May 27, 2008
Jim Clark was recently honored by the Florida Bar when it named him as Board Certified in Appellate Practice. This appellate certification has only been granted to 154 lawyers around the State. Jim is only the sixth lawyer in the State to hold Board Certifications in both Civil Practice and Appellate Practice.
Jim has argued over 200 appeals in his career and has appeared before most of Florida District Courts of Appeals, the Florida Supreme Court (where he argued the landmark case of Fabre v. Marin and others), and the Federal 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.
October 2005
Clark, Robb, Mason, Coulombe, Buschman and Cecere
is proud to announce the opening of their new Naples
office, which is located at the Premier Executive
Center, 1415 Panter Lane, Suite 432, Naples, Florida.
June 2005
Jeannine Patterson vs. Marc Geftman
Michael Robb, representing the defendant through
his insurance company State Farm, was able to obtain
a defense verdict. The trial which was in Broward
County in front of circuit Judge Patricia Henning
involved a rear end accident. The plaintiff went
on to have knee surgery for a torn meniscus by
Dr. Michael Abrams. The plaintiff who also worked
as a phone sex operator claimed she missed time
from work as a result of her injuries. Mr. Robb
was successful in getting the jury to believe the
plaintiffs knee surgery was not from the car accident.
The jury awarded the plaintiff only $4500 for past
medical bills for some chiropractic adjustments.
No future medicals or pain and suffering damages
were awarded. The defendant had filed a proposal
for settlement for $50,000. The defendant's Motion
to Tax Costs and Fees is pending.
Debra Stanfield vs. State Farm Mutual Automobile
Insurance Company
This matter was tried May7th-10th 2005 in front
of Judge Miette Burnstein of the Broward County
Circuit Court. Michael Robb represented State Farm.
The plaintiff fell while exiting her home to say
goodbye to her boyfriend who was already in his
pick-up truck. As she fell the plaintiff's right
hand went under the rear tire of the truck. The
plaintiff's boyfriend did not know she had come
out of the house or that she had fallen. He pulled
out and ran over her hand crushing all the bones
in it and causing a de-gloving injury which required
three surgeries. The plaintiff's medical bills
totaled $87,000. Mr. Robb was successful in getting
the jury to return a verdict of no negligence on
the boyfriend and therefore there was no exposure
to State Farm. Motions to collect costs and attorney
fees has been filed by State Farm.
Givens vs. Costco and Lifetime Products
Partner Michael Robb represented six week old Destiny
Givens and her parents for burns the infant sustained
when the folding table sold by Costco and manufactured
by Lifetime Products collapsed spilling the hot
contents of their Christmas dinner onto Destiny
who was in a infant carrier near the table. Destiny
was burned over 30% of her body and there was testimony
from burn specialists at John Hopkins University
that the right breast on this young female child
may never develop because of the scar tissue. After
two mediations spanning over 14 hours of negotiations
Michael Robb Jim Clark and Michael Cecere were
able to obtain a substantial settlement for the
family which secures Destiny future . At the request
of Lifetime Products the complete terms of the
settlement are confidential.
Robinson vs. State Farm
Michael Cecere of our Fort Lauderdale office received
a defense verdict in this automobile accident case
for State Farm. The Plaintiff alleged that an underinsured
motorist pulled directly into his path on State Road
84 causing a rear end collision. Mr. Cecere, however,
argued at trial that the Plaintiff made an improper
lane change causing the accident. The Plaintiff alleged
that he needs a C5-6, C6-7 cervical fusion, and both
Plaintiff’s and Defendant’s experts agreed.
However, the Defense experts claimed that it was
not the result of the automobile accident in question.
After jury deliberations, the jury determined that
there was no negligence on the part of the alleged
underinsured motorist that was a legal cause of loss,
injury or damage to the Plaintiff.
Blake vs. Cheramie
Michael Cecere of our Fort Lauderdale office received
a defense verdict in this automobile accident case.
The Defendant admitted liability for rear ending
Plaintiff’s vehicle in this accident. However,
the case was defended based upon causation. The Plaintiff
alleged a herniated disc at L4-5 and a need for future
surgery. The Plaintiff had been involved in a prior
automobile accident years before this accident and
had an MRI, which did not show a herniated disc at
L4-5. The Plaintiff contended that the recent MRI
now showed a herniated disc at that level. The defense
was successful in arguing that there was no change
in the MRIs between the pre-accident MRI and the
post accident MRI. After jury deliberations, the
jury concluded that the negligence of the Defendant
was not a legal cause of loss, injury or damage to
the Plaintiff.
Hendrix vs. Melofsky
Michael Cecere of our Fort Lauderdale office received
a defense verdict in this automobile accident case.
The Defendant admitted liability for running a stop
sign in a parking lot. The Plaintiff claimed multiple
injuries including bilateral carpal tunnel surgery,
neck and low back injuries. The Plaintiff underwent
five sets of epidural injections. The Plaintiff’s
past medical bill were in excess of ninety thousand
dollars. Mr. Cecere was successful in arguing that
the carpal tunnel surgeries were unrelated to the
automobile accident but related to the Plaintiff’s
occupation as a toll taker. After jury deliberations,
the jury concluded that the negligence of the Defendant
wan not a legal cause of loss, injury or damage to
the Plaintiff.
May 2005
Partner Michael Robb was recently mentioned as a
lawyer who has taken on ,who many believe to be the
dean of West Palm Beach plaintiffs' attorneys, Bob
Montgomery and didn't back down from the challenge.
In an article published in the New Times Mr. Robb
shared thought regarding some of his dealings with
Mr. Montgomery.
February 2005
Clark, Robb, Mason,
Coulombe, Buschman and Cecere selects PaperStreet
to develop new web site.
