RFP 13-04 Award AGENDA ITEM # 8B
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
RP 13
AGENDA ITEM NO. F .
DATE: /Vove.rber ) a O/
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
CITY COMMISSION MEETING
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM: Appointment of Special Magistrate
DATE: October 25, 2013
SUBMITTED BY: Jim Hanson, City Manag /4 ,z._.
Alan Jensen, City Atto ey
Michael D. Classey, Chief o olive
SRATEGIC PLAN LINK: N/A
BACKGROUND:
The City Commission recently added Section 2 -146.1 to the Code of Ordinances. This section
requires that a Special Magistrate(s) to hear dangerous dog cases be appointed by the City
Manager subject to the approval of the Commission.
The City advertised for the position of Special Magistrate and received five (5) applications. A
panel consisting of the City Manager, City Attorney and Police Chief interviewed all 5
candidates. Attorney Jeb Branham was selected by the panel as the best qualified for the
position.
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Mr. Branham has been a practicing attorney for almost 20 years. His office is located at the
Beach and he has been the Town Attorney for Baldwin and Callahan for the past 10 years. His
responsibilities include prosecuting code enforcement violations, handling all land use and
zoning matters and conducting quasi judicial proceedings. He has also handled some legal
matters for the Town of Hilliard.
The panel believes that Mr. Branham's training, education and experience uniquely qualify him
for the position of Special Magistrate.
BUDGET: Will be based upon the number of dangerous dog cases held. Staff anticipates that
expenses will be less than $1,000 per year.
RECOMMENDATIONS: To approve the appointment of Jeb T. Branham as Special
Magistrate for the City of Atlantic Beach.
ATTACHMENTS: Attorney Jeb T. Branham's resume
NOV1:1•/111Eit 12, 2013
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R Pl;?F:SEr's1TATI 0 N PROPOSAL
SUB14,11°rTED BY
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THE: HEN1PIT Or .11El\lC.:14, DEVEL(WED A TVVO O 1"1-1r, NATION BEsT AND 1,ARG'EST LAW
FT HMS COM1111‘.16:1) Wir1-1 1 0 Yi*:AHS 01: /..11:PRE°:SCNTING MUNrCIPAL GOVEUZNINIENIT8
My goal is to bring every c.hent the beneht of experience deveoped at two of the nation's hest and targest law
firms - ; - with the personal 'attention you can only get frOnl a sinall
practice. We deliver the legal sophistication gained from working in ti big firm environment for some of the
world's largest corporations like the Coca-Cola 'Company, General Motors, Eli Lilly &Company, Novartis
Pharmaceuticals, and 311 contained with individual, personalized attention.
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Practicing at the hest firms and working for die most demanding clients in the world puts Dn attention to quality in
our work that most Isomers never have the opportimity or need to develop.
jeb Branham has the horror and benefit of working tis the Town Attorney for Callahan for ti years and as the
Town Attorney for Baldwin for nine years. There are kw attorneys In the arca with this experience handling the
legal IllattOrS unique to municipalities and government, combined with sophisticated, broad-based litigation
expertise.
My service as a town attorney includes the responsibility for prosecuting code enforcement violations, handling al
land use and on in matters arid the conduct of quati-judicial proceedings, I have C conducted dozens of quasi-
judicial proceedings, including numerous rezoning, annexations, and coinprehensive plan amendments. During my
tenure, the Town of Callahan had at zoning, matter proceed to Fla. Scat s. 70.51 special tY) giscrace proceedings and
a subsequent appeal to the Circuit Court.. l'he Circuit Court upheld the Town's decision. On occasion, I represe',it
private clients in land use and code enforcement matter:, both before city councils, in the state trial court, and on
appeal.
As the attorney for two Towtis, I understand the importance of maintaining a thorough knoi.vledge of and ensuring
full compliance with stare public records, public meetings, and ethics laws. Draftin legislation and regularly
conducting 'Torino in which municipality renders 'judgments affecting citizens' rights has given one the
experience necessary to effectively balance the sometimes competing intel'eStS of the government, individuals,
property owners, neighbors, and the citizenry as a whole.
