I began working in a personal injury law firm when I was 17 years old and began attending client meetings, depositions, hearings, trials and researching cases and drafting briefs. I joined the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers as a student and knew early on I wanted to become a personal injury trial lawyer. Immediately after graduating law school and passing the bar exam, I was sworn in to The Florida Bar and began practicing plaintiff personal injury law in 1995. At the age of 27 I stared my own personal injury law firm on January 1, 1997 in the Sunshine Professional Center. Now at the age of 42 I am still practicing 100% plaintiff personal injury law and truly enjoy the process of building relationships with my clients and achieving victories as a legal advocate.
Stetson University College of Law, Juris Doctor, Cum Laude, May, 1995
Member, Stetson Trial Team, Ranked #1 in the nation in Trial Advocacy skills by U.S. News & World Report
State Champion, Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers Statewide Civil Trial Competition 1995.
Book Award for Highest Grade, Florida Civil Practice & Procedure taught by Judge David Patterson, Second District Court of Appeals
Attended & Completed Appellate Practice & Procedure by Chief Judge John Scheb, Second District Court of Appeals
Al J. Cone Trial Advocacy Institute Graduate
American Association for Justice, Interstate Trucking College Graduate, 2009, Atlanta, GA
University of Florida, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, December, 1991
Member, Florida Blue Key, President, Alpha Eta Chapter, Pi Kappa Alpha, Member: Order of Omega & Mortar Board
Christopher Columbus High School, Miami, FL, 1997
Active Memberships:
The Florida Bar
American Bar Association
Florida Justice Association
American Association for Justice
The Florida Bar Trial Lawyers Section
The Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section
U.S. Middle District Court of Florida
Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Life Member
Lee & Collier County Bar Associations
The Florida Academy of Professional Mediators
American Bar Association, Tort & Insurance Practice Section
Florida Bar Justice Teaching Volunteer
President, Rotary Club of Bonita Springs, 2011-2012
Past Service:
Board of Directors, Bonita Springs YMCA 1996-2002
President, Bonita Springs Youth Council (1998-1999)
Board of Directors, Bonita Springs Main Street Old 41 Redevelopment Committee, 1997-1998
Public Speaking:
Guest Speaker, Lehigh High School J.R.O.T.C. on Goal Setting, Motivation & Personal Development
Guest Speaker, Lehigh High School Law Program, 1997 – 1999
Guest Speaker, Estero High School Leadership Lock In on Goal Setting, Motivation & Personal Development
Guest Speaker, Estero High School Motivational Assembly 1998
Guest Speaker, Estero High School Law Program, 1998
Chairman, Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship Program 1998 – 2000
Recipient, Fort Myers News Press “Person To Watch in 1998.”
Presenter of Internet Liability Presentation, The People’s Law School, Ft. Myers, FL, 1999
Presenter of Internet Liability Presentation, The People’s Law School, Ft. Myers, FL, 2000
Presenter of Tort Liability Presentation, The People’s Law School, Naples, FL 2006
Presenter of “The Truth About Medical Malpractice” to Encore Club of Bonita Springs, FL
Guest Speaker, Southwest Florida Chapter of the Risk & Insurance Management Society, Inc. on Managed Care
Guest Speaker, Gateway Rotary Club, on Internet Liability
Guest Speaker, Collier County PC Business Users Group on Internet Privacy and Cyber-Torts
Guest Speaker, The People’s Law School at Florida Gulf Coast University, 1998, 1999, 2006
Guest Speaker, Covenant Church, on The Right To Choose Your Doctor & HMO Abuse
Lee County Bar Association Law Week, School Teacher, 1998 – present.