Benjamine Reid

Experience

Trials

• 2023 – Lineaire, LLC v. Park View II LLC, Miami-Dade County, Florida. Suit by putative purchaser of real estate seeking specific performance and multimillion-dollar damages in lost development profits based upon the failure to enter into a purchase and sale agreement.
• 2018 – Walker v. Bell Sports, Inc., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Bicycle helmet product liability action claiming permanent brain damage and disability to a 43-year-old married mother of one who was a project manager for Georgia-Pacific and Toyota Motor Corp.
• 2015 – Suarez v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Miami-Dade County, Florida. Death of a 58-year-old smoker claiming compensatory and punitive damages for lung cancer and addiction arising from the use of cigarettes containing nicotine.
• 2014 – Cuculino v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Miami-Dade County, Florida. 68-year-old former smoker claiming compensatory and punitive damage for coronary artery disease caused by his addiction to cigarettes.
• 2013 – Apotex, Inc. v. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Broward County, Florida. Suit by generic pharmaceutical manufacturer against the patent holder for breach of a settlement agreement.
• 2012 – Ballard v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Miami-Dade County, Florida. 86-year-old former smoker claiming compensatory damages for bladder cancer caused by his addiction to cigarettes.
• 2012 – Calloway v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Broward County, Florida. Death of a 59-year-old smoker claiming compensatory and punitive damages for cancer and addiction arising from the use of cigarettes containing nicotine.
• 2011 – Bowman v. R.J Reynolds Tobacco Co., Duval County, Florida. Death of a 59-year-old smoker claiming compensatory and punitive damages for cancer and addiction arising from the use of cigarettes containing nicotine.
• 2011 – Reese v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Miami-Dade County, Florida. 82-year-old current smoker claiming compensatory and punitive damages for throat cancer and COPD caused by her addiction to cigarettes containing nicotine.
• 2011 – Koballa v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. (Koballa II), Volusia County, Florida. 77-year-old former smoker claiming compensatory and punitive damages for lung cancer and COPD caused by her addiction to cigarettes containing nicotine.
• 2010 – Koballa v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. (Koballa I), Volusia County, Florida. 77-year-old former smoker claiming compensatory and punitive damages for lung cancer and COPD caused by her addiction to cigarettes containing nicotine.
• 2010 – Castillo v. Teledyne Continental Motors, Inc., U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Aircraft crash in Guatemala resulting in the death of five individuals on board.
• 2010 – Buonomo v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Broward County, Florida. Death of 80-year-old smoker claiming compensatory and punitive damages for cancer, addiction, and fraud.
• 2007 – Menchini v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Miami-Dade County, Florida. Death of a 47-year-old former flight attendant whose estate claimed damage from exposure to environmental tobacco smoke while working in aircraft cabins. 
• 2007 – Jeld-Wen, Inc. v. Nebula Glass Int'l, Inc., U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Represented third-party defendant in claims involving resin used in hurricane glass in homes and buildings.
• 2006 – Reyes v. Grijalba, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Represented plaintiffs in a suit brought for compensatory and punitive damages brought under the Alien Tort Statute and the Torture Victim Protection Act against a colonel in the Honduran army on behalf of victims of torture, abduction, and extra-judicial killing by death squads in the early 1980s in Honduras.
• 2006 – Manzanares v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida. Suit for compensatory and punitive damages for violation of the automatic stay and of the discharge injunction.
• 2005 – Jones v. Bell Sports, Inc., Palm Beach County, Florida. Bicycle helmet product liability action claiming permanent brain damage and disability to 59-year-old teacher. 
• 2004 – Jim Moore Ins. Agency, Inc. v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. National class action suit alleging breach of contract, conversion, promissory estoppel, tortious interference, unjust enrichment, and declaratory relief seeking a determination of the ownership of flood policies written by all State Farm agents since 1983. 
• 2004 – The Med. Store, Inc. v. AIG Claim Servs., Inc., U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Suit seeking compensatory and exemplary damages for breach of Florida's Uniform Trade Secrets Act and a confidentiality contract, fraud, and breach of fiduciary duty. Defense verdict.
• 2003 – Orthopedic Rehab Specialty Clinics, Inc. v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Suit for unpaid medical claims with counterclaim for fraud, civil theft, unjust enrichment, and breach of Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. Defense verdict and multimillion-dollar victory counterclaim.
