Academy Member Inducted 2005

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Hon. F. Dennis Alvarez (Retired Chief Circuit Judge), Mediator & Arbitrator, Tampa, Florida.

Hon. F. Dennis Alvarez (Retired Chief Circuit Judge)

Genders Alvarez Diecidue P.A.
2307 West Cleveland Street
Tampa, FL 33609
Tel: (813) 254-4744 Ext 112
Cell: 813-245-5505
Fax: (813) 254-5222
Website: www.gendersalvarez.com
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Recognized to Florida Chapter for Mediation & Arbitration Other ADR Services: ADR Training/CME, Court-Appointed Neutral (Special Master), Discovery Referee, Early Neutral Evaluation, Facilitation & Systems Design, Fact Finding, Insurance Umpire, Med-Arb, Mini-Trial Judge
Video Conferencing
Available
  • Practice Commenced2001
  • # of MEDS (as of 18/3/24)4800
  • # of ARBS (as of 18/3/24)425
Current Practice
Online / In-Person
  • 1st Circuit
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Click for Map of Florida's Civil Circuits

Biographical

 Retired Chief  Circuit Court  Judge F. Dennis Alvarez, has limited his practice to Alternate Dispute Resolution. He is a Certified Mediator in Federal and Florida Courts and a Florida Supreme Court Qualified Arbitrator.  Mr.. Alvarez has also served as a panel member of AAA and a Certified Neutral Umpire of the Windstorm Conference since 2002. He has also served as a Special Magistrate/Special Master in various civil matters. Since 2001, he has Mediated, served as a Arbitrator or as a Neutral (Umpire) over 4,900 cases.Born in Tampa, Florida in 1945,Retired Chief Circuit Judge Alvarez attended St. Joseph Catholic School, Jesuit high School and the University of South Florida.  Retired Chief Circuit Judge Alvarez was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1974. He is a graduate of South Texas College of Law and in 1980 was elected as a Hillsborough County Court Judge. In 1984, he was elected to the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court bench. He served as Chief Judge of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit from 1988 to 2001.During his thirthteen year tenure as Chief Judge, he oversaw numerous improvements to the state's third largest circuit including close circuit television court hearings; " Rocket Dockets", designed to reduce the case backlog of cases in Juvenile Court : Adult Drug Court :Juvenile Drug Court, one of the first nationwide, designed for non-violent juvenile offenders, addressing the  problem of juvenile substance abuse through a combination of treatment, education and community and judicial supervision. This court drew national attention when it was featured on the television news show "48" Hours. Shock Education Program for first/second time juvenile non-violent offenders with a first hand look at the effects of criminal behavior through educational classes and on -site visists of law enforcement facilites: Teen Court : He established separate civil and criminal Domestic Violence Divisions.He also help create a "Parents, Childre & Divorce Class to assist divorcing parents in the early stages of court actions: The Childrens Justice . In 1998, he established the Elder court Task Force designed to identify barriers that senior citizens face when accessing court services.  He served on many commissions through appointments by the Florida Supreme Court and is a previous chairman of the prestigious Florida Conference of Circuit Court Judges. He is a member of the U. S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit, the U. S. Supreme Court, and the Hillsborough County Bar Association. He is also the proud recipient of many community service awards including the George Edgecomb Bar Association Humanitarian Award, the Robert J. Patton Outstanding Jurist Award, the Hispanic Man of the Year Award, and the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers' Outstanding Jurist in the State of Florida Award for his Dedication to the Preservation of Individual Rights and Access to the Courts, University of South Florida Distinguished Alumnus Award, District VI, Juvenile Justice Hall of Fame. National Boys & Girls Clubs of America National Service To Youth Award.Tampa Magazine's 2023 Top Lawyers list in the category Mediation.Tampa Magazine's 2023 Top Lawyers list in the category Arbitration

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Case Experience

  • Appellate
  • Automotive
  • Commercial/Business
  • Condominiums
  • Construction
  • Contract Disputes
  • Elder Abuse
  • Eminent Domain
  • Insurance
  • Legal Malpractice
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Natural Disasters
  • Nursing Homes
  • Personal Injury
  • Premises Liability
  • Probate
  • Product Liability
  • Professional Fees
  • Professional Liability
  • Professional Malpractice
  • Professional Negligence
  • Property Damage
  • Railroad & Trucking
  • Real Estate
  • Torts
  • Trusts / Estates
  • Wrongful Death

