About Dione

Professional Experience

Regional Conflict Council - Sept. 2008 to Present
State of Fl Criminal Defense Litigation Contract

Belhaven College Orlando campus - October 2007 - Present
Adjunct Faculty for business education department.
Courses taught are in both the Masters and Bachelors programs: business law, ethics and health care administration. All students at the Orlando location are working adults attending evening classes on a 5-6 week rotation.

Ms. Dione R. Talkington Fletcher Attorney At Law P.A., - Dec. 2006 to Present
Re-established private practice in Orlando, Florida
Focused exclusively on Criminal Defense Litigation.

Ninth Judicial District of the State of Florida - 2005 to 2006
Assistant Public Defender, Felony Attorney
Managed trial caseload, supervised certified legal interns, performed community outreach and training on legal system through mock trial programs and local law school events.
Acquittals in battery, sexual battery, aggravated stalking, drug possession and other felony cases.

Private practice previously located in Windom & Jackson, MN - 1994 to 2005
Sole practitioner with two office locations.
Practice specialties in litigation, and government contract work. Also handled business, estate, medical assistance and tax planning, probate, real estate, and some personal injury cases. Maintained regular speaking engagements in the local business communities.
Acquittals in controlled substance, arson, counterfeit, DWI, assault/battery, burglary, sex cases.

Fifth Judicial District of the State of Minnesota, - 1994 to 2005
Assistant Public Defender (part-time contract.)
Responsible for all aspects of criminal defense from serious felonies to misdemeanors as well as representation in civil matters. Reduced time between first appearances and final disposition of cases by 80% by devising and implementing organizational change in docket system, received a commendation from the Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Windom Area Hospital - 1999 to 2004
Board of Directors.
Hired and provided oversight of hospital CEO in formulating corporate policies, approving financial investments, expenditures, and bond issues to fund expansion (including new ER), as well as day-to-day operations of the hospital. Approved settlements of legal disputes, hired medical doctors, and granted medical staff privileges.

Legal Board of Pharmacy Examiners, Des Moines, IA - 1994
Pharmacy fraud and regulation investigations.
Contract Attorney.
Investigated complex pharmaceutical misconduct. Worked closely with Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in gathering evidence and interviewing prescribing physicians. Drafted letters of reprimand to pharmacists who were in violation of state regulations.

Briol & Wilmes, Minneapolis, MN - 1991 to 1992
Law Clerk.
Conducted legal research and writing for securities litigation and business law firm.

EDUCATION

State of Florida & Minnesota - Current
Continuing Legal Education for Law License

National Criminal Defense College, - Macon, GA 1997
Trial School Certificate,
Completed intensive two-week interactive course taught by some of the country’s finest attorneys. Prepared and argued a mock case and received critiques on five aspects: uncooperative client interview, voir dire, opening statement, forgetful witness direct examination, hostile witness cross-examination, and closing argument.

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, - Atlanta, GA 1996
Cross-Examination Seminar,

Hamline University School of Law - St. Paul, MN
Juris Doctor, 1992, Dean’s List.

• Study Abroad: University of Detroit Law School, at London, England, - 1990


• Internships/Clerkships:
  
  • Intern, Legal Department, Lehman Brothers Brokerage, London, England, Fall/Winter 1990. Performed complex research and writing for securities house.
  
  
  • Law Clerk, Peterson & Associates, Minneapolis, MN, Winter – Summer 1990

Simpson College, Indianola, IA Bachelor of Arts Cum laude in International Business and French, 1987
• Study Abroad: French immersion term based in Normandy, France

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Admitted to State Bar of Minnesota 1992
Admitted to State Bar of Florida 2005

Windom Area Hospital Foundation Board of Directors, 2002 – 2004,
a 501c3 organization formed to raise funds for medical education and technology improvements.

Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, - 2007 to present

Grant Review Board of Southern Minnesota, - 1998 – 2000
Arts & Humanities Council (SMAHC): Review applications for grant funding of artistic productions and make funding recommendations based upon the requesting organizations’ abilities to meet criteria for artistic merit and demonstrated financial responsibility.