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July 24, 2010
Among Tampa Bay's Top Lawyers
JULY 2010 - Rick Alvarez has been recognized as one of "Tampa Bay's Top Lawyers" in the July/August issue of Tampa Bay Magazine. Rick was especially honored by the recognition as it came without solicitation or campaigning among attorneys in the region.
Posted by alvarezgarcia at 11:26 PM
July 15, 2010
Use of Cell Phone by Transport Driver Leads to Injury
JULY 2010 - A six-figure settlement was secured for a client of Alvarez Garcia after her injury while riding home from a doctor's appointment in a private transport van. Anthony Garcia's litigation of the case led to the discovery that the driver was conversing on a cell phone which, in turn, caused the driver's distraction and sudden stop to avoid a nearby traffic accident. The stop tossed the special-needs client about the vehicle and into a metal handrail. The resulting injuries were further aggravated by the driver's unfortunate decision to return the client to her home as opposed to facilitating her medical care.
Posted by alvarezgarcia at 05:01 PM
July 13, 2010
RICK ALVAREZ is a native of Tampa and a graduate of the University of Notre Dame Law School and the Fisher School of Accounting at the University of Florida. He began his practice in Miami under the primary guidance of two past presidents of The Florida Bar, Gerald Richman and Herman Russomanno. His service at the firm of Floyd Pearson Richman Greer continued until Mr. Alvarez was invited to join the firm of Sheftall, Alvarez & Torres as a founding member. At the age of only twenty-seven years, Mr. Alvarez became a partner in this well-known and successful Miami firm. His work as a trial lawyer in cases involving wrongful death and products liability, including multi-district litigation arising from the off-label use of orthopedic bone screws, provided the opportunity to serve as many as seventy-five aggrieved families at once and to establish new law while doing so. In 2000, Mr. Alvarez returned home to continue his litigation practice. He did so first alongside noted trial attorney, C. Steven Yerrid, and then at his own firm, Alvarez Garcia.
Over his years of litigating, Mr. Alvarez has developed particular interest in cases which some might find too demanding, such as the representation of other attorneys or cases involving complex commercial transactions, occurrences in the workplace, or deaths on public property. As a result, Mr. Alvarez has experienced the good fortune of obtaining verdicts or settlements in excess of one-million dollars for a significant number of clients during his career, including the recovery of $3,000,000 following an on-the-job fatality for which the employer and related companies asserted the defense of absolute immunity. His representation of other attorneys has earned Mr. Alvarez the nickname of "the lawyers' lawyer."
However, not all of his work has been directed towards large verdicts and settlements alone. In 2000, Mr. Alvarez was appointed as Special Counsel to the Office of the Chief Judge of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit and thereafter spent over three-hundred hours representing the court and its judges against claims brought by The Tampa Tribune and WFLA-TV. The pro bono representation featured work before both the Second District Court of Appeal and the Florida Supreme Court. Mr. Alvarez not only serves before the state courts, but is admitted to practice before the Eleventh Circuit Court of the United States and the Middle and Southern District Courts of the federal judiciary in Florida. He is an active member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association and his service has included numerous lectures on the topics of complex litigation, products-liability and catastrophic injury. His discussion of pharmaceutical liability and analysis of the rights of children to recover damages for their parents' injuries earned separate publication in The Florida Bar Journal. Mr. Alvarez has also contributed to the Florida Bar by serving on its Judicial Administration, Selection and Tenure Committee. In 2005, he earned the prestigious rating of "AV" or "very high to preeminent" from both judges and peers in the legal community. He most recently was recognized as one of "Tampa Bay's Top Lawyers" in Tampa Bay Magazine, a honor for which no solicitation or campaigning was permitted.
Finally, Mr. Alvarez spends the balance of his time gathering with family, enjoying the company of his friends, and playing his guitar for whomever will listen. He also serves on the board of directors for the Boys Clubs of Tampa Bay and the board of trustees for the West Tampa Boys Club, where he was an active member from 1976 to 1982.
Posted by alvarezgarcia at 04:37 PM
