Business, Free News Articles, Legal and Law

Attorneys David Goldman, Bernard Walsh and Stephan Fernandez Attend FJA’s Masters Of Justice Conference

SARASOTA, Fla. -- The October Florida Justice Association's Masters Of Justice conference was attended by several partners from the personal injury law firm Shapiro Goldman Babboni Fernandez & Walsh.

Held at the Ritz Carlton in downtown Sarasota the conference featured dozens of seminars on a wide variety of civil trial law topics.

Headlining the conference were several advanced lectures including a presentation on auto accident representation entitled "Winning From The Beginning" given by attorney Keith Mitnik; a lecture on defective roadway infrastructure entitled "Defective and Improperly Installed Guardrails" given by speakers Leslie Kroeger and Poorad Razavi; and a seminar on Life Care Planning after a severe injury entitled "Truth, Lies, Myths, and Legends," given by Dr. Santo Steven BiFulco, a CLCP of BiFulco Medical Group in Tampa, Florida.

Several members of the Personal Injury Law Firm Shapiro Goldman Babboni Fernandez & Walsh were in attendance including Attorney David Goldman, Attorney Stephan Fernandez, Attorney Bernard Walsh, and Attorney Daniel Murphy.

Attendees received presentation materials useful for a variety of case types and could potentially earn up to 17 Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Credits during the conference. In addition to the educational value, attendees also were able to network with other members of the Florida Justice Association and stay up to date in many areas of civil trial law including auto negligence, insurance bad faith and medical malpractice.

The event also featured the 5th Annual Diversity and Inclusion Reception. This year's reception honored retired Florida Supreme Court Justice James E. C. Perry. Nominated in 2009 by then Florida Governor Charlie Crist, Perry was the 85th Justice to the Florida Supreme Court.

Other notable guests of the Reception included The Honorable Charles E. Williams of the 12th Circuit Court of Florida, who serves on the Sarasota County Bar Association's Diversity Committee, and Christina Walsh, secretary of the Tampa Student Bar Association and former FJA liaison to Cooley Law School.

Attorney David L. Goldman had this to say about the FJA conference: "Events like the Masters of Justice held by the FJA are a valuable tool in the effort to keep our civil justice system strong. Over the past several years lobbyists from the insurance industry and many other special interest groups have used the present political climate to weaken consumer protections in the name of jobs. More often than not these efforts to influence our state legislature have led to higher corporate profits, reduced protections for our citizens, and little in the way of good paying jobs.

"The Florida Justice Association and other members of the legal system have stood to protect the rights of our citizens, and the 'Masters of Justice' seminars allow for experienced attorneys to share knowledge and experience to help protect our legal system, and become better prepared to defend the integrity of our society."

About Attorney David L. Goldman:

Mr. Goldman is a member of the American Association of Justice, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the Southern Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Goldman is an Eagle Member of the Florida Justice Association and the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, and received the prestigious Legislative Leadership Award by that organization in 1997.

David Goldman has a long-standing commitment to the community and has served as a board member of many civic organizations. He has worked extensively with the Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce, the Sarasota African-American Chamber of Commerce, Second Chance Last Opportunity and the Westcoast Center for Human Development. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Community Center and has been a director and member of the Endowment Fund of his local synagogue.

Shapiro Goldman Babboni Fernandez & Walsh
308 Cocoanut Ave., Sarasota, FL, 34236

More information: http://www.getmejustice.com/

*PHOTO Caption: The Honorable Charles E. Williams of the 12th Circuit Court of Florida and Christina Walsh, secretary of the Tampa Student Bar Association and former FJA liaison to Cooley Law School.

Related link:

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Awards and Honors, Business, Free News Articles, Legal and Law

Attorney David L. Goldman Honored as Community Leader at Sarasota Men’s Conference

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Attorney David L. Goldman from the Sarasota Personal Injury Law Firm Shapiro Goldman Babboni Fernandez & Walsh was honored by Sarasota community organizations, West Coast Center For Human Development and the Coalition For A Better Family.

Held at Michael's On East, the annual awards ceremony entitled, 'Flames of Distinction' honored several members of the local Sarasota community for their ongoing efforts to improve the lives and quality of life of families in the greater Sarasota area who, lead by example and 'pay it forward.'

David L. Goldman of the law firm Shapiro, Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, & Walsh was one of the honorees. Also honored were Trevor Harvey, who headed the local chapter of the NAACP for over a decade, and local homebuilder and philanthropist, Lee Wetherington.

Mr. Goldman spoke of the importance of children having a positive male role model in one's life, and how fortunate he was to have a supportive and loving father to mentor him. He noted that leaders in the community, such as teachers, coaches, other relatives, and even law enforcement officials, can help fill that void in the absence of a strong father figure. Dr. Eddy Regnier, an eminent local psychologist, spoke in great detail about studies demonstrating the positive effect of the male role models, whether fathers or father figures, particularly with respect to the need for children to "play" and know limits.

