Hey Hurricane Irma: Tough times don't last, but tough lawyers do - Jimerson & Cobb, P.A. September Newsletter

Featured in the September 2017 Issue

Cobb Takes On NASCLA in Denver
Jax Daily Record Breaks Off a Piece of Jimerson
Edgecombe Accepts New Leadership Position
2017 Construction Law 101 Seminar POSTPONED
New Blog Posts
Firm News: Aftermath of Irma #FirstCoastStrong

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"We have not journeyed all of this way because we are made of sugar candy."

-Winston Churchill

If you haven’t heard, our office has been displaced for weeks due to Hurricane Irma. It doesn’t matter. If you haven’t heard, my family lost our home and about 90% of our personal property due to Hurricane Irma. It doesn’t matter.

You know why it doesn’t matter that our team was displaced? Because they are all tough as hell, that’s why. They are sturdy, yet they are flexible. They are resilient above all else. As Churchill said, “we have not journeyed all of this way because we are made of sugar candy.”

When we were told we would be out of our building for as much as four months, you know what we did? Our team immediately came together and executed the plans we had in place for an event like this. We communicated. We issued challenges. And our team responded. We haven’t missed a beat since then. We have won trials already. We’ve subjected deponents to the crucible of our deposition cross-examinations. We’ve closed real estate and business transactions. We’ve filed briefs and motions; written letters and fielded phone calls. Haggled and compelled. We’ve taken in new work and resolved old cases successfully. We’ve gone right back to practicing law as committed as we ever were. Business as usual for J&C. Ready to put out your legal fires, even if our own house is ablaze.

Tough times don’t last, but I assure you our tough lawyers do. We aren’t under one roof yet, but you can bet that our firm has found a way to stay operational and productive. So you know why it doesn’t matter that Irma temporarily tore us apart? Because for that one moment that our firm was facing a smidge of adversity, we sought strength from within and received strength from everyone else on the outside. So many people have offered so many forms of assistance that it will take me weeks to write thank you notes/emails to people. Trust me when I tell you that what cannot be said in words was wept with my emotions of gratitude.

Our clients, business associates, and friends sent care packages, gave us office referrals, housed our employees and sent us more work to keep us busy. Our lawyers took all of that as an incredible compliment and will use our blessings as an opportunity to rise to the occasion. Whether it is Hurricane Irma or an adversarial legal matter, our lawyers always welcome an opportunity to test their meddle.

On a personal level, I sure did have a rough couple of weeks. When Hurricane Irma hit, my family awoke at daybreak that Monday morning to the river running through our house. My wife and I took our kids and dogs out of our house on our backs in chest high water in tropical storm winds. I used my canoe to rescue several families in our neighborhood and then canoed my family to high ground. Our house was flooded to our knees throughout and is likely a total loss. Most of our personal property is gone and we are looking at a displacement for a year or more. But none of that matters and I’ll tell you why.

None of that matters because we are too busy counting our blessings to be counting any short term problems. Through this ordeal we have learned that home is not a place, it’s a feeling. The love in our family flows deeper and stronger than the St. Johns River that we stood in that morning. That may have been the last night we will share in the house that brought us together as a family, but we have some incredible memories to treasure and keep in the home that we take with us. The Jimersons are a family that loves life. Wherever we go is our home. Our song will play on, loud and full of fervor. Some high notes, some low notes- but always a beautiful tune.

I still remember the many years that I prayed for all of the things that I have now. A family who loves me, friends who support me, a firm that rallies behind me and clients who trust me to represent them. Meaningful relationships abound. So, yes, I did take a gut punch recently. But no one should feel sorry for the guy who already has it all. Put your time and energy into helping those who have a lot more needs than I do. Lord knows there are a lot of folks out there who were devastated by this cruel event. I’m already trying to use my two hands judiciously- one to help my family and one to help others. Will you join me in lending a hand to the rest of Jacksonville who needs it?