• 2003 – Allen v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Death of a 65-year-old smoker claiming damages for cancer, addiction, and fraud. 
• 2001 – Dourado v. Ford Motor Co., Broward County, Florida. Automotive product liability claim resulting in quadriplegic with ventilator followed months later by death.
• 2001 – Jimenez v. Ford Motor Co., Miami-Dade County, Florida. Automotive product liability claim resulting in permanent vegetative state for 10-year-old girl.
• 1998–2000 – Engle v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Miami-Dade County, Florida. Class action brought on behalf of all Florida smokers who are addicted claiming to be injured by the use of cigarettes.
• 1998 – Yarusso v. Bell Sports, Inc., Superior Court, New Castle County, Delaware. 19-year-old male quadriplegic from motocross accident involving claimed defect in motorcycle helmet.
• 1997 – Shea v. Am. Honda Motor Co., Inc., U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. 14-year-old female with severe facial injuries and scarring resulting from all-terrain vehicle collision with barbed wire fence.
• 1997 – Strickland v. TRW Inc., Charlotte County, Florida. Death of 68-year-old female in rollover involving claimed defect in seatbelt design.
• 1997 – Boeldt v. Am. Honda Motor Co., Inc., Garland County, Arkansas. Brain injury to 50-year-old male allegedly due to carbon monoxide poisoning in vehicle.
• 1996 – EDS v. Dade Int'l, American Arbitration Association. Contract dispute involving software design, clinical laboratory market, and business damages.
• 1996 – Weaver v. Am. Honda Motor Co., Inc., Broward County, Florida. 19-year-old male quadriplegic involving claimed defect in all-terrain vehicle.
• 1996 – Collins v. Bell Helmets, U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina. Death of 19-year-old male in motorcycle/car collision involving claimed defect in motorcycle helmet.
• 1996 – Aymond v. Bieffe Helmets, Grayson County, Kentucky. Brain injury to 60-year-old female in motorcycle/car collision involving claimed defect in motorcycle helmet.
• 1995 – Jensen v. Pirelli, Hillsborough County, Florida. Death of both parents of a five-year-old male resulting from multi-vehicle accident following tire tread separation.
• 1995 – Brownwood v. Am. Honda Motor Co., Inc., U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. 14-year-old male severely cut by foot peg in all-terrain vehicle accident.
• 1995 – Masterson v. Bell Helmets, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. Death of 15-year-old male in motorcycle/car collision involving claimed defect in motorcycle helmet.
• 1995 – Cornell v. Am. Honda Motor Co., Inc., Manatee County, Florida. Death of 20-year-old male from burn injuries suffered in vehicle fire involving claimed defect in electrical system.
• 1994 – Alvarez v. Sears and Pirelli, Miami-Dade County, Florida. Multiple injuries to two plaintiffs (male and female) in vehicle accident resulting from tire tread separation.
• 1994 – Hopkins v. Am. Honda Motor Co., Inc., U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. 19-year-old male paraplegic involving claimed defect in all-terrain vehicle.
• 1992 – Campbell v. Eaton Corp., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. Electrical burn injuries to adult involving claimed defect in motor control center.
• 1990 – Jones v. Eaton Corp., U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Spinal cord injury of 43-year-old male in fall from a high-bay stacker in Miami International Airport hangar.
• 1990 – Villegas v. Great Dane, Broward County, Florida. Death of 19-year-old female who drove under a trailer.
• 1989 – Hessen/Allstate v. Jaguar, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Subrogation claim for destruction of home due to fire in automobile involving claimed fuel system defect.
• 1988 – Better Contr. v. Daniel Int'l and Westinghouse, Miami-Dade, Florida. Construction dispute arising from termination of contractor on Miami People Mover project.
• 1988 – Perez v. Rover Grp., Miami-Dade County, Florida. Quadriplegia, coma, and ultimate death of adult father of one involving claimed defect in automotive steering system.
• 1987 – Pulido v. Bell Helmets, Miami-Dade County, Florida. Death of adult involving claimed defect in motorcycle helmet.
• 1987 – Rivkin v. Arthur Fulmer Helmets, Miami-Dade County, Florida. Death of adult police officer, father of two, involving claimed defect in motorcycle helmet.
• 1986 – Grippen v. Bell Helmets, Hillsborough County, Florida. Permanent brain damage to adult involving claimed defect in motorcycle helmet.
• 1986 – Herrera v. Gulf and Western, Miami-Dade County, Florida. Death of adult general in Columbian army involving claim against owner of sugar plantation abutting intersection.
• 1985 – LaVault v. Gen. Motors Corp., Broward County, Florida. Death of 14-year-old involving claimed transmission defect.
• 1984 – Nichols v. Gen. Motors Corp., U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Death of adult father of two when vehicle rolled into canal involving claimed defect in electrical system.
• 1984 – Georgionni v. Gen. Motors Corp., U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Injury to elderly passenger involving claimed unwanted acceleration.
• 1984 – Walden v. Gen. Motors Corp., U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Death of three-year-old pedestrian involving claimed bus defect.

