Page 13 - Miami Vol 6 No 2

Michael Haggard with his father, William A. Haggard.
never seen him in a courtroom where he was not in total control of the courtroom. When­ ever he tries a case or has a hearing there is no question who is in charge of the proceed­ ing – not the judge, not the defense lawyer – it’s always him.
I learned the incredible values of prepa­ ration from one of my rst mentors – Don Russo. ere was never a deposition, hearing or trial that he did not out­work and out­pre­ pare his opponent. I have tried to make this the standard of our practice in honor of Don’s legacy.
Last but not least, my rst legal boss (I was his law clerk) former law partner and great friend, Bob Parks, taught me how incredibly important it is to give back to your profession and your community. Bob told me that Perry Nichols, JB Spence and other great trial law­ yers laid the foundation for me and it was my obligation to do the same for tomorrow’s trial lawyers.
AALM: What aws do you currently see in the legal landscape? What steps can law­ yers and the legal community take to rectify them?
Haggard: e problem with younger law­ yers in the legal profession in general is that attorneys are not seeing the “forest through the trees.” What I mean by that is they feel that every case they handle and every de­ position they take is the last and only legal battle they will be involved in. ere is no concern based on their career, their reputa­ tion, or even how their behavior a ects the ultimate outcome of that particular case. You cannot point to a successful lawyer’s ca­ reer that is “grounded” in an unprofessional reputation. Young lawyers need to think about that the minute they are sworn into the bar.
AALM: Looking back on your career, what case most impacted your practice:
Haggard: I would say the Sami Barrak case, not only because it was a verdict of over $100 million, but more important because a er that case our rm’s focus shi ed to represent­ ing crime victims.
AALM: Tell us the best compliment you’ve received or the funniest story from your career. Haggard: I’ve always made a habit of visit­ ing my clients right a er a jury verdict, spe­ ci cally those that are too injured to attend trial. ese moments are the true special mo­ ments; when you are alone with your clients, away from the cameras, and courtroom and legal proceedings. It’s at that moment they can truly express their feelings about what you have accomplished. Some of my clients have su ered brain damage, or may be in a coma. I can feel an energy coming from them
that they know. We were successful.
AALM: What do you most hope to accom­
plish in the future?
Haggard: Everything starts with protecting
our civil justice system. It is constantly under attack and every trial lawyer has a solemn duty to ght for it’s protection. While our rm will continue to ght for the civil justice sys­ tem in the future, my goal is to continue not only to help families when they have been cat­ astrophically injured, but even more impor­ tant ght for certain industries to make safety changes that will prevent these accidents from ever occurring in the rst place.
AALM: us far in your career, what are you most proud of accomplishing?
Haggard: One of the things that I am most proud of is the legislative change our rm and our clients have made to make the swimming pool industry safer. We have been able to ac­ complish this at the state and federal level.
At a Glance
The Haggard Law Firm, PA
330 Alhambra Circle Coral Gables, FL 33134 (305) 446-5700 www.haggardlaw rm.com
Select Practice Areas
Premises Liability
Products Liability
Wrongful Death
General Personal Liability Matters Automobile Accidents
Admiralty Matters Commercial Litigation Medical Malpractice
Education
Juris Doctor, University of Miami Law, 1995 Bachelor of Science, Florida State
University, 1992
Honors
Lawyer of the Year in Personal Injury, Best Lawyers, 2018
EAGLE Centurion Award, Florida Justice Association, 2015
Advocate of Justice Award, National Crime Victims Bar Association
Lifetime Achievement, America’s Top 100 Attorneys
Most Effective Lawyer, Daily Business Review
Top 100 Trial Lawyers
Legal Elite Lawyer, Florida Trend Magazine Florida Top 100 Attorneys, Super Lawyers
Community Involvement
National Drowning Prevention Alliance, Advisory Council
National Crime Victim Bar Association, Board of Directors
MADD Barristers Council
National Center for Victims of Crime Polycystic Kidney Foundation, National
Board
Hobbies
Traveling
Spending Time with Family
Coaching Son’s Football Team
Attending Daughter’s Cross Country Meets Mentoring
Family
Wife: Bekki
Children: Maddison and Carson
Favorite Quote:
“A threat to justice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
– Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.