Page 11 - Miami Vol 6 No 1

Middle District of Florida.
“I had built a practice in commercial liti-
gation, personal injury defense and family law where my clients included the cruise lines. I completely changed my practice at about the 17-year mark,” Hickey says. “When I was on the defense side, many plainti s’ lawyers told me I had the per- sonality to do plainti s’ work and the de- fense practice became less and less satisfy- ing to me. I knew that I wanted to start a rm which took only the better cases and prepared to try them.
“ is was an abrupt change in the type of clients I obtained and the way I pre- pared and tried cases,” Hickey continues. “I le behind many contacts and clients all over the world, especially in the maritime world. My only regret, however, is that I didn’t make the change sooner.”
Today, Hickey represents people who have su ered life-changing injuries and the families of people who have died as a result of negligence. He specializes in maritime law and claims against the cruise lines. ese claims involve sexual assault, premises liability, medical malpractice and inadequate security. e land-based claims he handles also involve auto and truck ac- cidents and products liability.
“All of our clients have su ered life- changing injuries that le them di erent people,” Hickey says. “ ey are at a point where they are not getting better. We navi- gate the long-term medical and legal jour- ney with our clients, assisting them in any way possible. Because of that, my sta and I always develop a pretty close professional relationship with the clients.”
e rm has grown from one lawyer to a team of four lawyers and eight sta mem- bers. “We are like Seal Team 6,” Hickey says. “ ere is little our team cannot han- dle or accomplish.”
With more than 17 years on the defense side, Hickey believes he brings a unique perspective to his cases. He combines his extensive trial experience on both the de- fense and plainti s’ sides and gets great results. e insurance companies and P&I Clubs know who he is.
Even though the rm has grown, Hickey still takes a personal interest in each case. “I personally meet with each of my clients during the process to ensure that they un-
derstand what is happening,” Hickey says. “I don’t sugarcoat anything, though. I give it to them straight.”
Hickey is formidable in the courtroom. As a result, he has obtained numerous settlements and verdicts in excess of $1 million which have earned him accolades and awards including admission to the Multi-Million Dollar Forum. In 2015, Hickey’s result on one case was named by the National Law Journal as No. 1 result in Florida and No. 6 in the United States. at was for Adkins v. Big Dipper Charters, Inc., a dive case in the Florida Keys. Hickey rep- resented a father and son who went diving. e dive boat backed over them. e son, a 12-year-old at the time, su ered a skull fracture and brain injury which resulted in partial right-sided paralysis. Hickey and his team recovered $12 million for the family to help with medical bills and future care.
ree weeks a er the Adkins case was resolved, Hickey settled an assault and battery due to inadequate security case in which the perpetrator – a man – beat a woman for 45 minutes. e case settled for $9 million. Two months later, Hickey set- tled a premises liability case in West Palm Beach in which a homeowner’s associa- tion le open cylinders buried in the lawn. Hickey’s client stepped into one of the open cylinders, trapping his foot and leg. A er numerous knee surgeries including a total knee replacement and two revisions and then complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), Hickey was able to settle the case for $2.5 million.
“I believe I can give them the best most aggressive representation they can get,” he says of his clients.
Hickey also has a passion for bar ser- vice. He is a past president of the Dade County Bar Association (DCBA), the larg- est voluntary bar association in Florida. He worked his way up to that position, serv- ing as chair of seven DCBA committees and three Florida Bar committees before he served in every o cer position in the DCBA including president. He then was elected to e Florida Bar board of gover- nors. Hickey is a member and supporter of the Florida Association for Women Law- yers and the Cuban American Bar Associa- tion.
“Early in my career, I found that I val- ued becoming involved in bar activities and being a leader in the bar. It is some- thing I recommend to every lawyer,” noted Hickey. “I believe in leading by ex- ample and creating consensus.”
At the early stages of last year’s heated debate on reciprocity, Hickey took a clear stance against it. Hickey also looks for- ward to addressing other measures which have been studied recently by a commis- sion such as the uniform bar exam with portability also called a back door to reci-
“Early in my career, I found that I valued becoming involved in bar activities and being a leader in the bar .... I believe in leading by example and creating consensus.”
procity, non-lawyer/corporate ownership of law rms, and paralegals practicing law. Additionally, he would like to work with the associations to create a solution for the large number of newly graduat- ing lawyers who have no mentors and no jobs, but who are deeply in debt.
“As a full-time working lawyer, I un- derstand the immensely important issues facing our profession. Using positions within the bar, I am able to ensure our messages get heard,” explained Hickey.