Appellate and Class Certification Opinions

• Stillwell v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Co., No. 21-13740 (11th Cir.)
• Royal Palm Optical, Inc. v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., No. 21-11335, 2022 WL 1666967 (11th Cir. May 25, 2022)
• Peterson v. Cisco Systems, Inc., No. 3D20-0244 (Fla. 2d DCA)
• O’Neal v. Darling, No. 3D2019-1645 (Fla. 3d DCA)
• Maxon v. Sentry Life Insurance Co., No. 19-3501 (7th Cir.)
• Stillwell v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Co., 563 F. Supp. 3d 1195 (M.D. Fla. 2021)
• Royal Palm Optical, Inc. v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., 530 F. Supp. 3d 1175 (S.D. Fla. 2021)
• Arko v. State Farm Florida, No. 3D18-2185 (Fla. 3d DCA)
• Arko v. State Farm Florida, No. 3D18-1111 (Fla. 3d DCA)
• Arko v. State Farm Florida, No. 3D18-0979 (Fla. 3d DCA)
• Mao-MSO Recovery v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., Nos. 18-2377 & 18-2463 (7th Cir.)
• Darling v. Shaquille O’Neal, 247 So. 3d 481 (Fla. 3d DCA 2018)
• Nygård v. DiPaolo,  753 F. App'x 716 (11th Cir. 2018)
• Lopez v. Shaquille O’Neal, No. 5D13-2651 (Fla. 5th DCA 2013).
• Darling v. Shaquille O’Neal, 86 So. 3d 1128 (Fla. 3d DCA 2012).
• Total Fleet Sols., Inc. v. Nat'l Ins. Crime Bureau, Inc., 101 So. 3d 856 (Fla. 5th DCA 2012).
• Coastal Neurology, Inc. v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 458 F. App'x 793 (11th Cir. 2012).
• All Family Clinic of Daytona Beach, Inc. v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 280 F.R.D. 688 (S.D. Fla. 2012).
• DWFII Corp. v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 469 F. App'x 762 (11th Cir. 2012).
• All Family Clinic of Daytona Beach, Inc. v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 448 F. App'x 906 (11th Cir. 2011).
• Webber v. Esquire Deposition Servs., LLC, 439 F. App'x 849 (11th Cir. 2011).
• Adelson v. U.S. Legal Support, Inc., 715 F. Supp. 2d 1265 (S.D. Fla. 2010).
• Altamonte Springs Imaging, L.C. v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 12 So. 3d 850 (Fla. 3d DCA 2009).
• Jim Moore Ins. Agency, Inc. v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 147 F. App'x 841 (11th Cir. 2005).
• Collins v. DaimlerChrysler Corp., 894 So. 2d 988 (Fla. 5th DCA 2004).
• Jim Moore Ins. Agency, Inc. v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., Inc., No. 9:02-cv-80381, 2003 WL 21146714 (S.D. Fla. May 6, 2003).
• Novartis Pharm. Corp. v. Carnoto, 840 So. 2d 410 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003).
• Novartis Pharm. Corp. v. Carnoto, 837 So. 2d 1127 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003).
• Williams v. Potamkin Motor Cars, Inc., 835 So. 2d 310 (Fla. 3d DCA 2002).
