Palm Springs Products Liability Lawyers

At a young age, Scott’s grandfather died as a result of medical malpractice from his treating physician’s failures, and his family lost years they thought they had left. His life’s work is dedicated to fighting back when someone’s life, liberty, and/or happiness has been taken away, in his grandfather, Victor’s memory. Scott has handled hundreds of injury and insurance claims, settled millions of dollars worth of claims, and when necessary, litigated and gone to trial on cases in state and federal courts across Florida. Scott’s career started representing insurance companies like State Farm, Travelers, USAA, and multiple others. As an...

Vincent Joseph Pravato is a founding and managing partner at The Law Firm of Wolf & Pravato, P.A. Vincent directs the firm’s National Development and Marketing division. He has led the firm to expand its offices throughout Florida, delivering superb legal counsel to all Floridians. Wolf & Pravato, with six offices - Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Fort Myers, West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach and Tampa, handles serious injuries, traumatic brain injuries, wrongful death, product liability and other devastating cases for individuals and families all across Florida. Through Vincent’s relentless perseverance and drive, Wolf & Pravato is recognized as a highly successful...

DAVID P. VITALE, JR. is an experienced trial attorney who has litigated cases throughout the state of Florida. Mr. Vitale was recently recognized for his achievements by The National Trial Lawyers, as a Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff attorney in Florida. In addition to pursing personal injury, wrongful death, and medical malpractice claims on behalf of injured victims, Mr. Vitale also handles complex commercial and business litigation matters. As a result of his prior career as a Certified Public Accountant in the State of New York, Mr. Vitale has a unique business perspective in developing strategies that are efficient, effective,...

I focus my practice on the representation of plaintiffs in pharmaceutical and medical device product liability claims and other complex personal injury, products liability and medical malpractice claims.

Florida personal injury lawyer Christopher Speed joined Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley PA as a Shareholder in 1994 after representing plaintiffs in Virginia for 20 years. He has spent his entire career pursuing justice for victims of personal injury, medical and legal negligence, aviation accidents and defective products.

MARA RITCHIE PONCY HATFIELD, who holds dual degrees in environmental law, began consulting with Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley on issues related to environmental and entertainment law in 2006 before becoming an associate with the firm in 2012. Since then, she has assisted the firm’s clients in obtaining recoveries for injuries arising out of environmental contamination, medical malpractice, nursing home neglect, catastrophic automobile crashes, defective products and premises liability (including but not limited to slip and falls). She continues to work on intellectual property and consumer-based class action lawsuits as well.

Chad Hastings was born in Teaneck, New Jersey and raised in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where he graduated from Port St. Lucie High School. Chad attended the University of Central Florida, where he received his B.S. in Finance in 1997. While at U.C.F., Chad was actively involved in Student Government as the Comptroller, served his fraternity Alpha Tau Omega as the Treasurer, and worked with Habitat for Humanity. Chad attended law school at the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University where he earned his J.D. in 2001.

Chad joined the firm in 2007, having previously worked at a...

Gabriel F. Zambrano, a resident of South Florida, has been practicing law in the State of Florida since 1994. Throughout his career, he has handled commercial litigation and insurance defense cases, successfully resolving them through mediation or trial. He holds an esteemed AV rating from the Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Rating system. With extensive trial experience, Gabriel has taken on complex and severe injury cases, some of which have lasted for over thirty days. In 2011, he was selected as co-counsel for an Engle Tobacco trial, which resulted in one of the largest reported verdicts of that year. Today, he passionately...

After attending St. Thomas University for law school, Attorney Craig Posner was admitted in 2004 to the Florida State Bar Association. Working as a former insurance defense attorney for a nationally known auto insurance company, he was able to retain insightful legal knowledge regarding the insurance industry. Learning what car insurance providers look for and what tactics they use, Attorney Posner has been able utilize that information to fight against their schemes when they try deny or delay rightful claims. Dedicated to each and every client first and foremost, Attorney Posner works on a contingency fee basis. This means that...

Gary S. Lesser was born in West Palm Beach. After graduating from Forest Hill High School, Gary attended George Washington University, where he graduated with a B.A. in International Affairs. Gary was named to the Dean’s List and served as President Pro Tempore of the Student Senate. He was Associate Editor of the GW Hatchet, the school newspaper, and the Editor-in-Chief of the GW Journal, a monthly political opinion commentary. Gary attended University of Miami School of Law earning his Juris Doctorate. He was a member of Bar & Gavel Society, and served as Associate Editor of the Yearbook of...

I received my Juris Doctor with a certificate in Environmental and Land Use Law from the University of Florida's Levin College of Law. A double Gator, I also received my Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Florida. Clients turn to me when they have complex litigation matters because of my experience in state and federal courts. Additional areas of experience include product liability, medical malpractice, catastrophic aviation accidents, legal malpractice, accounting malpractice, nursing home claims, construction litigation and commercial litigation, as well as a variety of general negligence matters.

