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Injury Case Damages and Structured Settlements in Florida

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When you’ve been injured in an accident your focus is on getting the best medical care and recovering. But as the medical bills mount and your injuries have prevented you from returning to work so your income has dwindled, you have to start thinking about your legal options for having the person or business responsible for your injuries to help pay the costs of you care and the wages you’ve lost.

In Florida, when someone’s negligent actions have resulted in injury to you and loss of property, you are entitled to damages. Damages are monetary awards granted by the judge or jury in a civil lawsuit to recompense a person for pain suffered, medical expenses, and harm done to property.

You can recover for any bodily injury you sustain and any resulting pain and suffering, disability or physical impairment, disfigurement, mental anguish, inconvenience, or loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life you experienced in the past or may experience going forward. The types of damages you may be awarded can be for economic and noneconomic losses.

Economic

Past and future lost income: Earnings, any working time lost in the past and any loss of ability to earn money in the future
Past and future medical expenses: The reasonable value or expense of past and future hospitalization and medical and nursing care and treatment
Replacement value of lost personal property: The difference between the value of the property immediately before the incident and its value immediately after; the reasonable cost of repair, if repairable, with allowance for any difference between its value immediately before the incident and its value after repair
Funeral expenses

Non-economic

Pain and suffering: The pain of actual physical injuries, including effects likely to be suffered in the future
Mental anguish: Mental pain and suffering from being physically injured, including anguish, emotional distress, fear, anger, humiliation, anxiety, and shock

Punitive

Punitive damage can be awarded in addition to economic and noneconomic damages. Punitive damages are meant to compensate the injured party beyond his or her losses and punish the defendant for offending societal and individual norms and expectations. In Florida, two common situations where punitive damages may be awarded are drunk driver cases and when a driver was on a cell phone at the time of the accident.

Structured Settlements

If the severity of your injuries is permanent and catastrophic, your damages could be considerable, amounting to several millions of dollars. In such a case, you may choose to negotiate a structured settlement with the person who injured you or the insurance company.

A structured settlement is an arrangement where you agree to resolve your personal injury lawsuit by receiving periodic payments on an agreed schedule and not a lump sum payment. Both parties to the suit must agree on the terms of settlement.

Structured settlements are widely applied in product liability or injury cases. The settlements are usually funded by investment in an insurance policy or other annuity, which pays you a monthly amount over the course of your life. Such settlements are favored because they can reduce legal costs by having the parties avoid trial, and the IRS has ruled that settlement amounts are exempt from federal income taxes.

Selling a Structured Settlement

Another attractive aspect of a structured settlement is that you can sell, or transfer, all or part of the settlement to third parties.

Selling a settlement can incur surrender charges as high as 10 percent, and depending on your age at the time of the transfer, you could face federal taxes and penalties—undoing the benefit of lifetime tax-free income.

In 2016 the Florida state legislature made changes to laws governing the transfer of the right to receive payments under a structured settlement agreement. Essentially, the law requires that:

The seller reside in Florida
A Florida court judge approve the transfer
The transfer is determined to be in the best interests of the recipient

Further, the law requires that at least the recipient of the settlement be given a written disclosure agreement at least 10 days before the transfer and meeting these criteria:

Be written in bold type, no smaller than 14 points in size
State the amounts and due dates of the structured settlement payments to be transferred
State the total amount of the payments
State the rate by which the payments are discounted and the value of the payments after the discount
State the total amount the recipient will receive in exchange for the payments
Include a list itemizing the all the broker fees, including commissions, service charges, application fees, processing fees, closing costs, filing fees, referral fees, administrative fees, legal fees, and notary fees
State the amount payable to the recipient after all the commissions, fees, costs, expenses, and charges are deducted
Include a statement in the specific language provided in the statute that notifies the recipient that he or she is in effect paying interest and expressly sets out the annual interest rate
State the amount of any penalty and damages should the recipient breach the transfer agreement

In Your Best Interests

In deciding whether the transfer is in your best interests, the court may want to know whether:

You are confident that you got the best deal
You understand that you are selling at a discount
You have any ongoing medical or physical needs, and if so, how will those needs be met if you sell some or all of your payments
You understand the disclosure agreement
You have reviewed the disclosure agreement with a professional such as your attorney

Get Legal Advice

If you are considering selling your structured settlement, speak with an attorney at Madalon Injury Law to ensure you are getting the best deal and the disclosure agreement complies with the law and your financial interests are protected. Call today for a free consultation. The attorneys at Madalon Injury Law know how to put forward the best case for you. We are based in Fort Lauderdale and serve clients throughout Florida. Let Madalon Injury Law fight for you.