• State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Sosnowski, 830 So. 2d 886 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002).
• Montgomery v. New Piper Aircraft, Inc., No. 00-14284, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18219 (S.D. Fla. Aug. 30, 2002).
• Montgomery v. New Piper Aircraft, Inc., No. 00-14284, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18198 (S.D. Fla. Aug. 6, 2002).
• Montgomery v. New Piper Aircraft, Inc., 209 F.R.D. 221 (S.D. Fla. 2002).
• Knight Ridder, Inc. v. Dade Aviation Consultants, 808 So. 2d 1268 (Fla. 3d DCA 2002).
• Dade Aviation Consultants v. Knight Ridder, Inc., 800 So. 2d 302 (Fla. 3d DCA 2001).
• Novartis Pharm. Corp. v. Carnoto, 798 So. 2d 22 (Fla. 4th DCA 2001).
• Bell Sports, Inc. v. Yarusso, 759 A.2d 582 (Del. 2000).
• Ford Motor Co. v. Smith, 821 So. 2d 1084 (Fla. 3d DCA 2000). 
• Consol. Dev. Corp. v. Sherritt, Inc., 216 F.3d 1286 (11th Cir. 2000).
• Pirelli Armstrong Tire Corp. v. Jensen, 752 So. 2d 1275 (Fla. 2d DCA 2000).
• Strickland v. Ford Motor Co., 725 So. 2d 1123 (Fla. 2d DCA 1998).
• O’Neal v. Gen. Motors Corp., 711 So. 2d 559 (Fla. 5th DCA 1998).
• Fla. Power & Light Co. v. Allis Chalmers Corp., 85 F.3d 1514 (11th Cir. 1996).
• Shuster v. Gen. Motors Corp., 672 So. 2d 106 (Fla. 3d DCA 1996).
• Campbell v. Cutler Hammer, Inc., 36 F.3d 1073 (11th Cir. 1994).
• U.S. v. S. Fla. Water Mgmt. Dist., 28 F.3d 1563 (11th Cir. 1994).
• W. Palm Beach Cty. Farm Bureau, Inc. v. Chiles, No. 92-2269, 1993 Fla. App. LEXIS 7727 (Fla. 1st DCA July 8, 1993).
• Campbell v. Cutler Hammer, Inc., 646 So. 2d 573 (Ala. 1994).
• Cherry v. Knowles, 8 F.3d 36 (11th Cir. 1993).
• Campbell v. Cutler Hammer, Inc., 996 F.3d 1164 (11th Cir. 1993).
• Pahokee Water Control Dist. v. S. Fla. Mgmt. Dist., 617 So. 2d 1065 (Fla. 4th DCA 1993).
• Sugar Cane Growers Co-op of Fla. v. S. Fla. Water Mgmt. Dist., 608 So. 2d 904 (Fla. 4th DCA 1992).
• High v. Westinghouse Elec. Corp., 610 So. 2d 1259 (Fla. 1992).
• Jones v. Eaton Corp. of Fla., 958 F.2d 1082 (11th Cir. 1992).
• United States v. S. Florida Water Mgmt. Dist., 847 F. Supp. 1567 (S.D. Fla. 1992).
• Daniel Int'l Corp. v. Better Constr., Inc., 593 So. 2d 524 (Fla. 3d DCA 1991).
• Better Constr., Inc. v. Westinghouse Elec. Corp., 593 So. 2d 525 (Fla. 3d DCA 1991).
• Hessen for Use & Benefit of Allstate Ins. Co. v. Jaguar Cars, Inc., 915 F.2d 641 (11th Cir. 1990).
• Fla. Power & Light Co. v. Allis Chalmers Corp., 893 F.2d 1313 (11th Cir. 1990).
• Bell Helmets, Inc. v. Sanchez, 553 So. 2d 782 (Fla. 4th DCA 1989).
• Murciano v. Gen. Motors Corp., 554 So. 2d 1176 (Fla. 4th DCA 1989).
• High v. Westinghouse Elec. Corp., 559 So. 2d 227 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989).
• Taylor v. Gen. Motors Corp., 875 F.2d 816 (11th Cir. 1989).
