TALLAHASSEE (July 9, 2010) – On Thursday, July 8, 2010, the Florida Supreme Court discharged Stang v. State, SC09-1409, for lack of jurisdiction. This discharge reinstated the underlying decision of the Second District Court of Appeal (Second DCA), which had ordered Warren Stang's immediate release from state prison.

Stang, who had pled guilty to various white-collar crimes in January of 2000, served his original five-year sentence and was released on probation. In 2005, Stang pled guilty to violating his probation and received a sentence that would have resulted in a short prison term. Without notice to Stang or his former counsel, the Florida Department of Corrections contacted the trial court to obtain an amended, lengthier sentence. The trial court responded a day later by faxing a lengthier sentence to the Department of Corrections without notice to any of the parties. Stang later discovered that he had been resentenced and began seeking his immediate release.

In July of 2009, the Second DCA ruled that Stang was being held in Florida state prison pursuant to an illegal amended sentence and ordered his immediate release based on his original sentence. The State appealed that decision to the Florida Supreme Court, and because Stang was unrepresented, the Court requested that Carlton Fields provide pro bono representation. Carlton Fields attorneys David L. Luck and John R. Blue were successful in having the Florida Supreme Court uphold the Second DCA's decision, a copy of which is attached to this release.

Luck and Blue are available for interviews. Press inquiries may be made through Carlton Fields’ Communications Manager Jennifer L. Mitchell at 813.229.4124 or by email at .