Ft. Lauderdale Florida personal injury attorney

Dog Bites Cause Serious Injuries and Owners May Be Liable

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Dogs are intelligent creatures and wonderful companions, but they can sometimes be unfriendly and aggressive, especially if untrained and allowed to wander freely. Every day in the United States almost 1,000 people are bitten by dogs and require emergency treatment for their injuries. Injury from a dog attack can be serious, with some victims being maimed and some dying.

Dogs not controlled by their owners are potentially dangerous. Florida dog bite and leash laws reflect how seriously the increasing incidence of dog attacks is viewed. Communities across the nation are strengthening their laws to improve enforcement of leash laws and impose stricter responsibilities and penalties on dog owners who fail to adequately restrain their pets.

Florida does not have a statewide mandated leash law. The regulation of dog control is decided and administered by county or municipal governments.

Broward County

A leash law is a legal requirement that a dog be controlled by its owner when the dog is in a public space or on the owner’s private property. Control can be achieved by a fence, a leash, a chain, or other form of humane restraint. The purpose of leash laws is the reduce and prevent dog attacks. Governments recognize that dogs can be unpredictable, so even a well-trained animal must be leashed to protect children, adults, and other animals from being harmed

Broward County leash law prohibits dogs from roaming freely and at large on public streets, properties, sidewalks, or parks. Dogs cannot stray on to someone’s private property unless the property owner permits access. While in a public area, dogs must be retrained by a tether, such as a leash, chain, or cord, handled by the owner and of enough strength to control the dog.

Abiding by the applicable leash law does not exempt a dog owner from liability for harm his or her pet may cause. It is the legal responsibility of the dog owner to control the dog whether or not there is a leash law in effect.

Owner Liable for Injuries

Florida statute provides that a dog owner is liable for injuries his or her dog causes to people or animals. The law imposes liability on the dog owner when a dog bites a person on public or private property, including property owned by the dog owner. The dog’s reputation for viciousness, even when known by the bite victim, is not a defense to liability.

This means that Florida is a strict liability dog bite state, and as such, dog owners can be held liable for damages their dogs cause even if the dog has never bitten a person before.

Also, a dog owner could be liable to damage the dog does to someone’s property. Examples include a dog digging up a neighbor’s flower or vegetable garden; chewing on and damaging part of a fence on a neighbor’s property; or jumping up on someone’s car and scratching or gouging the paint finish. Dogs are not permitted to create noise pollution with habitual barking, growling, whining, or howling. Dog owners may be found liable to disturbing their neighbor’s peaceful enjoyment of their home.

Possible Defenses

A dog owner whose dog bites someone is under strict liability in Florida. That means that the owner will be liable regardless of whether he knew or should have known of the dog’s likelihood to bite. The bite victim does not have to prove the dog owner acted negligently or did not use reasonable care.

The law in Florida provides dog owners with legal defenses to charges levied following a dog bite or other attack. The dog owner is not held liable when:

The bite victim was trespassing on the owner’s private property. However, persons are presumed to be lawfully on a dog owner’s property if they are performing a legal duty, such as police work or postal deliver.

The owner displays a conspicuously posted sign easily read and clearly notifying persons with words such as “Bad Dog” that the dog is dangerous. Even where such a sign is posted, the dog owner remains liable:
For injuries to a child under age 6; or
When the dog owner is the proximate cause of the injury due to his or her negligence or omission

Provoked Dog Defense

Because strict liability is imposed on dog owners in cases of dog bite, the owner is liable for injuries to the bite victim, but the owner can present evidence that the victim’s conduct contributed to his or her injuries. Where the evidence persuades the court of the victim’s negligent behavior, the court can reduce the dog owner’s liability by a percentage equal to the percentage the victim’s conduct contributed to the injury.

Florida case law indicates, however, that the bite victim’s behavior must have been blatant and egregiously wrong. These are examples of behaviors the court could find shifts liability in whole or in part from the dog owner to the person who was bitten.

