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Wicker Smith (Central Florida)
390 North Orange Avenue, Suite 1000
Orlando, FL 32801
United States
Phone: (407) 843-3939
Fax: (407) 649-8118
Primary Contact
Richards H. Ford
- Office: (407) 317-2170
- Cell: (407) 257-9162
- Fax: (407) 649-8118
Alternate Contact 1
Kurt M. Spengler
- Office: (407) 843-3939
- Cell: (407) 493-4711
- Fax: (407) 649-8118
About this Firm
Founded in 1952, Wicker Smith O'Hara McCoy & Ford P.A. is a full-service trial firm deeply experienced in handling significant and complex litigation for a broad variety of clients including multinational corporations to individuals. With more than 260 attorneys, Wicker Smith services clients throughout Central and South Florida and beyond. Our Central Florida region serves Melbourne, Orlando, Tampa, and Sarasota. In South Florida, we serve Fort Lauderdale, Key Largo, Miami, Naples, Palmetto Bay, and West Palm Beach. The backbone of our relationship with clients is built upon integrity and stability. We strive to establish long-term relationships with our clients built upon a partnership of communication and trust by listening to our clients, understanding their businesses, and developing legal solutions to best meet their individual needs.
Areas of Practice
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Antitrust
- Appellate Law
- Auto Liability
- Aviation
- Business Litigation and Class Actions
- Business Transactions/Mergers and Acquisitions
- Commercial and Business Contracts
- Construction Law
- Data Privacy and Security
- Education
- Energy/Oil & Gas
- Entertainment
- Environmental & Toxic/Mass Tort
- Healthcare Law
- IP and Technology
- Information Technology
- Insurance Law
- Labor and Employment
- Life, Health and Disability
- Medical Malpractice
- Pharmaceutical and Medical Device
- Premises Liability
- Product Liability
- Professional Liability
- Public Finance
- Real Estate
- Religious Institutions
- Retail and Hospitality Law
- SIU/Fraud/Arson
- Securities Litigation
- Sports
- Subrogation
- Tax Law
- Telecommunications
- Trademark and Patent Law
- Transportation and Logistics
- Trust and Estates
Representative Clients
- 7-Eleven, Inc.
- AIG
- AIG Aerospace
- American Airlines, Inc.
- Armellini Express Lines, Inc.
- Baptist Hospital of Miami, Inc.
- Bass Pro Outdoor World, LLC
- Bob’s Barricades, Inc.
- Broadspire
- Chubb Group of Insurance Companies
- Cincinnati Insurance
- Circle K Stores, Inc.
- CNA Healthcare
- Community Health Systems Professional Services Corporation
- Cottingham & Butler
- Dillard’s
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG
- Florida Intracoastal Underwriters
- Great American Insurance
- GuideOne Insurance Company
- Lakeland Regional Hospital
- Landstar System, Inc.
- LaQuinta Inns, Inc.
- Lexington Insurance Company
- Life Care Centers of America, Inc.
- MAG Mutual
- Mariner’s Hospital
- Mt. Sinai Hospital
- NCMIC Insurance Group
- Office Depot, Inc.
- Orlando Health
- Progressive Insurance
- Publix Super Markets, Inc.
- QBE the Americas
- Ruby Tuesday, Inc.
- Scottsdale Insurance Company
- State Farm Insurance Companies
- Stanley Black & Decker
- Tenet Healthcare Corporation
- The Doctor’s Company
- The Medical Protective
- Turner Construction
- Travelers Companies, Inc.
- United States Aircraft Insurance Group
- Underwriters University of Miami
- Miller School of Medicine
- Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.
- Zurich N.A.
