Q. Please describe your current law practice.
I am an honors graduate of Boston University School of Law. I started my career at a national law firm and then joined my current firm - Garbett, Allen & Roza, P.A. - where I subsequently became a partner.
I practice in the area of fraud, commercial, banking, business and privacy litigation as well as government representation. My litigation experience includes representing fraud victims in disputes involving fraud (e.g., check kiting, Ponzi schemes, wire fraud, check fraud, lending fraud, tax fraud, asset tracing, and fraudulent transfers and restructuring), regulatory and sanctions compliance, privacy issues, contracts, corporate issues, real estate, the Uniform Commercial Code (especially articles governing negotiable instruments, bank deposits and collections, funds transfers, secured transactions, and letters of credit), banking, insurance, class actions, and business torts (e.g., defamation, invasion of privacy, tortious interference, malicious prosecution, and fraudulent and negligent misrepresentation).
My governmental experience includes advising local, State, federal, and foreign governments in issues ranging from eminent domain, procedure, investigations, employment law, and treaty implementation as well as representing governments in litigation.
Q. Why do you seek to serve our community as a Circuit Judge?
I have had the good fortune of meeting with many attorneys, across practice areas, during and before my campaign. I am convinced that there is a consensus within our community regarding what we desire in our judiciary. Competence and intelligence are JUST the baseline. With today’s ever increasing caseloads and ever decreasing funding, we need more judges who will also be present, thoughtful, and ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work. We need more judges who will arrive to chambers early and leave late because that is what the job requires. We need more judges before whom you can appear with 100% confidence that he or she has read all materials before the court. I desire to serve our community through our Circuit Court because I will bring to the bench change that we seek.
Q. What about your experience qualifies you for the position?
First, the breadth of my experience will be directly applicable to the needs of the largest divisions of our Circuit Court. Of the 30,963 Circuit Civil case dispositions in 2017, for example, 69% involved contracts and indebtedness, real property, or business disputes. Of the 14,230 Circuit Criminal dispositions during the same period, the single largest category of cases involved theft, forgery, fraud, or worthless checks. I have substantial legal experience involving these subject matters.
Second, my experience is easily verifiable. I believe that actions speak louder than words and encourage voters to review my Westlaw Litigation History Report, available here.
Q. What's your biggest achievement so far?
My family. My wife Fernanda and I have been married for over 17 years (and I without question married up). We also recently welcomed into the world our first child.
In practice, I am proud to have successfully represented, on a pro bono basis, a church in an impoverished community in foreclosure litigation.
Q. What would a successful term look like for you?
Within the first few months of my term I hope to develop the reputation as a hardworking judge who knows the law, who reads (and thinks about) all submitted materials, and who will not be swayed by smoke-and-mirror tactics.
Q. What is the most important issue facing the Miami circuit court at the moment?
High judicial caseloads hinder both judicial accessibility and accuracy of rulings. No one should have to choose between scheduling a five-minute calendar hearing in a few weeks or waiting months for a 15-minute hearing. No one should have to wonder before going to a hearing whether the judge has read the materials and will be prepared to thoughtfully rule.
We need more judges who will put in the judicial labor that the job requires. In practice, I value accurate case and record citations and intellectually honest presentations of the law and facts. I will bring these values to the bench. I will put in the judicial labor (early mornings, late nights, weekends) to read (and think about) all materials before the Court and to make myself accessible for hearings because that is what the job requires.
Q. Please describe honors you have received and pro bono and volunteer work you have done.
Honors:
Identified as Rising Star, Florida Super Lawyers (recognition given to up to 2.5% of Florida lawyers)
Cystic Fibrosis Foundations 40 Outstanding Lawyers Under 40
Pro bono / Volunteer Activities:
Member, Advisory Board, No More Tears USA
Member, Volunteer Lawyers Project, United States District Court, Southern District of Florida
Volunteer Judge, Legal Eagle Closing Argument Competition
Volunteer, Miami Children’s Initiative
Volunteer, Children of Inmates
Volunteer, 100 Black Men of South Florida
Volunteer, Coconut Grove Legal Clinic
Volunteer, Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Complex Legal Clinic
Volunteer, National Black College Alliance
Multiple pro bono cases.
