Challenge of judge fades, out of respect

By COLLEEN JENKINS and ABBIE VANSICKLE, Times Staff Writers
Published September 20, 2007

Just last week, Circuit Judge Claudia Isom said she was looking forward to a clean campaign against the attorney who planned to challenge her in next year's election because he didn't like her rulings.

Hold the fundraising. Harold "Tripp" Sebring III has informed Isom that he will drop out of the race.

In a Sept. 17 letter to the judge, Sebring said he has always aimed to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, who served as a circuit judge before becoming a state Supreme Court justice.

But in preparing for the race, Sebring said, he became aware of the "tremendous support" Isom has built as a result of her "respected and accomplished service" on the bench.

"There appears to be a general consensus among your supporters that you are driven by a genuine desire to do what is right and just for the people who are subject to your judicial determinations," he wrote. "I think that's all anyone can ask for in a judge."

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A Tampa attorney recently helped win what is being described as the largest-ever antiterrorism judgment by an American court against another country.

Anthony J. LaSpada was one of the attorneys who sued Iran on behalf of the victims' families and survivors of the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut. The blast - the largest non-nuclear explosion ever detonated - killed 241 Marines. A federal judge agreed that Iran approved and funded the suicide truck bombing carried out by the terrorist group Hezbollah.

On Sept. 7, U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth, who is based in Washington, D.C., ordered Iran to pay nearly $2.7-billion.

LaSpada said the suit included 123 families of the bombing's victims, plus 31 survivors. Seventeen victims were Floridians. The case was filed under a 1996 U.S. law that allows Americans to sue nations that are considered to be sponsors of terrorists.

Getting the judgment after six years of litigation was a significant milestone for the families, LaSpada said. Now they are hoping Congress will pass a bill that allows them to start seizing Iran's assets, such as bank accounts and real estate.

Seizing those assets likely will take many more years, LaSpada said.

"We know Iran has a lot of money," he said. "If we can find them, we'll get them. We didn't come this far to stop now."

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What's a quick way to earn two years of probation?

Batter someone with his prosthetic leg and hit a deputy with a urine bottle.

John Ben Harris II, 45, pleaded guilty last week to battering a friend, a law enforcement officer and a medical care provider.

In one instance, prosecutors said he grew angry when he spilled something on himself and hit a longtime friend with the friend's prosthetic leg. The leg, worth more than $1,000, broke.

Two other arrests came while Harris was hospitalized. In one case, he hit the deputy. In another, he spit in a nurse's eye.

The three arrests netted him probation and a requirement from the judge to take all prescribed medications. On Wednesday, Harris filed a motion to withdraw his plea.

Got a tip? For cops news, contact Abbie VanSickle at vansickle@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3373. For courts news, contact Colleen Jenkins at cjenkins@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3337.

[Last modified September 20, 2007, 00:47:04]