Judge's rulings spark a personal injury lawyer's bid for the bench

By COLLEEN JENKINS, Times Staff Writer
Published September 14, 2007

TAMPA - Thirty-four Hillsborough judges are up for election next year, but so far only Circuit Judge Claudia Isom has competition.

Personal injury lawyer Harold "Tripp" Sebring III told colleagues in an Aug. 28 letter that he plans to challenge Isom because he didn't like two of her rulings. A fellow plaintiff's lawyer has responded with a letter that questions Sebring's "get even" approach.

Sebring's angst stems from a medical malpractice suit brought against Tampa General Hospital and various physicians at the University of South Florida. Sebring says Isom's rulings don't allow his clients - whose premature baby died in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit - to seek their full financial protection under the law.

In a reply letter dated Sept. 5, Tampa lawyer Bill Wagner said Sebring's motivation to run "would be considered as unprofessional by many and unethical by some." He suggested an appeal or a legislative fix would be the appropriate action.

Isom, who hasn't been opposed since first getting elected to the bench 17 years ago, has recused herself from Sebring's cases.

Colleen Jenkins can be reached at 813 226-3337 or cjenkins@sptimes.com

[Last modified September 13, 2007, 23:07:14]