Biography:
Co-founder of the firm, Neal Roth is a lawyer with more than 39 years experience in medical malpractice, personal injury, legal malpractice, bad faith and age discrimination cases. In some of Florida’s most hard–fought cases, he has demonstrated his strength of conviction, legal skill and formidable knowledge by winning significant verdicts and obtaining favorable settlements for his clients. Shortly after founding the firm, Neal handled a case which changed hospital protocol involving pediatric EKGs. As an infant, Chantelle Berman had an EKG performed and interpreted by an adult cardiologist instead of a pediatric cardiologist. Had a pediatric cardiologist interpreted the EKG, the fact that Chantelle was suffering from a congenital heart defect known as a patent ductus arteriosus would have been detected. This condition, if diagnosed timely, is highly treatable. Unfortunately, by the time the diagnosis was made Chantelle suffered irreversible pulmonary hypertension, and later died. As a result of the settlement of this case not only was the family compensated, but the hospital involved agreed to change its policies and procedures so that EKGs on children 12 years of age and younger were to be interpreted by pediatric cardiologists. Another significant case in Neal’s career began in the early part of 2003, when a young girl nearly drowned at an apartment complex in Hollywood. Her lawyers brought a claim against the complex and tried to settle the case for the policy limits. The insurer, through its lawyers, refused to settle the case on two separate occasions. As a result, a substantial verdict was rendered against the apartment complex, and the insurers were exposed to a bad faith claim which would have required them to pay enormous damages well in excess of the policy limits. The firm was retained to settle the underlying case and bring a legal malpractice action against the two law firms who mishandled the case. After two and half years of intense litigation, Neal recovered for the group of insurers from Lloyds of London an amount of money that approximated 75% of what they actually had to pay. The lead underwriter was made whole through the settlement and its own insurance coverage. Neal is a leader in the Florida Justice Association. A past president of the FJA, he currently plays an active role in the organization’s political and legislative matters. In 2003, the FJA bestowed on Neal the Perry Nichols Award, the most prestigious award it gives, recognizing a career dedicated to the Association, its members and the citizens of Florida. In 2015 he also received the Al J. Cone Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors attorneys who have pledged their lives to upholding consumer rights and fighting for justice. Neal was appointed to the Florida Supreme Court to serve on two independent commissions. One to study jury trials and the public’s participation as jurors and the other to study litigation. The second commission recommended a new Rule of Civil Procedure which was adopted by the Florida Supreme Court. Although Neal’s law practice demands a great deal of his time, his strong sense of community has led him to be actively engaged in a number of civic organizations and philanthropic undertakings. An active member and past president of Temple Bet Shira in Pinecrest, he currently serves as Chair of its Endowment Committee. He is also active in the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and has endowed a permanent chair at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. In addition, he served on the Board of Directors of Great Florida Bank since from 2005-2013 , and was a member of its Nominating Committee, Corporate Governance & Compensation Committee, Risk Management/Asset Liability Committee and Compliance Committee. As a result of his legal acuity and winning trial record, Neal has been a frequent guest lecturer to various professional groups, including physicians, hospital administrators, nurses and other attorneys. He has also appeared on television news programs as an expert in personal injury and medical malpractice litigation.