In closing, thank you to everyone who has reached out to me with support of all forms. Thank you for being many of the causes for my smiles of late. You’re a whole lot of lovely. I promise you I will pay it forward and respond in like kind (or greater) if you ever have the need. You don’t even need to ask, I got you.

Your pal,

Charlie

Chris Cobb: Nationally Recognized and Honored Construction Licensing Expert

National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies

Chris Cobb, Chairman of the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), was a special invited guest at the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies' annual conference in Denver. NASCLA is the leading trade association comprised of states agencies that have enacted laws to regulate the business of contractors.

Chris' panel focused on the development of specialty license programs, challenges facing a licensing board and how to avoid potential pitfalls in the licensing process.

Chris Cobb (second from the left) on the panel at NASCLA's annual conference

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn

J&C's Growth Featured in the Jacksonville Financial News & Daily Record: “It wasn’t spontaneous combustion. You have to set yourself on fire to grow.”

Our good friend Max Marbut stopped by the office to pick the brain of Charlie Jimerson following another summer of awards for the firm. They talked about the firm's humble beginnings and how it continues to blossom. The Daily Record also wanted to hear more about our notorious firm competitions (CBJ still thinks he should have won Bob Ross ) and the importance of fostering a healthy office culture.

Charlie Jimerson pictured at the firm's office in Downtown Jacksonville

Click here to read the full article in the Jax Daily Record

Adam Edgecombe Continues to Be a Leader in the Legal Community

Connect with Adam on LinkedIn

Adam Edgecombe was named Vice-Chair of the Professionalism Committee of the Jacksonville Bar Association. The Bench and Bar Professionalism Committee strives to maintain collegiality and professionalism among attorneys in Jacksonville. This Committee assists in the implementation of Chief Judge Donald Moran's Administrative Order 2013-09, which establishes a local professionalism panel in the 4th Judicial Circuit to enforce violations of professional standards for the legal industry. The Committee provides resources to Jacksonville attorneys to improve professionalism and adherence to The Jacksonville Bar Association's "Professionalism Guidelines," and to address new professionalism challenges caused by the constantly evolving practice of law.

Adam does a fantastic job getting involved in the local community and professional organizations, and we are proud to show him off as an engaged son of Jacksonville.

2017 Construction Law 101 Seminar

POSTPONED

In light of the damage Hurricane Irma caused to the Wells Fargo center, our annual construction law seminar must be rescheduled. We apologize for any inconvenience this caused, and will send out information regarding the new date and location once it has been finalized. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at marketing@jimersoncobb.com.

J&C Legal Blogs

Are you keeping up with the latest information in business and law? J&C publishes weekly blog posts covering topics from construction law, business litigation, eminent domain law, community associations law and everything in between. Click here to subscribe today and stay up-to-date on the latest legal news from these areas:

Construction Industry Law Blog

Liability of General Contractors

for Unlicensed Subcontractors

By: Adam B. Edgecombe

As many construction professionals are no doubt aware, when a construction project encounters problems, regardless of the reason, tensions and emotions can run high; this is doubly true when the problem results in a lawsuit by the owner of the property against the general contractor. When a dispute has progressed to the litigation phase, owners will often attempt to leverage any pressure point they can find to try and gain an advantage in the litigation. Click here to learn more about these advantages.

Business Litigation Blog

Florida Proceedings Supplementary 101

By: Charles B. Jimerson

Winning a lawsuit and being rewarded a money judgment does not always lead to the plaintiff’s best day. For example, Plaintiff sues Defendant for breach of contract. During the trial, Defendant realizes she may lose the case and, as a result, be forced to liquidate most of her assets to pay the money judgment. Instead, with her impending defeat in mind, Defendant transfers her assets to family, friends, and colleagues to protect them from satisfaction of the judgment. After Plaintiff wins the case, what is a judgment creditor to do if it can’t stick Defendant with the bill? Click here for the answer to this question and more.