Careless risk: The person knew the dog was ferocious or skittish and prone to attack, but the person carelessly placed himself or herself within dangerous proximity to the animal despite the owner’s warnings or attempts to restrain the dog.

Teasing: The person repeatedly teased the dog by tempting the dog with food or a treat but withholding the item; chasing and cornering it; or interfering with the dog’s possession of or enjoyment in a toy or food/water bowl.

Tormenting: The person physically rough-housed with the dog; beat or kicked the animal; or repeatedly poked the dog or pulled its tail

Damages

In a dog bite case, the kinds of damages available to the victim include medical costs, lost wages, lost future earnings, therapy and nursing care, emotional distress/pain and suffering, and punitive.

If you or your child have been attacked by a dog and injured, you may have to bring legal action against the owner of the dog to recover the medical expenses of treating your injuries and for your pain and suffering. Call our law offices today for a free consultation with the skilled Florida personal injury attorneys at Madalon Injury Law. The attorneys at Madalon Injury Law are experienced attorneys who competently handle dog bite cases and will put forth your best case. We are based in Fort Lauderdale, and serve clients in Miami, Broward, Palm Beach, and throughout Florida.

personal injury claim attorney in Ft. Lauderdale FL

Personal Injury in Florida Personal Injury Journal: What Is it and Why Should I Keep One?

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If you suffer any type of personal injury, it is vitally important that you maintain a personal injury journal. A personal injury journal is where you document your injuries on a daily basis. It can come in many forms, including a simple notebook or a day calendar. The key is that you keep it with you so you can record information at any time. Do not delay recording. This should be done in “real time,” even updating your journal multiple times a day.

What Type of Damages Can I Collect in the State of Florida as a Result of a Personal Injury?

In a personal injury case in the state of Florida, you may be able to collect for the following:

Pain and suffering. This is payment for physical pain caused by an injury.
Loss of consortium. This is payment for an injury that results in a loss of familial relations.
Property damage. This is payment for damage caused to any property as a result of an accident.
Medical treatment. This is payment for medical treatment that arises from the personal injury, including past present or future payments.
Emotional distress. This is payment for any emotional pain suffered as a result of the personal injury.
Lost wages. This is payment for any wages lost as a result of the personal injury.
Defamation. This is payment for any damages in a slander or libel lawsuit.

It is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible if you have sustained an injury. It is also critical that you document your injuries and the consequences of your injuries, so that a proper assessment of your damages can be performed.

What Should I Write in My Personal Injury Journal?

After you suffer a personal injury and start a personal injury journal, the first thing to include are the details of the injury. In short, what happened to you? Please provide as much and as many details as possible. Did you see the other party talking on his or her phone before the accident? Did they tell you they didn’t see you because the sun was in their eyes? The legal process can take a great deal of time in Florida and you may not be able to remember the details of your experiences during your time waiting for trial. If you can keep detailed notes about your injuries, you will help your attorney get the best results for you.

On a daily basis, track the level of your pain. Be as specific as possible including what area or body part is affected. Vague statements like “I feel miserable again today” are not very helpful. Also track days when you are not experiencing pain. In addition, record any difficulties in movement you experience. As time passes, you may find you have less to enter in your journal. Regardless, never go more than one week without recording an entry in your personal injury journal.

Privacy Concerns

Be advised that if your case goes to trial, your personal injury diary may be made available to the parties and the court. Keep your writing professional and courteous. Do not lash out in anger at the other parties involved. There may be times when part of or all of your journal may be considered privileged information. However, to be on the safe side, assume it will all be made available and public when you are writing in your personal injury journal. Writing about how you feel emotionally is best saved for your personal journal.

Keep a Record of Any Witnesses

Write down the names and contact information of any witnesses that saw the events that led to your injuries. Their testimony may be necessary and helpful if your case goes to trial. Also record contact information for any witnesses that could testify about your experiences after the injury, such as observers of your pain and suffering, loss of income and any other results of your injuries. This can include family members, friends, or coworkers.

Keep a Record of All People That Treat You

Like other witnesses, keep a record of the names and contact information of all treating physicians. Additionally, document the names and contact information of your physical therapists and physician’s assistants. It can be difficult to remember that information if your injuries require you to see multiple specialists, so add this information to your journal as soon as practical.