CHRISTIAN D. SEARCY is President and CEO of Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, PA. For over 30 years, he has litigated cases primarily involving catastrophic injury and death in venues throughout Florida, as well as other states. At age 30, he had the distinction of being the youngest lawyer in the United States to achieve a verdict of $1 million for a single personal injury lawsuit. In 2006, Mr. Searcy was one of only two lawyers in the country to receive the “War Horse Award” from the Southern Trial Lawyers Association, honoring his outstanding skill as a trial advocate...

DAVID K. KELLEY, JR., brings to the firm substantial unique experience. He served as a criminal prosecutor for the United States serving as Assistant US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, concentrating on white collar fraud and tax evasion cases. He also served as a member of the Federal Court as a criminal defense attorney in the Federal Public Defender's Office for the Southern District of Florida. He became a member of the Federal Court Trial Bar in its first year 1976. Mr. Kelley's trial practice with Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley PA focuses on personal injury, product liability...

BRIAN R. DENNEY is a native of West Palm Beach who received his undergraduate degree from Stetson University, where he was awarded the Outstanding Senior Award for Academic Excellence in Sociology. While at Stetson, Mr. Denney was actively involved in student affairs, serving on the Stetson Judicial Council and as Vice President of his social fraternity. A “double hatter,” he went on to receive his Juris Doctor degree, with honors, from Stetson University College of Law where he was the recipient of the Victor O. Wehle Trial Advocacy Award. Upon graduation, Mr. Denney joined the general trial division of a well-known...

AV Rated, the highest rating given to an attorney by Martindale Hubbell. Practice Areas include: Personal Injury and Wrongful Death cases. Admitted to Florida Bar 1996, New Jersey Bar 1996, Washington, DC Bar 2011, Georgia Bar 2022, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, Middle District of Florida and the U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit Graduated St. Thomas University Law School in 1995 Graduated the University of Delaware in 1992 with a B.S.B.A.. Memberships: Florida Bar Trial Lawyers Section, South Palm Beach County Bar Association, The Florida Bar, Florida Justice Association, the Philadelphia Bar Association, Pennsylvania Association for Justice...

Attorney Jason M. Melton, is a founding partner of Whittel & Melton. As a former state prosecutor, he continues fighting for victims bringing in some of the largest single event results in Central Florida. Jason is a lifetime member of the Multi-Million and Million Dollar Advocates Forum, AV-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell and continues to be listed among SuperLawyers in Florida by Thomson Reuters. He is a Founding Member of the National Academy of Motorcycle Injury Lawyers, and in 2023 was named President. Attorney Melton is dedicated to providing clients with personalized, high-quality representation. We handle Auto Accidents, Slip and Fall, Injury, Nursing...

An experienced trial attorney, Robert Whittel provides his clients with strong, disciplined, results-oriented representation. Prior to becoming a lawyer, he served as a Lieutenant Commander in the US Navy. Robert graduated from both law school and the United States Merchant Marine Academy with honors, and served on the esteemed Florida Law Review. Before co-founding Whittel & Melton, a full-service law firm, Robert gained valuable experience in the court room both serving as a former prosecutor and representing large corporations in complex litigation and transactional matters. Robert is devoted to fighting for his clients’ rights. He handles all types of criminal...

Robert B. Baker, founder of Baker Legal Team, is an experienced civil trial attorney who seeks justice for clients who have suffered serious injury due to the negligence of others. He represents clients in catastrophic personal injury cases involving wrongful death, boating/cruise ship accidents, jet ski accidents, burn injuries, product liability, and serious automobile accidents. Robert has earned Florida Bar Board Certification, the highest level of recognition by the Florida Bar for the competency and experience of a civil trial lawyer. The Daily Business Review selected Robert as one of the Finalists for Most Effective Lawyers of South Florida in...

Eric H. Luckman is the founder of MediationWorks. He has been a lawyer for over 37 years and has been a Florida Bar Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer for over 27 years. Eric is also a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator. He has been recognized as a “Super Lawyer” in insurance law since 2014. His areas of expertise include personal injury and wrongful death, insurance coverage and bad faith claims, professional malpractice claims and condominium and homeowners association disputes.

David Gaspari is a Florida Bar Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer. He has successfully litigated, tried and taken to verdict virtually every type of personal injury case including wrongful death, defective products, automobile negligence, truck accidents, motorcycle injuries and premises liability claims. He has obtained numerous multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients. David Gaspari joined Cunningham Whalen & Gaspari as a partner in 2006 after a successful career as a defense attorney defending physicians and personal injury claims and 12 years with the personal injury firm of Lytal Reiter, Clark, Fountain & Williams. He has gained...

