Welcome to the Spring '09 edition of Freidin • Dobrinsky News & Updates
We will send this information 4 to 6 times per year, containing updates on our practice and news on a variety of legal topics.
In this issue:
- Attorneys Randy Rosenblum and Manuel L. Dobrinsky obtain a $2.4 Million verdict in a medical malpractice case- Cusson v. Lee Mental Health
- Manuel L. Dobrinsky reappointed to the Board of Directors of Legal Services of Greater Miami
- Philip Freidin selected as a finalist in the Daily Business Review's "Most Effective Lawyers" special section in the area of personal injury law
- Freidin • Dobrinsky extends their philanthropic side to feed Miami's homeless
NEWS FROM THE FIRM
Freidin • Dobrinsky OBTAINS $2.4 MILLION VERDICT IN MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CASE
Cusson v. Lee Mental Health is the firm's second multi-million dollar medical malpractice verdict within a year. In this case, the jury awarded $2.4 million to the parents of Vandy Cusson, a 19-year old boy who committed suicide just nine days after being discharged from Lee Mental Health Center, Inc. d/b/a Ruth Cooper Center. Significantly, the judge dismissed the facility's claim that the mother was comparatively negligent and the jury rejected the facility's claim that either the boy or his father were at fault for the tragic event.
The parents of Vandy Cusson brought this claim because they felt that the facility, by discharging their son within twenty hours of his admission, had failed to properly take care of their son. It was their belief that if the facility had properly evaluated and treated their son, he would still be alive today. "The family of the boy hopes that the attention brought to this tragic circumstance will help educate and save another person's life," said plaintiffs' attorney, Randy Rosenblum.
The plaintiffs' lead attorneys, Randy Rosenblum and Manuel L. Dobrinsky of Freidin • Dobrinsky, proved that the psychiatric facility was negligent in its care for the boy and that a life could have been saved if the proper attention and care were provided to this patient. The jury's award reaffirmed the parents' belief that their son could have been saved with proper care.
To read more about the Cusson verdict in the news click on any of the below links:
Daily Business Review- March 12th, 2009
The Fort Myers News-Press on February 27th, 2009
Naples Daily News- February 26th, 2009
To contact attorney Randy Rosenblum via e-mail: rrosenblum@fdlaw.net
To contact attorney Manuel L. Dobrinsky via e-mail: mDobrinsky@fdlaw.net
PARTNER MANUEL L. Dobrinsky OF Freidin • Dobrinsky REAPPOINTED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF LEGAL SERVICES OF GREATER MIAMI, INC.
Partner Manuel L. Dobrinsky of Freidin • Dobrinsky was recently reappointed to the Board of Directors of Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. His new term expires December 31, 2011. Along with being on the Board of Directors, Dobrinsky serves as a representative of The Miami-Dade Justice Association and is on the staff relations subcommittee and the fund raising subcommittee at LSGMI. The Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. provides high quality legal services to the low income communities in Miami-Dade and Monroe County.
Manuel L. Dobrinsky is a partner at Freidin • Dobrinsky whose areas of practice include insurance bad faith, medical malpractice, auto accidents and personal injury. His other honors and committee appointments include being President-Elect of the Miami-Dade Justice Association, a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, the American Inns of Court and serves on the Ad Hoc Committee on Attorney Admissions, Peer Review and Attorney Grievance for the Federal Courts in the Southern District of Florida. He also serves as an instructor for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and is fluent in Spanish.
In addition, he is included in the 2009 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the specialty of personal injury litigation, Florida Super Lawyers as one of the "Top Attorneys in Florida", Martindale-Hubbell‘s Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers and is consistently recognized in the annual Florida Trend's Legal Elite and the South Florida Legal Guide as one of Florida's top personal injury attorneys.
To contact attorney Manuel L. Dobrinsky via e-mail: mDobrinsky@fdlaw.net
PHILIP Freidin RECOGNIZED AS A FINALIST IN THE DAILY BUSINESS REVIEW'S MOST EFFECTIVE LAWYERS IN THE AREA OF PERSONAL INJURY
Attorney Philip Freidin was recognized in the Daily Business Review as a finalist in the area of personal injury in the publication's "Most Effective Lawyers" special section. Philip was recognized for his work in recovering a $38 million verdict for his client in a medical malpractice case in Lee County. The award included Freidin's request for $16.5 million for each of the twins after a doctor failed to recognize a treatable, well known complication in premature babies called Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), resulting in the permanent blindness of both boys, who are now 7 years old. The jury also awarded $3 million to the mother of the twins, and $2 million to their father.
The $38 million award is the largest won by Freidin for a client in his 40-year career and stands as on one of the largest jury awards on Florida's Gulf Coast. Freidin's next largest award was $13 million for a baby who suffered brain damage during surgery. He is best known for a 1975 case against Caterpillar, which helped establish the state's doctrine of strict product liability. Philip Freidin is managing partner of Freidin • Dobrinsky whose areas of practice include auto accidents, medical malpractice, personal injury and wrongful death. He received his undergraduate degree from University of Florida in Gainesville, and received his law degree from American University, Washington College of Law.
Freidin's other honors and committee appointments include being past President of the Florida Justice Association, a statewide personal injury lawyer association of more than 3,500 members. He has been appointed by Governor Charlie Crist to the Eleventh Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. This is the second time that he has been appointed to this Commission, which is responsible for providing the Florida Governor with a list of possible appointments to the Circuit Court. He has served as a member and Chair of a Florida Bar Grievance Committee, as a member and Chair of the Judicial Nominating Commission for Dade County, as a member and Vice Chair of the Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission, and as Chair of the Florida Bar Judicial Nominating Procedures Committee. These appointments demonstrate Freidin's continued involvement in Florida's legal community and commitment to its citizens.
To contact attorney Philip Freidin via e-mail: pFreidin@fdlaw.net
Freidin • Dobrinsky ATTORNEYS AND STAFF JOIN TOGETHER TO FEED MIAMI'S HOMELESS
Attorneys and staff at Freidin • Dobrinsky take great pride in serving their community. Recently, they joined together to help feed Miami's homeless. Attorneys Manuel L. Dobrinsky, Randy Rosenblum, and Eric Bluestein along with staff Maria Delange, Marbely Tijerino, Sue Sorrentino, and Natalie Diaz served dinner at the Community Partnership for the Homeless, a non-profit organization which assists homeless men, women and children transitioning off the streets of Miami-Dade County and on their way to attaining greater stability and self-sufficiency in their lives. The firm is consistently recognized for its contribution in enhancing the lives of children and families throughout the South Florida community.
