ATTORNEY RICK ARCARO
1834 Main Street
Sarasota, FL 34236
(941) 330-2000: cell: (941)228-5867
email: rdarcaropc@aol, web site:www.RicksGotYourBack.com
Trial Attorney; Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation Practice limited to motorcycle, car and truck crashes.
Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI ,
B.A., Business - Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Licenses: States of Florida and Michigan; admitted to Federal District Court and District Court of Appeals (Michigan)
Community Activities: Volunteer, Gulf Coast Legal Services, Sarasota, Florida , representing indigent clients, recently recognized by the Sarasota Bar for volunteer work for indigents. Designated Emeritus Attorney by the Florida Supreme Court pending admission to the Florida Bar.
Member of Florida Academy of Trial Lawyers
Guest Lecturer: University of Detroit, Damages; International Paralegal Education Institute, Medical Malpractice; Licensed Beverages Association, Liquor Liability.
Computers: Lexis/Nexis, West Law ,Word Perfect, internet, email.
OUTSTANDING
ACHIEVEMENTS:
| 1) Awarded AV Rating by Martindale Hubble |
| 2) Eagle member of Florida Justice Association |
3) Participated as Lead Counsel in more than 100 jury trials in both Circuit Court and Federal District Courts; recovered more than $50 million in verdicts and settlements on behalf of clients.
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| 4) Member of Multi Million Dollar Advocates Forum |
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
LICENSED STATE OF MICHIGAN
LICENSED STATE OF FLORIDA
Litigation Lawyer
- Represented over 2000 people seeking compensation for negligently inflicted injuries and death.
- Conducted more than one thousand depositions.
- Prepared complaints, motions and conducted discovery in anticipation of litigation.
- Represented clients as lead counsel at more than 100 jury trials.
- Negotiated thousands of pre-trial settlements following trial preparation.
- Appointed by Circuit Court to conduct mediation proceedings and arbitration hearings.
- Engaged administration of law practice; supervised paralegal and secretarial staff; directed and extensively participated in legal research.
- Lectured on closing argument, medical malpractice and liquor liability.
I was an associate and partner in two litigation firms. I opened my own practice in 1990. In December of 2002 I relocated to Sarasota, Florida and became licensed to practice law in the State of Florida on March 30, 2005. Prior to being licensed I represented indigent clients as a Emeritus Attorney at Gulfcoast Legal Services, Inc. in Sarasota, Florida. During my career I have practiced almost exclusively in the area of personal injury litigation.
I have practiced law in Sarasota Florida since 2005 specializing in motorcycle, car and truck personal injury and wrongful death claims and litigation..
The areas of litigation in which I have experience are illustrated by a sampling of the following cases in which I was lead counsel:
Dog bite, puncture wound to breast. Offer by defense, $500.00. Verdict $25,000.00.
Medical malpractice, failure to diagnose and treat bacterial spinal meningitis. Settled by mediation after extensive trial preparation for $800,000.00.
Premise liability, fractured leg caused by a one eyed horse at a riding stable rolling over on my client.
No offer. Verdict $869,000.00.
Auto negligence, muscle injury, Offer "O". Jury verdict $56,000.00.`
Auto negligence, myofascial strain, lumbar spine, liability was strong but was contested. Offer was $30,000.00. Verdict $710,000.00.
Premise liability, fracture to arm with loss of motion caused when my 350 pound client fell 20 feet to the ground when he lost his grip on a "T Bar" while on a homemade trapeze. Expert testimony established that a wave was created when my clients weight pulled down the cable. The wave traveled 300 feet to a pole that was anchored by cement and came back at the area where my client was located. This wave jerked the "T Bar"out of his hand. The offer was $10,000.00. The jury returned a $570,000.00 verdict in three hours. The defendant had a one million dollar policy. Affirmed on appeal.
Auto negligence, cervical strain with strong liability. Defense offered $2000.00. Jury returned a verdict of $130,000.00. Defendant insured by Allstate which had a policy of not paying "soft tissue" injuries. Settled while on appeal.
Auto negligence, lumbar strain with denial of liability. Defense offered $10,000.00. Jury returned a verdict of $500,000.00.
Automobile negligence 1992. Cervical strain. $5,000.00 offer by Defense. Jury verdict of $50,000.00.
Premise liability, 17 year old fell into an opened cellar door suffering closed head injury. Strong neuropsychological testimony produced a settlement of $455,000.00
Auto negligence, broken wrist with admitted liability. Motion in limine was granted by defense preventing evidence of wage loss because client sold her business two years prior. Defense offered $200,000.00. Jury returned a verdict of $500,000.00 for compensation of non economic damages.
