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their lives back together. People o en ask me about tort reform and how I combat the changing attitudes of our jury, and I simply let them know that when people are cata- strophically injured, like my clients, there is no other help. e government does not help; their families are unable to help them and insurance companies ght them. eir lives are destroyed, they are o en destitute unable to pay the bills and without hope. I try to provide the help and the hope that they have lost. I try to achieve some sem- blance of compensation and justice for what a third party has wrongfully done to them.
AALM: What traits do you think make an attorney exceptional? What’s the di er- ence between a good attorney and an out- standing one?
Kurzban: Caring. It is a simple answer and needs no more explanation.
AALM: How would you describe the culture of the rm?
Kurzban: My rm is a boutique rm where each partner practices an area that is meaningful to him or her. My uncle is an immigration attorney, an area I have never really enjoyed due to the lack of a jury. Other partners in my rm do mental health and corporate law. I’m o en asked, how I prepare my cases. My answer is al- ways the same. I prepare a case to go to trial as I am looking to achieve justice. It is the cornerstone of my practice, and some- thing I have taught to associates and law clerks throughout the years. Justice does not come in money alone, but in knowing you have accomplished something for your client. You give them a sense of closure and resolution. Justice comes in letting your cli- ents know someone went to bat for them, sweated blood and tears with them and gave your best so their story can be told and their injuries addressed. e highest compliment any attorney can have in my opinion, is to have a client say thank you, we’re glad you are our attorney and you’ll be our attorney forever, and we thank you for coming in to our lives. I’ve always told my family, I wish I could be with them in every minute of the day, but if I’m not with them, I want to be doing something valu- able in the world and helping those that need help. at’s the type of rm and rm culture we have made in my law rm.
AALM: What do you enjoy doing out- side of work?
Kurzban: I am a Miami kid, born and raised. I love Miami sports. I grew up in
the 1980s watching the Miami Hurricanes and couldn’t wait to be a Hurricane, which is where I went to law school. I loved the Miami Dolphins and I have been going to Hurricane and Dolphin football games with my children since they were born. Although, I don’t play as much sports as I used to, there was a time when I was a young lawyer and a group of young law- yers would get together and play basket- ball, so ball and even ag football. I still love rooting for our local teams and, if there is a good baseball game going, I am still ready to swing my bat.
AALM: What do you most hope to ac- complish in the future? Where do you see yourself in ve years? In 10?
Kurzban: My future, I hope, comes with a continued record of verdicts for my clients and recognition from my peers for the work I have done by putting my clients rst. I know social change can be made one case at a time, and I revel in knowing that my case can be the di erence maker. I’ve had several cases written about, published articles and won recognition, and enjoy being part of the front line that is ever changing in the world of juris prudence.
Top Lawyers 2018 Attorney at Law Magazine® South Florida | 13
At a Glance
Kurzban Kurzban Weinger Tetzeli & Pratt P.A.
2650 SW 27th Avenue, 2nd Floor Miami, FL 33133
(305) 444-0060 www.kkwtlaw.com
Practice Areas
Medical Malpractice Serious Personal Injury Wrongful Death
Education
Juris Doctor, University of Miami School of Law, 1995
Bachelor’s Degree, University of Alabama, 1992
Favorite Quote
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who
is actually in the arena, whose face
is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no e ort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” – Theodore Roosevelt
Robert Klemm Photography