Med mal: The botched Brazilian butt lift– why it’s so hard to collect
Because of lax regulation–surgical centers have to register, but not be licensed–South Florida has grown into destination for medical tourists looking for discount pricing on the popular but complicated procedure, the Brazilian butt lift. When correctly performed by a board certified surgeon, the procedure can be safe, effective and expensive at a cost of $5,000.00 […]
Our Latest: When an open wound won’t heal
It started as a small cut. But the client was elderly, in her 80’s, and had pre-existing blood circulation problems. With the passage of time, the opening in the skin grew larger, and larger. And treating and dressing the wound became more and more difficult. The poor woman wound up with a 6-inch long and […]
Death on the sidewalk: car vs. pedestrian
Not far from my home in North Miami Beach, a shrine marks the spot where a 10-year old boy named Anthony Reznik was struck and killed in the crosswalk by a driver who blew a red light. No such shrine marks the spot just a few blocks from my office in North Miami where three […]
Can they subpoena your cell phone records after an accident?
The answer is yes, but with certain restrictions. Florida law recognizes a right to privacy, and courts are supposed to weigh and balance the competing interests in protecting personal information with the need to discover relevant evidence–evidence that could be critical in determining fault. In one leading case, the court permitted an expert to inspect […]
Our Latest: Six-figure settlement for unbelted driver ejected in crash with DUI
Our client, a kind and gentle man from Peru, was working the night shift operating a Miami airport shuttle bus when he was hit broadside by a drunk driver blowing a red light at high speed. The impact sent our client through the open driver’s side window onto the pavement 30 feet away. He lost […]
Checking a doctor’s past malpractice claims
Not generally well known is the fact that the Florida Department of Insurance maintains a database of liability claims against physicians that’s freely available to the public. Every year, doctors and their insurers must report any claim, final judgment, settlement, insurance payment and any claims handling expense in excess of $5,000.00. – They must report: […]
Medical malpractice: Whose doctor is it? The University of Miami’s or Jackson Memorial Hospital’s?
If you’re a patient at Miami’s Jackson Memorial Hospital, it could have made a big difference whether your physician is acting on behalf of the University or on behalf of the Hospital. The University is a privately-owned, deep pocket institution, fully collectible, and entitled to no special treatment under law. Whereas Jackson Memorial is a […]
On the road: Is the bar where they were drinking responsible if your minor injures someone while driving drunk?
Can the bar that unlawfully sold alcohol to a minor defend itself in a dram shop suit by blaming the minor? No says a Florida appellate court, holding that by willingly and unlawfully selling alcohol to a minor, the bar becomes liable for injuries caused by the minor driving while intoxicated, and cannot shrug off […]
On the road: the most important insurance coverage you need
So you think you’re “fully insured,” right? Think again. With so many crazy drivers out there, remember that Florida doesn’t require bodily injury coverage, and as a result, there are millions of drivers out there who are uninsured if they injure you. Uninsured motorist coverage provides coverage in your favor if, God forbid, you’re injured […]
Structural inspections for every condo in Florida?
Every condo three stories or taller should undergo a structural inspection in no later than three years, and structural re-inspection every five years thereafter. That’s one recommendation from a Florida Bar Task Force studying the Champlain Tower tragedy. Other reforms being proposed: Condos should be required to have inspection, maintenance and replacement protocols covering roof, […]