Wicker Smith (Central Florida)

390 North Orange Avenue, Suite 1000
Orlando, FL 32801
United States

Phone: (407) 843-3939
Fax: (407) 649-8118

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Primary Contact
Richards H. Ford
  • Office: (407) 317-2170
  • Cell: (407) 257-9162
  • Fax: (407) 649-8118
Alternate Contact 1
Kurt M. Spengler
  • Office: (407) 843-3939
  • Cell: (407) 493-4711
  • Fax: (407) 649-8118

About this Firm

Founded in 1952, Wicker Smith O'Hara McCoy & Ford P.A. is a full-service trial firm deeply experienced in handling significant and complex litigation for a broad variety of clients including multinational corporations to individuals. With more than 260 attorneys, Wicker Smith services clients throughout Central and South Florida and beyond. Our Central Florida region serves Melbourne, Orlando, Tampa, and Sarasota. In South Florida, we serve Fort Lauderdale, Key Largo, Miami, Naples, Palmetto Bay, and West Palm Beach. The backbone of our relationship with clients is built upon integrity and stability. We strive to establish long-term relationships with our clients built upon a partnership of communication and trust by listening to our clients, understanding their businesses, and developing legal solutions to best meet their individual needs.

Areas of Practice

  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Antitrust
  • Appellate Law
  • Auto Liability
  • Aviation
  • Business Litigation and Class Actions
  • Business Transactions/Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Commercial and Business Contracts
  • Construction Law
  • Data Privacy and Security
  • Education
  • Energy/Oil & Gas
  • Entertainment
  • Environmental & Toxic/Mass Tort
  • Healthcare Law
  • IP and Technology
  • Information Technology
  • Insurance Law
  • Labor and Employment
  • Life, Health and Disability
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Pharmaceutical and Medical Device
  • Premises Liability
  • Product Liability
  • Professional Liability
  • Public Finance
  • Real Estate
  • Religious Institutions
  • Retail and Hospitality Law
  • SIU/Fraud/Arson
  • Securities Litigation
  • Sports
  • Subrogation
  • Tax Law
  • Telecommunications
  • Trademark and Patent Law
  • Transportation and Logistics
  • Trust and Estates

Representative Clients

  • 7-Eleven, Inc.
  • AIG
  • AIG Aerospace
  • American Airlines, Inc.
  • Armellini Express Lines, Inc.
  • Baptist Hospital of Miami, Inc.
  • Bass Pro Outdoor World, LLC
  • Bob’s Barricades, Inc.
  • Broadspire
  • Chubb Group of Insurance Companies
  • Cincinnati Insurance
  • Circle K Stores, Inc.
  • CNA Healthcare
  • Community Health Systems Professional Services Corporation
  • Cottingham & Butler
  • Dillard’s
  • F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG
  • Florida Intracoastal Underwriters
  • Great American Insurance
  • GuideOne Insurance Company
  • Lakeland Regional Hospital
  • Landstar System, Inc.
  • LaQuinta Inns, Inc.
  • Lexington Insurance Company
  • Life Care Centers of America, Inc.
  • MAG Mutual
  • Mariner’s Hospital
  • Mt. Sinai Hospital
  • NCMIC Insurance Group
  • Office Depot, Inc.
  • Orlando Health
  • Progressive Insurance
  • Publix Super Markets, Inc.
  • QBE the Americas
  • Ruby Tuesday, Inc.
  • Scottsdale Insurance Company
  • State Farm Insurance Companies
  • Stanley Black & Decker
  • Tenet Healthcare Corporation
  • The Doctor’s Company
  • The Medical Protective
  • Turner Construction
  • Travelers Companies, Inc.
  • United States Aircraft Insurance Group
  • Underwriters University of Miami
  • Miller School of Medicine
  • Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.
  • Zurich N.A.

Additional Offices

100410 Overseas Highway
Suite 204
Key Largo, FL 33037
United States

515 East Las Olas Boulevard
Suite 1400
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
United States

515 North Flagler Drive
Suite 1600
West Plam Beach, FL 33401
United States

390 North Orange Avenue
Suite 1000
Orlando, FL 32801
United States

9132 Strada Place
Suite 400
Naples, FL 34108
United States

50 N. Laura Street
Suite 2700
Jacksonville, FL 32202
United States

6525 Third Street
Suite 309
Rockledge, FL 32955
United States

1819 Main Street
Suite 910
Sarasota, FL 34236
United States

Monarch Plaza, 3414 Peachtree Road NE
Suite 960
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
United States

