Gerald was born and raised in DeLand, Florida. He attended a private college in Virginia, graduate school, and law school on academic scholarships.  He graduated in the top of his law school class which led to his working as a summer associate and attorney with a prestigious, international law firm, where he tried numerous bench and jury trials with some of the best trial lawyers in Florida. He is respected among his peers for his work ethic and excellence in the practice of law.

Gerald has specialized in medical malpractice and personal injury for 37 years, with 30 of those years being in the Tampa Bay area. During his career, he has litigated, settled, and tried jury trials to conclusion in hundreds of cases throughout Florida in state and federal courts, as well as federal courts in other states. Gerald loves practicing law, and he prides himself on giving clients the personal attention, effort, and resources every client deserves. He ensures his clients are kept apprised of every development in their case. Gerald pursues the maximum outcome for every client. Gerald regularly receives client referrals from former clients and fellow attorneys, including those attorneys he has litigated against. With his extensive experience and reputation in medical malpractice, insurance carriers sometimes try to settle his cases before a lawsuit is filed. Gerald has served as an expert witness in trial strategy in multi-million-dollar cases when legal malpractice has been committed by the client’s previous attorney.

Gerald’s largest settlements and verdicts often come from cases other attorneys have rejected. In one case, he obtained a $9,500,000 outcome for his medical malpractice clients after their case had been rejected by 6 high-profile, experienced attorneys. For that reason, he encourages malpractice victims to let him review their case free of charge if their case has been rejected by other attorneys.  There will never be any attorney’s fee or costs charged unless a favorable recovery is reached for the client. 

Recently, Gerald was selected as Litigator of the Year, 2022, by the American Institute of Trial Lawyers.  Lawyers are selected based upon their accomplishments in the field of Personal Injury Law and their positive standing with their local licensing authority and positive reviews from their clients and peers.  Less than .03% of all lawyers are selected for this award.

In 2022, Gerald was awarded the Judicial Edition by Martindale Hubbell's AV Preeminent Rating, based on the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and Judiciary.  For 20 years, Gerald has received the AV Preeminent Rating of a perfect score of 5.0, the highest award achievable, for 15 consecutive years, for his legal skills and ethical standards. 

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Also in 2022, Gerald was selected as America's Most Honored Lawyers, being in the 1% of members in his field based on recognitions of excellence in the media, trade groups, peers, and clients.

Gerald has been named a “Super Lawyer” by the National Law Journal. He has been included in the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association.

Gerald has been a member in good standing with the Florida Bar since 1984. He is licensed to practice in all state courts including appellate courts and the Florida Supreme Court.  Gerald is admitted to practice in the Southern, Middle, and Northern Districts for Florida’s federal courts.  He is also admitted to practice before the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and the US Supreme Court.

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Education:

Admitted to the Florida Bar in 1984

JD  Cumberland School of Law

MS Florida State University

BA Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia

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Court Admissions:

The Florida Supreme Court

US District Court for the Southern, Middle & Northern Districts of Florida

US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

US Supreme Court

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Honors & Recognition:

Litigator of the Year, 2022 by the American Institute of Trial Lawyers

"Super Lawyer" National Law Journal

Top 100 Trial Lawyers - The National Trial Lawyers

Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Judicial Edition by Martindale Hubbell's AV Preeminent Rating

20-year Recipient of Martindale Hubble's AV Preeminent Rating with a Perfect 5.0 out of 5, the Highest Award Achievable for Legal Ability and Ethical Standards