Keep a Record of Medical Treatments and Doctor Visits

Use your personal injury journal to record all medical treatments you receive. Also record all doctor visits. Keep track of the progression of your injuries. After each trip to a medical professional, record advice you receive from the professional. Further, record all medical bills and any related documentation.

Keep a Record of Your Emotions.

Some injuries and ongoing pain can affect a person’s emotions and feelings. It is important to keep an honest and open record on an ongoing basis. Try to avoid making extreme statements that can be easily contradicted. This includes statements such as, “I can never…” or “I always…”

Keep a Record of Any Loss of Earning Capacity, Income Loss or Other Wage Loss

Keep and make copies of income tax returns, W-2 forms, payroll stubs and any other income related documentation.

What Are the Next Steps to Take?

If you have I have sustained an injury and started a personal injury journal you may be wondering, “What should I do now?” An experienced, qualified personal injury attorney can help you get awarded all of the damages that you are entitled to. For an injury in Florida, please contact the experienced attorneys at the law offices of Madalon Injury Law. We have offices throughout the state law Florida. We will speak with you about your case at no charge to you. We will also come to you if you are unable to come to one of our offices. If you hire our law firm, you will only be charged if we win. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Ft. Lauderdale Florida personal injury claim attorney

Social Media Evidence in Florida Injury Cases

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Social media has become an omnipresent factor in the lives of most people. The profiles we set up on websites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and others serve as our face to the world. We share images of and commentary on our daily lives.

While these social sites were created to facilitate communication between family, friends, and colleagues in a friendly, respectful way, we know from personal experience that socially shared information can be used for other purposes. Online profiles can be used as forums to bully or stalk a person. Prospective employers peruse user profiles for insight into a job applicant’s habits and behavior. And increasingly, prosecutors and defense and plaintiff’s attorneys can present images and impressions gleaned from a user’s social media profiles as evidence in criminal and civil cases.

A potent example of this is the Casey Anthony criminal case. Casey Anthony is a young Florida woman who in 2008 was accused of murdering her two-year-old daughter. Though much of the case against Ms. Anthony was circumstantial, after photos of her dancing, drinking and partying at bars just days after her child disappeared were released through the news media, public animus toward her grew and many people became convinced of her guilt. Ms. Anthony was acquitted of the charges but lives in hidden seclusion as public hostility about her continues.

Evidence collected from social media also can be used in personal injury cases not only to show physical fitness contrary to alleged injuries, but also to prove that party’s injuries may be the result of bad habits or a reckless lifestyle.

Social media users have learned to protect their information by carefully applying privacy settings and being discerning about whom they accept as connections and circumspect about photos and details they post about themselves. As prudent as these precautions may be, they may not prevent lawyers from gaining access to profiles and using what they find as evidence in court.

Social Media as Evidence

In 2016, as much as 78 percent of Americans have a social media profile. Advertisers, salespeople, and employers would think themselves careless were they to ignore the enticing availability of that vast collection of personal lifestyle details when deciding which customers to target or which candidate to hire.

Similarly, a lawyer who does not explore the bounty that social media presents may be viewed as having failed to perform due diligence in representing his or her client.

You may consider your profile private, but the courts don’t agree and frequently rule that there is no reasonable expectation of privacy online. “Private” is not considered to be the same as “not public.” Once you share content—even with a select group of people—it is no longer private and becomes available for use in a legal case.

What Is Admissible?

Depending on the case and the evidential relevance, anything posted to social media can be presented in a court case, including photos, comments, posts, tags, birthdates, nicknames, and locations. The party presenting the evidence must establish authenticity and comply with hearsay rules.

The Florida Rules of Civil Procedure provide guidelines pertaining to the discoverability of electronically stored information. The rules and Florida courts have confirmed that social media evidence is discoverable, but rules on how to determine the admissibility of social media evidence are not settled.

Like other evidence, items taken from social media are subject to interpretation, which can limit their effectiveness or result in their being ruled inadmissible. For example, a photo posted to a “wall” could have been cropped or otherwise modified by photo editing software, creating an image that may present a skewed or downright false impression of the person depicted. Comments taken literally may have been intended as jokes or posted by someone with an axe to grind.

How Can the Evidence Be Used

Social media evidence can be presented against or in behalf of a party to a lawsuit. But individuals are much more likely to be indiscreet about what they present on their profiles than, say, a business or other professional entity that has a team of lawyers and media experts to advise it on how best to preserve its online image and reputation.

