HOBE SOUND — Kobie O. Gary, son of famed local lawyer Willie Gary, and Hobe Sound resident Steven A. Shepherd did not make any statements to investigators before being released on $10,000 bail each late Tuesday.

Kobie Gary, 30, and Shepherd, 33, were arrested Tuesday after investigators found more than 250 marijuana plants growing at the home where Shepherd lives in the 7200 block of Southeast Mulberry Drive. The relationship between the men wasn’t known.

Investigators stopped Kobie Gary as he walked out of the grow house’s front door and got in a Chevrolet Tahoe, according to the arrest affidavit. (more…)

HOBE SOUND — A son of prominent attorney Willie Gary of Stuart and a Hobe Sound man were arrested Tuesday after the Martin County Sheriff’s Office raided a Hobe Sound home used as a marijuana grow house, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Kobie Gary, 30, of Jensen Beach, and Stephen Shepherd, 33, a tenant at the $125,030 home in the 7200 block of Mulberry Drive, were each charged with cultivation of cannabis and possession of marijuana over 20 grams.

Both Gary and Shepherd posted $10,000 bond and were released about 10 p.m. Tuesday, officials said.
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STUART — Famed attorney Willie Gary was among thousands of Martin County land owners who failed to pay their property taxes on time.

“Right now, we’re just kind of sitting on the dollars,” Gary said about his $239,196 in unpaid taxes on five properties he owns with his wife, Gloria, including his law office in downtown Stuart.

“I’m going to pay my taxes, but strategy wise, and specifically with the economy being the way it is, the money that you do have, you’ve just got to hold onto it right now,” Gary said. “Timing could be everything. Timing could save money. Timing could be a good investment.” (more…)

STUART — A judge has permanently dismissed parts of a lawsuit against famed Stuart attorney Willie Gary on claims he raped a woman nearly two years ago at a Stuart hotel.

Martin Circuit Judge Elizabeth Metzger in a ruling filed today dismissed claims from attorneys for Jillian Nedd that Gary’s alleged assault on her was a part of an ongoing pattern of criminal activity in which Gary was supposed to have engaged in similar acts with other women.

Metzger first found that the alleged acts concerning the other women did not result in any injury to Nedd, so she could not rely on them for her claims. The judge further ruled that the other claims directly related to Nedd weren’t enough to hold up the lawsuit’s claims of racketeering.

Gary’s attorneys Michael Pike and Bob Critton described the ruling as a huge win for Gary.

“The judge made a ruling that consistent with the law within the state of Florida and the United States,” Pike said. “We’re thrilled with the outcome.”

Pike added that he and Critton intend to ask Metzger to force Nedd and her attorneys to award them more than $100,000 in attorneys fees and costs for both their firm and Gary.

Since Nedd accused Gary of rape in August 2007, the two filed criminal complaints against each other - Nedd for rape against Gary, Gary against Nedd, her husband and a friend for extortion. No criminal charges materialized in either case.

Metzger’s ruling precludes Nedd’s attorney from filing that portion of the lawsuit against Gary again. Several other claims in the lawsuit are still in dispute.

Jillian Nedd

Willie E. Gary

Attorneys for Jillian Nedd and Gary’s firm - Gary, Williams, Finney, Lewis, Watson and Speranado - argued over whether the case should be dismissed for the fourth time earlier this month before Judge Elizabeth Metzger.

Judges three times in the past have thrown out the suit but given Nedd’s attorneys Linda Capobianco, Jerome Stone and Mark Johnson permission to refile the suit with more specific information.

Metzger in her ruling wrote that Nedd’s attorneys did not have a viable claim under the part of their suit that alleged Gary committed the acts while he was employed to “further a purpose of interest, however excessive or misguided, of the employer.”

The judge, however, did allow Nedd’s attorneys to continue to pursue the lawsuit on the allegations that the firm was negligent in not trying to control or prevent Gary’s alleged actions.

Nedd in the summer of 2007 accused Gary of raping her at a Stuart hotel. Gary said the sex was consensual. Police at the end of a criminal investigation did not bring charges against Gary.

Authorities also did not seek charges against Nedd on accusations from Gary that Nedd, her husband and one of their friends used the rape allegations to extort $20 million from him.

He travels in his own Boeing 737. He won a $240 million verdict against Disney. He “can’t stand to lose.” And he’s on the job for ex-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.

He’s the “giant killer,” attorney Willie E. Gary, who filed a lawsuit for Kilpatrick this week against Skytel over steamy text messages that helped bring the mayor down.

Attorney Willie E. Gary and ex-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick

Gary’s Web site notes that he’s won more than 150 cases where awards or settlements were more than $1 million each. That’s good news for Kilpatrick. His legal victories have been few. (more…)

STUART — Famed Stuart Attorney Willie Gary this afternoon teamed up with the Big Heart Brigade to provide Thanksgiving dinner to local needy families.

Gary and his sons delivered the turkeys, stuffing, canned goods and other holiday food items to families in the Rio, East Stuart and Port Salerno areas.

“You’d be amazed at how something so little makes such a big difference to these families,” Gary said. “We can’t forget that especially now, in this country, in this economy, we’re all in this together. Those of us who can help should.” (more…)