Attorney Profiles


Theodore J. Leopold 
2925 PGA Boulevard
Suite 200
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410
 

Communication Center 
Phone: (561) 684-6500
(800) 699-1914 (Toll Free)
E-mail: Email Me
Fax: (561) 697-2383
Web site: http://www.riccilaw.com


PositionAreas of PracticeEducation
HonorsPublished WorksAffiliations


Theodore J. Leopold is nationally recognized in several areas of consumer justice law, focusing on complex managed care and automotive crashworthiness litigation. He is profiled in The Best Lawyers in America and has achieved an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating available from the nation's oldest guide to the legal profession. He has earned the Florida Bar Certification, the highest level of recognition by the Florida Bar, for competency and experience of a civil trial lawyer.

Mr. Leopold served as a member of the Plaintiff's Executive Committee of the HMO managed care national class-action litigation. He also served on the settlement committee of the Ford Bridgestone/Firestone national class-action litigation, and was counsel for 70 families against Menorah Gardens/SCI for desecration of gravesites.

Mr. Leopold lectures nationally to Bar and Professional Trial Associations and community organizations on numerous topics, including managed care, legal and safety issues and has co-authored several legal publications. He is a member of The Florida Bar, United States District Court for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida, Florida Justice Association, Palm Beach County Trial Lawyers, The American Board of Trial Advocates, and American Association for Justice.

In addition to his practice, Mr. Leopold is an Executive Board Member of The Public Justice Foundation, The Professionalism Committee of the Florida Bar Association and a Member of the Cumberland School of Law Advisory Board. He is Past President of the Palm Beach County Bar Association, Past President of Palm Beach Justice Unit of BNai BRith, Past Chair of the Products Liability section of the American Association for Justice, Past President of the Arthur I. Meyer Jewish Academy and Past President of the Safety Council of Palm Beach County. He is the Inaugural President of Rebekah's House, the first transitional home for homeless women in Palm Beach County, Florida. In 2003, Mr. Leopold received the Judge Learned Hand Award Presented by the American Jewish Committee for his commitment and contributions to his profession and the community.

Mr. Leopold was awarded his law degree from Cumberland School of Law in 1987 and obtained his bachelor's degree from the University of Miami.

Mr. Leopold and his partner Mr. Edward M. Ricci secured justice for an 11 year old cerebral palsied child in Chipps v. Humana. It is the largest managed care verdict on behalf of an individual claimant in Florida, $79.5 million. In 2000, they were recognized for their groundbreaking work in consumer justice as one of only eight groups of attorneys in the United States nominated as Trial Lawyers of the Year by The Public Justice Foundation, the nation's oldest public interest law foundation.

Managed Care Negligence
Severe Injury
Personal Injury & Wrongful Death
Automotive Crashworthiness

Current Employment Position(s):
Managing Partner
Areas of Practice:
Managed Care Negligence
Personal Injury
Automotive Crashworthiness
Civil Trial Practice
Class Action
Mass Torts
Litigation Percentage:
100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Certification/Specialties:
Civil Trial Law, Florida Bar Board of Certification


Bar Admissions:
Florida, 1987
U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, 1988
U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida, 1988
U.S. Supreme Court, 1991
Education:
Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama, 1987
J.D.


University of Miami, 1980
B.A.


Published Works:
"Automotive Seats and Seat Belts: Take No Comfort In Them" (Co-Author), ATLA Annual Convention, Washington, D.C., July, 1992


"The Long Road to Automotive Safety" (Co-Author), ATLA Annual Convention, San Francisco, CA, July, 1993


"A Systematic Approach to and Analysis of a Crashworthiness Case", Trial Diplomacy Journal, Vol. 18, 259-262, 1995


"Motorists at Risk: Vanguard Issues in Occupant Restraint", The Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association, Eureka Springs, Arkansas, May, 1996


"Anatomy of an HMO Liability Case", Workhouse Seminar, The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Orlando, FL, February, 2001


"HMO Liability in the Medical Malpractice Case", Medical Malpractice Seminar, The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Orlando, Florida, March 29, 2001


"The Cancer of Managed Health Care", 38th Annual Convention, Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association, Eureka Springs, AR, May 3, 2001


"Getting it Done Right: Trial Strategy and Theming in an HMO Case", ATLA Annual Convention, Montreal, Canada, July, 2001


"Remedies for HMO Bad Faith", Insurance Bad Faith Seminar, The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, September, 2001


"Closing Argument, The Final Chapter", Trial Magazine, 2001


"Bad Faith HMO Litigation", ATLA Annual Winter Convention, Miami Beach Florida, February, 2002


"Proof of Damages in Auto Cases", 2002 Auto Negligence Seminar, The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, July, 2002


