October 18, 2006 Interview With GEOFFREY DOBSON, Conflicted Longtime Lawyer for St. Johns County Governments and Developers

GEOFFREY DOBSON represents the City of St. Augustine Beach, which he advised to ban rental housing, despite his conflict of interest in representing local condominium associations that rent out condos to visitors.
Asked for a complete client list of clients, DOBSON & BROWN's Geoffrey Dobson said October 18th, 2006:
"That is normally. as you should be aware, confidential."
"We do not represent developers in front of any governmental body."
"I'm not going to answer that question."
"Our client list of who we represent is regarded as a confidential matter -- we cannot disclose that -- we will neither confirm not deny representation of any particular" client.
"I have not attended any meetings of the City of St. Augustine for a long time."
"We have represented property owners ... you can take all of this down."
"We have represented property owners before the city ... we have not represented what you would label developers."
"What's your definition of a speculator? ... We do not represent flippers."
Mr. Dobson was then asked if his firm listed "representative clients" in Martindale-Hubbel Legal Directory. Yes, he said, reading the list, which includes:
1. North Florida Corporation (formerly)
2. City of St. Augustine
3. City of St. Augustine Beach
4.Town of Hastings
5. St. Johns County
6. St. Johns County Water and Sewer Authority
7. St. Johns County Tax Collector
8. St. Augustine Beach St. Johns County
9. St. Johns County Clerk of Courts
10. St. Johns County Industrial Development Board
11. St. Augustine Port, Waterway and Beach Authority
12. Anastasia Mosquito Control District (DOBSON publicly resigned this in January 2007, blaming me for asking him questions)
13. St. Augustine Ocean Resorts Cooperative, Inc.
14. Secret Oaks Owners Association
15. Village of Solano Homeowners' Association
16. St. Augustine Ocean Tennis and Racquets Condo Association
17. Beach Homes at Villages of Vilano Condo Association
18. Surf Club Condo Associations I
19. Surf Club Condo Associations II
20. Surf Club Condo Associations III
21. Crescent Beach Condominium Association
22. Beachers' Lodge Condominium Association
23. Atlantic East Condominium Association
How did Dobson & Brown become involved in temporarily replacing City Attorney JAMES PATRICK WILSON, who resigned October 12? "Mr. Harris called Mr. Brown," Dobson said, asking D&B to "provide a proposed engagement letter."
Asked about the Friday the 13th meeting without prior notice, Mr. Dobson said, "I don't know if it violated or didn't violate the Sunshine law... that's a ridiculous question."
Asked about representation about developers like Robert Graubard, Mr. Dobson said, "we do not represent Mr. Graubard ... I don't think I've represented Mr. Graubard .... I don't think Mr. Brown has."
Asked whether they represented Mr. Graubard in 1998, Mr. Dobson said, "1998 is six (sic) years ago." (It was actually eight years ago).
Mr. Dobson said, "we try to stay away from a lot of real estate -- not geared to do real estate work."
Mr. Dobson said he had "absolutely no idea" about law enforcement target letters."
Mr. Dobson asserted that the City's water wells "borrow pit" (a/k/a Old City Reservoir) were closed in the 1970s due to "problems with heavy metals" from "junkyards" and "salt water intrusion."
Mr. Dobson said that if there were criminal charges as a result of the "alleged pollution,"
he "would not represent the individuals" due to "potential conflict of interest with the public." Mr. Dobson said he has "not done criminal defense in 20 years."
Mr. Dobson and city officials have had "no discussion about the alleged dumping." saying so three times.
Asked if he had anything to add, Mr. Dobson said, "I'm not adding anything to anything."
"I have been a governmental attorney in private practice since 1964. I have represented a number of cities." He was General Counsel for the Florida Department of Transportation 1971-76. "I have no interest in being a full-time governmental attorney."
Asked how he liked Tallahassee, Mr. Dobson agreed it was turning into a big city.
"I don't like big cities," Mr. Dobson said.
Asked what he thought of what developers are doing to our City of St. Augustine, Mr. Dobson said it would be "inappropriate to comment on my personal opinions on anything. I keep my own private thoughts to myself."