RUDEN McCLOSKY PARTNER EVETT SIMMONS AWARDED GERTRUDE E. RUSH AWARD BY THE NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION

PORT ST. LUCIE-- Evett Simmons, a partner and Chief Diversity Officer of the Ruden McClosky law firm, was awarded the Gertrude E. Rush Award by the National Bar Association Saturday, May 12, 2007 at a black-tie gala. The award recognizes individuals who demonstrate leadership in the community and in their respective professions, show concern for human and civil rights, and are models of excellence in legal education, public policy and social activism. Other recipients this year include: Dr. Johnetta Cole, Louis Gossett, Jr., Henry B. Latimer, Esq. (posthumously), and Charles J. Ogletree, Jr., Esq.

Ms. Simmons is Chief Diversity Officer of the Ruden McClosky Law Firm and an elected member of the Firm's Management Committee. She is leading the implementation of the Firm's Diversity Program which was launched throughout the Firm's ten Florida offices last year. Ms. Simmons' practice involves real estate, probate and guardianship litigation. She is admitted to practice before the United States District Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida. Ms. Simmons is a member of the National Bar Association and serves as the chair of the President's Advisory Council on Diversity in the Profession. Ms. Simmons has been awarded honors by a variety of respected organizations, associations, and businesses. She was listed by Ebony magazine in 2001 as one of the most influential African Americans in this country.

Gertrude E. Rush was the only woman founder of the National Bar Association. The award is given to those who share many of her characteristics. The objectives of the NBA "shall be to advance the science of jurisprudence; improve the administration of justice; preserve the independence of the judiciary and to uphold the honor and integrity of the legal profession; to promote professional and social intercourse among the members of the American and the international bars; to promote legislation that will improve the economic condition of all American citizens, regardless of race, sex or creed in their efforts to secure a free and untrammeled use of the franchise guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States; and to protect the civil and political rights of the citizens and residents of the United States."