In personal injury lawsuits, such as a slip-and-fall case brought against a chain of grocery stores, it is more probable that evidence from social media will be brought to bear against an injured plaintiff than the behemoth corporate defendant.

The defense in a personal injury case can submit online photos of the plaintiff playing touch football with a group of friends despite claiming debilitating injuries from a slip-and-fall; or present posted comments from friends wishing a plaintiff a speedy recovery from a similar injury that predates the injury alleged in the lawsuit.

Overall impressions of a plaintiff’s lifestyle as presented online can also be allowed. A timeline of photos showing the plaintiff with an ever-present drink in hand could be damaging even without allegations or proof of drunkenness.

How Social Media Evidence Is Authenticated

Authentication is the process of proving that something, usually a document, is genuine or true. Authenticating evidence gathered from social media presents particular problems since such evidence is electronically created, which puts distance between the creator and disrupts the chain of custody. Further, electronic documents are vulnerable to parody and deceptive presentation by users with malicious intent.

Questions that must be answered to establish authenticity include:

Whether the evidence is actually taken from the social media site at issue
How was the evidence collected?
Where was the evidence collected?
What kinds of evidence were collected?
Whether the evidence appeared on the website and accurately reflects what appeared on the website
Can it be shown that the evidence can was generated by the source alleged by the party presenting the evidence
Who handled the evidence before it was collected?
When was the evidence collected?

Hearsay or Prejudiced Evidence

For social media evidence to be admitted in a case, it also must pass tests for hearsay and prejudice.

Hearsay is a statement that someone does not make while testifying at a trial or hearing and is being offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted in the statement.

Social media evidence can be excluded if it is found to be more prejudicial than probative, meaning the evidence will more unfairly bias the case against a party than present relevant evidence of substantive value to the case.

Seek Legal Advice Today

If you are involved in a personal injury claim and fear that your social media presence could be detrimental to your case, contact our experienced Florida injury attorneys at Madalon Injury Law today. We can advise you on on things related to your claim, including the use of social media and more. Reach us today for your free consultation!

Suing for Boat Accident Injuries in Florida

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Every year, the U.S. Coast Guard gathers statistics on recreational boating accident reports filed by boat operators. Every state submits accident report data to the U.S. Coast Guard. According to statistics compiled annually by the Coast Guard, in 2015 recreational boating caused:

4,158 accidents;
626 deaths;
2,613 injuries; and
Approximately $42 million dollars in property damage.

The top five factors contributing to boating accidents were:

Inattentive boat operators;
Inexperienced operators;
Improper lookout;
Machinery failure; and
Excessive speed.

Other major causes of boat accidents include:

Capsizing;
Overloading or improper loading;
Man overboard;
Ignoring weather;
Unsafe fuel practices;
Passenger/skier behavior;
Weather;
Reckless operation;
Failure to yield;
Congested waters;
Hazardous waters;
Alcohol use; and
Carbon monoxide poisoning.

Accidents can and often do cause serious injuries. When someone is injured he or she may need to sue the boat owner and/or insurance company to recover medical costs, lost wages, and other expenses incurred while recuperating from an accident.

Boating legal requirements

In many states children as young as 12 are legally permitted to operate personal watercraft. The type of vessel and magnitude of its power may be limited for minors, but the fact remains that people considered too young to operate a motor vehicle on land are allowed to operated motorized watercraft.

The great majority of states have laws requiring that boat operators attend a safety course before being certified and being granted a license to operate watercraft. Also, most states and the federal government require that boat accident be reported.

Florida law mandates that a person convicted of a criminal violation or a non-criminal infraction resulting in a boating accident or two non-criminal infractions within a 12-month period must successfully complete education requirements. Until the requirements are met, the person is prohibited from operating a boat. Any violation of the law can result in a conviction a second degree misdemeanor.

Accidents Must Be Reported

Federal law requires the operator or owner to file a boating accident report with the state reporting authority when an occurrence involving a boat or its equipment results in:

A person’s death;
A person disappearance from the vessel under circumstances that indicate death or injury;
A person’s injury that requires more medical treatment than first aid;
Damage to vessels and other property totaling $2,000 or more; and
The destruction of the boat.

