The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the most frequently injured ligaments in the human body. The typical mechanism of the injury is a non-contact twisting movement, usually due to abrupt deceleration and change of direction. Side-stepping (cutting), pivoting and landing from a jump are examples of events that…
Articles Posted in Miscellaneous
Florida’s Road Bike Laws
Anyone who lives in South Florida knows that the population of road bikers has exploded in recent years. With Lance Armstrong’s exploits and the availability of relatively inexpensive high performance bicycles, it is not uncommon, especially on weekend mornings, to see a countless number of road bikers of all shapes…
Defenses/Counterclaims to Florida Debt & Foreclosure Lawsuits
Individuals and companies sued in Florida on debts (real & fabricated) and delinquent mortgages are not without legal defenses or affirmative relief. Here is a checklist of some of the available legal principles: Estoppel – Equitable, Promissory and Collateral. The action is barred by the statute of limitations applicable to…
Florida Supreme Court Limits Workers’ Compensation Carrier/Adjuster Abuse
In my view, one of the most important decisions in the history of Florida workers’ compensation jurisprudence is Aguilera v. Inservices, Inc., 905 So.2d. 84 (Fla. 2005). In a nutshell, Aguilera authorized civil lawsuits against insurance carriers and their adjusters “for harm caused subsequent to and distinct from the original…
Settling Minors’ Personal Injury Claims in Florida
Personal injury claims of individuals under the age of 18 present unique procedural demands for the legal practioner. For starters, the attorney represents the minor through the minor’s legal guardian, typically one parent or both. This is because minors cannot pursue claims through the court system or settle them, pre-…
Sovereign Immunity Limits Increased by 2010 Florida Legislature
History was made today by the Florida Legislature. After remaining at the same level for 30 years, Florida’s sovereign immunity limits – i.e., the maximum amount government entities can be forced to pay to victims in personal injury cases* – were increased by the 2010 Florida Legislature from $100,000 per…
Hepatitis C Infection from Contaminated Miami VA Colonoscopy Equipment Results in Lawsuits
Our law firm was recently hired by a military veteran who claims to have been infected with the liver disease Hepatitis C by equipment used to perform colonoscopies at the Veterans Administration (VA) hospital in Miami, Florida. Last year the VA acknowledged contamination issues with endoscopic equipment used to perform…
Rotator Cuff (Shoulder) Injuries & Florida Accident Law
In my 25 years of representing accident victims, I have found rotator cuff injuries to be about the most debilitating of all traumatic injuires for those employed as manual laborers. Unfortunately, it is a very common injury – for example, shoulder pain is second to back pain as the bases…
Pain & Suffering Damages Under Florida’s Workers’ Compensation System
Compensation for pain and suffering is available in most types of accident cases. It is not available in Florida workers’ compensation cases. Florida’s workers’ compensation system was instituted so that employees injured at work would not have to prove fault in order to receive benefits. Entitlement to compensation was to…
Florida’s Confusing Motor Vehicle Insurance Laws
Florida’s maze of motor vehicle insurance laws can be difficult to comprehend. A case in point: Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Property Damage – Liability are the only required coverages for an owner to lawfully operate his/her vehicle on Florida’s streets and highways. (PIP pays 80% of medical bills and…