Attorney Dan McBreen Receives AV Preeminent® Rating

de la Parte & Gilbert, P.A. is proud to announce that Dan McBreen has achieved an AV Preeminent® Rating from Martindale-Hubbell®. The AV Preeminent Rating recognizes the highest level of ability and ethical service and is the highest rating available to any attorney.

Dan is a Shareholder with the firm and focuses his practice in the areas of Business Litigation, Medical Malpractice, Wrongful Death Litigation, Civil Litigation and Personal Injury.

Kristin Melton Named a Shareholder

de la Parte & Gilbert is pleased to announce that Kristin Y. Melton has been named a Shareholder at the firm. Kristin has extensive experience with permitting issues, rule development, phosphate mining challenges, comprehensive plan challenges and legislative and regulatory guidance for clients across the state of Florida.

Kristin received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2006, and her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2003. She has been recognized in Super Lawyers Magazine as a Rising Star every year since 2010. In her free time, Kristin enjoys going to the gym, watching college football and spending time with her husband and daughter.

Kristin joined the firm in 2007 and practices primarily in administrative, environmental, water, government and sports law.

Personal Injury Lawyer Eric Nowak Interviewed Regarding Garbage Truck Collision

Attorney Eric Nowak and the parents of Kevin Heredia were interviewed by reporters about Kevin’s tragic death last year after being struck by a garbage truck. As recorded in this NBC News 6 video (or Spanish version):

Mr. Nowak and Kevin’s family discussed some of the facts surrounding the collision and also the public safety aspect of the case and their desire to prevent the same heartbreak from happening to other families.

In March 2014, eighteen year old Kevin was riding his bicycle to classes at a local college in Coconut Creek, Florida. As Kevin navigated the crosswalk at an intersection, a privately owned garbage truck struck him and he was killed. The family has filed suit in Broward County Circuit Court.

Eric Nowak graduated from New College of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and received his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Florida, Levin College of Law. He joined de la Parte & Gilbert, P.A. in 2009 and practices primarily in personal injury, medical malpractice and civil litigation.

Kristin Melton Comments on Jameis Winston Student Conduct Hearing in Associated Press Article

de la Parte & Gilbert associate, Kristin Melton, talked with Associated Press reporter, Kareem Copeland, about Florida State University quarterback Jameis Winston’s student code of conduct hearing that began on December 2, 2014. The resulting article outlines the key details of the hearing including the parties involved, a brief history about the case, possible sanctions, when a ruling is expected, and the appellate process.

Kristin, who has experience in administrative law and in representing clients involved with NCAA compliance cases, explained the difference between the code of conduct hearing and a criminal procedure.

With the worldwide reach of the AP, Kristin’s commentary was featured on nearly every television and radio news site, online publication, and daily newspaper including USA Today, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, and ESPN.

See the complete story on the Associated Press web site.

David Caldevilla Fights to Keep Health Record Charges Reasonable

de la Parte & Gilbert along with Clark & Martino and the Jeeves Law Group have filed class action lawsuits against HealthPort Technologies and Bactes Imaging, two of the nation’s largest medical records copy companies, claiming that they are overcharging patients for copies of their own medical records in Florida.

As a result of this litigation, an injunction was recently entered against HealthPort requiring them to cease and desist from overcharging. In response to the litigation, HealthPort and Bactes have lobbied the Florida Board of Medicine to amend the rules governing the permitted copy fees in order to quadruple the prices to patients from $0.25 per page to $1 per page. The Board proposed amendments to their current rules to authorize this change on December 4th and 5th at a public meeting in Tampa. David Caldevilla was interviewed by Tampa Bay Times reporter, Jodie Tillman, following the meeting.

Click here to read the full article.

de la Parte & Gilbert, P.A. Recognized in 2015 “Best Law Firms” Rankings

de la Parte & Gilbert, P.A. is proud to announce that we have again been selected as a Tier 1 “Best Law Firm” in Tampa by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® for 2015 in the practice areas of Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiff and Water Law.

The firm was also ranked Tier 2 for Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation and Tier 3 for Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law.

Firms included in the “Best Law Firms” list are recognized for their professional excellence by both clients and peers. To be eligible for a ranking, a firm must have a lawyer listed in The Best Lawyers in America©, which recognizes the top 4 percent of practicing attorneys in the U.S. Receiving a tier designation reflects the high level of respect a firm has earned among other leading lawyers and clients in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism, and their integrity.

Bank of America Plaza Displays Artwork by David M. Caldevilla

The Bank of America Plaza will be featuring the Automotography artwork of attorney David M. Caldevilla through December.

David, a self-proclaimed “gear-head,” has a passion for cars that dates back to his early childhood. After growing up playing with Hot Wheels and slot cars, he eventually bought and refurbished his first car – a 1969 Camaro. During his teenage years, David also found an interest in photography and cars became his favorite subject to photograph.

While editing some of his photos, David found that he could use technology to blur the lines between painting and photography, a technique he calls “Automotography.” Now, through imaginative camera angles and digital editing effects, his photos take on their own distinct personalities. You can view David’s artwork in the lobby of the Bank of America Plaza or at www.automotography.com.

David is a Shareholder with de la Parte & Gilbert and has practiced there since 1989. He is “AV” rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Appellate Practice. In addition to his appellate practice, he also focuses his practice on administrative, civil litigation, environmental, eminent domain and government cases. David can be reached at dcaldevilla@dgfirm.com.

Vivian Arenas-Battles Presents at Eminent Domain Conference

Vivian Arenas-Battles delivered a presentation at the CLE International Eminent Domain Conference. The two-day conference was held on October 23 & 24, 2014 at the Sheraton Riverwalk in downtown Tampa.

Vivian and her co-presenter, Debra W. Schiro, Esq., presented Resolving Simpler or Difficult Cases: What is Most Important to the Condemnor. Ms. Arenas-Battles explained and discussed what condemors consider in settling cases and the issues that can arise during the course of the case.

Vivian Arenas-Battles is a Shareholder with de la Parte & Gilbert and focuses her practice in the areas of administrative law, civil litigation, environmental and eminent domain issues.

Kristin Morris Discusses Medical Marijuana with ABC Action News

The day after Florida Amendment 2 – Florida Right to Medical Marijuana was defeated, healthcare attorney, Kristin Morris, was interviewed by ABC Action News to get her perspective.

She spoke on the implications the defeat may have on businesses that were ramping up for the legalization of medical marijuana, potential next steps for the law, and if she believes the trend of training and education would continue.

Kristin’s article, From Charlotte’s Web to Amendment 2: Considerations for Doctors Attempting to Fly High with Medical Marijuana, explores the recent developments in the legalization and the national trend of states accepting the drug for medical treatments.

Kristin is an associate with de la Parte & Gilbert and her primary practice areas include Healthcare Law, Business Law, Civil/Commercial Litigation, and Construction Law.

25 Cars for 25 Local Families

Eric Nowak, an associate with de la Parte & Gilbert, P.A. and board member of Wheels of Success, celebrated Labor Day in a different way. He and his wife were part of a Labor Day Event called “25 Cars for 25 Families.” On September 1, 2014, Wheels of Success, a local Tampa charity whose mission is to provide individuals who are struggling with reliable transportation in order to get to school and/or their job, provided 25 local families with keys to their very own “new to them” cars. One of the 25 cars was donated by Eric and his wife to a domestic violence survivor. To find out more about Wheels of Success, visit www.wheelsofsuccess.org.