Languages

• English
• Spanish

Law Firm Overview

Bruce G. Kaleita has practiced law for 25 years since completing law school. He practices in family and divorce law (including custody, property settlements, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, adoptions, alimony, and modifications of prior orders); and in construction law (for owners and contractors) and corporate law. He is also a trial lawyer in these areas.

Work Experience. Mr. Kaleita has performed family and divorce law, construction law and litigation; zoning and development approvals; drafting and negotiating real estate contracts and negotiation of all acquisition and construction financing arrangements with commercial banks for these developments; closing of these transactions; obtaining of all required zoning approvals and permits for land development; design of subdivision plats working with engineers; and business litigation of all types. He has also given many professional seminars in different areas of law, and is a powerful lecturer who writes reference-quality articles for his seminars.

Prior Associations. In Law: Associate, Casey, Ciklin, Lubitz et. al. in West Palm Beach, Florida (1984-1988). He left this firm in 1988 because it continually experienced financial troubles which frustrated his career. He formed his own practice in 1988 and has worked on his own for 20 years. Previous to Casey Ciklin, he was an Associate, for Akerman, Senterfitt & Eidson, Tallahassee, Florida (1984). He left this firm two months after joining it, when he was confidentially informed by the managing partner of that office that the lawyer to whom he was assigned, was very difficult if not impossible to work with. This was confirmed by his own experience with the man.

Prior to Law: Urban Planner, The Deltona Corporation, Miami, Florida (1980) (New Town development design and approvals statewide for a large developer); and Gee & Jenson Engineers, Architects, Planners, West Palm Beach Florida (1978-1980) (development approvals and comprehensive planning for government).

Prior to Urban Planning: Senior Editor, Ames Publishing Company, Phila., Pa; Newspaper Reporter, for The Daily Intelligencer Newspaper, Doylestown, Pa., and for the Delaware Valley News, Frenchtown, N.J. His Florida Bar Number is 435589.

Professional Activities. Mr. Kaleita is a frequent seminar speaker for the Lorman Educational Institute; and for the Palm Beach County Bar on a variety of subjects. He has published articles on the Regulation of the Construction Industry, on Construction Defect Litigation Techniques, Real Estate, Professional Licensing, and many other topics. He is well known in Palm Beach County politics, has many contacts in this and other counties, and has been in Florida for 30 years.

He is general counsel to the Construction Industry Management Council, which includes as members all 22 construction trade associations doing work in Palm Beach and adjoining counties. He also has been general counsel to the Aluminum Association of Florida, Palm Beach County Chapter, an association of contractors who fabricate and erect storm shutters and screen enclosures. He is also volunteer counsel to the Gold Coast Builders Association, and has been a member for 21 years.

Bar Affiliations. He is a Member of the Florida Bar, 1984 to present. Member, the Palm Beach County Bar, 1985 to present. Member (1989-2004) and former vice chairman, of the Palm Beach County Land Development Regulatory Commission, which drafted the Palm Beach County Unified Land Development Code. Former member (1996-2002, representing the building industry) and past chairman (1997-2002) of the Palm Beach County Environmental Appeals Board. Former member (1992-1996) and chairman (1993-1996) of the Zoning Code Review Committee of the City of West Palm Beach, which prepared the West Palm Beach Unified Land Development Code. Former member, and former vice chairman, of the Palm Beach County Bar Association Environmental, Land Use and Eminent Domain C.L.E. Committee. Member, Palm Beach County Bar Association Construction Law C.L.E. Committee. He is also a published columnist on the law. He was a Contributing Author to West Publishing Company's "Urban Planning & Land Development Control Law, 2d Ed." (1987). Mr. Kaleita has also custom drafted and published numerous specialized construction contracts suitable for use in Florida by Florida contractors and is now writing a book in that area, while at the same time moving into other areas of practice.

Personal. Mr, Kaleita was born in Amityville, New York on April 11, 1950 and grew up in New York and Pennsylvania. He came to Florida in 1978, and now resides with his wife and two children, Scott and Shelley, in the Aero Club subdivision, in Wellington, Florida. His personal objectives in life are to continue working in the law as long as possible.

Areas of Practice

• General Practice (Business, Corporate, Real Estate) 53%
• Family Law (Construction and Non-Courtroom) 19%
• Construction (Litigation) 14%
• Construction (Non-Litigation) 14%

Honors and Awards

• Appointed to Law Review on Grades-University of Florida, 1982 - 1983
• Numerous Awards from Building Industry, 1996 - Present

Published Works

• Fundamentals of Construction Contracts, Lorman Contracts for Residential Builders, 2008
• Urban Planning & Land Development Control Law, 2d Ed., (Contributing Author-Chapter Two), West Publishing Company, 1986

Classes and Seminars

• "Developments in the Regulation of the Construction Industry in Florida", Lorman Seminars
• "Evaluation, Presentation and Collection of Construction Defect Claims", Palm Beach County Bar Association, 2002
• "Fundamentals of Construction Contracts (Residential) with Contract Administration Forms", Lorman Seminar, 2004
• "Construction Contract Administration for the Contractor", Lorman Seminar, 2005
• "Emergency Bulletin To All Contractors Re: How to Deal with Surprise Visits to Job Sites by State and Local Regulators", Gold Coast Builders Association, 2006
• "Contracts and Subcontract Fundamentals for Residential Construction", Lorman Seminar, 2007
• "Remodeling and Renovation Contract with Contract Administration Documents for Gold Coast Builders Association Remodelers' Council", Gold Coast Builders Association, 2007
• "Standard Roofing Contract with Contract Administration Documents", Palm Beach County Roofers' Association, 2007
• "Standard Contract for Aluminum Screened Enclosure Contractors", Palm Beach County Aluminum Contractors' Association, 2007
• "Fundamentals of Construction Contracts" (With Forms), Lorman Seminars, 2008

Pro Bono Activities

• I Contribute to the Legal Aid Society Every Year, 1985 - Present

West Practice Categories

Administrative Law, Administrative Hearings & Adjudication, Licensing, Regulatory Enforcement, Business & Commercial Law, Commercial Leasing, Contracts, Debtor/Creditor, Joint Ventures, Transactions, Warranties, Business Organizations, Closely Held Businesses, Corporate Governance, Dissolution, Formation & Business Planning, Limited Liability Companies, Trade Associations, Collections, Constitutional Law, Search & Seizure Protections, Construction Law, Construction Contracts, Construction Liens, Government Construction Contracts, Housing & Construction Defects, Employment Law -- Employee, Employment Contracts -- Employee, Wage & Hour Laws -- Employee, Employment Law -- Employer, Employment Contracts -- Employer, Wage & Hour Laws -- Employer, Family Law, Adoption, Alimony & Spousal Support, Child Support, Childrens' Rights, Custody & Visitation, Divorce, Domestic Violence & Neglect, Juvenile Law, Paternity, Prenuptial Agreements, State & Municipal Contracts, Litigation & Appeals, State Appellate Practice, State Trial Practice, Real Estate Law, Condominiums & Cooperatives, Foreclosure & Alternatives, Land Use & Zoning, Landlord/Tenant, Residential Real Estate, State, Local & Municipal Law