the thirteenth JuDiciaL circuit 2018 pro Bono service awarD winners
Pro Bono Committee , Thirteenth Judicial Circuit
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Council , serving on the Board of Directors from 1995-1997 , as well as a member of FRANCO ( French-American Business Council of West Florida , Inc .), serving as secretary from 2007- 2009 . Ms . Smietanski is a member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association . She has also served as treasurer and as a member of the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers ’ Board of Directors from 1993- 1997 , and as secretary and as a member of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers ’ Board of Directors from 1993-1995 .
Ms . Smietanski is an advisory committee member for both the Community Foundation of Greater Tampa , Inc ., and the H . Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute , and is a member of the Planned Giving Committee for the Humane Society of Tampa Bay . Ms . Smietanski is an active member of St . Mary ’ s Episcopal Church and Day School , serving on its vestry and as treasurer from 2013-2015 . She is currently chair of the Board of Trustees for the St . Mary ’ s Episcopal Church Endowment Fund , a role that she has held since 2016 . St . Mary ’ s is dedicated to community service and is significantly involved in the various ministries of Metropolitan Ministries , which Ms . Smietanski has regularly participated in over the past several years .
Outstanding Pro Bono Service by a Lawyer : Jon Gatto
Carlton Fields shareholder Jon Gatto practices in the area of complex health care regulatory issues , with a focus on representing hospitals . He handles intricate litigation matters , including major government investigations , multimillion dollar contract litigation , sovereign immunity , and other related healthcare matters . Since 2011 , Mr . Gatto has given hundreds of hours of his time to the BAVLP and has undertaken 13 pro bono cases through the BAVLP , four of which are ongoing . In 2017 , Mr . Gatto provided 173 hours of pro bono legal services to the poor .
Mr . Gatto initially began volunteering with the BAVLP at Client Intake Clinics , where he interviewed and advised legal service applicants , and assessed the merit and priority of their various legal issues . Mr . Gatto interviewed a client whose circumstances he found to be so compelling that he volunteered to take the case ; thereafter , he began serving on BAVLP ’ s Case Referral Panel . Several of Mr . Gatto ’ s cases have had exigent circumstances that required zealous representation along with a holistic problemsolving approach . One such case involved a victim of a brutal assault who was being harassed with frivolous litigation by the perpetrator . The client became overwhelmed and unable to participate in the suit , and a default judgment was entered against her . Mr . Gatto litigated the matter in the trial court , successfully appealed an order denying his motion to set aside the default , and ultimately achieved a complete dismissal of the case .
Outside of the law , Mr . Gatto has donated his time to Paint Your Heart Out-Tampa , assisting low-income elderly citizens , and The Children ’ s Home , providing services to at-risk children and families . Both are innovative programs designed to create longterm positive impacts . Mr . Gatto demonstrates the same philosophy in his pro bono legal work , consistently demonstrating that his dedication to his pro bono clients goes beyond their immediate legal needs . Mr . Gatto reported that the most rewarding aspect of his pro bono work has been being able to put his pro bono clients in a better position than when he met them . He has sought out educational and professional opportunities for his clients , allowing them to better themselves in the midst of stressful circumstances . Equally as important , he provides his vulnerable clients with a sense of security . For instance , Mr . Gatto litigated a deficiency judgement for a working mother of seven who served as the caretaker for her disabled husband . When she expressed concern that the opposing party would continue to be a problem , Mr . Gatto made clear that he would represent her if any future issues arose . In another matter , he represented a single mother of two whose opposing party threatened to appeal . Mr . Gatto assured her that , if so , he would handle the appeal .
Outstanding Pro Bono Service by a Young Lawyer : Tori Simmons
Tori Simmons is a commercial litigator at Hill Ward Henderson , where she focuses her practice on business torts , contract disputes , intellectual property , class action litigation , and professional liability cases , including legal malpractice and officers and directors litigation . Since 2013 , when she began
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