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1 h Ale been n dog owner for 13 years, I also lived next door to a dog that was evermally designated a dangerous
dog and destroyed The next door neighbors' dog tried to bite both my father and my wife, as well as other
neighbors. 1 had to physically prevent the dog from biting my wife. These incidents caused me to learn the laws
applicable to awssive animals. After the owners moved away, the dog injured someone, leading to the dogs
destruction. Despite the dog's liggression towards others, the dog's owners loved it and considered it a gentle pet
fen° their son. The experience of being both a long-terra dog owner and a neighbor to an aggressive dog gives me a
unique perspective to bring to the dixision-making process required of the Special' Magistrate,
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• Began representing the Town of Callahan Iii 2003 to resolve numerous claims from prior administration's
misconduct
• Resolved proceedings instituted against the Town of Callahan by the Elorida Department irf Transportation for
utility relocation charges at a shaigra e saving,* over 1001 demands.
• Resolved administrative proceedings instituted against the Town of Callahan for misconduct by a grant.
administrator at a six.figure savings over the Department of Community Affair's demands.
. Resolved inverse condemnation and trespass litigation filed against the Town of Callahan resulting from retcntior
pond constructed illegally on private property for market value of property.
- On behalf of the Town of Hilliard, successfully resolved litigation between the Town and building contraccor ove
conversion of church if it (") n ew Town Hall.
• Served as lead negotiator for the Town or Baldwin on union contract with Teamsters.
• Obtained a dismissal with prejudice of a lawsuit filed ag;tirisr. the Town of Baldwin by a former employee when
prior litigation attorneys representing the Town were unsuccessful.
. Obtained a temporary injunction for the Town of Baldwin to stop the operation of an unauthorized bo-row pit
• Obtained a temporary injunction for the Town of Callahan to stop unpermitted construction.
. Successfully defended the Town of Callahan's denial of a site plan in certiorari proceedings.
• Obtained defense verdict for private corporation in code enforcement action in which he City of Jacksonville
sought over $400,000 In floes.
• Appealed denial of variance for private landowner via writ of certiorari and obtained agreed-upon resolution will
the City of Neptune Beach.
• Obtained multiple court orders authorizing the demolition or nuisance structures in code enforcement
proceedings.
AGENDA ITEM 10 SIB
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NOVEMBER 12,2013
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I I will use my years of municipal and quasi-judicial experience to conduct rock-solid code enforcemeot hearings
on dangerous dog cases. 1 understand dangerous dog cases involve cricitcal issues of public safety and draw out
strong emotions 2nd serious concerns on all sides. I will balance the Mterests of the City of Atlantic Beach, dog
owners, and neighbors to ensure fundirentol fairness for nil and du c pror.ess for the alleged violator.
I will develop writion guidelines said basic pr ocedures co provide advance notice to alleged violators, code
enforcement officers, witnesses, turd others about how hearings will be conducted to ensure fairness and
mlnirnize in-hearing disruptions and controversies. I will incorporate any similar guidelines curreotly In use by
Adantic Beach into our materials to insure continiuicy.
We will prepare agendas that include all cases set for hearing on a hearing day_ I anticpate the City Attornex or
a member of Atlantic Beach's administrative staff will present the cases to me for decision in accordance with
Fla. Stat. s. I 62.07(2). 'vVe, will reluire sworn testimony and will provide opportouldes for cross examination.
After hearings, I will prepare written findings of fat. conciusions of law, arid an order to effectliate all
decisiorts. 1 anticipate using court reporters to transcribe proceedings co meet the recording requirements of
Ha, Stat. s. 162.07(3) and to create effective records if decisions are appealed to the Circuit: Court
I will be the only attorney handling the special magistrate duties. I have practiced law since 1915 and am
licensed in Georgia and Florida, 1 was recently elected to the State Bar of Georgia Board of Governors. I
always pay careful attention to the public's budgetary concerns and routinely deliver services co government
clients under budget. I bring, a practical approach to my fires work. AS a special magistrate that means
conducting fair, transparent bowstrings, issuing prompt decisions that will withstand appeal, and T pet only
the minimum hours necessary to achieve those results,
My experience in municipal law, litigation, and quasi-judicial
proceedings will allow me to prepare, conduct hearings, and write
decisions efficiently. My goal is to use my expetience to perform th ,
job well while minimizing billable hours.
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Florida Bar, September 2000. Also admitted to U.S.D.C., Middle District of Florida and the Eleventh Circuit
Court of Appeals,
Georgia Bar, November 1995., Also admitted to Georgia Supreme Court: and Court of Appeals and US.D.C.,
Northern District of Georgia. Authorized by the State of Georgia to appear as sole or lead counsel at trials and
depositions.
