Loan Me Fifty Dollars (So I Can Have a Brooklyn Bagel)!

This story represents a near perfect storm of what I love about South Florida.

Let us count the ways:

(1)  A lawsuit;
(2)  Over alleged "Brooklyn water" bagels;
(3)  Involving Bob Zarco; and
(4)  Larry King.

Let's start with the "Brooklyn bagel" concept:

Since launching its flagship restaurant in Delray Beach in August 2009, The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. has expanded to 14 other locations in three states. With the slogan "It's all about the water," the company touts on its website how a 14-step "proprietary water treatment" system allows it to replicate the water that flows from upstate New York reservoirs to Brooklyn faucets without having to be filtered.

Seriously?

Let's assume the company's claims are true and there is some magical way to recreate New York tap water.

Why??

Get over it -- listen, you haven't lived in New York for more than 30 years, Namath no longer plays for the Jets, and buying a bagel at a strip mall in Boca will just never be the same as picking up a bagel and schmear at Zabar's like you used to when you were fourteen.

Deal with it.

Have you ever considered your mythical attraction to New York bagels and pizza reflects more of a yearning for your lost, innocent youth then it does some objective measure of which tap water ingredient indisputably makes for the best bagel?

Just go to Bagel Bar East or Deli Lane, complain like everyone else,  and be content you wake up every day happy, healthy and hungry.

Then there's this:

Former CNN talk show host Larry King signed on to be a company spokesman and do franchise development in Southern California.

Oy!

This isn't a red flag?

Finally, there is this:

"The water filtration system is not unique and does not render water equivalent to Brooklyn water," said Robert Zarco, an attorney representing Andrew Greenbaum, who bought franchise rights for the restaurant in Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. "You want Brooklyn water, go to Brooklyn. You want a Brooklyn bagel, go to Brooklyn."

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/10/2686908/lawsuit-bagel-companys-brooklynized.html#storylink=cpy

No kidding, Bob!

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/10/2686908/lawsuit-bagel-companys-brooklynized.html#storylink=cpy

"Earth Times" Announces Something About Former Judge Jorge Perez!

Listen, I'm happy to see former Judge Jorge Perez joining up with a fine shop like Gordon Rees, but maybe their PR people could find a better spot for the announcement than something called "Earth Times":

Former Circuit Court Judge Jorge J. Perez, an attorney with extensive litigation and creditors’ rights experience in state, federal and administrative courts, has joined the Miami office of Gordon & Rees LLP as a partner. Perez will chair the firm’s Receivership Group.

"Joining Gordon & Rees is an important opportunity for me to bring the benefits of the firm's national platform to my clients," Perez said. "I am excited to be part of the expansion of the Miami office and I look forward to helping to grow the firm's services throughout the Southeast."

Robert M. Mayer, managing partner of Gordon & Rees’s Miami office which opened in December 2009 said, “Having spent my entire career practicing in Florida, I am very familiar with former Judge Perez’s impressive credentials. Jorge is a remarkable attorney and model for others to follow. I am both delighted to welcome him as a colleague and honored that he has chosen Gordon & Rees.”

Perez was appointed to the Bench in May 2003 by Governor Jeb Bush. After presiding overly nearly 100 Jury and Bench trials to verdict or ruling, he retired from the Bench in 2007 to join the Miami law firm of Tew Cardenas where he developed a substantial practice serving as a receiver in numerous matters.

Actually, Earth Times is kinda interesting.

Here's a story on Jack Nicholson's tribute to Dennis Hopper, and here's something about Jessica Biel wanting to live on a boat.

Ok, how do I get profiled in Earth Times?

Love Song For Kim Rothstein

Let's see -- is there any non-Scott Rothstein-related news we can talk about?

I'm a little pissed Scott hasn't wrote in yet -- you're "in hiding" at the Capital Grille but you can't send a short note to a humble blogger and loyal fan?

(Note -- I'm mostly a fan of the family).

Hmm, how about this --

Did you all know that Bob Mayer is opening up a Miami office for San Francisco-based Gordon & Rees:

Robert Mayer has been practicing law in Florida for more than 25 years, serving the litigation and transactional needs of global corporations such as Cartier, Chevron, Citgo, CROSSMARK, Gucci, Ralph Lauren/Polo and Texaco, as well as numerous other national and regional companies. He has handled more than 150 litigated matters in state and federal courts involving complex commercial litigation, employment law, intellectual property, environmental torts, and financial fraud claims. He previously served as general counsel to a local hospital, is currently a life-time board member of the National Kidney Foundation of Florida, and has an almost unique distinction of being a 9th generation Floridian and a 4th generation Miamian.

"Joining Gordon & Rees is an exciting opportunity for me to open the office of a national firm and grow it into a strategic regional hub. Gordon & Rees is a perfect fit for my clients because it has a unique reputation as a well run, fiscally conservative law firm that delivers impressive results at a very reasonable price. This is exactly what clients want, particularly in today's challenging economic environment. I look forward to being able to offer the firm's extensive national services to my clients and to significantly expand the firm's legal services in the Florida market." Robert M. Mayer, Managing Partner, Miami office.

Bob, congrats.

As long as your managing partner doesn't bury himself in an elaborate compound at the bottom of an island Volcano and speak to you only through a pneumatic tube messaging service, you should do fine.

BTW, here's a song about a different Kim but it sums up where my head is at: