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Resident, Orlando/ Tampa Office T- (407) 843-3939 F- (407) 843-1745 AV-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell practice areas: Construction General Civil Litigation Legal Malpractice Medical Malpractice Nursing Home Abuse Products Liability Transportation Law education: · Boston University (J.D., 1979) · University of Florida (B.A., with honors, 1976) Rijks Universiteit te Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands (1974-1975) legal certification: · Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney, The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education · Board Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy born: Corpus Christi, Texas |
Richards H. Ford Biography
Richards H. Ford is a Managing Partner resident in the firm’s Orlando office. In his 20+ year career, Mr. Ford has engaged in active civil trial practice, focusing on the defense of professional and corporate institutions. He has tried over 100 civil jury trials, including professional negligence, products liability, construction litigation, medical malpractice, automobile liability, transportation liability and general civil litigation cases.
Mr. Ford earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from the University of Florida in 1976 and a Juris Doctor from Boston University in 1979. He became a member of the Florida Bar in 1979 and received his initial training at the prosecutor’s office, working for Janet Reno. In the last two years of his service, he became a Division Chief in charge of prosecuting primarily defendants charged with murder and/or rape. An "AV" rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell, Mr. Ford is also a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, certified with The National Board of Trial Advocacy and a Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist. In addition, he actively lectures on trial advocacy techniques and various legal issues throughout the state.
Mr. Ford joined Wicker Smith in 1983 and except for a six month hiatus, has been with the firm ever since. In 1988, he was asked to open the Orlando office, which has since grown to become one of the largest of the firm’s seven Florida locations. Among several honors, Mr. Ford has been named a Florida Super Lawyers in 2006, 2007, and 2008. Consecutively since 2004, he has also been listed among Florida Trend’s “Legal Elite.” In 2006, he was appointed to the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, an exclusive legal organization that limits its membership to one-third of one percent of lawyers licensed to practice in each jurisdiction.
admitted to practice · 1979, Florida · 1981, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida including Trial Bar · 1989, U.S. District Court, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida · 1996, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
professional & civic affiliations: î The Florida Bar – Health Law Section î American and Orange County Bar Associations î Florida Defense Lawyers Association (FDLA) - Board of Directors 2004-2006 î Central Florida Medical Malpractice Claims Council (FMMCC) – President 1998 î International Association of Defense Counsel î American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) î Defense Research Institute (DRI) î Florida Hospital Association (FHA) î Florida Health Care Association î Transportation Lawyers Association (TLA) î Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC)
speeches & publications: Florida’s Medical Malpractice and Determining Non-Economic Damages and Related Topics, CNA HealthPro (May 23, 2006) Florida’s Medical Malpractice and Determining Non-Economic Damages and Related Topics, Orlando Regional Healthcare System (March 9, 2006) Florida’s Medical Malpractice and Determining Non-Economic Damages and Related Topics, First Professionals Insurance Company (FPIC) (March 9, 2006) Florida’s Medical Malpractice and Determining Non-Economic Damages and Related Topics, The Medical Protective Company (February 20, 2006) Florida’s Medical Malpractice and Determining Non-Economic Damages and Related Topics, Mag Mutual Insurance Company (December 7, 2005) Legal Implications for Psychiatrists in a Malpractice-Litigation Oriented Society, University Behavioral Services for Child Psychiatrist (June 28, 2005) Case Law Updates – Break-Out Sessions: Professional Liability, 9th Annual Florida Defense Lawyers Association Claims Conference (June 3, 2005) Case Law Updates – Break-Out Sessions: Professional Liability, 8th Annual Florida Defense Lawyers Association Claims Conference (June 4, 2004) Interviewing Witnesses After Adverse Events, Health Management Association Education Program (October 22, 2003) Risk Management Rounds: Physicians, Medical Protective Risk Management Seminar (March 25, 2003) *Complete List Of Presentations Available Upon Request. Co-Authored: Radiologists Defense in Failure to Communicate Cases, For the Defense Magazine (November 2007) Co-Authored: Preparing for, Taking and Defending the Expert Deposition, Defense Research Institute Trial Manual (September 2006) Co-Authored: Preparing Your Experts for Deposition, Florida Defense Lawyers Association Defense Manual (August 2006) Co-Authored: Chapter 7 - Pain and Suffering in Pediatric Neurology, Medical-Legal Aspects of Pain and Suffering, Lawyers & Judges Publishing Co., Inc. (2003) Co-Authored: On the Defense—Preparing to Defend Yourself in Court, Chiropractic Business Journal (September 1999) honors:
News headlines: 8/211/07 - Radiologist: Defense in Failure to Communicate Cases 8/20/07 - Wicker Smith Attorneys Named Among Florida's Legal Elite 2007 6/1/07 - Wicker Smith Attorneys Named "2007 Florida Super Lawyers" Among the top 5% in the State 9/8/06 - Wicker Smith's Richards H. Ford Appointed to the Fellow of American Bar Foundation 6/1/06 - Wicker Smith's Managing Partners All Honored in 2006 Florida Super Lawyers |
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