In today's business and legal environment, matching your needs with the correct firm is crucial to the successful outcome of your case. As an informed consumer of legal services, you need to be sure that the firm you select is in fact qualified to handle the matter at hand.
To that end, what follows is a brief description of the type of matters our firm handles. We have made a solid commitment to these areas of the law, and we can assure you the best possible legal representation.
Automobile Negligence Defense
Smith Hood Perkins Automobile Liability Defense attorneys represent corporations, municipalities, insurance companies, rental car companies, and their insureds, in almost every facet of auto liability law. We provide specialized legal services in liability and damages litigation defense, uninsured and underinsured motorist claims defense, coverage issues, declaratory judgment actions, interpleader actions, low impact and causation defense, and bad faith liability.
Florida requires all motor vehicles in the state to be insured. Representing carriers who provide automobile insurance coverage, self-insured corporations, municipalities, and rental companies requires specialization and attention to frequent change in the law (especially in one of the fastest growing areas in the country). The law in this area evolves regularly. Our attorneys receive continuing education and training in liability matters, including bad faith claims and alternative dispute resolution techniques designed to help bring about the most advantageous results for our clients.
Aviation Law
It takes specialized knowledge of the aviation industry and an understanding of aircraft mechanics and design to successfully litigate a complex aviation case. The fact is, most aviation "accidents" are no accident at all. However, in order to prove aviation negligence or aircraft defect, a probable cause theory must be developed and painstakingly substantiated based on past accidents, mechanical knowledge, and actual aircraft piloting experience.
Aviation litigation requires an in depth awareness of FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) procedures, policies, and other government regulations controlling the aviation industry.
In order to win substantial settlements from aircraft manufacturers, airlines, and aviation insurers "all entities with vast corporate resources" a law firm must be willing to make a comparable investment in time and money.
Time is needed for the extensive research and discovery necessary to prepare a case; funds must be available to hire expert witnesses and create complex demonstrative evidence, including wind tunnel and flight testing to investigate and validate accident analysis. And perhaps most importantly, a firm must invest in the careers of attorneys attuned to the idiosyncratic nuances of aviation litigation.
Banking Transactions
Banks and financial institutions collect deposits from individuals and entities and invest those funds in loans, securities, and other assets. Our firm assists depositors, lenders, and borrowers in accordance with intricate state and federal banking statutes and regulations. Our attorneys have experience in lending and secured transactions, loan workouts, mortgages and foreclosures, public finance, state and municipal bonds and financing, venture capital, and international banking matters.
Business Entities
The form of business chosen for a business entity potentially affects every aspect of its operations. Our firm assists our clients in formation and business planning in deciding whether they want to operate as a closely held business, limited liability company, partnership, or corporation. We advise our clients about directors’ and officers’ liability, dissolution, franchising, reorganization, trade association membership and activity, joint ventures, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, business successions, and shareholders’ rights.
Criminal Law
Our firm has extensive experience defending the rights of people arrested and accused of criminal offenses. Our lawyers in this area are all former prosecutors. We handle all types of criminal cases, from the most serious felonies, such as murder, drunk driving, drug possession, narcotics sales, theft and grand larceny, white collar fraud, embezzlement, sex offenses, arson, conspiracy, as well as misdemeanors.
Employment Law
Our firm handles a full range of employment matters including discrimination issues, civil rights, wage and hour claims, and other employment disputes and planning matters.
Estate & Trusts
Our firm handles a variety of estate planning matters, which involves planning for the distribution of an individual’s property at his or her death, taking into account wills, taxes, insurance, property, and trusts so as to gain the maximum benefit of all laws, while carrying out the person’s wishes.
Family Law
Our firm handles a full range of family law matters including adoption, divorce, separation, premarital agreements, paternity, custody, and support. One of our senior partners is certified by the Florida Bar as an expert in this area of practice, and oversees the firm’s work in this field.
Health Law
Our firm has extensive experience in the large and complex body of health and health care law, which encompasses areas such as disability law, elder law, hospital law, and mental health law and is impacted by Social Security Disability, Medicare and Medicaid, and the Food and Drug Administration.
Insurance Defense
Our firm has extensive experience in the vast field of insurance defense law including, but not limited to, policy analysis and coverage disputes, bad faith and reinsurance matters, and alternative dispute resolution. Additionally, the firm represents insurance companies in various types of commercial litigation unrelated to coverage disputes.
Medical Malpractice Defense
Our firm is one of Florida's leading law firms in the area of medical malpractice defense. We represent hospitals, physicians and other health care providers in negligence and wrongful death cases.
Our firm's attorneys have developed knowledge in a wide variety of medical fields, including obstetrics, orthopedics, surgery, oncology, podiatry, and dentistry, to name just a few.
Smith Hood Perkins attorneys are repeatedly called on to defend medical practitioners in multimillion-dollar lawsuits. In defending these high-exposure cases, we select attorneys who possess a unique combination of both medical knowledge and skillful trial technique.
Smith Hood Perkins has long-standing relationships with medical experts from a wide range of the nation's most respected institutions. In defending clients, we have retained surgeons and professors from leading teaching hospitals and experts from the National Institutes of Health. Each expert is picked to specifically address the issues of a given litigation.
In addition to litigation defense we are ready to assist health care professionals in all matters. We have wide experience in defending clients at disciplinary hearings before professional boards
Litigation and Appeals
Our firm represents and advises clients who are or might become involved in a lawsuit or appeal as a result of a dispute. We help clients in avoiding litigation and in settlement negotiations where appropriate. Our litigation and appellate work encompasses all of our other areas of practice.
Local Government
The attorneys in our firm who practice in the state, local and municipal law area have expertise and knowledge in the areas of powers and liabilities of state and local government and municipal corporations, including matters such as land use and zoning issues, municipal employment disputes, and injuries to person or property by municipal employees.
Personal Injury
Our firm aggressively represents individuals injured as a result of another’s negligence or wrongdoing. Personal injury includes more than physical pain and suffering; it can also encompass wrongs to another’s person, rights, reputation, or property resulting from events or activities such as automobile accidents, defective products, intentional misconduct, and negligence. Our attorneys work to get injured people and their families the financial settlements and awards they need to put their lives back together.
Real Estate
Our firm represents both commercial clients and individuals in all proceedings and transactions that deal with real property (land and the structures attached to it), including purchase and sale, construction, mortgages and foreclosures, leases, zoning, title examinations, quiet title actions, closings, and management
Tax Law
Our firm represents individuals and commercial clients in matters with tax implications to identify and address state and federal tax issues, structure transactions in such a way as to minimize taxes, and avoid inherent tax problems.
Workers’ Compensation
Our attorneys represent employers, self-insured carriers, and insured companies in claims for lost wages and medical treatment claims under the worker's compensation system. They handle issues dealing with defenses, fraud, subrogation, and appeals.
Smith, Hood, Perkins, Loucks, Stout, Bigman, Lane & Brock, P.A.
444 Seabreeze Boulevard, Suite 900
Daytona Beach, Florida 32118-3953
