A federal court blocked efforts by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to quash state court subpoenas issued on three Florida state government employees. Creed & Gowdy argued that HHS had promulgated an invalid regulation and had unlawfully granted itself the power to block such subpoenas contrary to congressional intent. The federal court agreed in its written order. See the order here. Creed & Gowdy was providing trial support to trial counsel, Abbott Law Group, P.A. and Powell, Powell, & Powell, in a case set to go to trial on July 22, 2013 in state court in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. The federal order will allow trial counsel to subpoena the three state employees to testify at trial.    

Bryan Gowdy, on behalf of the Florida Justice Association (FJA), submitted an amicus curiae brief in support of a patient in a medical malpractice arbitration case of Franks v. Bowers. The amicus brief supported the patient's claim that the form arbitration agreement drafted by his medical provider was void for public policy because it capped the amount of damages below those authorized by the Legislature in the Medical Malpractice Act. The Supreme Court of Florida agreed with the patient and the FJA. Franks v. Bowers, -- So. 3d - (Fla. 2013), 2013 WL 3064807 at *1. 

Bryan Gowdy will speak on The Law on Testimony by Medical Billing and Coding Experts Regarding Reasonable and Necessary Medical Expenses; How to Deal With the Billing, Coding and Documentation Expert on June 12, 2013 during the Florida Justice Association's Annual Conference in St. Pete Beach, Florida.  Bryan's presentation will be part of the FJA's Perfecting Your Competitive Edge: Advanced Trial Skills for Top Litigators Seminar.

Jessie Harrell and Rebecca Creed were publically thanked by Chair Jack Reiter  for their service to the Appellate Practice Section of The Florida Bar in the most recent Florida Bar Journal. Harrell chaired the CLE committee and coordinated four day-long programs. Creed served as editor of "The Guide" and contributed to various publications throughout the year. 

The 2013 Florida Super Lawyers publication listed Bryan Gowdy in the Top 100 Florida Super Lawyers and Top Appellate Practice section; Rebecca Creed, Top  Appellate Practice; and Jessie Harrell, Rising Star in Appellate Practice.  Each year, Super Lawyers recognizes the top lawyers in Florida.  Attorneys are selected by peer nominations and evaluations, as well as  third-party research. For more information on Florida Super Lawyers, click here.