Neal A. Roth

Co-founder of the firm, Neal Roth is a lawyer with more than 34 years experience in medical malpractice, personal injury, legal malpractice, securities fraud, bad faith and age discrimination cases. In some of Florida’s most hard-fought cases, he has demonstrated his strength of conviction, legal skill and formidable knowledge by winning significant verdicts and obtaining favorable settlements for his clients.

Shortly after founding the firm, Neal handled a case which changed hospital protocol involving pediatric EKGs.  As an infant, Chantelle Berman had an EKG performed and interpreted by an adult cardiologist instead of a pediatric cardiologist.  Had a pediatric cardiologist interpreted the EKG, the fact that Chantelle was suffering from a congenital heart defect known as a patent ductus arteriosus would have been detected.  This condition, if diagnosed timely, is highly treatable.  Unfortunately, by the time the diagnosis was made Chantelle suffered irreversible pulmonary hypertension, and later died.  As a result of the settlement of this case not only was the family compensated, but the hospital involved agreed to change its policies and procedures so that EKGs on children twelve years of age and younger were to be interpreted by pediatric cardiologists.

Another significant case in Neal’s career began in the early part of 2003, when a young girl nearly drowned at an apartment complex in Hollywood.  Her lawyers brought a claim against the complex and tried to settle the case for the policy limits.  The insurer, through its lawyers, refused to settle the case on two separate occasions.  As a result, a substantial verdict was rendered against the apartment complex, and the insurers were exposed to a bad faith claim which would have required them to pay enormous damages well in excess of the policy limits. 

The firm was retained to settle the underlying case and bring a legal malpractice action against the two law firms who mishandled the case.  After two and half years of intense litigation, Neal recovered for the group of insurers from Lloyds of London an amount of money that approximated 75% of what they actually had to pay.  The lead underwriter was made whole through the settlement and its own insurance coverage.

Neal is a leader in the Florida Justice Association. A past president of the FJA, he currently plays an active role in the organization’s political and legislative matters. In 2003, the FJA bestowed on Neal the Perry Nichols Award, the most prestigious award it gives, recognizing a career dedicated to the Association, its members and the citizens of Florida.

Although Neal’s law practice demands a great deal of his time, his strong sense of community has led him to be actively engaged in a number of civic organizations and philanthropic undertakings. An active member and past president of Temple Bet Shira in Pinecrest, he currently serves as Chair of its Endowment Committee. He is also active in the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and has endowed a permanent chair at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York.

In addition, he has served on the Board of Directors of Great Florida Bank since 2005, and is a member of its Nominating Committee, Corporate Governance & Compensation Committee, Risk Management/Asset Liability Committee and Compliance Committee.

As a result of his legal acuity and winning trial record, Neal has been a frequent guest lecturer to various professional groups, including physicians, hospital administrators, nurses and other attorneys. He has also appeared on television news programs as an expert in personal injury and medical malpractice litigation.

Selected Memberships

The Florida Bar
American Association for Justice
American Board of Trial Advocates
American Bar Association
Dade County Bar Association
Miami-Dade Justice Association
The Florida Justice Association

Awards and Honors

Florida Justice Association: Staff Appreciation Award, Legislative Leadership Award, Golden Eagle Award, Silver EAGLE Award, Crystal Eagle Recipient and Perry Nicholas Award
American Bar Foundation Fellow
Best Lawyers in America, Top Medical Malpractice Attorney (2010)
Lawdragon, Nation’s Leading 500 Attorneys
Florida Super Lawyers, Personal Injury Plaintiff, Medical Malpractice, General Litigation
South Florida Legal Guide, Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury Plaintiff
AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell

Education

B.A., University of Florida (With Honors, 1973)
J.D., Emory University (1976)
LL.M., New York University of School of Law (Concentration in Law and Medicine and related litigation topics)