• Governmental marketing
• Legislation and policy drafting
• Issue monitoring and research
• Appropriations and procurement assistance
• Regulatory analysis and strategic planning
• Lobbying at federal, state and local levels

We represent private and public institutions and individuals before agencies like the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Board of Medicine, Department of Financial Services and  Florida Commission on Ethics in the following areas:

• Administrative
• Licensure
• Disciplinary proceedings
• Statutory and Regulatory
• Rule challenge proceedings
• Compliance audits
• Administrative appeals and reconsiderations
• Administrative reversals

RumbergerKirk’s experience teaching, representing, and advising the law enforcement community  and leaders provides us a unique and comprehensive skillset to allow us to handle the needs of local, county, and state law enforcement and corrections officials and agencies.  Our experience representing the Florida Police Chiefs Association provides invaluable insight for advising law enforcement executives on all types of issues impacting law enforcement agencies, including hiring, training, supervising, investigating, managing, and disciplining employees as well as complex community relations and political conflicts.

Police and Sheriff’s Departments and their employees face increasing challenges in the modern world. The existence of 24/7 media coverage and the proliferation of video cameras often place police conduct in the spotlight.  Amateur and professional anti-law enforcement instigators often create sensitive community relations issues that are difficult to manage and may result in life or death encounters between citizens and those sworn to protect them.  We are well-versed in all areas of law enforcement operations and management, and diligently represent our clients using comprehensive strategies to mitigate risk, reduce liability, and aggressively defend claims and lawsuits.

We assist law enforcement agencies in a variety of matters including:

• Defense of civil claims in state and federal court
• 42 U.S.C. §1983
• Claims arising under the United States Constitution, including but not limited to the First, Fourth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments
• Qualified immunity
• False Arrest/False Imprisonment
• Excessive Force/Battery
• Tort claims
• Pre-suit investigations
• Auto accident
• Negligent hiring/retention/supervision/training
• Negligence
• Sovereign immunity
• Civil appeals
• Critical incident review
• Law enforcement risk management analysis
• Use of force review and analysis
• Internal affairs consultation and training
• Police and Correctional Officer Bill of Rights
• Compliance review panel
• Law enforcement executive training
• Community relations
• Legal training
• Investigation of whistleblower and EEO complaints
• Human resources consultation and training
• Policy review, analysis, and training
• Public Records
• Sunshine law
• Marsy’s law
• Legislative affairs
• Consultation on the application of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act
• Collective bargaining agreements
• Union negotiations
• Grievances/Arbitrations
• Ethics complaints

• Combined experience of over 50 years defending law enforcement officers, managers, and agencies in administrative, state, and federal courts
• Successfully resolved law enforcement liability cases through motion to dismiss, summary judgment, mediation, and trial
• Successfully tried five officer fatal police shooting case to defense verdict in federal court
• Tried over 40 cases to jury verdict
• Completed complex internal whistleblower investigation alleging criminal and civil misconduct within a mid-sized police department
• Frequent presenters in the areas of public records, law enforcement liability risk reduction, internal affairs investigations, Police Officer Bill of Rights, and human resources issues related to law enforcement agencies
• Frequently work with boards, councils, commissions, and other forms of government to ensure effective communication and litigation while complying with Florida’s Sunshine Law
• Traffic homicide investigations
• Drafted and revised legislation related to law enforcement
• Former patrol officer and investigator – property, white collar, and violent crimes
• Former law enforcement instructor – general topics and firearms
• Former Assistant State Attorney, division chief, DUI special prosecutor, violent, and sex crimes prosecutor
• Former CALEA Accreditation Manager
• 2012 Mothers Against Drunk Driving (“MADD”) Florida Prosecutor of the Year
• Serve as Florida Police Chiefs Association general counsel
• Work with Florida Police Chiefs Association on legislative affairs
• Serve on Florida Police Chiefs Association’s legislative committee
• Member of Florida Association of Police Attorneys

Intimately familiar with Florida’s statutes governing elections, we represent federal and state election candidates of both parties, as well as non-profit public interest advocacy groups. We have been actively involved in several initiatives and former campaigns including:

• Select Task Force on Elections
• Select Task Force on Election Procedures Standards and Technology
• Collins Center for Public Policy
• Study Committee on Public Records
• Florida Energy and Climate Change Action Plan, as an Adaptation Technical Working Group Member
• Served as Florida General Counsel for President George H.W. Bush and Senator Bob Dole in their presidential campaigns
• Litigation counsel and election day counsel for President George W. Bush and Senator John McCain
• Advised the Florida Republican Party of Florida and elected officials on redistricting matters