Morgan R. Bentley

Morgan R. Bentley concentrates his practice in the area of litigation involving business and real estate disputes. He handles both trial and civil proceedings as well as complex arbitrations and administrative hearings. He received his undergraduate degree with honors from the University of Florida in 1988, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and the Florida Blue Key Leadership Honorary. Mr. Bentley received his Juris Doctor, with honors, from the University of Florida in 1992 where he served as an associate editor of the Florida Law Review and was a member of Order of the Coif. Mr. Bentley is admitted to practice in Florida State Courts, the Middle District of Florida and the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Bentley is the chairman of the Florida Commission on Ethics, having been twice appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Mr. Bentley is Past President of the Sarasota County Bar Association and Past President of Legal Aid of Manasota. Mr. Bentley is a former member of the Florida Bar Board of Governors, Young Lawyer Division, and the Executive Council of Florida Bar's General Practice Section. He is the past chair for Manatee County Chamber of Commerce School Issues Committee, past president of the Young Lawyer Division, Sarasota County Bar Association, and a life fellow of the American Bar Association. In 2008, Mr. Bentley was selected by the Florida Bar for its 2008 Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award, having previously been recognized as the Outstanding Pro Bono Attorney for Sarasota and Manatee Counties by Legal Aid of Manasota. Mr. Bentley has been recognized as a "Legal Up and Comer" and "Legal Elite" by Florida Trend magazine, was named a Florida Super Lawyer, a Fellow by the American Bar Association Foundation, and was a Gulf Coast Business Review 40 Under 40 recipient. Mr. Bentley was awarded Martindale-Hubbell's highest AV rating in 2004. Published Works Effects of Equitable Estoppel and Substantial Deviations to Vested Rights in DRI Projects: A New Approach, Vol. 43 University of Florida Law Review No. 4, September, 1991 Quasi-Judicial Review of Rezoning Decisions and Local Government Home Rule Power: Can They Be Reconciled?, Florida Law Journal, January, 1992 Co-Author, Forms of Park Ownership: Rental v. Coop v. Condo v. Subdivision, with James L. Turner, Esq., Florida Bar CLE Seminar Mobile Home Law, April 25, 1997 A Victory for Manatee County Property Owners: Newsletter, If you own real estate in Manatee County, this ruling could affect you, 2005 Arbitration: Newsletter, Panacea of Problematic, 2006 Representative Clients Successfully overturned Sarasota County Ordinance imposing automatic loss of non-conforming status due to renovations lasting more than one year. Successfully overturned Sarasota County Ordinance limiting development due to presence of mesic hammock on residential lots. Successfully overturned City of Sarasota Nuisance Abatement Board procedures for prosecuting landlords without knowledge of violations on rental properties. Obtained judgment of insurance fraud in excess of $16,300,000 on behalf of large insurance company. Represented Florida Secretary of State in pre-election challenge to ballot initiative to require paper ballots. Represented Florida Secretary of State in post-election challenge involving alleged miscounts by electronic voting machines. Administratively prosecuted Fair Housing Act claim by mental health facility to settlement by the City of Sarasota. Represented owners of nursing home in reinstatement of facility license revoked by the Agency for Health Care Administration. Represented Sarasota County Sheriff Department to defeat claims of fraud in the procurement of service contracts. Represented dozens of claimants in Ponzi schemes and other matters involving financial fraud. Classes/Seminars Practicing with Professionalism, Florida Bar CLE Basic Personal Injury Litigation - Moderator, Florida Bar CLE Basic Personal Injury Litigation - Moderator, Florida Bar CLE Honors and Awards Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers Legal Elite by Florida Trend Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers Legal Elite by Florida Trend Magazine Pro Bono Service Awards by Florida Bar Up and Comer by Super Lawyers Silver Service Pro Bono Recognition by Florida Supreme Court Gold Service Pro Bono Recognition by Florida Supreme Court Twelfth Circuit Distinguished Service Award by Legal Aid of Manasota Five Year Pro Bono Award Winner by Legal Aid of Manasota Professional Associations and Memberships American Bar Association Foundation, Life Fellow, 2012 - Present Florida Commission of Ethics, Vice Chair, 2013 - Present Florida Commissions of Ethics, Vice Chair, 2012 - 2013 Florida Commission of Ethics, Member, 2010 - Present American Bar Association Foundation, Fellow, 2005 - Present Legal Aid of Manasota, Past President, 1992 - Present Sarasota County Bar Association, Past President, 1992 - Present Leadership Sarasota, 2006 - 2007 Manatee County Chamber of Commerce, Committee Chair, 2001 - 2002 Past Employment Positions Williams Parker Harrison Dietz and Geten, Shareholder, 1992 - 2011 Fraternities/Sororities Phi Beta Kappa Phi Delta Theta