Lonnie Groot is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in the area of City, County and Local Government Law, and is currently the City Attorney of the cities of Sanford and Oviedo, both in Seminole County. Mr. Groot has historically been the City Attorney for eleven (11) different Florida cities, and has held numerous other local government legal positions.  Mr. Groot was the in-house attorney for the City of Palm Coast, and also served for fifteen (15) years as the Deputy County Attorney/Assistant County Attorney for Seminole County.  In addition, Mr. Groot is a proud former Army lawyer with the Judge Advocate General’s Corps.

EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION

Florida State University College of Law, Juris Doctor degree, 1976
Florida State University, Bachelor of Science degree, (Criminology Major/Government Minor) 1973

Board Certified by the Florida Bar in City, County, and Local Government Law

Completed Special Master’s Training with the Florida Conflict Resolution Consortium. Completed Circuit Mediator Training

Attended numerous continuing legal education courses on local government law, growth management law, land use law, administrative and environmental law and numerous other subjects

Graduate of Judge Advocate General’s School, Charlottesville, Virginia, and also attended numerous other short courses at the school; numerous advanced courses at Judge Advocate General’s School; numerous courses U.S. Army Infantry Officers Basic Course.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

October, 2008 - Present:

Emphasis in municipal law, governmental and land use law. Serve as primary legal counsel to the cities of Sanford and Oviedo. Appointed to serve as special magistrate for Seminole County. Served as one of the three attorneys serving on the legal expert review panel for the Brevard County, Florida Charter review issues (second appointment to this position). Also, represent, from time-to-time, other municipal governments in various capacities. Additionally, engage in a general practice focusing on real estate and development matters. Work involves day-to-day relationships and interactions with paralegals and legal assistants. I am teaching business law classes as an adjunct professor at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and Seminole State College.

March, 2008 – September, 2008:

Worked in Tallahassee, Florida, mostly on a diverse array of Gadsden County governmental matters. Worked on development issues and retained as expert witness in land use and planning matters.

December 1, 2006 –February 29, 2008:

City Attorney; City of Palm Coast, Florida. Chief legal officer and Charter officer of the City

July 1, 2001 - November 30, 2006:

Emphasis in municipal law, governmental and land use law. Represented numerous municipalities and other governmental entities, such as the Seminole County Supervisor of Elections, Seminole Community College, the Orange/Seminole County Wastewater Transmission Authority, Seminole County, Sanford, Oviedo, Lake Mary, Casselberry, DeLand, Daytona Beach Shores, Orange City, Lake Helen, Lake County, Maitland, Edgewood, Palm Coast, Titusville, and Citrus County. Appointed Acting City Manager of Oviedo for a period of two months. Served as Acting City Manager for Sanford on two occasions. Served as one of the three attorneys serving on the legal expert review panel for the Brevard County Charter Review Commission.

January, 2000 to June 30, 2001:

Partner, Shutts & Bowen, LLP. Specializing in land use, governmental affairs, and real property matters. City Attorney for the City of Lake Helen. Represented the Florida Republican Party in litigation involving Seminole County and Martin County after the 2000 Presidential Election.

July, 1985 to December 1999:

Deputy County Attorney/Assistant County Attorney, Seminole County, Florida. Served as General Counsel for the Seminole County Expressway Authority. In addition to representing the Board of County Commissioners of Seminole County, represented and advised, from time-to-time, the Clerk of Circuit Court, Supervisor of Elections, Seminole County Tax Collector, Seminole County Property Appraiser, Seminole County Code Enforcement Board, Seminole County Canvassing Board, Metropolitan Transportation Agency and the City of Lake Mary.

While with Seminole County, had major involvement in major land use/comprehensive planning cases, drafted major parts of the Seminole County Comprehensive Plan and implementing land development regulations, and was lead counsel to all of the County’s planning and land use departments and divisions.

July, 1979 to July, 1985:

Army Lawyer, Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Served as Judge Advocate, U.S. Army Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama; U.S. Army Command, Berlin, Germany; and the XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Criminal Prosecutor and defense counsel, military magistrate, legal assistance attorney, claims and hospital advisor, and administrative law attorney.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, PUBLIC SERVICE

Appointed by Governor Crist to serve on the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council. Former member of the Board of Directors of Boys and Girls Club of Volusia/Flagler. Very active in Florida Law Related Education programs including membership on Board of Directors of Florida Law Related Education, Inc. Former member of Sanford Housing Authority, City of Deltona City Manager Selection Committee, numerous Volusia County School committees, three time County Council appointee to the Deltona Municipal Services District Advisory Board, County Council appointee to the Forever Volusia Natural Lands Acquisition Committee, and City of Deltona Charter Review Commission. Volunteer Mediator, Seminole County Bar Association, Board of Advisors, Boston Avenue School for the Handicapped (DeLand, Florida), Board of Directors, Southwest Volusia County YMCA, and various other ad hoc activities.

AWARDS

President’s Volunteer Service Award (2010); National Association of Counties Award for Innovative Litigation Strategies in Eminent Domain Litigation (1997); George Washington Medals of Honor, 1983 and 1984 (Freedom’s Foundation of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania); Army Commendation Medal, 1985 (U.S. Army Missile Command); Meritorious Service Medal, 1982 (XVIII Airborne Corps); Army of Occupation Medal, 1983 (Berlin); Army Service Ribbon, 1979 (JAG School); and various other certificates and commendations for job performance and public service.

PUBLICATIONS

“Suspension and Recall of Municipal Officials,” 2002 Florida Municipal Attorneys Annual Seminar; column in Brechner Report; Article “Fights Between The Family; Watch Your Steps!” (regarding Chapter 164, Florida Statutes), County Attorney’s Newsletter (August, 1990); Article “Comprehensive Planning: “Local Zoning and the DRI Process, “11th Annual Local Government Law in Florida Seminar (The Florida Bar, 1988). Numerous newspaper articles on law and public policy subjects. Drafted Model Specification for Sexual Harassment Charge, U.S. Army “Trial Counsel Journal” (1983).

PERSONAL

Born September 6, 1950, Tampa, Florida
Married with seven daughters