• S. Fla. Water Mgmt. Dist. v. Montalvo, 1989 WL 260215 (S.D. Fla. 1989).
• Mathieson v. Gen. Motors Corp., 529 So. 2d 761 (Fla. 3d DCA 1988).
• Fla. Power & Light Co. v. Westinghouse Elec. Corp., 835 F.2d 817 (11th Cir. 1988).
• Pulido v. Bell Helmet, Inc., 515 So. 2d 352 (Fla. 3d DCA 1987).
• Fla. Power & Light Co. v. Westinghouse Elec. Corp., 510 So. 2d 899 (Fla. 1987).
• Bunzl USA Florida, Inc. v. Martin, 507 So. 2d 1146 (Fla. 3d DCA 1987).
• Porter v. Wainwright, 805 F.2d 930 (11th Cir. 1986).
• Fla. Power & Light Co. v. Westinghouse Elec. Corp., 785 F.2d 952 (11th Cir. 1986).
• Rainey v. Beech Aircraft Corp., 784 F.2d 1523 (11th Cir. 1986).
• LaVault v. Gen. Motors Corp., No. 84-2384, 1985 Fla. App. LEXIS 17012 (Fla. 4th DCA Nov. 27, 1985).
• Cohen v. Gen. Motors Corp., Cadillac Div., 444 So. 2d 1170 (Fla. 4th DCA 1984).
• Lehr v. Bishop, 444 So. 2d 1024 (Fla. 3d DCA 1984).
• Valle-Axelberd & Assocs., Inc. v. Metropolitan Dade Cty., 440 So. 2d 606 (Fla. 3d DCA 1983).
• Perez v. Dep't of Transp., 435 So. 2d 830 (Fla. 1983).
• Cohen v. Gen. Motors Corp., Cadillac Div., 427 So. 2d 389 (Fla. 4th DCA 1983).
• Morella v. Brown, 425 So. 2d 123 (Fla. 4th DCA 1982).
• Aztec Steel Co. v. Fla. Steel Corp., 691 F.2d 480 (11th Cir. 1982).
• Perez v. State Dep't of Transp., 414 So. 2d 544 (Fla. 1st DCA 1982).
• De Garcia’s Estate v. Garcia, 399 So. 2d 486 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981).
• Alton Box Board Co. v. Merlin, Inc., 399 So. 2d 40 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981).
• Rolf’s Marina, Inc. v. Rescue Serv. & Repair, Inc., 398 So. 2d 842 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981).
• Fadjo v. Coon, 633 F.2d 1172 (5th Cir. 1981).
• Bank of Oklahoma, N.A. v. Little Judy Indus., Inc., 387 So. 2d 1002 (Fla. 3d DCA 1980).
• Brown v. Morella, 371 So. 2d 571 (Fla. 4th DCA 1979).
• Wehr Corp. v. Commercial Const. Corp., 464 F. Supp. 676 (S.D. Fla. 1979).
• Woolzy v. Gov't Employees Ins. Co., 360 So. 2d 1153 (Fla. 3d DCA 1978).
• Applestein v. Nat'l Bank of Tulsa, 358 So. 2d 106 (Fla. 3d DCA 1978).
• Fidelity & Cas. Co. of New York v. Fonseca, 358 So. 2d 569 (Fla. 3d DCA 1978).
• Matter of Transystems, Inc., 569 F.2d 1364 (5th Cir. 1978).
• State ex rel. Am. Home Ins. Co. v. Seay, 355 So. 2d 822 (Fla. 4th DCA 1978).
• First Wisconsin Nat'l Bank of Milwaukee v. Grandlich Dev. Corp., 565 F.2d 879 (5th Cir. 1978).
• Renaissance of Pompano Beach, Inc. v. Se. Dev. Corp., 353 So. 2d 105 (Fla. 4th DCA 1977).
• Anderson v. Plants by Tropico, Inc., 348 So. 2d 1235 (Fla. 3d DCA 1977).
• Response of Carolina, Inc. v. Leasco Response, Inc., 537 F.2d 1307 (5th Cir. 1976).
• Brickell Constrs. Co. v. Hartman, 332 So. 2d 119 (Fla. 3d DCA 1976).

