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Robert Rivas is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Though he is certified by the Florida Bar as an expert in appeals, he also has 22 years of experience in trial courts, litigating cutting-edge constitutional issues and complex commercial cases.
A former newspaper reporter and editor, his writing is exceptional, and, unlike that of most lawyers, never sounds like legalese except when it must. He has vast experience in actions for defamation (libel and slander), and in cases pertaining to the right to death with dignity.
As the chair of the appellate practice group at the Palm Beach County-based law firm Sachs Sax Caplan, P.L., working out of its Tallahassee office, Mr. Rivas conducts appellate proceedings on behalf of both appellants and appellees, petitioners and respondents, filing and opposing direct appeals and petitions for writs of certiorari, prohibition and mandamus in state and federal courts in Florida and across the country. He won a case in the Supreme Court of Georgia in 2012, and in 2013 he was conducting appeals in the Court of Appeals of Minnesota and the Supreme Court of Minnesota.
| Robert Rivas: | Member at The Sachs Sax Caplan, P.L. |
 |
660 E Jefferson St Ste 202 Tallahassee, FL 323012547 |
| Website: | www.ssclawfirm.com |
| Offices: |
Sachs Sax Caplan, P.L.
|
I conduct all types of appeals in state and federal courts
I conduct all types of constitutional litigation and appeals in state and federal courts
I conduct civil trial litigation and appeals in all types of commercial matters.
This category overlaps with almost all the others.
I defend lawsuits for libel and slander, and appeals from such cases.
This category overlaps with constitutional law and appeals.
This category overlaps with constitutional law and libel/slander.
| Association name | Position name | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| American Bar Association | Attorney Member | N/A |
| Palm Beach County Bar Association | Attorney Member | N/A |
| American Bar Association | Attorney Member | 1991 - 1900 |
| Palm Beach County Bar Association | Attorney Member | 1991 - 1900 |
| American Bar Association | Attorney Member | N/A |
| Palm Beach County Bar Association | Attorney Member | N/A |
| ABA Media Law Committee | Member | N/A |
| ABA Media Law Committee | Member | N/A |
| ABA Media Law Committee | Member | 1994 - 1900 |
| Libel Defense Resource Center, Defense Counsel Section | Attorney Member | 1996 - 2002 |
| Florida Bar Foundation | Lifetime Member | 1997 - 1900 |
| Florida Bar Foundation | Lifetime Member | N/A |
| Florida Bar Foundation | Lifetime Member | N/A |
| Tallahassee Bar Association | Member | 2000 - 2012 |
| Media Law Resource Center, Defense Counsel Section | Attorney Member | 2002 - 2011 |
| Award name | Grantor | Date granted |
|---|---|---|
| AV Rated Since 1997 | Martindale-Hubbell | 2013 |
| Board Certified - Appellate Practice | Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education | 2010 |
| Hall of Fame | Independent Florida Alligator | 1999 |
| President's Pro Bono Service Award | Florida Bar | 1998 |
| Class 16 | Leadership Florida | 1998 |
| Valedictory score on Bar Exam, 4th District | Florida Bar | 1991 |
| Summa Cum Laude | Nova Law School | 1991 |
| School name | Degree | Graduated |
|---|---|---|
| University of Florida | BA - Bachelor of Arts | 1979 |
| University of Florida | BA - Bachelor of Arts | 1979 |
| Nova Southeastern University - Shepard Broad Law Center | JD - Juris Doctor | 1991 |
| Nova Southeastern University - Shepard Broad Law Center | JD - Juris Doctor | 1991 |
| Case name | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Acquadro v. Bergeron, 778 So. 2d 1034 (Fla. 4th DCA 2001), rev. granted, 797 So. 2d 584, affirmed, 851 So. 2d 665 (Fla. 2003) | We won |
| Advantage General Ins. Co., Ltd. v. KILN/QBE Intern., 8 So. 3d 1213 (Fla. 4th DCA 2009) | We won and made new law |
| Advisory Opinion to the Governor re: Appointment or Election of Judges, 983 So. 2d 526 (Fla. 2008) | We won |
| Borges v. City of West Palm Beach, 858 F. Supp. 174 (S. D. Fla. 1993) (1993 WL 723406) | We won |
| Fabel v. Masterson, 951 So. 2d 934 (Fla. 4th DCA 2007) | We won |
| Final Exit Network, Inc. v. Georgia, 290 Ga. 508, 722 S.E.2d 722 (2012) | We won |