Florida accident reporting laws require that a boat operator involved in an accident report the accident to either Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the sheriff of the county where the accident occurred, or the police department of the municipality in which the accident occurred when the accident causes:

A death or disappearance of a person;
An injury causing a person to require medical attention beyond first aid; or
Damage to the vessel and other property of $2,000 or more.

An operator involved in a boating accident must:

Stop his or her boat immediately at the scene of the accident;
Give assistance to anyone injured in the accident unless the action would endanger his or her own vessel, crew, or passengers; and
Give in writing his or her name, address, and identifying number of his or her boat to the other boat’s operator and/or owner of damaged property.

Failure to report an accident and failure to render aid are both criminal offenses.

Also, the law may impose a time period as short as 24 to 48 hours after an accident during which a report must be filed with authorities, particularly where the accident involves:

Death;
Disappearance of a person; or/and
Serious injury.

In Florida a boating accident report must be filed within 10 days of the accident–within 48 hours if death occurs or someone’s injuries are severe enough to necessitate medical treatment beyond first aid.

Reports generally require the name of the boat operator and details about the accident, including location where the accident happened, names and contact information on all passengers, losses such as injuries, loss of life, and property damages. The operator may have to summarize the facts of the incident, including date, time, place, people involved, and a description of the accident.

Leaving the Scene of a Boat Accident

Some states are enacting or strengthening boating laws to require that an operator involved in an accident stay at the scene and not leave, bringing the seriousness of and punishment for the offence up to par with leaving the scene of an auto accident.

The law in Florida requires that when a boat operator has been involved in an accident resulting in serious injury to or the death of a person, the operator must stop the vessel at the scene of the accident and remain there until medical care and/or law enforcement officials arrive.

Possible Liability

An operator involved in a boat accident may be charged with a crime such as manslaughter. The state may bring criminal charges if the operator was under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substance, if he or she operated the boat recklessly or negligently. Criminal charges can result in large fines and/or jail time if the operator is convicted.

Also, the operator could face civil liability and be found liable for medical expenses, property damages, and other losses.
Was There Negligence?
In general, personal injury law will be applied in boat accident cases. Personal injury law recognizes that where a person owes another person a degree of care and has been negligent in maintaining that standard of care, the person may be liable when the other person suffers injury.

Accident law, or personal injury law, does not require that a person intend to injure the other person. The law asks:

Did the person owe a legal duty of care to the injured party?
Did the person fail to fulfill that legal duty through act or omission?
Did the person cause an accident?
Was someone injured or harmed in the accident?

Duty of Care

With the question of negligence, the standard of care is whether the parties acted reasonably under the circumstances. Did the boat operator, for instance, make sure to equip the boat with an adequate number of safety vests? Did the owner operate the boat at a reasonable speed?

The standard is subjective, which may account for the great differences in personal injury case judgments. The jury must take into account and weigh all the variables legally presented in the case and decide whether, in the example given, the host is solely responsible, the injured party is to blame, or the responsibility should be apportioned between the two parties, depending on each person’s degree of culpability.

Damages

Compensatory and punitive damages can be awarded in personal injury accident cases. Just as fault may be apportioned between the parties, so may the damage award.

If you have been injured in a boat accident, take the time to schedule a free consultation with the personal injury attorneys at Madalon Injury Law. We are dedicated personal injury attorneys in Ft. Lauderdale who know how to put forward the best case for you. We are based in Fort Lauderdale and serve clients throughout Florida. Contact us today!

Law Firm

Joseph Madalon is Selected as a Member of the Nation’s Top One Percent

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Joseph Madalon, of Madalon Injury Law, has been selected to the 2016 list as a member of the Nation’s Top One Percent by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.  Joseph was also selected to be in the Top One Percent in 2015.  The NADC is an organization that is dedicated to endorsing the highest standard of legal excellence.  The mission of the NADC is to objectively recognize the attorneys who elevate the standards of the Bar and provide a benchmark for other lawyers to emulate.

The Selection Process of the Top One Percent

Members are thoroughly vetted by a research team, selected by a blue ribbon panel of attorneys with podium status from independently neutral organizations, and approved by a judicial review board as displaying virtue in the practice of law. Due to the incredible selectivity of the appointment process, only the top one percent of attorneys in the Nation are awarded membership in the NADC. This elite class of advocates consists of the finest leaders of the legal profession in the United States.

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