In the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, it became clear that many new and unique legal issues would arise for Florida’s counties. Accordingly, FAC organized a group of county attorneys into the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Legal Task Force. The members of that group are as follows:
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Terrell Arline
County Attorney
Bay County
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Kristin Hual
Assistant County Attorney
Escambia County
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Mike Shuler
County Attorney
Franklin County
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Joni Armstrong-Coffey
Assistant County Attorney
Miami-Dade County
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Lynn Hoshihara
County Attorney
Walton County
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Greg Stewart
Assistant County Attorney
Wakulla County
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Heather Encinosa
County Attorney
Wakulla County
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Philip Mugavaro
Assistant County Attorney
Palm Beach County
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Herb Thiele
County Attorney
Leon County
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David Hallman
County Attorney
Nassau County
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David Pearce
Assistant County Attorney
Sarasota County
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Jeff Wright
Assistant County Attorney
Collier County
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The Task Force met for months via regularly-scheduled conference calls and has authored “chapters” of analysis to be used by the county family as a resource. The chapters are intended to provide the reader with a starting point to understand the legal issues at stake. The chapters are not intended, and do not address, the myriad of nuanced legal issues that will arise.
The authors of the chapters have been identified and contact information for each has been provided so that questions may be asked of them as needed. The chapters are listed below.
Finally, as those directly impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill can attest, the information contained in the chapters (particularly the one on claims) is date sensitive. Protocols and procedures have changed several times in the aftermath of the spill and may continue to do so.
The Oil Spill Legal Task Force will continue to meet and provide resources on county issues related to the oil spill.