Palm Beach Post

Daniel L. Bakst
Well-known former bankruptcy lawyer dies at 70

Daniel L. Bakst knew how to make things happen, both for his clients and for his favorite football team, according to relatives.

Bakst, 70, a well-known former bankruptcy attorney, died today from complications from a stroke he had several years ago, said his brother-in-law, West Palm Beach Commissioner Bill Moss.

"He was such a high-powered attorney in his prime. When I'd call him, he'd have like six conversations going on at the same time," Moss said. "He didn't have a lot of patience but he got things done."

Bakst had several high-profile clients as a bankruptcy attorney, including health care magnate Abe Grossman, who was once valued at $480 million. He was also the attorney for the Burt Reynolds Institute for Theatre Training after the theater closed in 1997.

Moss said Bakst became famous in the legal community for notes that he nicknamed "Danny-Grams." When other attorneys would send him a legal memo, Bakst would send them back a hand-written message pointing out mistakes and telling them to do the memo over again.

Even with all his drive and hard work as an attorney, Bakst had time for a major passion outside of work: the University of Miami Hurricanes football team. Bakst, a UM graduate, was a member of the "Golden Canes" club for large donors to the football team, Moss said. He went to nearly every home game and traveled to many of the away games before his stroke, which left him in a wheelchair.

Bakst never fully recovered from the stroke and stopped practicing law in 2003. He collapsed while at a rehabilitation center and died at Columbia Hospital, Moss said.

Moss said the family has not yet made funeral arrangements but a funeral would likely occur later in the week.

posted 27-May-2009