This is for old-timers only. Sad news today has reached us that Gordon Shuminer, brother of Alan and Jeff Shuminer, passed away today-Thursday- unexpectedly.
Gordon was a public defender in the 1980's. Gordon had immense talent and ability and is still famous for cross-examining an empty chair during closing argument, highlighting a state witness who wasn't called well before Haliburton prevented such brilliant tactics. For those of you who remember him, he was one of a kind.
For many years only Alan Shuminer has practiced in Miami, and we are sure he would love to read the memories of his brother from those who knew him.
UPDATED: Services are this Sunday, July 2, 2017, at 2PM at Beth David Chapel, 3201 North 72nd Avenue, Hollywood, FL
May Gordon rest in peace.
I never knew him but Alan is a great guy. I'm sorry for Alan.
ReplyDeleteToo many young people in our field dying. Very sad. Prayers to the Shuminer family. Prayers to his Justice Building family.
ReplyDeleteThe first time I walked into a courtroom as a prosecutor, Alan Shuminer was arguing a discovery issue before then County Court Judge Juan Ramirez. Gordon was at Alan's side. It was 1989 and all I could think was that these guys were going to kick my ass in and for the foreseeable future. They turned out to be two of the best opponents I went against in my time in county court. Gordon was tough and quite the brawler. I remember he always complimented my performance in court. Many mornings we'd end up in the Pickle Barrel bullshitting over a cup of coffee. He never talked about work and I remember he was always laughing. I loved his stories because he way crazier than I'd ever dare to be. He was good to me and all the young prosecutors. It sucks now thinking that I hadn't seen him in many years. I am saddened by his passing.
ReplyDeleteJoe Fernandez
I didn't know that he was cousins of Michael Haber. Never knew that.
ReplyDeleteA great guy, always a smile , a truly nice guy
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ReplyDeleteIt seems like just yesterday we were attending Gordo's mom's funeral, Leila. (It was actually 2 years ago). My condolences to father Bernie and brothers Alan and Jeff. Gordo was such a good attorney but more important such a great person. He never held back living life to its fullest, he was always laughing and with a smile on his face.
ReplyDeleteServices will be held at 10:00 am this Sunday, July 2nd at Levitt Weinstein Eternal Light Funeral Center, 18840 West Dixie Highway, North Miami Beach.
UPDATE ON FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR GORDON SHUMINER
ReplyDeleteSunday 10:00 AM, Beth David Temple Chapel, 3201 N. 72nd Avenue, Hollywood, FL 33024
Interment at Beth El Memorial Gardens, 4900 Griffin Rd, Davie, FL 33314
Dear Bernie,Jeff and Alan, We were shocked to hear the sad news.A great loss.
ReplyDeleteWe share your sorrow.
Bracha and Baruch Bar Shalev.
Israel
It would be an understatement to say I was stunned and heartbroken to hear of Gordon's sudden death. Gordon was probably the first PD I became friends with when I was a young prosecutor in 1986. Gordon was fearless. I can still see him, after jerking a DUI case along all week, telling Judge Fred Moreno on a Friday that he and his client decided they wanted a jury trial- full well knowing there were no jurors available on Friday, and Judge Moreno, in a rather stern way saying "You want to play hardball Mr. Shuminer? Put on your helmet!" and Moreno threatening to send his bailiff JR out on the street to grab 20 people and make them come in as venire members and Gordon not backing down. (I don't remember what the result was).
ReplyDeleteWe fought like crazy in court, and then went out afterward for lunch or happy hour.
You couldn't stay angry at Gordon. He was smooth and charming. That picture on the blog captures him perfectly. Jurors loved him. And I am sure no matter how angry he made judges, that when he wasn't looking they couldn't help but smile at his passion.
I won my first felony jury trial against Gordon. Judge Goldstein was the judge. It was a beach motorcycle cop on possession of cocaine and testified he snuck up on the defendant and saw him possessing cocaine. When he walked into court, fully outfitted in his motorcycle outfit in leather, he squeaked with every step and I was sure I was screwed and Gordon had him up and down off the witness stand a dozen times, squeaking each step. But somehow I won one against him and I remember him saying after closing "I think you got me on this one Phil." Even so, the score was so lopsided in his favor after the multiple ass-whoopings he gave me in DUI cases. I never minded. It was the best part of my day litigating against him.