100 North Tampa Street
Suite 1800
Tampa, Florida 33602
United States

17901 Old Cutler Road
Suite 320
Palmetto Bay, 33157 Florida
United States

Primary USLAW Practice Group Contacts

Appellate Law

Michael R. D'Lugo

Wicker Smith (Central Florida)
Orlando, FL
United States
Data Privacy and Security

Peter Bartoszek

Wicker Smith (Central Florida)
Orlando, FL
United States
E-Discovery

Peter Bartoszek

Wicker Smith (Central Florida)
Orlando, FL
United States
Healthcare Law

Michael R. D'Lugo

Wicker Smith (Central Florida)
Orlando, FL
United States
IP and Technology

Peter Bartoszek

Wicker Smith (Central Florida)
Orlando, FL
United States
Insurance Law

Michael E. Reed

Wicker Smith (Central Florida)
Tampa, FL
United States
International Business and Trade

Peter Bartoszek

Wicker Smith (Central Florida)
Orlando, FL
United States
Medical Law

Raymond E. Watts, Jr.

Wicker Smith (Central Florida)
Orlando, FL
United States
Retail and Hospitality Law

Michael C. Tyson

Wicker Smith (Central Florida)
Orlando, FL
United States
Transportation and Logistics

Kurt M. Spengler

Wicker Smith (Central Florida)
Orlando, FL
United States

Resources & Articles

Wicker Smith’s Richards Ford and Patrick Mixson obtain defense verdict in medical malpractice trial

Wicker Smith’s Richards Ford and Patrick Mixson obtain defense verdict in medical malpractice trial

Posted May 1, 2023

Wicker Smith Orlando shareholders Richards Ford and Patrick Mixson recently obtained a defense verdict following an eight-day medical malpractice trial in Hernando County, Florida. They represented the hospital in a case involving the alleged failure to diagnose a bowel perforation following a laparoscopic gynecological surgery performed on the day before the first of three… Continue Reading

Legal Alert: Interpretation of Florida’s Medical Malpractice Act by the Second District Court of Appeal

Legal Alert: Interpretation of Florida’s Medical Malpractice Act by the Second District Court of Appeal

Posted March 20, 2023

ABOUT THIS LEGAL ALERT: This legal alert focuses on an opinion that was issued on March 10, 2023. FEATURING: Michael D’Lugo | Wicker Smith (Orlando, FL) Continue Reading

Wicker Smith Orlando partners Richards Ford, Patrick Mixson obtain defense verdict

Wicker Smith Orlando partners Richards Ford, Patrick Mixson obtain defense verdict

Posted January 1, 2023

Wicker Smith Orlando partners Richards Ford and Patrick Mixson obtained a defense verdict following a seven-day wrongful death medical malpractice case in Osceola County, Florida. The plaintiff, the estate of the deceased, claimed on behalf of his surviving spouse that the 57-year-old decedent died from a pulmonary embolism two days… Continue Reading

Wicker Smith Miami partner Jaime Baca and associate Danielle Carlsen earn complete defense verdict for major retailer

Wicker Smith Miami partner Jaime Baca and associate Danielle Carlsen earn complete defense verdict for major retailer

Posted September 30, 2022

Wicker Smith Miami partner Jaime Baca and associate Danielle Carlsen were awarded a complete defense verdict in September while representing a major retailer in a slip and fall case. The plaintiff alleged to have incurred five different herniated disks from a forward fall onto her knee and arm, ultimately undergoing… Continue Reading

Wicker Smith team receives summary judgment for insurance client

Wicker Smith team receives summary judgment for insurance client

Posted July 25, 2022

Wicker Smith (Jacksonville FL) Wicker Smith partner Rick Ramsey and associate Nataša Glišić received a summary judgment in a recent case in northern Florida. Plaintiff, an engineering company, asserted claims for breach of fiduciary duty and negligent procurement of insurance against Defendant insurance agency after its defense and indemnity claim,… Continue Reading

Wicker Smith wins admitted liability tender rejection case

Wicker Smith wins admitted liability tender rejection case

Posted November 1, 2021

The trial was held in September 2021, following a rear-end collision that occurred in February 2018. The plaintiff was a 59- year-old male who claimed the accident aggravated unspecified conditions in his neck and caused exacerbation of a preexisting herniation of his L4/5 intervertebral disc to worsen. Because of his… Continue Reading

Wicker Smith attorneys receive a complete defense verdict on a premises liability case

Wicker Smith attorneys receive a complete defense verdict on a premises liability case

Posted May 31, 2021

E. Holland “Holly” Howanitz and Catherine Crawley received a complete defense verdict on a premises liability case in Alachua County in May 2021. The Plaintiff had a life care plan of $1.6 million and claimed permanent injuries from neck and shoulder surgery. She also claimed permanent disability and lost wages… Continue Reading

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