Harold G. Melville, Esq.

RATING

Martindale – Hubbell AV rated – Peer Review Rated Preeminent (5.0 out of 5.0)

Board Certifications

Florida Bar Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer and Business Litigation Lawyer

Practice Areas

  • Civil Trial Practice
  • Zoning
  • Business Litigation
  • Eminent Domain
  • Appellate Practice
  • Construction Law
  • Land Use and Development Law

Undergraduate

Lehigh University, B.S., cum laude, 1969

Law School

University of Miami, J.D., cum laude, 1972

Admitted

1972, Florida; 1973, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida; 1974, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; 1977, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida; 1978, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida; 1979, U.S. Supreme Court; 1981, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit

Memberships

St. Lucie County Bar Association (President, 1992-1993); Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee(Member 1998-2001; Chairman, 2000-2001); The Florida Bar (Member, Board of Governors, 2003-2007); Judicial Nominating Commission, Nineteenth Judicial Circuit (Member 2008 to 2012; Vice-Chairman, 2009-2010; Chairman, 2010-2011)

Born

Mineola, New York, October 17, 1947

Biography

Editor, University of Miami Law Review, 1971-1972. Director, 1989-1995 and President, 1992-1993, St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce. Fellow: Justice Major B. Harding American Inns of Court.

Honors and Awards

Pro Bono Service Award for St. Lucie County from Florida Rural Legal Services 2008-2009; 2009-2010

Reported Cases

  • Atlantic Gulf Communities Corp. v. City of Port St. Lucie, 764 So.2d 14 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999) – reversed trial court and held that assessment of stormwater utility fees was invalid for failure to follow statutory requirements.
  • City of Port St. Lucie v. Zlinkoff, 821 So.2d 1130 (Fla. 4th DCA 2002) – upheld trial court order granting full refund to approximate 45,000 member class for invalid stormwater utility fees collected by City of Port St. Lucie.
  • Sherman v. Red Bay Stronghold Foundation, 942 So.2d 1033 (Fla. 4th DCA 2006) – upheld summary judgment granting property tax exemption based upon charitable purpose of conservation.
  • Okeechobee Utility Authority v. Kampgrounds of America, Inc., 882 So. 2d 445 (Fla. 4th DCA 2004) – reversed trial court order and held that utility base facility charge was a user fee and not a special assessment.
  • Indian Harbor Citrus, Inc. v. Poppell, 658 So.2d 605 (Fla. 4th DCA 1995) – vacated jury verdict and judgment for plaintiff and mandated judgment for defendant based upon contract interpretation issues.
  • Jensen Beach Land Co., Inc. v. Citizens for Responsible Growth of the Treasure Coast, Inc., 608 So.2d 509 (Fla. 4th DCA 1982) – Petition for Writ of Certiorari granted quashing trial court order holding DRI development order inconsistent with County comprehensive plan.
  • 99 Broadcasting Co., Inc. v. Crider, 493 So.2d 462 (Fla. 4th DCA 1985) – reversed jury verdict for plaintiff based upon faulty jury instructions.
  • U.S. Life Ins. Co. in the City of New York v. Town and Country Hospital, Inc., 390 So.2d 71 (Fla. 2d DCA 1980) – reversed trial court order granting new trial to plaintiff following jury verdict for defendant which was the lender in a breach of loan commitment case.