Additional Offices
100410 Overseas Highway
Suite 204
Key Largo, FL 33037
United States
515 East Las Olas Boulevard
Suite 1400
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
United States
515 North Flagler Drive
Suite 1600
West Plam Beach, FL 33401
United States
390 North Orange Avenue
Suite 1000
Orlando, FL 32801
United States
9132 Strada Place
Suite 400
Naples, FL 34108
United States
50 N. Laura Street
Suite 2700
Jacksonville, FL 32202
United States
6525 Third Street
Suite 309
Rockledge, FL 32955
United States
1819 Main Street
Suite 910
Sarasota, FL 34236
United States
100 North Tampa Street
Suite 1800
Tampa, Florida 33602
United States
17901 Old Cutler Road
Suite 320
Palmetto Bay, 33157 Florida
United States
Primary USLAW Practice Group Contacts
Appellate Law
Michael R. D'Lugo
Wicker Smith (Central Florida)
Orlando, FL
United States
United States
Cross-Border Transactions
Peter Bartoszek
Wicker Smith (Central Florida)
Orlando, FL
United States
United States
Data Privacy and Security
Peter Bartoszek
Wicker Smith (Central Florida)
Orlando, FL
United States
United States
E-Discovery
Peter Bartoszek
Wicker Smith (Central Florida)
Orlando, FL
United States
United States
Healthcare Law
Michael R. D'Lugo
Wicker Smith (Central Florida)
Orlando, FL
United States
United States
IP and Technology
Peter Bartoszek
Wicker Smith (Central Florida)
Orlando, FL
United States
United States
Insurance Law
Michael E. Reed
Wicker Smith (Central Florida)
Tampa, FL
United States
United States
Medical Law
Raymond E. Watts, Jr.
Wicker Smith (Central Florida)
Orlando, FL
United States
United States
Retail and Hospitality Law
Michael C. Tyson
Wicker Smith (Central Florida)
Orlando, FL
United States
United States
Transportation and Logistics
Kurt M. Spengler
Wicker Smith (Central Florida)
Orlando, FL
United States
United States
Resources & Articles
Wicker Smith | Two summary judgments in one day in Lee County, Florida (Premises Liability)
Wickers Smith (South Florida) Two summary judgments in one day in Lee County, Florida (Premises Liability) Wicker Smith partner Drew Vogt argued Motions for Summary Judgment in two separate matters on the same day in Lee County, Florida, and won them both. In the first case, a slip and fall… Continue Reading
Rick Ramsey and Kyle Schmitt secure defense verdict in medical malpractice case
Wicker Smith (Central Florida) Rick Ramsey and Kyle Schmitt secure defense verdict in medical malpractice case Wicker Smith partner Rick Ramsey and associate Kyle Schmitt secured defense verdicts on behalf of three doctors in a medical malpractice trial in Flagler County, Florida. The plaintiff sued the firm's clients, alleging failure… Continue Reading
Wicker Smith’s Cammack and Draughn obtain defense verdict in a premises liability matter
Cammack and Draughn obtain defense verdict in a premises liability matter Partner Krista Cammack and Associate Oscar Draughn of Wicker Smith’s Orlando office obtained a defense verdict in a premises liability matter in May on behalf of a major department store client in Volusia County, Florida. This case arose from… Continue Reading
Legal Alert | Updates to Dram Shop and Liquor Liability in Florida
About this alert This brief legal update from Madeleine Vaughn of Wicker Smith in Tampa provides a snapshot of a recent Florida Supreme Court decision involving dram shop cases. She shares how this might play out statewide, especially in light of Florida's modified comparative fault standard. Featuring Madeleine Vaughn of… Continue Reading
Wicker Smith’s Jaime Baca and Alina Gonzalez obtained a defense verdict in an automobile negligence case
Wicker Smith (South Florida) Wicker Smith Miami Partner Jaime Baca and Associate Alina Gonzalez obtained a defense verdict in an automobile negligence case on behalf of United Automobile Insurance Company in Miami-Dade County in February. This was an admitted liability case resulting from a minor motor vehicle accident. Plaintiff claimed… Continue Reading
D’Lugo, Crews and Panepinto prevail in appellate matter
Wicker Smith (Central Florida) Wicker Smith Orlando Partner Michael D’Lugo and Naples Partners Kevin Crews and Heidi Panepinto, recently prevailed in an appellate matter heard by the Florida Sixth District Court of Appeal. The underlying matter involved injuries allegedly sustained in a dog bite incident that occurred on a Naples… Continue Reading
USLAW NETWORK Foundation announces Foundation Partners program
The USLAW NETWORK Foundation, the philanthropic division of USLAW NETWORK, is excited to announce its first group of Foundation Partners, marking a significant milestone in the foundation's efforts to empower deserving individuals to pursue legal education and foster a more equitable legal profession. The USLAW NETWORK Foundation takes great pride… Continue Reading