"The Cancer of Managed Health Care - Litigating the Managed Care Case", National CLE Conference, Snowmass, CO, January, 2003


"Identifying and Handling the Automotive Product Liability Case", National CLE Conference, Snowmass, CO, January, 2003


"Fraud in the Boardroom, When HMOs Put Profits Over Patients", Trial Magazine, April, 2003


"Fires: Lumina/Jeep Cherokee", The Attorney Information Exchange Group, Spring Seminar, New Orleans, April, 2003


"Causes of Action Against HMO's", ATLA Annual Convention, San Francisco, California, July 23, 2003


"Legislature Quietly Expands HMO Immunity With Medical Malpractice 'Reform'", Daily Business Review, West Palm Beach, FL, October 6, 2003


"Trends & News in Personal Injury Law", Advanced Personal Injury Practice in Florida, West Palm Beach, Florida, November, 2003


"Motions in Limine vs. Objections During Trial", Real Evidence for the Trail Practitioner, West Palm Beach, Florida, November, 2003


"Daubert v. Frye: State and Federal Court Case in Florida", Real Evidence for the Trial Practitioner, West Palm Beach, Florida, November, 2003


"Identifying Pre-Auto Crashworthiness Cases", The Louisiana Trial Lawyers Associations, 2003 Last Chance Master Program, New Orleans, LA, Dec., 2003


"Litigation Tips for the Managed Care Case", Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, March Journal, 2004


"The Florida Legislature Expands HMO Immunity with Medical Malpractice 'Reform'", Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, April/May Journal, 2004


"The Minority Gets it Right...D'Amario v. Ford", The Florida Bar Journal, June, 2004


"When HMO's Put Profits over People", Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, July Journal, 2004


"A Wrong Without A Remedy", Trial Magazine, September, 2005


Handling, Litigating, and Trying the Crashworthiness Case, AFTL 21st Annual Workhorse Seminar, Orlando Resort at Sea World, February 9, 2006


Florida Insurance Law and Practice, West's Florida Practice Series, 2007 Edition


Health Insurance on a First Party Case, Florida Justice Association, Insurance Bad Faith Seminar, West Palm Beach and Tampa, Florida, March, 2007


Classes/Seminars Taught:
Lecturer, "Motorists at Risk: Vanguard Issues in Occupant Restraint", The Arkansas Trial Association, Excellence in Advocacy , 33rd Annual Convention, Eureka Springs, Arkansas, May, 1996


Lecturer, "Cross-examination of an Orthopedist", Orthopedics for Lawyers Professional Education Systems, Inc., Miami, Florida, Fall, 1992 and 1994


Lecturer, "Kids in Crashes", The Importance of Child Safety Restraints, West Palm Beach, Florida, Spring, 1991


Lecturer, "Passive Restraints: Are They Safe Systems or Lethal Weapons", ATLA, Annual National College of Advocacy Seminar, May, 1995


Lecturer, "Kids in Crashes", Allamanda Elementary Public School PTA meeting, February 10, 1999


Lecturer, "Kids in Crashes", Palm Beach Public School PTA meeting, March 11, 1999


Lecturer, "Emerging Area: Denial of Health Benefits,", Personal Injury and Consumer Rights After Tort Reform, Ft. Pierce, FL, September 24, 1999


Lecturer, "Anatomy of an HMO Liability Case", Workhouse Seminar, The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Orlando, FL, February, 2001


Lecturer, "HMO Liability in the Medical Malpractice Case", Medical Malpractice Seminar, The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Orlando, FL, March 29, 2001


Lecturer, "The Cancer of Managed Health Care", 38th Annual Convention, Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association, Eureka Springs, AR, May 3, 2001


Lecturer, "Getting It Done Right: Trial Strategy and Theming in an HMO Case", ATLA Annual Convention, Montreal, Canada, July, 2001


Lecturer, "Remedies for HMO Bad Faith", Insurance Bad Faith Seminar, The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, September, 2001


Lecturer, Managed Care: Seeing Things Clearly, Annual Convention of the Florida Society of Ophthalmology, 2001


Lecturer, "Bad Faith HMO Litigation", ATLA Annual Winter Convention, Miami Beach, Florida, February, 2002


Lecturer, "Another Brick in the Wall: The Trial and Travails of Discovery Abuses and Stonewalling", ABOTA, Talking Head Series, West Palm Beach, Florida, March, 2002


Lecturer, "Ford Explorer Rollovers and its Global Effect on Our Other Cases", Attorney's Information Exchange Group, Spring Seminar, Washington D.C., April, 2002


Lecturer, "Proof of Damages in Auto Cases", Auto Negligence Seminar, The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Tampa, Florida, July, 2002