We lost touch over the years and I became close friends with his brother Alan. But every so often I would hear a Gordon story. He was a character. But he had a good heart and he never lost his PD mentality to fight like hell for his client even when he was in private practice.
I cannot imagine the pain of his family- his twin Jeff, his big brother Alan, and his Dad Bernie who recently lost his wife-Gordon's mom. I hope this comment and others like it will help ease their pain a bit.
Back in 1985, Gordo and I were both assigned to Judge Gelber in juve as we started out... We were all learning so quickly, with Steve Harper and Jeff Pokorak and Steve Levine, what a couple of years we had... ... and yes, he was fearless, and fun, and creative, and an amazing natural trial lawyer. I had great respect for him and both of us shared a similar joie de vivre.... We saw each other every now and then and I always had great love and affection for Gordo.... so, so sad to see another colleague, another brother fighting for justice no longer with us... my condolences to all the shuminers... what a loss.
ReplyDeletejss
When I was a county court ASA, we were told that Alan was the "nice" Shuminer and Gordan was the "mean" Shuminer.
ReplyDeleteWell, Alan and Gordon did have different approaches to cases (boy could Gordon drive us nuts), but the truth is, both were outstanding attorneys, and both were great guys back in those days.
I learned to take Gordon's bluster in stride, and came to appreciate the fact that he fought tough, but he fought fair. He taught a lot of us that you can fight like hell in court, but still be friendly in the hallway.
I am very sorry to hear of his passing, and wish his family peace during this sad time.
Time change to 2:00 pm. Same location.
ReplyDeletePhil
ReplyDeleteI took that photo and am so glad you got how it captured Gordon. All y'all, the guy was a rainmaker and a marketing genius. We started our practice with maybe 500 bucks between us in tiny office above Sy Gaer's space with its orange shag carpeting covering the walls. Sy gave us our first case--he had thousands but not one file cabinet, not one file! Just a little piece of paper on which his schedule was presumably typed. What a role model.
There I was all serious trying my felonies and murders and court appointments, and there Gord was creating the DUI Law Center with it's optical illusion logo of a the scales of justice--that were hanging on a wine bottle. Our brand was "if you took a drink, then took the wheel.....we'll take the case". His radio ads were genius ("some people think of the glass as half empty, others think of it as half full. but to your friendly local police officer (sirens blaring) it doesn't really matter." clink of ice in the glass, clank of jail cell slamming shut. "if you take a drink, then take the wheel, you need 3 things in your clove compartment--your license, your registration and Gordon Shuminer"). And no one was more brazen or more effective in trial. He just had that swagger and was intimidated by absolutely nothing.
Every time I watch "Better Call Saul" I think they could create story lines based on Gordon's ingenious tactics. The 1000 t-shirts we ordered with our logo for cinco de mayo which we were going to give away as advertising--I showed up at Bayfront Park to hand them out... and there he was, fanny pack stuffed with cash because he just started selling them. Gone in an hour. We had to steal Alan from the PD because Gordon generated so much business we couldn't keep up. Jeff then had to come in to exert some sort of order and became the managing "partner" Those were the days, on a wing and a prayer. But every minute of it entertaining and memorable because of the Shuz. All 3 of them.
To Alan, Jeff and Bernie: may his memory be a blessing.
Goodman (of Goodman & Shuminer.... + Shuminer + Shuminer)
Many other defense attorneys have kick Phil R's ass when he was a prosecutor on the dark side......
ReplyDeletePhysical death visits us all. The dead body is placed in a box. A hole is dug. The dead body is placed in the hole and covered with earth. At this point the survivors are wont to say, 'Rest in Peace'. What a strange thing to say.
ReplyDeleteWas Mike Haber wearing a short-sleeved barber's tunic yesterday?
ReplyDelete12:13 - Yes we all die. But that does not diminish the pain the living feel when we must say goodbye to loved ones who pass on. So the best we can do is to try to comfort those who have experienced this loss, and remember that our time on earth is limited -- so be kind to others while you have the chance.
ReplyDelete12:13,
ReplyDeleteNo man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.