Wicker Smith’s Spengler and Woodard obtain defense verdict in general liability case
Wicker Smith Orlando partners Kurt Spengler and Melissa Woodward and associate Jacqueline Bourdon recently obtained a defense verdict in a general liability case in Osceola County, Florida. Plaintiff in this case alleged that while she was dining at a popular national restaurant chain, a single arm of a paddle fan… Continue Reading
Wicker Smith obtains defense verdicts in two medical malpractice cases in October
Partners Kevin Crews and Ashley Withers and associate Lindsey Grossman of Wicker Smith’s Naples office, obtained a defense verdict in a medical malpractice case in Collier County, Florida. This case arose from an alleged missed diagnosis of an epidural abscess, leading to initial paralysis and then long-term upper and lower… Continue Reading
USLAW presents the inaugural Champions Award to Nick Christin
USLAW NETWORK, Inc. (USLAW) has created the Champions Award to annually recognize an individual/organization who has shown outstanding service and dedication to the philanthropic efforts of the USLAW NETWORK Foundation. The inaugural award was presented to Nicholas E. Christin of Wicker Smith in Miami during last week’s Fall 2023 USLAW… Continue Reading
Cabanas named Chair of USLAW NETWORK
Oscar J. Cabanas of Wicker Smith in Miami has been named Chair of USLAW NETWORK for 2023-24. Cabanas succeeds Amanda Pennington Ketchum of Dysart Taylor in Kansas City, Missouri. The leadership change occurred at USLAW NETWORK’s fall member meeting in Dana Point, California. “I am honored to serve as USLAW… Continue Reading
Wicker Smith’s Richards Ford and Patrick Mixson obtain defense verdict in medical malpractice trial
Wicker Smith Orlando shareholders Richards Ford and Patrick Mixson recently obtained a defense verdict following an eight-day medical malpractice trial in Hernando County, Florida. They represented the hospital in a case involving the alleged failure to diagnose a bowel perforation following a laparoscopic gynecological surgery performed on the day before the first of three… Continue Reading
Legal Alert: Interpretation of Florida’s Medical Malpractice Act by the Second District Court of Appeal
ABOUT THIS LEGAL ALERT: This legal alert focuses on an opinion that was issued on March 10, 2023. FEATURING: Michael D’Lugo | Wicker Smith (Orlando, FL) Continue Reading
Wicker Smith Orlando partners Richards Ford, Patrick Mixson obtain defense verdict
Wicker Smith Orlando partners Richards Ford and Patrick Mixson obtained a defense verdict following a seven-day wrongful death medical malpractice case in Osceola County, Florida. The plaintiff, the estate of the deceased, claimed on behalf of his surviving spouse that the 57-year-old decedent died from a pulmonary embolism two days… Continue Reading
Wicker Smith Miami partner Jaime Baca and associate Danielle Carlsen earn complete defense verdict for major retailer
Wicker Smith Miami partner Jaime Baca and associate Danielle Carlsen were awarded a complete defense verdict in September while representing a major retailer in a slip and fall case. The plaintiff alleged to have incurred five different herniated disks from a forward fall onto her knee and arm, ultimately undergoing… Continue Reading
Wicker Smith team receives summary judgment for insurance client
Wicker Smith (Jacksonville FL) Wicker Smith partner Rick Ramsey and associate Nataša Glišić received a summary judgment in a recent case in northern Florida. Plaintiff, an engineering company, asserted claims for breach of fiduciary duty and negligent procurement of insurance against Defendant insurance agency after its defense and indemnity claim,… Continue Reading
Wicker Smith wins admitted liability tender rejection case
The trial was held in September 2021, following a rear-end collision that occurred in February 2018. The plaintiff was a 59- year-old male who claimed the accident aggravated unspecified conditions in his neck and caused exacerbation of a preexisting herniation of his L4/5 intervertebral disc to worsen. Because of his… Continue Reading
Wicker Smith attorneys receive a complete defense verdict on a premises liability case
E. Holland “Holly” Howanitz and Catherine Crawley received a complete defense verdict on a premises liability case in Alachua County in May 2021. The Plaintiff had a life care plan of $1.6 million and claimed permanent injuries from neck and shoulder surgery. She also claimed permanent disability and lost wages… Continue Reading