In accepting the award recognizing his longstanding contributions to local charitable organizations in our community, Mr. Goldman made reference to "Tikkun Olam," a Jewish concept defined by acts of kindness performed to perfect or repair the world. He noted that what the honorees and the Westcoast Center all had in common was a sense of purpose to repair the world by helping others in our community who may be at a disadvantage. Mr. Goldman added that this was a universal mission felt by all people of good faith from diverse backgrounds, and that he looked forward to being able to continue to help serve the needs of our community.

About Attorney David L. Goldman:

Mr. Goldman is a member of the American Association of Justice, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the Southern Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Goldman is an Eagle Member of the Florida Justice Association and the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, and received the prestigious Legislative Leadership Award by that organization in 1997.

David Goldman has a long-standing commitment to the community and has served as a board member of many civic organizations. He has worked extensively with the Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce, the Sarasota African-American Chamber of Commerce, Second Chance Last Opportunity and the Westcoast Center for Human Development. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Community Center and has been a director and member of the Endowment Fund of his local synagogue.

Shapiro Goldman Babboni Fernandez & Walsh
308 Cocoanut Ave., Sarasota, FL, 34236

More information: http://www.getmejustice.com/.

*PHOTO CAPTION: Attorney David Goldman (Center) with Attorney Bernard Walsh (right) with Member of The West Coast Center For Human Development.

Related link:

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Awards and Honors, Business, Free News Articles, Legal and Law

Personal Injury Attorney David L. Goldman Master of Ceremonies at ‘Men of Purpose’ Event

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Attorney David L. Goldman of the personal injury law firm, Shapiro Goldman Babboni Fernandez & Walsh, was master of ceremonies for an event honoring the work of local volunteers who have engaged with the local community.

Attorney David L. Goldman was the master of ceremonies at the annual "Men of Purpose" event honoring the unsung local heroes who volunteer their time and energies to help make our communities stronger by serving as role models for young people.

The event was organized by Second Chance Last Opportunity and April Glasco Jones and took place at Mount Cavalry First Baptist Church in Sarasota, Fla. Among the honorees were local religious leaders, police officers and others who work with at-risk youth, serving as mentors on a one-to-one basis.

Attorney Goldman noted that "Too often the people who affect the lives of our youth go unnoticed, whether they serve as athletic coaches, counselors or big brothers, they are the ones who make a real difference in changing lives for the better." David added that "It's really nice that organizations like Second Chance can give those who mentor young people a night in the limelight to celebrate all the good they do in our community."

About Attorney David L. Goldman:

Mr. Goldman is a member of the American Association of Justice, The Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the Southern Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Goldman is an Eagle Member of the Florida Justice Association and The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, and received the prestigious Legislative Leadership Award by that organization in 1997.

David Goldman has a long-standing commitment to the community and has served as a board member of many civic organizations. He has worked extensively with the Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce, the Sarasota African-American Chamber of Commerce, Second Chance Last Opportunity and the Westcoast Center for Human Development. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Community Center and has been a director and member of the Endowment Fund of his local synagogue.

Shapiro Goldman Babboni Fernandez & Walsh
308 Cocoanut Ave., Sarasota, FL, 34236

More information: http://www.getmejustice.com/.

Related link:

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Business, Education and Schools, Free News Articles, Legal and Law

Attorney David L Goldman Supported the Westcoast School for Human Development’s 45th Annual Banquet

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Attorney David L. Goldman of the Personal Injury Law Firm Shapiro, Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez & Walsh has sponsored and attended the Westcoast School for Human Development's 45th Annual Banquet.

Held at the Polo Grill in Lakewood Ranch, the Westcoast School for Human Development's 45th Annual Banquet was a celebration and awards ceremony in support of several individuals who have gone above and beyond to improve the lives of those in their local community.

Cultivating a creative and academically challenging atmosphere, the Westcoast Center for Human Development strives to provide a well-rounded and rewarding education to their students which range from Kindergarten to the 12th Grade and are primarily of African-American and Latino descent.

During the banquet an awards ceremony was held honoring the work of community activists with the "Heart of Gold" Award. Winners of the award included Reverend Thomas Pfaff for his work with Goodwill Industries and local interfaith organizations in Sarasota, and Julie Leach for her tireless efforts on behalf of the Westcoast Black Theater Troupe.

Bishop Henry Porter honored Sheila Martin-Askew, who partnered with the Westcoast School to start a gospel chorus in Malaysia, with a "Heart of Gold" award.

