ORLANDO, June 24, 2005 - The law firm of James, Hoyer, Newcomer & Smiljanich PA was honored today at the annual meeting of the Florida Bar for its work on behalf of 40,000 Florida nursing home residents.

Calling the case “the most important public benefits case in the state last year,” Elder Law Section Chairman Scott Solkoff praised the law firm for its “dedication and significant contributions to the sickest and the most elderly individuals in the State of Florida.”

John Yanchunis

The class-action lawsuit, filed in 2003 on behalf of 86-year-old Sarasota nursing home resident Helen Shumaker, challenged Florida to follow federal law in calculating Medicaid benefits for nursing home residents. State officials had previously admitted Florida was the only U.S. state that failed to give the required allowances to seniors who took out supplemental nursing home coverage.

In granting the award, the Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar noted that the lawsuit “resulted in a policy change, a permanent statutory change and an additional $52-million of funding for Medicaid recipients.”

James, Hoyer partner John Yanchunis, who litigated the case along with partner Jill Bowman, said that the case “summed up what is important to me about being a lawyer.”

Jill Bowman

“It’s giving a voice to those who are silent, and ensuring fair treatment for the powerless,” Yanchunis. “This case was a natural outgrowth of the work we do every day on behalf of Florida’s elderly and vulnerable citizenry.”

James, Hoyer, Newcomer & Smiljanich PA has offices in Tampa and Tallahassee. Its nationwide practice focuses on consumer and investor fraud, product liability and whistle blower cases. The firm’s website is www.jameshoyer.com.

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