Jeb T. Branham, Esq, Jacksonville Bath, Florida (1 /2002 — present). Sole practitioner or partner in small
firm front 2002 to 2010, practicing in commercial arid municipal law, emphasizing lgadon, both trial and appellate.
Representative matters include Town Attorney for Baldwin and Callahan. Florida, settling administrative law matter
with the State of Florida $500,000 under State's demand, litigating the fleet-wide failure of marine engines for Costa
Rican fishing lodge and stubsequent nation-wide class action. general counsel representation of national auto painting
franchisor, litigating easement rights between regional restaurant and land developer, and trademark registration foi
state and national stilling organizations.
McGuircWoods, Jacksonville, Florida (1/2000 - 12/2001). Commercial litigation department representing be
institutional and closely-held businesses in disputes from banking procedures to business torts. Representative
matters include litigation arising from the N ale of inuiti-million dollar companies, distributorship termination che flet
wide failure of marine engines, and — at trial and 1 l '' Circuit appellate level — the termination of physicians from at
insurance network. Responsible for all aspects of litigation including coordinating and drafting discovery, taking anti
defending depositions, and court appearances.
King & Spalding, Atlanta, Georgia (5/1998 - 1211999). Tort litigation team defending automobile and medical
device manufacturers and commercial litigation team defending Coca-Cola in Pepsico v Cvt o-Coid antitrust litigation.
Defended high exposure and nationwide litigation matters (both pending and potential), with extensive experience
addressing document production logistics and privilege issues. Start-to-finish case handling responsibility for Getter
Motors automotive products liability cases.
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Hawkins & Parnell, Atlanta, Ga (911995 -41998). Products liability defense for prescription
pharmaceuticals., medical devices, clothing and textiles, and industrial products. Broad range of litigation
experience representing insurers and insLireds in commercial dispietes and personal Injury defense. Start-to.
finish case handling and billing responsibility with extensive client contact. Developed and impletriented
document retention policy for International medical device inatitifacturer. Published opinion: Presto v, Sonde7
Pirarznoecio$kok Cotp,„ 226 Ga, App. 547, 487 S.E.2d 70 (1997).
• Elected to the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Georgia in 2013
• Member of Florida Bar (triernber of City, County, and Local Government Law Section and Business Law
Sectiori)
• Member of the State Bar of Georgia
9 M ember of the jacksonville Bar Association
University of Tennessee College of Law Ernary University
1<no)(vIlle, Tennessee Atlanta, Georgia
Jurls Doctor, cum Nude, May, 1995 B.A., English 1992
!loners arid Achievements'. Top [5% (yf law school class, dean's list all seniesters, University of lennessee
Law Review; Arn. Jur. awards in Cori Law 11 and Criminal Procedure. Merit scholarship from Southeastern
Bankruptcy Law histkute.
//
Born 1970, Knoxville, Tennessee. Married to Michelle for 12 years with one liv e.year old son. Civic activities
iriclude former Board Meniber for Frurn the Ground Up and Surfrider Foundation, First Coast Chapter. Mernbe
of and Sunday school teacher for Palms Presbyterian Church and served on the search comnintee for a new
pastor. Member of the legal corranittee of the Ocean Cayl-lorneowner's Assc)ciati(nt.
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The fee for my services is $175 per hour. This includes hearing time, time spent preparing hearing
materials, and time spent writing decisions and orders.
The only anticipated expenses are cowl reporter Fees. 1 anticipate using Powers Repotting for most
hearings.At my request, Powers Reporting has agreed to a flat-fee discounted rate of $75 for hearings.
Preparation of hearing transcripts will cost $4.50 per page, and copeis of transcripts will cost $2.00 per
page.Transcripts are likely to be prepared only when convicted violators appeal in such instances, the
violator must pay for the transcript. In many instances, the $75 flat fee will be the only fee incurred by
Atlantic 3each.
I can speak about the items described in this proposal. I may be reached it
3500 3rd Street South
Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250
(904) 339-0500
The Honorable Shirley Graham The Honorable Stn Totman
Mayor Town or Callahan Mayor, of Baldwin
Telephone: (904) 879-3801 Telephone: (904) 266-5031
Facsimile: (904) 879-6151 Facsimile: (904) 266-4220
mayor@townofcallahan-fl.gov Email: baldvvininayor@comcast.net
Lisa Purvis
Clerk,Town of Hilliard
Telephone: (904) 845-3555
Facsimile: (904) 845-1221
Email: IpurvisCOtownofhilliard.com
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