Other "Heart of Gold" honorees included Jarvie Hutcherson of Beverly Hills, California, received a "Heart of Gold" award for his work with the Multicultural Motion Picture Association, and educators and ministers Bishop W. James Brown, Dr. Marthenia Dupree, Amy Campbell and Sharon Cook were also recipients of the award.

Longtime supporter of the Westcoast Center for Human Development and the commencement speaker at the school's 2015 graduation, civil trial and personal injury attorney David L. Goldman sponsored the banquet and attended the festivities.

Mr. Goldman had this to say about the event, "Few organizations in the Sarasota area have done as much good for the community they serve as the Westcoast School for Human Development. I am proud to support this organization and attending the banquet and awards ceremony has been a wonderful experience."

About Attorney David L. Goldman:
Mr. Goldman is a member of the American Association of Justice, The Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the Southern Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Goldman is an Eagle Member of the Florida Justice Association and The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, and received the prestigious Legislative Leadership Award by that organization in 1997.

David Goldman has a long-standing commitment to the community and has served as a board member of many civic organizations. He has worked extensively with the Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce, the Sarasota African-American Chamber of Commerce, Second Chance Last Opportunity and the Westcoast Center for Human Development. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Community Center and has been a director and member of the Endowment Fund of his local synagogue.

Shapiro Goldman Babboni Fernandez & Walsh
308 Cocoanut Ave., Sarasota, FL, 34236

More information: http://www.getmejustice.com

Photo Caption: Attorney David L. Goldman With Attendees of the Westcoast School For Human Development's 45th Annual Banquet (print/web version available on request).

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Free News Articles, Legal and Law, Opinion and Commentary

Sarasota Injury Lawyer David Goldman Offers Insight into the Impact of a Trump Administration on Obamacare and Medicaid for Consumers

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Sarasota Injury Attorney David L. Goldman, of Shapiro Goldman Babboni & Walsh, responds to clients' concerns about the impact of a Trump administration on healthcare coverage.

"As an attorney who often represents clients in desperate need of quality health care but with serious insurance coverage shortfalls, I have repeatedly heard may clients express concerns over how the presidential election will affect their coverage. Essentially many clients want to know, what is the future of Obamacare under a Trump administration?

There has been much speculation as to the future of Obamacare as well as the future of Medicare and Medicaid following the election of Donald J. Trump as our next president. Initially, it was thought that Obamacare would be scrapped entirely, although there were few details about what might replace the Affordable Care Act. That conventional wisdom was then placed in doubt after Donald Trump's recent meeting with President Obama which seemed to indicate that President-Elect Trump might be amenable to keeping parts of Obamacare intact.

With the proposed appointment of Congressman Tom Price of Georgia to head the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a clearer outline of what future changes to health care law has begun to emerge. Price drafted a bill called the "Empowering Patients First Act" which would end Obamacare, and his appointment to HHS would likely change existing Medicare, Medicaid and health insurance law dramatically."

Attorney Goldman, citing an article published by the Washington Post, summarized the issue by stating, "The bottom line will likely be that individuals who young, healthy, or affluent may see their premiums decrease, while those who are older, sicker and poorer will probably see an increase in their health insurance premiums. Additionally, based on Congressman Price's past actions and statements, doctors may be allowed to charge more money to senior citizens and no longer be bound by Medicare rates. A rolling back of the expansion of Medicaid under the Obama Administration is also anticipated."

About Attorney David L. Goldman:

Mr. Goldman is a member of the American Association of Justice, The Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the Southern Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Goldman is an Eagle Member of the Florida Justice Association and The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, and received the prestigious Legislative Leadership Award by that organization in 1997.

David Goldman has a long-standing commitment to the community and has served as a board member of many civic organizations. He has worked extensively with the Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce, the Sarasota African-American Chamber of Commerce, Second Chance Last Opportunity and the Westcoast Center for Human Development. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Community Center and has been a director and member of the Endowment Fund of his local synagogue.

Attorney David L. Goldman
Shapiro Goldman Babboni & Walsh
308 Cocoanut Ave., Sarasota, FL, 34236

More information: http://www.getmejustice.com/.

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Free News Articles, Insurance, Legal and Law, Opinion and Commentary

Attorney David L. Goldman Warns Consumers of Costly Unforeseen Coverage Gaps

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Personal Injury and Civil Trial Lawyer David L. Goldman of the Sarasota Florida Based Firm Shapiro Goldman Babboni & Walsh, cites an article in the NY Times warning consumers of large coverage gaps even in premium insurance plans.

Goldman, an experienced injury attorney stated, "The issue of whether one's medical bills were paid by their insurance company comes up more often than I can count. In more than a quarter century of practicing personal injury law in the State of Florida, I have seen people who have excellent insurance mistakenly believe that their insurance company has paid their bill in full. Even people who have 'full coverage' with excellent insurance policies do not realize that their insurance companies leave them with outstanding balances that are well in excess of their deductible or co-pay amounts.

