Tom’s experience extends to product liability cases involving a variety of defective products, from guns and cranes to electrical outlets and appliances. He has also handled a vast array of motor vehicle accident cases, particularly catastrophic trucking crashes, earning record results for his clients. In recent years, Tom has recovered over $40 million for clients involved in trucking accidents, addressing injuries ranging from amputations and traumatic brain injuries to wrongful death.

With a robust referral-based practice, Tom is frequently sought out by fellow attorneys to bolster their legal strategies and achieve optimal outcomes for their clients. Recent notable cases include securing a $29.8 million settlement in a roadway design defect case out of Central Florida, a $15 million recovery in a negligent security case against an apartment complex in South Florida, a $10 million settlement in an electrocution case against a Florida resort and obtaining a $17.5 million recovery for a client whose toddler died in a furniture tip-over incident.

Over the past decade, Tom has also taken on all major cruise lines for their negligent medical treatment of passengers and crew members. Representing clients from Seattle to Miami and Europe, he has been instrumental in holding cruise lines accountable for medical malpractice, securing significant awards, such as a $5,530,000 settlement for the family of a toddler who was misdiagnosed by cruise doctors resulting in catastrophic injuries, a  $3,337,500 arbitration award for a crew member who suffered an arm amputation due to inept medical care, and a $4,000,000 settlement for a teenager who was victim of a stroke during her cruise.

Based primarily in Miami, Tom has represented thousands of clients, including out-of-state visitors and foreigners vacationing in Miami and throughout the state of Florida. Over the last 25 years, he has successfully litigated cases for clients from Europe, Canada, and South America, navigating the complexities of Florida-based lawsuits with considerations for foreign nationals. Tom has achieved impressive settlements well-above eight figures for his Canadian clients alone.

Tom’s unwavering dedication to his clients and his exceptional litigation skills have earned him a stellar reputation among trial lawyers. He has been recognized as one of America’s leading lawyers by prestigious publications such as Best Lawyers in America, Florida Trend Magazine, Florida Super Lawyers, and South Florida Legal Guide. Additionally, he has been nominated as the “Most Effective Lawyer in Personal Injury” by the Daily Business Review. Tom has appeared on national and local media outlets to discuss today’s legal issues and advocate on his injured clients’ behalf.

Outside of his professional endeavors, Tom enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Valerie, and their two children. An avid exercise enthusiast with a curious mind, he has a keen interest in various aspects of life, culture, and history.

Memberships

• The Florida Bar
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America (Member)
  • Inadequate Security Litigation Group
  • Motor Vehicle Collision, Highway and Premises Liability Section
  • Nursing Home Litigation group
• American Association for Justice
• Florida Justice Association
• Dade County Bar Association
• Dade County Trial Lawyers Association
• Monroe County Bar Association
• Miami Beach Bar Association

Honors

• The Best Lawyers in America
  • 2024 – Personal Injury Litigation (Plaintiffs) (Peer selected out of over 112,000 practicing lawyers in Florida)
  • 2024 – Medical Malpractice Law (Plaintiffs) (Peer selected out of over 112,000 practicing lawyers in Florida)
• Superlawyers – Selected to Super Lawyers
  • 2013, 2014, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
• Lawyers of Distinction
  • 2024 – Nominated to Elite Group Recognizing Excellence in the Practice of Law
• Superlawyers – Selected to Florida Rising Stars
  • 2011, 2012
• Top Up-and-Coming Lawyers in South Florida, South Florida Legal Guide
  • 2006, 2007 (Peer selected out of 23,000 practicing lawyers in South Florida)
• Florida Trend Legal Elite
  • 2005, 2006 (Top Up-and-Coming Lawyers in Florida)
• Nominated as Most Effective Lawyers in Personal Injury by Daily Business Review

Education

• Juris Doctor (with honors), The University of Miami School of Law, 1999
  • HONORS: Dean’s List
    Litigation Skills Trial Class Honors
  • LAW REVIEWS: Business Law Review
    Psychology, Public Policy, and Law – Managing Editor
• Bachelor of Science (with honors), Manhattan College, 1996
  • Dean’s Honor List
  • WGA Scholarship

Admitted To Practice

• All Florida State Courts
• United States District Court
• Southern District of Florida
• Middle District of Florida

Past Legal Employment

• Partner, Leesfield Scolaro, P.A., Miami, FL
• Certified Legal Intern, State Attorney’s Office – Miami, FL
• Legal Intern, Rockland County District Attorney’s Office – New City, NY
• Legal Intern, Rockland County Public Defender’s Office – New City, NY

Selected Lectures, Seminars and Presentations

• Featured Speaker, “Law Firm Marketing: What Works and What Doesn’t When Building Your Practice,” Live Online Seminar, West Virginia Association for Justice, 2021 Mid-Winter Seminar
• Presenter, “Handling Cruise Ship Medical Malpractice Cases,” Live Webcast, LawPracticeCLE, December 2020
• Presenter, “Settlement Demand Letters,” Live Webcast, ProLaw CLE, September 2020
• Lecturer, “A 40-year Analysis of Marketing, Case Acquisition, and Continuous Law Firm Growth,” Law Firm Marketing Program, Boardwalk Seminar, New Jersey Association for Justice, August 2020
• Lecturer, “How to Optimize the Efforts and Utilization between Lawyers and Paralegals,” Monroe County Bar Association 30th Annual Education Program,” Key West, FL, February 2020
• Presenter, “Handling Cruise Ship Medical Malpractice Cases,” On-Demand Course, ProLaw CLE, June 2019
• Lecturer, “Dodging Bullets in Pre-Litigation and Trial,” Boardwalk Seminar, New Jersey Association for Justice, April 2017
• Lecturer, “Ethical Marketing Practices,” Monroe County Bar Association Seminar, March 2014
• Lecturer, “Networking, Marketing and Expanding your Practice while Complying with Ethical Regulations, Monroe County Bar Association Seminar, March 2012
• Lecturer, “10 Keys to Marketing your Practice,” Monroe County Bar Association Seminar, November 2009
• Lecturer, “Misdiagnosis and Mistreatment in the Nursing Home,” Nursing Home Negligence in Florida, January 2006
• Lecturer, “Apportionment of Fault in Inadequate Security Cases,” Litigating Premises and Negligent Security Cases in Florida, Ft. Lauderdale, November 2005
• Lecturer, “Finding Selecting and Handling Expert Witnesses,” Litigating Premises and Negligent Security Cases in Florida, Ft. Lauderdale, November 2005