Firm Overview
COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS AND BUSINESS ORGANIZATION
- Represented owners of aircraft maintenance company in purchasing and financing two Fixed Base Operations and an avionics business. Continue to do all their legal work.
- Represent lessors of transport and corporate aircraft and engines in purchase, sales and leasing and financing transactions and in litigation throughout the world: U.S., Angola, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Channel Islands, Chile, Denmark, Ecuador, England, Egypt, France, Germany, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Singapore, Spain, Surinam, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad, Tunisia, Turkey, Venezuela, and Ukraine.
- Represented owners of corporate jet sales, leasing and Part 135 charter entities in creation, mergers and conversions of entities and contract work.
- Represented seller of aircraft engine parts in creating joint venture with major European air carrier to purchase and sell surplus parts and provide purchasing of needed parts in secondary market.
COMMERCIAL LAW AND BUSINESS TORTS CASES
- Successfully represented aircraft engine overhauler in action against Peruvian Air Force in recovering hundreds of thousands for overhaul of engine.
- Represented Republic of Honduras and its Director of Civil Aeronautics in action by foreign companies and Irish airline regarding alleged breach of contract and business torts in arrangement to create an open aircraft registry. 883 F. Supp. 685 (S.D. Fla. 1995), 129 F. 3d, 543 (11th Cir. 1997), 131 F. 3d 157, 524 U.S. 952 (1998).
- In highly publicized defamation case against ABC regarding a 20/20 segment by John Stossel, pulled in on the eve of trial to complete trial memorandum and prepare jury charges and verdict form that resulted in a jury award of $10 million.
- On behalf of exclusive No. Am. distributor of compact refrigerators, litigated with Chinese manufacturer and Canadian sub-distributor in Florida, Ohio and China involving antitrust, injunction, tortious interference, contract and treaty claims.
- Represented Chilean airlines and recovered $750,000 in case involving fraud, civil theft and racketeering claims.
- Successfully represented officers of Air Line Pilots’ Ass’n in defamation case by Eastern’s VP of Flight Ops and a pilot. 618 So. 2d 381 (Fla. 3d DCA 1993)
EMERGENCY WRITS AND INJUNCTION CASES
- On behalf of banks and corporations, instituted proceedings using writs of replevin, attachment, and garnishment and injunctions to seize property worth millions. Involved coordination of simultaneous seizures at multiple banks, in multiple states and countries using multiple law firms.
- On behalf of aircraft and engine owners, instituted numerous proceedings to recover millions in aircraft and engines with writs and injunctions and to recover money and other property with garnishments.
- For many years, represented Airlines Reporting Corporation throughout Florida to obtain emergency seizure orders and temporary injunctions to protect and obtain turnover of blank airline tickets in the event of travel agent business failure. 566 So. 2d 1377 (Fla. 5th DCA 1990).
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW
- Represented pilots’ union in numerous arbitrations of grievances and in rewriting of labor contract.
- Represented airline in numerous arbitrations of grievances by pilots’ union.
- Successfully represented airline before Florida Human Rights Commission and appeal. 409 So. 2d 139 (Fla. 4th DCA 1982)
PERSONAL INJURY AND PRODUCTS LIABILITY CASES - AVIATION, MARINE AND RAIL
- Led local team in defending an aircraft lessor and airline in defending 63 wrongful death cases arising from crash of a Boeing 707 in the Azores. Using international treaties, settled at half the potential exposure. 600 So. 2d 3 (Fla. 3d DCA 1992); 613 So. 2d 5 (Fla. 1992).
- Led local team in defending an aircraft lessor and airline in defending 63 wrongful death cases arising from crash of a Boeing 707 in the Azores. Using international treaties, settled at half the potential exposure. 600 So. 2d 3 (Fla. 3d DCA 1992); 613 So. 2d 5 (Fla. 1992).
- Obtained nominal settlement for manufacturer/overhauler of aircraft container loader in claim by an airline worker who suffered serious brain damage when he fell from the loader.
- Using the government contractor defense, successfully defended overhauler of Navy helicopter in wrongful death action by estate of co-pilot.
- Successfully outmaneuvered a preeminent plaintiff’s attorney in a product liability suit concerning a safety helmet. Obtained dismissal on technicality in this action that was potentially worth $10-$15 million for severely brain injured hang glider pilot. Obtained low settlement railcar owner against claims of defective brakes by estate of worker fatally injured while unloading. 511 So. 2d 727 (Fla. 3d DCA 1987).
- Successfully settled an aviation product liability case on behalf of seat belt manufacturer sued by brain-damaged pilot.
- For major boat manufacturer in bankruptcy, reviewed and assessed hundreds of death, personal injury and property damage claims arising from sinking, fire, collision and other accidents.