Lecturer, "What Happened To My MONTH!" Core Values and Punitive Damages: Getting the Right Reaction, AFTL - The Art & Science of Persuasion", Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, 2002


Lecturer, "What Happened To My MONTH!" CALLED-TO-THE-BAR", Cumberland School of Law, Birmingham, Alabama, 2002


Lecturer, "The Cancer of Managed Health Care - Litigating the Managed Care Case", Aspen, Colorado, January 6, 2003


Lecturer, "Identifying and Handling the Automotive Product Liability Case", National CLE Conference, Snowmass, CO, January, 2003


Lecturer, "New Approaches to Discovery, Making the Process Work", The ABA, 2003


Lecturer, "Emerging Issues in Motor Vehicle Product Liability Litigation", The ABA, Phoenix, AZ, 2003


Lecturer, "Fires: Lumina/Jeep Cherokee", AIEG Spring Seminar, New Orleans, LA, April 11, 2003


Lecturer, "Causes of Action Against HMO's", ATLA Annual Convention, San Francisco, California, July 23, 2003


Lecturer "Identifying Pre-Auto Crashworthiness Cases", The Louisiana Trial Lawyers Associations, Last Chance Master Program, New Orleans, LA, 2003


Lecturer, "Cargo Retention", AIEG Spring Seminar, Las Vegas, NV, March 24, 2004


Lecturer "Using Technology at Trial", ATLA Annual Convention, Boston, MA, July 6, 2004


Lecturer, "Ethics", Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Orlando, FL, November 4, 2004


Lecturer, "Palm Beach County Bar Association", Indian River County Bar Association, Vero Beach, FL, November 12, 2004


Emcee, "Practicing with Professionalism Seminar", Palm Beach County Bar Association, West Palm Beach, FL, February 17, 2005


Lecturer, "Recovering Attorneys' Fees in a Class Action", Palm Beach County Bar Association, West Palm Beach, FL, April 1, 2005


Lecturer, "Dealing with Foreign Manufacturers Who Claim They Don't Have Documents", AIEG Spring Seminar, Miami, FL, April 8, 2005


Lecturer, "Managed Care Abuse", Rosenthal & Levy (Paralegal Training), June 21, 2005


Lecturer, "HMO Litigation and How Elder Law Attorneys Can Assist Their Clients in This Area", Elder Lawyers Retreat, Yosemite, CA, July 14, 2005 - July 15, 2005


Lecturer, "The Role of the Civil Justice System in Product Injury Control", Tufts University, Boston, MA, April 4, 2006


Lecturer, "Health Insurance on a First Party Case", Florida Justice Association, Insurance Bad Faith Seminar, West Palm Beach and Tampa, Florida, 2007


Lecturer, "Health Insurance on a First Party Case", Florida Justice Association Insurance Bad Faith Seminar, Tampa, FL, March 23, 2007


Lecturer, "Proper Investigation of the Automobile Negligence Case", Florida Justice Association 2007 Advance Trial Skills Seminar, Palm Beach, FL, June 14, 2007


Honors and Awards:
Profiled in Best Lawyers in America


AV Rating by Martindale Hubbell


Finalist, Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, 2000


The Steven M. Shapiro New Leadership Award


The American Jewish Committee's Judge Learned Hand Award


The South Florida Legal Guide - Top Florida Lawyer


Professional Associations and Memberships:
Federal Bar Association
Member


American Association for Justice
Member, Chairman of Product Liability Section


Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
Board of Directors


The Florida Justice Association
Board of Directors


Public Justice Foundation
Executive Board


Palm Beach County Bar Association
Member, President


Palm Beach County Trial Lawyers Association
Member


American Board of Trial Advocates
Member, Board of Directors


Attorneys Information Exchange Group
Board of Directors


Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Product Liability Section
Chair


Samford University's Cumberland School of Law
Advisory Board Member


Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches
Member


HMO Managed Care, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
Member, Plaintiff's Executive Committee


Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County - Business & Professions Division
Cabinet Member


Jewish Federation for Palm Beach County
Past Member, Social Action and Intergroup Relations Task Force


The Florida Bar Association - 2004 Advertising Task Force
Past Member


B'Nai B'Rith Justice Unit of Palm Beach
Past Member, Past-President


Arthur I. Meyer Jewish Academy
Past President and Board of Directors


Rebekah's House
Past President


Safety Council for Palm Beach County
Past President and Board of Directors


The Jewish Community Center for Palm Beach County
Past Member of Executive Board and Board of Directors


Florida Bar Association - Member, Professional Committee
Past Member, Long Range Planning Committee


Jewish Federation for Palm Beach County, Professionalism Division
Past Member of Executive Committee


Jewish Federation for Palm Beach County
Past Co-Chair Super Sunday, Past Co-Chair Judicial Reception