Education

  • B.A. University of South Florida
  • J.D. South Texas College of Law
  • The National Judicial College, Basic and Advanced Programs
  • Certified Circuit Court Mediator
  • Certified Federal Court Mediator, Middle District of Fl.
  • Harvard University Law School, Emerging ADR Issues
  • Florida Supreme Court Qualied Arbtrator
  • Member National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals

Memberships & Affiliations

  • Florida Bar
  • Florida Bar Alternative Dispute Resolution Section
  • Hillsborough County Bar Association
  • Mediation & Arbitration Section,  Hillsborough County Bar Association
  • Senior Counsel Section, Hillsborough county Bar Association
  • Florida Academy of Professional Mediators
  • Certified Umpire, Florida Windstorm Conference
  •  Former Panel Member,American Arbitration Association
  • Tampa General Hospital Patient Family Advisory Council
  • Krewe of The Knights of Sant' Yago
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay Foundation, former Chair, present board member
  • West Tampa Optimist Club
  • Past Chair & Board member, University of South Florida Alumni Association
  • Lifetime Member University of South Florida Alumni Association
  • Presidents Club , University of South Florida

Rates Information

REVISED RATES EFFECTIVE - January 1, 2023:

MEDIATIONS:

  $250.00 per hour per party for two party mediation.

  $200.00 per hour per party for three party mediation.

  $150.00 per hour per party for four party mediation

Adminstrative fee- 1/2 hourly rate (scheduling,preparation,reporting) .

Half-day Mediations require a minimum fee of 3 hours.***

Full-day Mediations require a minimum fee of 6 hours.***.

RETAINER FEES MAY BE REQUIRED IN SOME CASES !

Travel time will be assessed at $ 200.00 per hour if held outside of Hillsborough, Pinellas ,Polk or Pasco Counties.

Flat Rates are available upon request.

ARBITRATION FEES :

$ 500.00 per hour plus Administrative fee in Non-Binding Arbitration

$ 600 per hour as sole Arbitrator in Binding Arbitration

I only serve as the sole Arbitrator or as the 

Chief Arbitrator. I do not serve as an Arbitrator for the policy holder, insurance company,Plaintiff or Defendant.

 

ADVANCED PAYMENT :

Advanced payment/deposit maybe required in some cases at the sole discretion of  FDA Pro se parties( not represented by an attorney) must pay ten (10) days prior to the mediation unless prior arrangements have been made.

CANCELLATION FEES

 Practice is devoted exclusively to Alternate Dispute Resolution. When a Mediation Conference is canceled on short notice,a cancellation fee of $ 750.00 per party for half day conference, and $ 1,500.00 per party for a six (6) hour full day conference  will be imposed  if the Mediation is canceled less than ten (10) calendar days prior to the scheduled date and time,  if an Arbitration is cancelled, a cancellation fee of $ 750.00 per party for half day conference, $1,500.00 per party for a six (6) hour for full day conference  will be imposed  if cancelled less than fourteen (14)calendar days prior to scheduled date and time. If an Appraisal is cancelled less than thirty (30) days prior to the scheduled date and time, a cancellation fee of your retainer fee will be imposed.  All cancellations must be communicated in writing-- fax or email is sufficient.

 

 My engagement is with you ( attorney or law firm or appraiser ) and not with your respective clients. Any cancellation fee will be billed to all parties to whom the engagement letter is being forwarded. It may be advisable in some circumstances to obtain a cost retainer sufficient to satisfy the projected costs of the Mediation or Arbitration or Appraisal. I will leave it to you to evaluate your client’s credit worthiness. It is not my intention to see lawyers have to pay their client’s Mediation/Arbitration costs, but, as we all know from experience, clients occasionally do not fulfill their financial obligations to their lawyers.

***Detailed Confirmation Letter will be sent in Advance of the Medaition /Arbitration/Appraisal/Special Master.***

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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