Ryan A. Hestbeck - Wicker, Smith, O'Hara, McCoy & Ford, P.A.

Profile

Ryan A. Hestbeck is a partner in Wicker Smith’s Orlando office, focusing primarily on medical malpractice, healthcare, and general liability matters.

Ryan first came to the firm as a law clerk in 2017, and has made his career here ever since. As an associate, he developed his medical malpractice skills under the mentorship of senior shareholders Barbara Flanagan and Dick Ford, gaining experience in the defense of both individual providers and larger hospital systems. Meticulous and detail oriented, Ryan understands the medical issues involved in these types of cases, and is able to uncover the core issues to craft a successful defense. He brings that same medical knowledge to bear in his general liability practice, and has argued multiple successful dispositive motions in both general liability and medical malpractice matters, resulting in zero payout on the part of his client. Ryan handles cases for some of the firm’s biggest clients, including major regional hospital systems and retail chains.

Ryan graduated cum laude from the University of Florida in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, and went on to earn his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Frederic G. Levin College of Law, cum laude, in 2019.

In his free time, Ryan enjoys visiting the Orlando theme parks and cheering on the Florida Gators with his wife Haley and their young daughter.

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Credentials

Education

University of Florida (J.D., cum laude, 2019)
University of Florida (B.A., cum laude, 2016)

Representative Matters

Defense Verdict in a Case With Admitted Liability

This case arose from an incident that occurred at a well-known regional grocery chain. Plaintiff claimed that she was injured when she was contacted by a stocking cart. The store admitted liability but defended the case on causation and damages. Plaintiff claimed she required medical care, including a 3-level cervical discectomy and fusion, with associated expenses of approximately $262,000 and alleged future care needs of $192,000. The jury returned a defense verdict in two hours.

Forty-six Wicker Smith Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2026

Congratulations to the 46 Wicker Smith attorneys who have been named to Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers Ones to Watch for 2026. Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. The process is designed to capture the consensus opinion of lawyers about their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area. This recognition is well-deserved and we are proud to have you representing Wicker Smith. 🔹 🔹 🔹 🔹 🔹 Lawyers of the Year: Oscar J. Cabanas, Mike Tyson Best Lawyers: Jaime Baca, Renee Brant, Nick Christin, Jordan Cohen, Bruce Crawford, Kevin Crews, John Floyd, Richards Ford, Charlie Garcia, Hugh Harris, Frederick Hasty, Mandi Karvis, Nichole Koford, Taylor McLeod, Joe Menello, Liz Messianu, Patrick Mixson, Brandon Nichols, Robert Paradela, Jay Potts, Rick Ramsey, Baron Ringhofer, Kurt Spengler, Connie Ray Stockham, Taira H. Towne, J.D., M.B.A. Ones to Watch: Marlene Brito, Mark Cavins, Ashley Elizabeth Ettaro, John Floyd, Kyle Fontaine, Samuel Garner, Kelley Godfrey, Devin Harvey, Ryan Hestbeck, Shivam Kumar, Selavi Patel, Alex Price, Lester Rodriguez, Sonny Romano, John Thomas Salmon, Kyle Leigh Schmitt, Bryan Yasinsac

Case Dismissed: Osceola County, Florida (Medical Malpractice)

Orlando partner Ryan Hestbeck recently prevailed in a wrongful death case pending in Osceola County, Florida, resulting in the entry of unopposed Summary Judgment in favor of our client. Ryan represented an Emergency Department physician in this case, which arose when Plaintiff presented to the ED for agitation, altered mental status, and manic state. Plaintiff had a complex medical history including psychiatric issues. On the day of the subject treatment, our client ordered sedation medication in the ED to address the patient’s combative state such that further medical testing could be administered. After admission to the hospital, the patient experienced a cardiac event that ultimately resulted in his death. Plaintiff’s surviving spouse, as the executor of his estate, sued our client, alleging that the sedation medications were administered without proper regard to the existing medical issues, and that but for the administration of these medications, her husband would not have died. Plaintiff’s retained Emergency Medicine expert agreed under oath that the administration of the medication at issue was appropriate under these circumstances, and further testified that he could not say there was a causal link between the administration of these medications in the ED and the subsequent cardiac event and death. In light of this testimony, Plaintiff’s counsel agreed to forego a hearing on summary judgment, and instead stipulated to entry of Summary Judgment in our client’s favor. Congratulations Ryan on this excellent work.

Ryan Hestbeck

Ryan Hestbeck - Partner

Ryan Hestbeck

Partner

Profile

Education

Representative Matters

Defense Verdict in a Case With Admitted Liability

Forty-six Wicker Smith Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2026

Case Dismissed: Osceola County, Florida (Medical Malpractice)

Practices

Education

Honors

Credentials

Admitted to Bar

Professional Affiliations