Premise liability. Fall on ice at car dealership. Chronic headache pain without objective evidence of pain. Relied on lay witnesses to prove damages resulting in $110,000.00 settlement.
Medical malpractice, death of a three year old after administering an overdose of anesthesia. Three attorneys had rejected this case. The file was referred to me by an attorney three weeks before the statute of limitations expired. I retained an expert who identified an overdose. The case settled for $800,000.00 after the notice of intent was received by the defendant hospital.
Auto negligence/wrongful death. Admitted liability. When client came to after a prior attorney had negotiated with the Defendant's adjuster for $100,000.00. Suit was filed. Discovery revealed an umbrella policy. Case settled for $1,200,000.00.
Product liability, massive facial fractures when a broken shaft weighing 600 pounds fell on plaintiff's face. Discovery revealed a press design that was modified by Ford. Experts opined this change caused the shaft to weaken. A mock trial was scheduled on a Saturday. Case settled on Friday for $2,500.000.00 when a " special adjuster" flew in from out of town and invited me to make my opening statement.
Auto negligence, reflex sympathetic dystrophy admitted liability settled after discovery and mediation for $1,100,000.00.
Premise liability case on behalf of a five year old child who ingested lead based paint
and suffered brain damage. Extensive discovery and renowned liability experts produced a post discovery mediation settlement of $1,200,000.00
Medical malpractice, neurosurgeon caused tear to dura while performing a cervical fusion. The tear was repaired with a bovie device causing injury to cord with paralysis. Settled after death of client from infection for $1,100,000.
Auto negligence, herniated disc. Settled after discovery through facilitation in the amount of $585,000.00.
Auto negligence, fractured femur, admitted liability settled after discovery through mediation for $710,000.00.
Premise liability, drowning of a twelve year old in a hotel pool. The pool water was cloudy as a result of failed maintenance. Expert testimony established strong liability. Case settled after extensive discovery one week before trial for $840,000.00.
Premise liability. Fall from defective ladder. Frontal lobe brain injury and fractures to elbows. Two attorneys rejected case believing workers compensation was only remedy. Filed suit. against builder and contractor. Extensive discovery. Recovered 3 million dollars for client.
Motorcycle crash cases. Since moving to Florida I have devoted my practice to clients who have been injured or whose family member has been killed by at fault drivers in motor cycle crashes.
LAW OFFICE OF RICK ARCARO
At the Law Office of Rick Arcaro, I stand up for the rights of accident victims every day. I have been doing this for more than 30 years. Why do I do it? Because I like to. Helping people and their families who have been harmed by the negligence of others creates a sense of enjoyment and self satisfaction.
It is rewarding to see justice served. I feel good helping people who would otherwise be mistreated by an insurance company. When insurance companies make unfair offers to motorcycle, truck and car accident victims, and other personal injury victims, I step in. I use the legal system, my experience and passion for helping victims of wrongdoers to achieve maximum compensation.
My record for achieving maximum compensation for accident victims speaks for itself. My case results have earned me a place in the Multi Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Only one percent of this country's attorneys are members of this exclusive organization. Rick Arcaro has also been AV rated by Martindale and Hubbell the most prestigious lawyer evaluation service in the United States. Being AV rated is the highest achievement rating obtainable. It is a distinction held by only 17 percent of attorneys in the United States. Martindale Hubbell has been evaluating attorneys for over 130 years by talking to judges and other attorneys about the attorney being evaluated. AV rating is important because it is a public confirmation that Rick's legal abilities are of the highest standards possible and that his professional ethics and conduct are above question. Rick is an Eagle member of the Florida Justice Association, a group of attorneys in the State whose purpose is to advocate the rights of people whose lives have been affected by injury and death caused by wrongdoers.
Providing Personal Attention in Injury and Wrongful Death Cases.
At some large law firms, cases are handled by case managers. These are staff members who function in a similar capacity to claims representatives at the insurance companies. Essentially, the case manager does much of the case preparartion and settlement of a clients legal claim. A case manager is not a lawyer and has never filed a legal action and has never argued a case to a jury.
At my law firm, I do things differently. When you ask me to handle your case, you will receive personal attention from me. As your lawyer I will work directly with you from start to finish. I will do all the work, from preparing the exhibits for the trial, taking doctors depositions, retaining economists and life care planners, accident reconstructionists and any other needed experts, to representing you at the trial. When you have questions, as your lawyer I will answer them. When you get updates, I will personally provide them. I will support and argue your case from start to finish.