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Rich Smukler
Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator
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Claimed Lawyer Profile
Biography
Why Mediation versus Trial?
As a trial lawyer of over 35 years, I have handled thousands of cases in the area of Personal Injury law (auto accidents, medical negligence aka malpractice, products liability, pro se divorce, estates and wills, commercial and business transactional disputes, HOA, stockbroker liability claims and much more). Whenever a client says to me "I want my day in court" I take a deep breath. I will then explain the benefits of Mediation, court-ordered or otherwise. It is a chance for you to take some control of the system, as opposed to throwing your fate into the hands of a panel of jurors who frankly could care less. You will probably save a tremendous amount of money in legal fees and costs, as well as the human cost of the emotions required to bring a case to trial. Mediation is a way to put this behind you for all time. For a more complete discussion on the benefits of Mediation, please call.
Rich Smukler, Esquire
Practice Areas
- Arbitration & Mediation
- Business Arbitration, Consumer Arbitration, Family Arbitration
- Personal Injury
- Animal & Dog Bites, Brain Injury, Car Accidents, Construction Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Premises Liability, Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death
- Business Law
- Business Contracts, Business Dissolution, Business Finance, Business Formation, Business Litigation, Franchising, Mergers & Acquisitions, Partnership & Shareholder Disputes
- Divorce
- Collaborative Law, Contested Divorce, Military Divorce, Property Division, Same Sex Divorce, Spousal Support & Alimony, Uncontested Divorce
- Medical Malpractice
- Birth Injury, Medical Misdiagnosis, Pharmacy Errors, Surgical Errors
- Legal Malpractice
- Stockbroker & Investment Fraud
- Probate
- Probate Administration, Probate Litigation, Will Contests
- Securities Law
- Products Liability
- Drugs & Medical Devices, Motor Vehicle Defects, Toxic Torts
- Real Estate Law
- Commercial Real Estate, Condominiums, Easements, Eminent Domain, Homeowners Association, Land Use & Zoning, Mortgages, Neighbor Disputes, Residential Real Estate, Water Law
- Insurance Claims
- Bad Faith Insurance, Business Insurance, Disability Insurance, Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Motor Vehicle Insurance, Property Insurance
Additional Practice Area
- Mediation / Arbitration
Fees
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Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
I offer two billing options: hourly and per diem. Unless I am notified otherwise, you will be billed on an hourly basis. My hourly rate is $320.00 per hour for two party mediations and $450.00 per hour for mediations with three or more parties, which will be billed at the conclusion of each mediation session. The time billed will include all time spent in mediation sessions (minimum 2.0 hours), time spent if any in preparation for mediation sessions, as well as all other time spent in the mediation process, including separate conferences with each party, conferences in which all parties are present, and any telephone conferences. If all parties agree, there is an alternative billing option you may select. The alternative is a statewide rate of $4,000.00 per day, which includes travel time. If you choose this alternative billing option, you must notify me immediately to be sure the time is reserved appropriately. I do not charge for travel within the 11th, 15th, 17th and 19th Circuits in Florida, however, I do charge a reduced rate for travel time outside of these Circuits, and for airfare, if required. In addition, I will bill for all costs incurred in this mediation, such as copy costs, food and lodging expenses if overnight stays are required, and other out of pocket costs.
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
- Florida
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- Pennsylvania
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Languages
- English: Spoken, Written
Professional Experience
- attorney mediator and arbitrator
- Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator
- Current
- Qualified Florida Advanced Arbitrator
- Current
- Certified in Residential Foreclosure Mediation
- Certified in Residential Foreclosure Mediation
- Current
- (compliant with the Supreme Court Administrative Order AOSC09-54)
- Certified Dispute Resolution Arbitrator & Mediator
- Finra
- - Current
- Florida Supreme Court Civil & County Certified Assistant Mediator Trainer
- Supreme Court of Florida
- - Current
- attorney mediator and arbitrator
- Attorney licensed in Pennsylvania and Florida
- - Current
- Special Assistant Attorney General
- Pennsylvania Attorney Genenral's Office
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- Condemnation and Eminent Domain Trial Specialist
Education
- Villanova University
- M.A. | English Literature
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- Villanova University School of Law
- J.D. | Law
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- Pennsylvania State University - University Park
- B.A. | English Literature
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Professional Associations
- Palm Beach, Broward and Dade County Bar Associations
- member
- Current
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- ABA
- adr section member
- Current
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- American Arbitration Association Neutral
- mediator
- - Current
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- Palm Beach County Residential Foreclosure Mediation Program
- mediator
- - Current
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- Florida Bar Association ADR Section
- member
- - Current
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- Collins Center for Public Policy
- mediator
- - Current
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- Florida Bar Trial Lawyers Section
- member
- - Current
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- Finra
- Dispute Resolution Arbitrator
- - Current
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- ASFMA (Association of South Floirda Mediators and Arbitrators)
- member
- - Current
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- FAPM (The Florida Academy of Professional Mediators)
- member
- - Current
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- Palm Beach County ADR Committee
- Member
- - Current
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- Broward County ADR Committee
- Member
- - Current
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- Florida Bar Association
- member
- - Current
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- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- member
- - Current
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Certifications
- Circuit Civil & County Mediation Assistant Trainer
- Supreme Court of Florida
- Circuit Civil Mediator
- Florida Supreme Court
- Qualified Florida Arbitrator
- Florida Supreme Court
- FINRA certiified arbitrator & mediator
- FINRA
- AAA certified neutral
- American Arbitration Association Neutral
Social Media
Contact & Map
