2009-27263 ResoRESOLUTION NO. 2009-27263
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING AND APPOINTING,
PURSUANT TO SECTION 102-356 OF THE CITY CODE, CHIEF
SPECIAL MASTER ABRAHAM LAESER (APPOINTED CHIEF SPECIAL
MASTER PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NO. 2009-27264 ) AS THE
"CITY MANAGER'S DESIGNEE" AS DEFINED UNDER SECTION 102-
356 OF THE CITY CODE; SAID DESIGNATION COMMENCING WITH
CHIEF SPECIAL MASTER LAESER'S TERM AS CHIEF SPECIAL
MASTER ON DECEMBER 9, 2009, AND ENDING ON MARCH 4, 2010.
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Section 30-36 of the Code of the City of Miami
Beach, upon prior recommendation of the City Manager, the City Commission, by a
majority vote, may appoint a Chief Special Master who shall be authorized to Bold
hearings and impose fines, liens, and other non-criminal penalties against violations of
City Ordinances; and ~
WHEREAS, at its regular meeting on December 9, 2009, the Mayor and City
Commission adopted Resolution No. 2009-27264 ,appointing Abraham Laeser,
Esq. as Chief Special Master, effective December 9, 2009 and continuing through the
remainder of the term which commenced on September 5, 2009, and which ends on
March 4, 2010; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 102-356, the City Manager may also approve a
"designee," who shall be authorized to hear appeals from citations for violations of City
and County Codes and Ordinances and to conduct hearings regarding denials,
suspensions and revocations of occupational licenses, certificates of use and permits,
as provided by the City Code, and who shall also be authorized to appoint such other
Special Masters as may reasonably be required to conduct such hearings pursuant to
City Ordinances; and
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WHEREAS, accordingly, the City Manager hereby recommends Chief Special
Master Abraham Laeser to serve as the City Manager's "designee," effective December
9, 2009 and continuing through the remainder of the six (6) month term which
commenced on September 5, 2009, and which ends on March 4, 2010; and
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WHEREAS, Chief Special Master Laeser (including, as in the instant Resolution,
where the Chief Special Master is acting in his capacity as the City Manager's
"designee" under Section 102-356 of the City Code) shall be prohibited from engaging
in practice where he represents a client in a manner adverse to the interests of the City
of Miami Beach, and shall further be .prohibited from lobbying the City during his service
with the City.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND
CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and
City Commission hereby approve and appoint, pursuant to Section 102-356 of the City
Code, Abraham Laeser, Esq. (Chief Special Master appointed pursuant to Resolution
No. 2009-27264 ), as the City Manager's "designee" under Section 102-356 of the
City Code; said designation to be effective December 9, 2009 and ending on March 4,
2010.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 9th day of December, 2009.
ATTEST:
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CITY CLERK
Robert Parcher
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M YOR
Matti Herrera Bower
T:\AGENDA\20091December 9\ConsentWbrahamLaeserspecial master -Chapter 102 Reso.doc
APPROVED AS TO i
FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION j
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ABRAHAM LAESER
Address: 1525 Daytonia Road
Miami Beach, Florida
Phone: 305.725.5505
33141-1730
E-mail: abe@laeser.us
Employment Private Practice and Consultant (since May of 2009)
& Duties:
Senior Trial Counsel, Assistant State Attorney (May 1973-April 2009 /retired).
Prosecution of capital felonies, with emphasis on high profile cases, homicides of
police officers, and multi-murder defendants. Over thirty-five [35] years of active
trial litigation, including nine (9] years as Chief Assistant of all Major Crimes /
homicide prosecutors.
Honors: 1999 William S. Scurr Award for career dedication to prosecution,
presented by State Attorney's Office, Eleventh Judicial Circuit
1996 Eugene Berry Award for Exemplary Career Service,
presented by the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association.
1996 and 2003 Distinguished Faculty Award,
presented by the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association.
Legal: Florida Bar 'Board Certified' in Criminal Trial Law, [1993-present].
Florida Bar Criminal Law Section Executive Council, (1981-present].
Chairman (1986-1987].
Criminal Rules Committee of Florida Supreme Court, (1979-present].
Chairman [1982-1983].
Florida Bar Capital Cases Committee, [1987-present].
Chairman [1991-1992].
Criminal Jury Instructions Committee of Florida Supreme Court [1995-2002].
International Association of Prosecutors, [2002-present].
Teaching: Adjunct Professor in Trial Advocacy, University of Miami, [1997-present].
Team leader and instructor in advanced and intermediate trial advocacy skills
courses at numerous law schools, and National Institute of Trial Advocacy courses.
In-house instructor in trial techniques, substantive criminal law, and criminal
procedure.
Instructor for advanced level attorney courses at the National Advocacy Center,
courses in Florida, over twenty states, and in Oxford, England, since -1979.
Lecturer for numerous on-going prosecutor, criminal defense, and expert witness
courses on evidence, procedure, advocacy skills, and litigation techniques.
Author; "Use of Visual Evidence In Direct Examination" in, Analytical Trial Advocacy
"Prosecuting the Police" in, The Practica/ Prosecutor (2005])
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,education: B.A. in History, 1969, Christian Brothers College
Juris Doctor, 1973, University of Miami
National Institute of Trial Advocacy Trial Teaching courses at University of
California at Berkeley in 1983, and at Harvard University in 1988.
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Law Office
MARIO P. GODJCRICH, P.A.
Gables International Plaza
2655 S. LeJeune Road, PH1-G
Coral Gables, FL 33134
Telephone (305) 374-0650 x.6602
Telefax (305) 374-4933
November 30, 2009
Mr. Jose Smith
City Attorney
City of Miami Beach
1700 Convention Center Dr
Miami Beach, FL 33139-1824
Dear Jose,
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As per our conversation on Monday I hereby tender my resignation in writing as Chief
Master of the City of Miami Beach.
Best regards,
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Mario P. Goderich
cc: Jorge Gonzalez, City Manager