While the main emphasis of the firm has been based on the defense of commercial and recreational diving claims against industry members, including instructors, divemasters, store owners, boat owners and equipment manufacturers, the attorneys in the firm have a long and successful history in the defense of virtually all types of liability claims in many fields. Mr. Lesser, for example, successfully defended a major injury claim before a jury on behalf of the manufacturer of a surfing leash, while Mr. Turbeville has spent over ten years as a litigator, and is familiar with all aspects of general insurance defense.
With offices currently in Hawaii, Florida, and California, the firm is ideally located to deal with virtually all types of sports related injuries, particularly water related. Additionally, the attorneys are admitted to practice in eight states, can be admitted into Federal Court anywhere, and have extensive contacts with firms in many other states, so they are regularly admitted on a pro hac vice basis in many other jurisdictions at a minimal cost.
Finally, the firm has an extremely high success rate in matters taken to trial. Three members of the firm are masterful trial attorneys, and have defended successfully many death, brain damage, and other serious injury claims before a jury on multiple occasions over the past few years. Further, no successful appeal has ever been taken from any of the jury verdicts received by the firm.
We are simply not a law firm that will spend a fortune on discovery and pre-trial preparation and then suggest to the insurer that the case has "significant exposure," which is lawyertalk for "Settle this case so we don't have to go before a jury." We will analyze any case up front, and try to settle those where liability is clear, or where it is economically appropriate given all of the circumstances. However, our track record for tenacity and for expertise in trial gives us a decided advantage in such settlement negotiations, and the Plaintiff's bar is painfully aware of our successes in the field of diving (ATLA has an extensive file on our firm, which we consider an honor).
I hope you will consider us for the defense of any serious cases that are filed against your insureds; I believe we can provide highly competent and professional representation at a reasonable cost.