Recognition

• AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• The Best Lawyers in America 
  • ​Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Environmental, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2005–2024)
  • Miami "Lawyer of the Year"
    • Litigation – Environmental (2020)
    • Mass Tort/Class Actions – Defendants (2017)
    • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2014)
• Chambers USA (2005–2018, 2021–2023)
• Who's Who Legal: Product Liability Defence (2023)
• Lifetime Achievement Award, Daily Business Review (2020)
• Most Effective Lawyers Award, Daily Business Review
• Florida Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers Magazine (2010–2023)
• Florida Legal Elite, Florida Trend Magazine (2004–2006, 2008, 2010–2011, 2015–2016)
• Top Lawyers, South Florida Legal Guide (2009–2010, 2014–2015)
• “Local Litigation Star" in Florida, Antitrust, Appellate, Commercial Litigation, Products Liability, Benchmark Litigation (2012)
• Listed No. 67 in the National Law Journal's annual Verdict Poster, published in NLJ and Fulton County Daily Report (March 2011)
• The Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit (2011)
• Honorable Theodore Klein Award for the Advancement of Women in the Legal Profession, Florida Association for Women Lawyers (2011)
• The Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award (2011)
• Salute to Miami Leaders Award, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce (2010)
• Pinnacle Award, Church of the Incarnation in Miami’s Liberty City
• Thomas W. Watkins Humanitarian Award, Product Liability Advisory Council
• Recognized by the Florida Supreme Court and Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals for representation of a death row inmate.

Professional & Community Involvement

• Litigation Counsel of America
  • Fellow
• American Bar Association
  • Co-Managing Director
  • Co-Chair, Miami Annual Meeting
  • Advisory Committee on Nominations
  • Chair, Task Force on the Judiciary
  • Co-Chair, Civil Justice Institute
  • Task Force, Civil Trial Standards
  • Chair, Products Liability Committee
  • Co-Chair, Legal Services Training Committee
  • Judicial Intern Opportunity Program – Miami Chair
• American Bar Foundation
  • Fellow
• American Board of Trial Advocates
• Product Liability Advisory Council
  • Director
  • Co-Chair, Action Group
• Florida Justice Institute
  • Director
• Florida International University Council of 100
  • Chair and Founding Member
• Orange Bowl Committee
  • Board of Directors
• Board of Advisors, BNA Class Action Litigation Reporter
• Board of Advisors, BNA Product & Safety Liability Reporter
• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • Board of Visitors
  • Director, Arts & Sciences Foundation
  • Director, General Alumni Association
  • Board of Advisors, Educational Foundation (Rams Club)
  • Carolina First $2 Billion Capital Campaign National Committee National Committee
  • National Development Council
  • Chancellor’s Club
• Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida
  • Vice-Chancellor
  • Standing Committee
  • Executive Board
• Episcopal Charities
  • Chair, Executive Committee
  • Board of Directors, Trinity Episcopal School 
• St. Philip’s Episcopal Church
  • Senior Warden
  • Vestry Member
  • Chair, $1 Million Capital Campaign
• Friends of WLRN Public Television &  Radio
  • Vice Chair
  • Board of Directors
  • Founding Member, Circle of Friends
• Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce
  • Vice Chair and Executive Committee Member
  • Education Committee Chair
• Leadership Miami
  • Chair & Executive Committee Member
• Dade Public Education Fund
  • Chair
• Dade Heritage Trust
  • Treasurer and Board Member
• Historical Association of Southern Florida
  • Board of Directors
• Two Hundred Club of Greater Miami

Speaking Engagements

• "Proven Strategies for Defending Class Actions," Carlton Fields Class Action Symposium, New York, NY (June 2013)
• “Products Over the Pond! Has U.S. Style Litigation Invaded the U.K.?,” ABA 2000 Annual Meeting, London (2000)
• “Trial of the Century – The Re-Trial of Sacco and Vanzetti,” Defended Nicola Sacco in the ABA’s Presidential Showcase, Annual Meeting (1996)
• ABA National Institute on Class Actions
• ABA National Institute on Automotive Products Liability
• Midyear Meeting at ABA Products, Environmental, and Mass Tort Committees
• ABA National Institute on the Trial of a Toxic Tort Case

Credentials

Background

• Faculty Member, Wadham College in Oxford University, Trial Practice Seminar for U.S. Attorneys and U.K. Barristers 
• Faculty Member, DePaul College of Law, Law Clifford Symposium on Tort Law 

Areas of Focus