 Kurt Spengler Office: Orlando Direct: (407) 317-2186 kspengler@wickersmith.com Practice Areas: Admitted to Practice:
Torrance, CA |
Kurt SpenglerBiographyKurt M. Spengler, a partner in the Orlando office, is a board certified trial lawyer by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education. He is also certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Civil Trial Law. Kurt has over 30 years of experience and has tried approximately 80 civil jury trials, including at least 10 wrongful death cases. Kurt has represented motor carriers for most of his career, but over the past 10 years, his work in this area has increased to approximately 50% of his practice. Kurt is currently the Chair of Wicker Smith’s Transportation Practice group, which oversees the transportation practice in a 250+ attorney, 16 office law firm. Kurt has also been designated as a major case unit attorney assigned to handle catastrophic and brain injury claims for Zurich North America. Other represented national clients include: AAA Cooper Transportation, Waste Connections, Cottingham & Butler, National Interstate Insurance, and Vanliner Insurance. An ardent litigator, Kurt has earned a number of distinctions including an AV® Preeminent™ rating by Martindale-Hubbell. He was named “2006 Best of the Bar” by the Orlando Business Journal and “Florida’s Legal Elite” 2007-2019 by Florida Trend magazine. He was also listed in Florida Super Lawyers from 2008 to 2017 and Best Lawyers in America in 2016, 2019-2022. Kurt regularly attends many transportation law conferences sponsored by TIDA, TLA, ATA, DRI and USLAW. In 1984, Kurt received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida and continued his studies to earn a Juris Doctor in 1987. He is a member of the Orange County Bar Association, Transportation Law Association, Defense Research Institute and the American Board of Trial Advocates, a national association of experienced trial lawyers and judges dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the civil jury trial right provided by the 7th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Professional & Civic Affiliations
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Kurt Spengler - Partner
Profile
Kurt M. Spengler, a partner in the Orlando office, is a board certified trial lawyer by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education. He is also certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Civil Trial Law. Kurt has over 30 years of experience and has tried approximately 80 civil jury trials, including at least 10 wrongful death cases. Kurt has represented motor carriers for most of his career, but over the past 10 years, his work in this area has increased to approximately 50% of his practice. Kurt is currently the Chair of Wicker Smith’s Transportation Practice group, which oversees the transportation practice in a 250+ attorney, 16 office law firm.
Kurt has also been designated as a major case unit attorney assigned to handle catastrophic and brain injury claims for Zurich North America. Other represented national clients include: AAA Cooper Transportation, Waste Connections, Cottingham & Butler, National Interstate Insurance, and Vanliner Insurance. An ardent litigator, Kurt has earned a number of distinctions including an AV® Preeminent™ rating by Martindale-Hubbell. He was named “2006 Best of the Bar” by the Orlando Business Journal and “Florida’s Legal Elite” 2007-2019 by Florida Trend magazine. He was also listed in Florida Super Lawyers from 2008 to 2017 and Best Lawyers in America in 2016, 2019-2022. Kurt regularly attends many transportation law conferences sponsored by TIDA, TLA, ATA, DRI and USLAW.
In 1984, Kurt received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida and continued his studies to earn a Juris Doctor in 1987. He is a member of the Orange County Bar Association, Transportation Law Association, Defense Research Institute and the American Board of Trial Advocates, a national association of experienced trial lawyers and judges dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the civil jury trial right provided by the 7th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
vCard
Credentials
Education
- University of Florida
(J.D., 1987; B.S., 1984) - Board Certified Civil Trial Law Lawyer, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education
- National Board-Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 2016
Representative Matters
Defense Verdict in a Low Impact Collision
This case involved a low impact motor vehicle accident case in which Defendants’ garbage truck collided with the rear of a non-party’s vehicle, which then collided with the rear of Plaintiff’s vehicle. Defendants admitted fault. Plaintiff complained of neck and low back injuries with treatment totaling $136,000, most of which was provided under Letters of Protection. Defendants argued that there was no mechanism for injury present for the neck or low back and thus Plaintiff’s injuries were not caused by the accident. Defendants further argued that the treatment providers had an interest in the outcome of Plaintiff’s case due to her treatment under Letters of Protection, and that the providers’ bills were inflated. At trial, Plaintiff sought damages totaling $1,078,371. The jury rendered a complete defense verdict.
$4 Million Defense Verdict in Low-Impact Garbage Truck Accident
This case arose from a low impact garbage truck accident involving two plaintiffs. Plaintiff wife had five surgeries and $717k in boardable medications. She had prior complaints of low back pain, but no real treatment and no prior neck complaints. Plaintiff husband also sought back treatment and had $62k in boardable medications with no prior medical treatment. Plaintiffs asked the jury for $4 million, but the jury returned a total defense verdict.
$1.3 Million Verdict Avoided in a Chiropractic Case
Plaintiff claimed that our defendant chiropractor failed to properly diagnose and treat his foot injury and failed to refer him to an orthopedic specialist in a timely manner. Plaintiff demanded $1.3 million, but the jury found no negligence on the part of our client and returned a complete defense verdict.
Defense Verdict on Behalf of a Chiropractor in Orange County, Florida
Plaintiff brought suit against his chiropractor after requiring spine surgery a few days after a chiropractic adjustment. Plaintiff called a chiropractic expert and the treating surgeon who performed the back surgery. They asked the jury for over $200,000 in damages. The jury rendered a complete defense verdict.
Defense Verdict in a Traumatic Brain Injury Case with a $1.2 Million Demand
This was a rear end collision on I-95 in Brevard County, FL. Plaintiff was towing a flat-bed trailer at night without functioning lights on the trailer. Our client rear-ended the trailer due to the lack of lighting. The Plaintiff was taken from the scene to the hospital and claimed injuries to her neck, back, shoulders and knees as well as a traumatic brain injury from the accident. Plaintiff requested $1.2 million at trial, but our client received a defense verdict and $0 was awarded.
Defense Verdict: Orange County, Florida (Trucking Negligence)
Practices
Education
- University of Florida
(J.D., 1987; B.S., 1984) - Board Certified Civil Trial Law Lawyer, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education
- National Board-Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 2016
Credentials
Admitted to Bar
- 1987, Florida
- 1988, U.S. District Court, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida
Professional Affiliations
- The Florida Bar
- Orange County Bar Association
- Transportation Law Association
- Defense Research Institute
- American Board of Trial Advocates, 2007
- Trucking Industry Defense Association
