FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR IMMEDI= ATE RELEASE

Cont= act: Heather Patchen

Wicker, Smith, O’Hara, McCoy, Graham &= Ford, P.A.
Director of Marketing
(305) 461-8759
hpatchen@wickersmith.com = ;

WICKER SMITH ATTORNEYS PUBLISH CHAPTER IN

DEFENSE RESEARCH INSTITUTE’S TRIAL TACTICS DEFENSE LITIGAT= ION MANUAL

&= nbsp; ORLANDO, Fla.—October 31, 2006—The law firm of Wicker, Smith, O’Hara, McCoy, Grah= am and Ford is pleased to announce that Richards H. Ford, resident managing partner for the firm’s Orlando office and Michael R. D’Lugo, al= so a partner residing in Orlando, have co-authored a chapter in the “Trial Tactics Defense Litigation Manual” published recently by the Defense Research Institute (DRI). The “Trial Tactics Defense Litigation Manual” offers insight and practical guidance by experienced attorney= s on trial preparation and practice.

&nbs= p; In addition to being a Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist, Mr. Ford was recently named a Fellow to the American Bar Foundation. For over 20 years, he has engaged = in active civil trial practice, focusing on the defense of professionals and corporate institutions. He has tried over 100 civil jury trials, including professional negligence, produc= ts liability, construction litigation and general negligence cases. Mr. Ford also lectures on healthca= re issues, medical and legal malpractice, bad faith issues, nursing home litigation and trial advocacy techniques.&= nbsp; He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Florida in 1976 and earned a = Juris Doctor from Boston University in 1979.=

Mr. D'Lugo’s practice is devoted primarily to appellate work, representing health care providers, other professionals and large corporations in the District Courts of Appeal in Florida, the Flo= rida Supreme Court, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. He also represents healthcare providers whose licenses= are under investigation by the Florida Department of Health. Mr. D'Lugo h= as lectured extensively on healthcare issues, as well as trial advocacy techni= ques from the unique appellate perspective. He received his Bachelor of Ar= ts Degree from Columbia University in 1989,= and he is a 1994 graduate of the Boston University School of Law.

&nbs= p; Founded in 1960, the DRI is a national organization ded= icated to enhancing the professionalism of defense lawyers and improving the civil justice system. To support its commitment, the DRI offers numerous educational and informational resources= as well as hosts seminars throughout the year in various national locations and teleconferences for its membership base.

About Wicker, Smith, O’Hara, McCoy, Graham, & Ford, P.A.<= o:p>

&nbs= p; Founded in 1952, Wicker, Smith, O’Hara, McCoy, Graham, & Ford, P.A. is a full-service trial firm with 130 attorneys and a network of seven locations throughout the state of Florida in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Naples, Tampa, Orlando and = Jacksonville. Wicker Smith handles significant and complex litigation for= a broad variety of clients ranging from large multi-national corporations to individuals. For addit= ional information, please visit the firm’s website at www.wickersmith.com.

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Wicker, Smith, O’Hara, McCoy, Graham & Ford, P.A.

Miami • Fort Lauderdale • = West Palm Beach • Orland= o • Tampa • Naples • Jacksonville

www.wickersmith.com