Overview
For nearly 40 years, Don has built a strong and comprehensive practice defending local, regional, and national companies in product liability claims involving motor vehicles, personal watercraft, handheld power tools, heavy equipment, and industrial machinery. Don also has defended manufacturers of medical devices, commercial flooring adhesives, high-tech roofing systems, PVC and CPVC pipe and fittings, as well as numerous interests in the aviation industry. In addition, Don has extensive experience defending toxic tort and asbestos cases.
An exceptional legal writer, Don has published several feature articles in The Florida Bar Journal, The Professional, the FDLA’s Trial Advocate Quarterly, and the LCA’s Legal Commentary and Review. Don also has spoken at several statewide and national legal conferences.
Don previously served as an Adjunct Professor of Legal Research and Writing at Southern Methodist University's Dedman School of Law and at St. Thomas University School of Law. He also spent several years serving as an Adjunct Professor of Torts in the Intensive Paralegal Certificate Program at the University of Miami. In addition, Don is spearheading a campaign aimed at shedding light on the myriad mental health issues disproportionately impacting members of the legal profession and the corresponding need for a higher level of Compassionate Professionalism.
Don dedicates much of his free time to supporting and advocating for individuals and families affected by eating disorders. He has authored multiple works on the subject and is frequently called upon to speak at local, regional, and national eating disorder conferences and webinars. In 2020, Don organized and hosted the “Legacy of Hope Summit” - a first-of-its-kind symposium attended by 25 highly-respected experts in the eating disorders field aimed at arriving at a blueprint for the path forward in the care and treatment of those illnesses.
Education & Admissions
Education
University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 1983
Spring Hill College, B.A., magna cum laude, 1980
Admissions
Florida
Texas
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
U.S. District Court, District of Texas
Recent Wins
Practices & Industries
Awards & Recognition
Litigation Counsel of America, Peter Perlman Service Award, 2013
Super Lawyers®, Florida Super Lawyers List, 2013, 2016 – 2020
Martindale-Hubbell, Rated AV Preeminent
News & Publications
- May/June 2021The Florida Bar Journal"For Whom the Statute Tolls: An Analytical Look at the Tolling Provision in Florida’s Product Liability Statute of Repose." (Co-Author)
- Fall 2020The Florida Bar"The Price of Being Right."
- Winter 2020The Florida Bar"The Help Desk."
- Summer 2019The Florida Bar"Who Cries at Texas Roadhouse?"
- May/June 2019The Florida Bar Journal"To the ‘Victim’ Go the Spoils: The Evolution and Operation of Spoliation of Evidence Law in Florida Product Liability Cases." (Co-Author)
- Winter 2018The Professional, Vol. XIV, No. 3"The Next Step on the Road to True Civility: Embracing Our Shared Humanity."
- Winter 2018The Florida Bar"For Want of a Knock on the Door – A Few Thoughts About Loneliness and the Law."
- Summer 2018The Professional, Vol. XIVI"The Time Has Come to Give Mental Health’s No. 1 Killer a Seat at the Table."
- Fall 2017Trial Advocate Quarterly, Vol. 36, No. 4"Has the Time Come to Dispense with the Testimonial Oath?”
- The Florida Bar Journal"Mandatory Injunctions – The Forgotten Art of Putting the Horse Back in the Proverbial Barn."
- The Florida Bar Journal"Putting the Lid Back on Pandora’s 'Jar': A Clarion Call for the Elimination of Contingency Risk Multipliers in Florida PIP Litigation."
- The Florida Bar Journal, Vol. 81, No. 5"The Burden of Truth – Have Florida Courts Gone Far Enough in Addressing the Problem of Juror Misconduct?"
- April 1992Airport Press, Vol. I, No. 1"Don't Look at Me, I Just Own the Bird – An Overview of the Protections that the Federal Aviation Act Affords a Florida Aircraft Lessor."
- 1998Second Edition"The Use of Daubert in Aviation Cases." (Co-Author)
- The Florida Bar Journal"The Big Lie."
- March 1992The Florida Bar Journal"Out Like a Lamb – The Silent Demise of the 'Mutuality Requirement' in the Defensive Use of Collateral Estoppel in Florida."
Events & Speaking Engagements
- "When It Comes to Your Mental Health, ‘Powering Through’ is Never an Option – One Family’s Journey into the Abyss and Back."
- FL"When ‘Powering Through’ is No Longer an Option – A Panel Discussion on Attorney Mental Health: The Hurt, The Healing, and The Hope."
- FL"Compassionate Professionalism: The Time Has Come to Embrace and Tend to Our Shared Humanity." (Co-Presenter)
- "Loneliness and the Law – An Open Invitation to My Fellow Trial Lawyers to 'Come Out and Play!'”
- TX"The Ethical Implications of Accessing the Social Media Accounts of Parties, Witnesses, and Jurors & Crisis Management When Best Practices Were Not Followed."
- "The Next Step on the Road to True Civility, Embracing Our Shared Humanity."
- "Guide to Becoming a More Effective and Efficient Legal Writer."
- "The Burden of Truth – Addressing Issues of Litigant and Juror Misconduct."
- Summer 1993"Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: What We Didn't Learn from Justice Clarence Thomas' Confirmation Hearings."
- February 1993FL"And the Band Played On – Or Did It? An Overview of the Laws Governing the Public Use of Copyrighted Music."
- February 1992FL"The Importance of Understanding Contracts."
- February 1991FL"Meeting Planner's Liability – An Overview."
- "Casey Casem Eat Your Heart Out – Ten of the Most Important Cases Of 1998 for The Product Liability Practitioner."
- "You Think You've Got Problems – Using U.S. Courts to Invalidate a Foreign Aircraft Registration or, Alternatively, to Secure Re-Registration with the FAA Aircraft Registry."
Professional & Community Activities
Litigation Counsel of America, Member
Defense Research Institute, Member
Florida Defense Lawyers Association, Member
The Florida Bar Association, Member