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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2014-02 Appointment of Michele Aimee Vargas as the Local Hearing OfficerRESOLUTION NO. 2014-2 A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF KEY BISCAYNE, FLORIDA, RATIFYING THE VILLAGE MANAGER'S APPOINTMENT OF MICHELE AIMEE VARGAS AS THE LOCAL HEARING OFFICER AUTHORIZED TO CONDUCT HEARINGS RELATED TO A NOTICE OF VIOLATION ISSUED PURSUANT TO SECTION 316.0083, FLORIDA STATUTES AND SECTION 26-46 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE VILLAGE OF KEY BISCAYNE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the Village of Key Biscayne, Florida (the "Village") wishes to conduct hearings related to notices of violation that are issued pursuant to Section 316.0083, Florida Statutes, and Section 26-46 of the Village Code of Ordinances; and WHEREAS, in order to issue said notices of violation, the Village must appoint a Local Hearing Officer to conduct hearings related to those violations; and WHEREAS, the Village has determined that Michele Aimee Vargas has the requisite qualifications and experience to perform the duties of the Local Hearing Officer (see attached resume as Exhibit "A"); and WHEREAS, the Village Council has determined that it is in the best interests of the Village to ratify Michele Aimee Vargas as the Local Hearing Officer. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF KEY BISCAYNE, FLORIDA, AS FOLOWS: Section 1. Recitals Adopted. Each of the above stated recitals are hereby adopted, confirmed and incorporated herein. Section 2. Ratification. The Village Council hereby ratifies the appointment of Michele Aimee Vargas as the Local Hearing Officer Section 3. Effective Date. This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 14th day of January, ATTEST: 66/ 10/1°;cf" CONCHITA H. ALVAREZ, MMC, VILLAGE CLERK APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGAL SUFFICIENCY: VILLAGE ATTO c NE 2 AiveALL R FRANKLIN t APLAN Michele Aimee Vargas 504 Giralda Avenue; Coral Gables, FL 331341305.632.82291 aimee2102@msn corn BAR ADMISSIONS • Florida. • Southern and Middle Districts of Florida. • Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals EXPERIENCE Armor Correctional Health Services, Inc., Miami, Florida Associate General Counsel Aug 2012 — Sept 2013 Advise and report to the owner, CEO, and COO on all legal aspects of regulatory compliance, contractual matters (including negotiation, execution, revocation, and amendments), medical/nursing licensing, and reporting of professional violations Oversee litigation strategy and defense in complex medical malpractice and commercial litigation claims and lawsuits. Draft proposals to RFPs, hire and manage outside appellate counsel, respond to media inquires, draft and implement companywide document retention policy, and recover multimillion -dollar account receivables. Head Armor's regulatory compliance in FL, NY, GA, VA, and OK, including Medicaid, Medicare, ADA, EEOC, FMLA, HIPAA, DEA, PPACA, HITECH, PREA, and review of other federal or state law or municipal ordinance. Carlton Fields, Miami, Florida Senior Litigation Associate Mar 2008 — July 2012 Primary practice• insurance defense involving multi -million dollar claims under CGL, PL, homeowners, life, health, and AD&D policies. Secondary practice: business litigation with an emphasis on commercial and residential foreclosures. • Draft pre-trial pleadings and motions. • Draft coverage and reservation of rights letters. • Conduct discovery, including fact witness depositions and oversee production of ESI discovery • Draft trial motions: in limine, Daubert motions, bench briefs, and special jury instructions • Successfully argue motions in federal and state court. • Routinely settle multi -million dollar claims for under $50,000. • Participate in trial team involving $110 million claim for coverage in federal court. Adorno & Yoss, LLP, Miami, Florida Associate Nov. 2005 — Mar. 2008 Primary practice: pharmaceutical, products liability, tobacco, benzene, asbestos, and insurance defense. Secondary practice: commercial litigation and appeals. • Draft and argue pre-trial and dispositive motions. • Conduct discovery, including fact and expert witness depositions • Obtained dismissal of several Celebrex and Bextra lawsuits against Pfizer in multiple states • Settled multi -million dollar pharmaceutical case and commercial litigation cases. • Prepare expert witnesses for depositions and trial. • Draft appellate briefs, trial motions, and jury instructions. • Draft direct and cross-examination of fact and expert witnesses. • Participate and argue in multi -million dollar pharmaceutical defense trial team m federal court. • Participate in multi -million dollar asbestos defense trial team in state court • Participate in bad faith defense trial team in federal court Law Offices of Wolpe, Leibowitz, Miami, Florida Associate Insurance defense, commercial litigation, and medical malpractice defense. • Legal research. • Draft pre-trial and dispositive motions. • Conduct discovery, including fact and expert witness depositions. • Argue discovery and dispositive motions. • Draft mediation statements. Law Offices of J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo, Miami, Florida Associate Insurance, premises liability, personal injury, wrongful death, and products liability. May 2004 — Nov. 2005 Sept 2003 — May 2004 " Draft and argue discovery and dispositive motions. " Conduct discovery, including fact witness depositions " Settle cases. ASSOCIATIONS, PRO BONO, AWARDS, & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS " Lawyers fbr Children America: pro bono representation of abused and abandoned children in dependency court. " Hispanic. National Bar Association (HNBA): Florida Regional Deputy President of External Affairs, responsible for vetting of judicial candidates (state, appellate, and federal district courts) in Miami -Dade County seeking HNBA endorsement; Human Trafficking Task Force Director. " HNBA Chair/Speaker at March 2011 Immigration Symposium on Arizona SB 1090 and similar legislation in other states " HNBA Co -supervisor of FIU and STU law school students participating in 2011 clearing house project involving research and analysis of current immigration legislation introduced at the state level. " HNBA Chair/Speaker at January 2012 and 2013 Human Trafficking Conferences. " 2013 IINBA First Annual Bra Drive Chair. " Guest Speaker, NBC 6 South Florida Morning Show. " Nominated for HNBA "Rising Star" award. " Congressional Hispanic Caucus: speaker at the 2011 "Ready to Lead" project in Miami. " Carlton Fields, recipient of the 2010 and 2011 pro bono award for approximately 200 hours of volunteer work. " Nominated for South Florida Business Journal "40 Under 40" 2012 Award. DECISIONS & PUBLICATIONS " Lori Jo Bailey v. Johnson & Johnson, Inc et. al. (1 lth Cir. 2008). " Co-authored, "Vioxx: Setting the Standard for Future Mass Tort Litigation and Settlements," DRI Products Liability Conference, part of "What's Hot in Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Litigation (March 2008) " Author of chapter on Florida domestic partnership agreements for the Florida Equality Project EDUCATION St. Thomas University School of Law, Miami, FL Juris Doctor May 2003 Honors. Dean's List: Fall 2000, Fall 2001, Spring 2002 & Fall 2002; Academic Scholarship Recipient 2001  2003; Book Award: Environmental Law, Fall 2002. Clerkship: Honorable Gisella Cardonne, Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Summer 2001 St. Thomas University, Miami, FL Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude May 2000 Double Major: Political Science & Psychology. Honors: Dean's Scholarship Recipient, 1996  2000; Honors Program Graduate; Outstanding Achievement Award in Political Science, Spring 2000. LANGUAGE Fluent in Spanish.