E X E C U T I V E
D I R E C T O R ’ S
M E S S A G E
J o h n F. K y n e s - H i l l s b o r o u g h C o u n t y B a r A s s o c i a t i o n
Continued from page 8
In a taped video interview conducted
by the Florida Holocaust Museum,
Weitzenkorn, now 89, recalled how, early
one morning, his father was forcibly taken
from their home by German soldiers,
loaded onto a railroad cattle car, and then
sent to the concentration camp located
in Dachau.
Ultimately, Weitzenkorn’s father was
able to escape from the camp and flee
Germany with his immediate family to the
United States.
Outstanding Lawyer Award Recipient Lanse Scriven
with Bill Schifino, Jr., who presented the award
FBI Special Agent Susana Mapu
with the Tampa Field Office discussed
current-day hate crimes in the region.
But Weitzenkorn, who attended the
luncheon with his family, spoke with emotion
in the video about losing 34 aunts, uncles
and cousins during Hitler’s reign of terror.
Later in the luncheon, FBI special agent
Susana Mapu, who works in the FBI’s
Tampa field office, talked about how
the agency handles civil rights and hate
crime investigations.
FBI agent Mapu also discussed two recent
cases dealing with hate crimes in the Tampa
Bay area.
One incident involved anti-Semitic
activities at a Tampa synagogue, and another
involved an interracial couple in New Port
Richey being threatened and terrorized by
white supremacists.
MAR - APR 2018
|
HCBA LAWYER
Also at the membership luncheon, Bill Schifino, Jr. announced
Lanse Scriven as the winner of the HCBA’s 2017 Outstanding
Lawyer Award.
The award recognizes someone who has made a significant
difference in the practice of law and the community due to the
individual’s personal and professional ethics and conduct.
In his introduction, Schifino cited Scriven’s many accomplishments
during his career. Scriven, a shareholder with Trenam Law and
member of its Commercial Litigation Group, was the first African-
American president of the HCBA (2005) and was president of the
George Edgecomb Bar Association. He also served on The Florida
Bar Board of Governors from 2009-17.
Schifino noted that Scriven has mentored many young lawyers over
the years, and that he has long history of service in the community,
including serving on the boards of Tampa General Hospital, Moffitt
Cancer Center Foundation, and the Innocence Project of Florida.
Schifino said what ultimately defines Scriven was not just his legal
ability, but his outstanding character.
“The world needs more Lanses,” Schifino said.
In accepting the award, a surprised Scriven said he was “deeply
moved” by receiving the honor and was grateful for the support of
his family, friends, and colleagues.
Meanwhile, Melissa Mora, president of the Young Lawyers
Division, announced two YLD annual awards.
The 2017 Robert W. Patton Outstanding Jurist Award went
to Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Ronald Ficarrotta.
And the 2017 YLD Outstanding Young Lawyer Award went to
Linda Anderson from Bay Area Legal Services.
Congratulations to all these outstanding award winners.
See you around the Chet.
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