Florida Supreme Court Invalidates Workers’ Comp Restrictions

A St. Petersburg firefighter, Bradley Westphal, won a huge legal victory for himself and other injured workers in Florida last week. The Florida Supreme Court found that a “doughnut hole” in the workers’ compensation system which deprived Westphal of benefits was unconstitutional and could not stand. Westphal was seriously injured when he lifted heavy furniture… read more

Car Crashes Aren’t “Just an Accident”

By: Mark Roman Car crashes are always someone’s fault. There were more than 374,000 traffic crashes in Florida in 2015. And we are well on pace for similar numbers for 2016. About 160,000 involved injuries and there were almost 3,000 fatalities. Insurance companies and their defense lawyers love to call these “accidents”. They even suggest… read more

David & Goliath Story Emerges from Foreclosure Crisis

The foreclosure crisis is well known to Americans, and particularly to Floridians. Mortgage fraud in writing home loans has been widely publicized, and many people know about the shameful underwriting practices (or really, nonexistent underwriting practices) of the big lenders. The back end of the story – how foreclosures worked their way through the court… read more

Pay Attention to Marine Safety During the Summertime Boating Season

This is National Safe Boating Week. It’s no coincidence that boating safety advocates in the U.S. and Canada chose this week for an awareness campaign. While Florida boaters enjoy the water year-round, places further north are just beginning their season for boating. Peak times for boating in most of North America will be from now… read more

Medical Errors Ranks High as Cause of U.S. Deaths

Medical errors kill roughly 250,000 Americans a year, according to a recent paper published by a Johns Hopkins professor and surgeon. This places medical mistakes as the third leading cause of death in the U.S. These errors are a distant third behind heart disease (611,000) and cancer (585,000), but are nonetheless remarkable for killing more… read more

Learn the Signs of Swimmers in Distress as Summer Beach Season Approaches

It’s nearly beach season! While enjoying the beach and water is one of summer’s greatest pleasures, we should all take a moment to think about water safety. This is especially important for young children –drowning is the number two cause of accidental death for kids 15 and younger (vehicle accidents are number one). About 750… read more

Uber Class Action Matters for Auto Accident Cases, Too

When is a driver an employee, and when is a driver just a contractor? This question is at the heart of a class action filed against Uber, the popular ride-sharing service. Uber recently agreed to pay about $100 million to settle lawsuits in California and Massachusetts. Those suits claimed Uber was improperly calling its drivers… read more

Five Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Trust Insurance Companies

The insurance world can be complex and difficult to understand. Whether an insurance company is a large corporation or a small office found in your local neighborhood, the goal for each company is the same: to generate profit. As a result, the insurance industry has become extremely successful and profitable. Many of these companies go… read more

Finally, A Good TV Show About Lawyers And Trials

As a lawyer, I usually find TV shows about lawyers exasperating and un-watchable. Portrayals of lawyers and courtrooms which are designed to be entertaining are often ludicrous. If people’s perception of lawyers is based on what they see on television, it’s no wonder they don’t like us. Given that, I’m pleased to say there is… read more

4 Ways to Avoid Drunk Driving Accidents This Spring Break

With spring break right around the corner, many people are getting ready to visit new places, hang out by the pool, and relax in good company. Of course, many people who take advantage of this vacation time will want to enjoy a few alcoholic beverages to unwind. As a result, the roads can become a… read more