de la Parte & Gilbert and The Yerrid Law Firm have donated $200,000 each to The Buoniconti Fund for spinal cord research at the University of Miami. The firms’ donations come upon successfully representing Allan Navarro in $217 million medical malpractice suit. Mr. Navarro, who donated $600,000 to the fund, was left quadriplegic after doctors misdiagnosed his stroke as sinusitis.

TBO.com  July 26, 2007
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/jul/26/
me-quadriplegic-victim-gives-part-of-award/

"The results obtained in this matter are not necessarily representative of the results obtained by our firm in all matters, and the results that may be obtained for a prospective client may differ depending on the individual facts and circumstances presented."

Kristin Yerkes, a recent cum laude graduate of the University of Florida Levin College of Law, has joined the firm practicing in the areas of environmental, administrative and appellate law. She received her Bachelor of Science in Management, cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2003. Kristin can reached at kyerkes@dgfirm.com.

L. David de la Parte Accepts In-House General Counsel Position at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center

 L. David de la Parte has joined H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute as in-house General Counsel. Moffitt will continue to use de la Parte & Gilbert for external legal services.

de la Parte & Gilbert has been part of Moffitt’s legal team as external General Counsel since the cancer center was founded in 1984. In his new, full-time role at Moffitt, David will serve as senior advisor and oversee all legal matters of the cancer center. He will be an integral part of senior management and will be the newest standing member of the Executive Leadership Council.

“My decision to serve as Moffitt’s in-house General Counsel was made with the full support of my partners and with the leadership at Moffitt,” said de la Parte. “We agreed that as in-house General Counsel, I can more effectively manage Moffitt’s legal affairs given Moffitt’s extraordinary growth, including their recent very exciting collaborations. I am honored to have been asked to join a very important organization.”

On September 29, 2006, after a three-week trial, a Tampa jury awarded Allan Navarro and his family $117 million in compensatory damages.  On October 3, 2006, the jury returned a $100.1 million verdict for punitive damages.  Allan Navarro went to the emergency room at University Community Hospital-Carrollwood, Tampa, Florida on August 9, 2000 with complaints of headache, nausea, dizziness, double vision, and a family history of strokes.  Five hours later, the attending emergency physician on duty discharged him with a diagnosis of sinusitis and a painkiller prescription.  The next morning, Mr. Navarro returned to the emergency room with more serious symptoms.  He underwent emergency surgery to relieve brain swelling.  Mr. Navarro emerged from a coma three months later, permanently and totally disabled.  During the trial, the emergency physician testified that the man who took Mr. Navarro’s medical history and performed Mr. Navarro’s initial physical exam was an unlicensed physician’s assistant.  Mr. Navarro, now 50, was once a healthy, vibrant husband and father who was a pro basketball player in his native Philippines. 

Hillsborough Water Works. Meet the Experts.

Mr. Edward P. de la Parte is a partner in the law firm of de la Parte and Gilbert, P.A. specializing in water law and utility issues.  He has represented many counties and cities in Florida as well as the West Coast and Lee County Regional Water Supply Authorities regarding water supply issues.  He has also represented many government-owned utilities including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the South Florida Water Management District, the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the St. Johns River Water Management District involving water utility issues.  His more significant cases included the adoption of water quality standards by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to the Safe Drinking Water Act, the adoption of CERP programmatic regulations by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the adoption of the Underground Injection Control Program rules by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the adoption of minimum flows and levels and the Group A and B water use permitting rules by the South Florida Water Management District, and the establishment of the water use permitting program by the Southwest Florida Water Management District.  Mr. de la Parte is a native of Tampa and is recognized as a “Leading Florida Lawyer” and “Preeminent Attorney in Environmental Law” in the fields of land use and environmental law.