| Florida Youth Conservation Corps, Inc. v. Stutler, 2006 WL 1835967, 2006 Lexis 44732 (N.D. Fla. June 30, 2006) | We won |
| Integrated Med. Svcs. v. Lower Florida Keys Health System, Inc., 6 Fla. Law Weekly Supp. 279 (Fla. 16th Cir. 1999) | We won |
| Mayersdorf v. Paramount Boynton, L.L.C., 910 So. 2d 887 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005) | We won |
| McIver v. Krischer, 65 U.S.L.W. 2544, 1997 WL 225878 (Fla. Cir. Ct. Jan. 31, 1997), rev’d, 697 So. 2d 97 (Fla. 1997) | We won at trial and lost on appeal |
| Memorial Hospital-West Volusia, Inc. v. News Journal Corp., 784 So. 2d 438 (Fla. 2001) | We won |
| Metlis v. Rhodes, 26 Media Law Rptr. 1697, 5 Fla. Law Weekly Supp. 402 (Fla. 15th Cir. Feb. 24, 1998) | We won |
| Metlis v. Rhodes, 28 Media Law Rptr. 1990 (Fla. 15th Cir. April 7, 2000) | We won |
| Palm Beach County Health Care Dist. v. Professional Medical Educ., Inc., 13 So. 3d 1090 (Fla. 4th DCA 2009) | We won |
| State v. Lehyan, 6 Fla. Law Weekly Supp. 356 (Fla. Palm Beach County Court 1999) | We won |
| United Teachers of Dade v. Stierheim, 213 F. Supp. 2d 1368 (S.D. Fla. 2002) (Ungaro-Benages, J.) | We won |
| WFTV, Inc., d/b/a Palm Beach Newspapers, Inc. v. Florida Municipal Power Agency, 7 Fla. Law Weekly Supp. 187 (Fla. 2d Cir. 1999) | We won |
| State | Number | Status | Acquired | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FL | 896969 | Member in Good Standing | 1991 | 04/25/2019 |
| Publication name | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| The Florida Bar Journal | WHEN IS A ‘PRIVATE’ DOCUMENT A PUBLIC RECORD?, 67 Fla. Bar Journal 52 (Dec.1993) | 1993 |
| Nova Law Review | Rivas, ACCESS TO ‘PRIVATE’ DOCUMENTS UNDER THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT, 16 Nova Law Rev. 1229 (1992) | 1992 |
| The Florida Bar Journal | Rivas, PROBATE OF A LOST WILL IN FLORIDA, 65 Fla. Bar Journal 44 (Oct. 1991) | 1991 |
| Nova Law Review | Rivas, A PROPOSAL TO FIX FLORIDA’S BROKEN SYSTEM OF POST-CONVICTION RELIEF FROM ILLEGAL SENTENCES, 14 Nova Law Rev. 1147 (1990) | 1990 |
| Conference name | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| on the First Amendment and the Right to Death With Dignity | Too many to list, I often speak to groups and in the media | 2013 |
| 21st Annual Local Government Law in Florida Seminar | CLE, “Public Records and Government in the Sunshine Laws: Media Perspective, Developing Case Law and Legislative Update" | 1998 |
| University of Miami Law School health law class | Guest Lecturer on Law and Ethics of Physician Aid in Dying | 1997 |
| Nova University Law Center’s Health Law Class | Guest Lecturer on Law and Ethics of Physician Aid in Dying | 1997 |
| Florida Freedom of Information Summit, Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, University of Florida | Open Government Laws | 1997 |
| Public Interest Law Association | Panelist on the effect of O.J. Simpson trial on media and trial coverage issues | 1995 |
| Title | Company name | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Staff Writer | The Miami Herald | 1979 - 1983 |
| Staff Writer | The Miami Herald | 1979 - 1983 |
| Volunteer | Peace Corps | 1983 - 1984 |
| Volunteer | Peace Corps | 1983 - 1984 |
| Foreign Editor | Caribbean Business | 1984 - 1984 |
| Foreign Editor | Caribbean Business | 1984 - 1984 |
| Deputy Metro Editor | The Palm Beach Post | 1985 - 1988 |
| Freelance writer | Central America and the Caribbean | 1985 - 1985 |
| Deputy Metro Editor | The Palm Beach Post | 1985 - 1988 |
| Freelance writer | Central America and the Caribbean | 1985 - 1985 |
| Summer Clerk | Florida Fourth District Court Of Appeal | 1989 - 1989 |
| Summer Clerk | Florida Fourth District Court Of Appeal | 1989 - 1989 |
| Associate | Foley & Lardner, LLP | 1991 - 1993 |
| Associate | Foley & Lardner, LLP | 1991 - 1993 |
| Associate | Holland & Knight | 1993 - 1996 |
| Associate | Holland & Knight | 1993 - 1996 |
| Principal | The Rivas Law Firm | 1996 - 2004 |
| Principal | The Rivas Law Firm | 1996 - 2004 |
| Partner | Sachs Sax Caplan, P.L. | 2004 - 1900 |
| Partner | Sachs Sax Caplan, P.L. | N/A |
| Partner | Sachs Sax Caplan, P.L. | N/A |
| General Counsel | Final Exit Network, Inc. | 2007 - 1900 |
| General Counsel | Final Exit Network, Inc. | N/A |
| General Counsel | Final Exit Network, Inc. | N/A |
