19 11:1 tell 4:2 telling 18:16 termination 7:11 terms 5:9 8:19 11:11 17:8 20:19, 20 Thank 3:22 12:20 21:11, 14 Thanks 21:16 thing 8:9 9:19 12:11 20:21 things 6:1 think 3:25 9:11, 12 11:1 14:20, 24 17:22 18:6 19:7 20:3, 13 21:5, 7, 11 thinks 14:5 Thomasson 22:6, 19 thought 9:18 12:15 18:22 19:13 thousand 17:5 threatened 6:19 three 15:22 ticking 19:12 time 2:23 3:5 5:5 6:3 8:15 15:9 22:8 times 11:8, 23 15:22 Title 6:19 12:14 today 4:17 8:22 13:25 14:13 toes 21:8 top 11:2 TORCIVIA 1:17 2:8, 11 3:13 21:17 tort 8:13 tortious 7:21 torts 8:1 TOWN 1:1, 2, 16, 17, 22 2:3, 8, 16, 17, 19 3:5, 7,9, 12, 15, 16 4:4, 8, 20, 21 5:7, 19, 19, 22, 23 6:3 7:1, 7, 10 8:1, 23 10:1,4, 7 14:7,25 15:14 16:5 18:18 20: 7, 8 towns 11:11 17:4 Town's 9:21 15:10 18:1 transcription 22:10 trial 16:10, 18, 25 17:10, 12 18:13 tried 19:22, 22 TRINLEY 1:13 15:2, 4 true 22: 10 try 15:22 trying 4:18 turn 3:14 TUZZIO 1:20 3:25 twice 15:22 type 5:6 8:14 11:8, 14 13:17 < U > unanimous 14:15 Florida Court Reporting uncomfortable 20:20 underlying 11:3 understand 18:9, 20 underwriting 11:9 unequivocally 15:16 17:18 universally 7:23 unused 7:15 upcoming 5:2 upper 11:2 < V > valid 5:14 various 11:11 versus 2:19 3:16 viable 6:8 9:25 12:13 VICE 1:12 20:15, 16 viewpoint 6:15 VII 6:19 12:14 < W > wait 19:6 want 6:12 9:20, 22 12:18 18:19 19:3 20:4 21:8 wanted 4:22 18:25 20:21 wanting 6:9 8:25 19:25 way 13:18 14:22 19:4 20:20 Wednesday 1:4 2: week 4:16 9:2 week's 8:24 weigh 5:9 weighing 9:2 WEISER 1:16 10: 21, 23, 25 well 2:7 3:13 4:15 11:11 16:15 went 5:25 We're 4:4 8:4 9:15 12:23 17:12 West 1:21 we've 4:10 11:22 19:6 21:12 A 561-689-0999 Page: 6 Florida Court Reporting 561-689-0999