"For instance in auto accident cases, the no-fault insurance company will often pay only 80 percent of their bills up to $10,000, leaving a balance of 20 percent plus any amount of their bills above $10,000. Often times health insurance companies, will not cover a particular doctor or treatment, or will deny payment due to alleged errors in how the medical provider submitted their bill, leaving the poor insured owing the money. Often times, the attorney can resolve these issues, but too often they cannot."

Mr. Goldman continued to point out the potential for costly coverage short-falls by stating, "This article discusses how insurance companies will pay a hospital bill but may not pay the other bills associated with a hospital visit, which can include the emergency room doctors' bill, the radiology bill, and the ambulance bill. Sometimes these other providers do not even bother to submit their bill to your insurance company and simply send the patient the bill.

"This article discusses one such instance that occurred right here in Florida. So it is best to make sure to realize that there may be many other bills associated with a hospital visit other than the hospital bill and to realize that even the best insurance companies often leave patients owing a lot more than just their deductible and co-pay."

About Attorney David L. Goldman:

Mr. Goldman is a member of the American Association of Justice, The Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the Southern Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Goldman is an Eagle Member of the Florida Justice Association and The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, and received the prestigious Legislative Leadership Award by that organization in 1997.

David Goldman has a long-standing commitment to the community and has served as a board member of many civic organizations. He has worked extensively with the Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce, the Sarasota African-American Chamber of Commerce, Second Chance Last Opportunity and the Westcoast Center for Human Development. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Community Center and has been a director and member of the Endowment Fund of his local synagogue.

Shapiro Goldman Babboni & Walsh
308 Cocoanut Ave., Sarasota, FL, 34236

More information: http://www.getmejustice.com/.

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Free News Articles, Legal and Law, Opinion and Commentary

Fatal Tesla Self-Driving Crash Draws Comment from Sarasota Accident Attorney David Goldman

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Occurring on May 7 in Williston Florida, the first fatal crash, in the US of a self-driving happened and tragically shattered an impressive safety record of the vehicles that use this innovative and experimental technology. While offering the promise of much safer roads with vehicles that are equipped with both automatic accident avoidance technology and fully self-driving modes the wide spread use of such technology while still under development and testing raises many questions.

Attorney David L. Goldman of the Sarasota Florida-based law firm Shapiro Goldman Babboni & Walsh had this to say about the auto industry's move toward self-driving technology, "The 'self-driving' car, like so many revolutionary technological innovations, should never completely replace human responsibility. At least not yet.

"We can all agree that a self-driving car that takes over when a driver falls asleep or automatically brakes to avoid a crash is a good thing that can save lives. Yet when people turn over all responsibility to machines it does raise important legal and ethical questions.

"Can we really rely on technology to make all these decisions for us? It is possible that a self-driving car which always obeys all rules and law can inadvertently create a more dangerous situation for those in the car.

"For example on an interstate or road where all drivers routinely exceed the speed limit would a self-driving car increase the likelihood of being in an accident by driving under the speed limit? The choices made by a programmed computer to always follow the rules of the road can sometimes be unsafe, especially when other motorists routinely do not obey those laws. Yet it is hard to imagine that a manufacturer would ever program a car to break the law and not follow those rules.

"Additionally, many of us are not yet comfortable with surrendering all control of our lives to computers. Was the fatal Tesla self-driving crash the result of a 'glitch'? We read of stories in the news of how a Toyota Camry's accelerator became stuck and killed the driver, or the confusing gearbox in certain Jeeps that causes the vehicle to roll away and resulted in the recent death of a Hollywood actor.

"The bottom line is that while technological innovations can make us safer, at the present time safety may require us to maintain some human control and responsibility when operating a moving vehicle. In the future, this may change. Yet for now staying alert and involved when driving is always the wisest course of action. Better safe than sorry."

About Attorney David Goldman:

Mr. Goldman is a member of the American Association of Justice, The Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the Southern Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Goldman is an Eagle Member of the Florida Justice Association and The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, and received the prestigious Legislative Leadership Award by that organization in 1997.

David Goldman has a long-standing commitment to the community and has served as a board member of many civic organizations. He has worked extensively with the Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce, the Sarasota African-American Chamber of Commerce, Second Chance Last Opportunity and the Westcoast Center for Human Development. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Community Center and has been a director and member of the Endowment Fund of his local synagogue.

Attorney David L. Goldman
Shapiro Goldman Babboni & Walsh
308 Cocoanut Ave., Sarasota, FL, 34236

More information: http://www.getmejustice.com/.

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.