Stratton A. Smiley was born in Ohio, but has been a south Florida resident for the past fourteen years. Mr. Smiley received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, magna cum laude, from Florida Atlantic University. While at FAU, Mr. Smiley continuously made the Dean’s List, President’s List, and was a Scholar Athlete.

Upon graduating, Mr. Smiley passed the Florida Bar Exam with one of the highest scores in the state and was the speaker on behalf of the newly admitted attorneys at the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal’s induction ceremony.

Drew McLaughlin is a dedicated attorney who represents those facing criminal charges and others seeking help through personal injury claims in South Florida. McLaughlin serves clients throughout Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties as an attorney with McLaughlin Morris, P.A., the firm he co-founded in 2014. McLaughlin attended Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, where he received a bachelors of arts in both history and Spanish, graduating magna cum laude. He then turned his focus to law school at the University of Florida's Levin College of Law, where he earned his start in the legal field as a Certified Legal...

Prior to joining Whittel & Melton, Mr. Sheslow served as an Assistant Public Defender in Manatee County, Florida. Mr. Sheslow accumulated an impressive trial record while with the Public Defender’s Office. He was quickly promoted from a Misdemeanor to Felony case load in less than 10 months. Mr. Sheslow has tried over 20 cases ranging from DUIs and Domestic Batteries to life felonies. He has earned acquittals in serious cases such as firearms offenses and sex offenses. Additionally, Mr. Sheslow completed the National Criminal Defense Lawyers College held at Mercer College of Law in Macon, Georgia, where he learned from...

Fred Cunningham limits his practice to serious personal injury and insurance company coverage and bad faith litigation. He has obtained well over one hundred million dollars in settlements and verdicts for his clients. Mr. Cunningham has been included in every issue of Florida Super Lawyers since 2006, including being listed as one of the “Top 100" lawyers in 2012. He has been included in the Florida Trend “Legal Elite” every year since 2007 in both personal injury and insurance law. Fred has also earned Florida Bar Certification, the highest level of recognition by the Florida Bar, for competency and...

Jarrett DeLuca focuses his practice on complex personal injury, wrongful death, and medical malpractice litigation. He has consistently been recognized by his peers in the area of plaintiff’s personal injury law, has published articles in both state and national legal journals, and has obtained numerous multi-million dollar awards and settlements for his clients. Since 2012, Jarrett has been listed every year by Florida Super Lawyers magazine as a Rising Star in the area of plaintiff’s personal injury litigation – a recognition given to only 2.5% of Florida’s lawyers. He was also named by The National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 under...

Scott B. Smith, Esq. is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer. He has been Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by The Florida Bar since 2008. He specializes in the areas of personal injury, auto accidents, premise liability and product liability. In 2017, Mr. Smith was selected and recognized as the "Lawyer of the Year" in Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs in West Palm Beach, FL. He has litigated hundreds of personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout all of Florida in more than 1/2 of Florida's 67 counties. He also conducted jury trial...

Greg Yaffa joined Cunningham Whalen & Gaspari in 2004 and currently concentrates his practice in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death and insurance company bad faith. Prior to joining the firm, Greg practiced in the Miami-based law office of Stewart G. Greenberg, where he focused on automobile negligence, wrongful death, medical malpractice and product liability cases. Greg is admitted to practice law not only in the State Courts of Florida, but also in the Florida Federal Courts, including the United States District Court, Middle District Court of Florida, the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida...

Aggressive Advocate Focus on Trial and Appellate Litigation Represent Plaintiffs Multi-Jurisdiction Bar Admission in State and Federal Courts

Richard is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Civil Trial Law since 1991, and Recertified consistently since becoming Board Certified. Richard has achieved a national reputation through his representation of clients as lead counsel in more than ten states, and as a result of over thirty years of outstanding results in trial and by obtaining substantial settlements for his clients. He has consistently received an “AV” Rating which is the highest rating of legal ability and ethics by the Martindale -Hubbell Law Directory. He has consistently been listed in the prestigious peer reviewed book, The Best Lawyers...

Corey Leifer was born in Queens, New York and grew up on Long Island, New York. He attended college at the University of South Florida (“USF”) in Tampa, Florida, where he received a degree in Criminal Justice. Mr. Leifer was a member of the Dean’s List at USF and was the recipient of the prestigious Honors Convocation Award during his senior year. He earned his law degree at Thomas Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan. Mr. Leifer began his legal career as a Prosecutor at the Broward County State Attorney’s Office, where he served as lead counsel in...

Mr. Doner was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1983 and has garnered a long list of professional accolades and accomplishments throughout his career, including having been admitted entry into the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Adam is a Partner at the law offices of Gordon & Doner and provides a comprehensive range of both experience and knowledge to our firm.