14-07-2025
Sarasota-based Dickinson & Gibbons attorneys named Florida Super Lawyers
Sarasota-based Dickinson & Gibbons law partners Deborah J. Blue, Gary H. Larsen, and Jeffrey D. Peairs were recently named Super Lawyers and Jesse R. Butler was designated a Florida Rising Star by Thomson Reuters.
The rating service identifies lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections involve independent research by Super Lawyers and evaluations from a highly credentialed panel of attorneys.
Blue specializes in marital and family law cases involving equitable distribution, business valuation, alimony, child support, parental responsibility, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, paternity, and other related matters. This is her 18th year as a Florida Super Lawyer.
Larsen mediates in all areas of civil litigation, including medical malpractice, wrongful death, personal injury, probate, construction, business, professional malpractice, employment, real estate, product liability, and insurance coverage disputes. This is his 12th year as a Super Lawyer.
Peairs specializes in litigation matters, including personal injury, motor vehicle negligence, wrongful death, trucking and transportation, product liability, insurance coverage, and construction.
Butler, a member of the Florida Bar Board of Governors, focuses on cases involving legal malpractice, deceptive and unfair trade practices, consumer law, and general civil and business litigation.
A new charitable foundation to support individuals affected by HIV was founded on July 1 by Tampa-based CAN Community Health and honors Sarasota AIDS advocate Susan Terry, who founded Sarasota's first AIDS clinic in 1991.
"Susan Terry's name is synonymous with compassion,' said Rishi Patel, president and CEO of CAN Community Health. 'This Foundation honors her by helping patients overcome real-life obstacles, because true wellness means meeting people where they are, and being there when they need us.'
In the early 1990s, Terry joined Dr. Jeffrey Stahl to establish the Comprehensive Care Center dedicated to treating AIDS patients. It later became the Community AIDS Network, paving the way for CAN Community Health. Terry died in 2009.
'The Susan Terry Foundation launched to bring together individuals, corporations and foundations interested in helping to create a future where individuals living with HIV are celebrated for their resilience and empowered to achieve their dreams,' said Ray Carson, executive director of the foundation.
For more information, including how to get involved, visit or contact Carson at 813-300-6555 or info@
Goodwill Manasota recently received a three-year grant totaling $192,000 from United Way Suncoast in support of financial literacy training.
The funds will support operational costs related to Goodwill's GoodPartner Coach and Learning and Development programs. Over the next three years, Goodwill leaders expect to impact 1,400 people – a combination of employees and community members seeking assistance at Goodwill's Community Resource Centers/Job Connection sites in Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties.
'This funding cycle marks a major step forward in both equity and effectiveness,' United Way Suncoast CEO Jessica Muroff said. 'By focusing on sustained, multiyear investments, we're helping our partners build capacity, deliver measurable results, and better serve ALICE [Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed] families across the region.'
The Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller for Manatee County was recently honored by the Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers' Best Practices Excellence Program for the fifth consecutive year.
The Office of Angelina 'Angel' Colonneso was one of 33 out of 59 to earn recognition in all 10 program categories this year. The FCCC's Best Practices Program promotes guidance, legal consistency, and operational excellence through a series of self-assessments and peer-reviewed evaluations. ... July 21 is the deadline for small businesses and private nonprofits to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by Hurricane Debby in August 2024, the U.S. Small Business Administration said. ... Jolyn Taylor, Cody Pleszewski, Juan Casique, Kody Donato, Crystal Joguilon, Dana Musco and Christine Dinerstein have joined EXIT King Realty at 8728 E. State Road 70 in Bradenton. Buki Kodra has joined the independently owned and operated brokerage at 3900 Clark Road in Sarasota. .... Sarasota's Finest Home Watch has earned accreditation from the National Home Watch Association. Linda DeNiro, a retired Sarasota police detective, founded the business in 2022.
Compiled from news releases
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota-based Dickinson & Gibbons attorneys named Super Lawyers
