Latest news with #Morgan&Morgan
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Law firms file 100-page lawsuit against designers, builders of Sapelo Island gangway after collapse
Six law firms, including Morgan & Morgan and the firm of prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump, are suing five companies involved with the engineering and construction of the gangway on Georgia's Sapelo Island that led to the deaths of seven people after collapsing last October. Four of the people who died were from Jacksonville, one was a former reverend from Brunswick, and the two others were from Georgia. Georgia state officials believe 40 people were on the gangway between the ferry and the island when it broke apart. 'This was a tragedy of unbelievable proportions,' said Chadrick Mance, a Savannah-based attorney who helped create the lawsuit, 'there was an improper design and improper maintenance of the gangway.' The 101-page lawsuit lists 19 different charges against the companies being sued, including negligence and wrongful death related to the collapse. Part of the reason is because it lists information from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources saying the gangway should have been able to hold the weight of 320 people. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Between survivors of the collapse and family of those who died, 50 people are listed in the lawsuit as those seeking damages. The lawsuit claims the gangway had issues for years. It shows an email from 2022 between one of the companies that helped design the gangway and DNR, saying hairline cracks and a 'completely failed weld' had been found during an inspection, and concerns raised over a loud popping sound as people were walking across the platform. The email later said there were no issues or concerns related to the gangway's structural integrity. The lawsuit was announced between two separate news briefings: one held by attorney Ben Crump in Atlanta and another held by Chadrick Mance at the Elm Grove Baptist Church in Meridian, Georgia. It's right next to the ferry pickup to Sapelo Island and the site where those who survived the collapse first reunited with their families after it happened. 'Replaying everything in my mind, seeing my daughter hanging on the side, finding out my wife and my youngest daughter are missing, it's just been rough,' Michael Wood said, one of the survivors who spoke at the briefing inside Elm Grove Baptist Church. Read: Historic Mayport Lighthouse in plans to be relocated One of the last pages of the lawsuit, which was filed in Georgia's Gwinnett County, demands a trial to be held, though no set trial or hearing date has been given. Mance, along with the other lawyers who helped put the lawsuit together, are promising answers for those affected by the collapse in the hope it may help them heal. 'We will be seeking maximum justice, unfettered justice and aggressive justice for these clients. And these are the best firms in the country. And so if there's ever an opportunity to get justice, this is it,' Mance said. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
John Morgan announces creation of new political party, hints at future ambitions
John Morgan, the face of mega-law firm Morgan & Morgan, announced on Wednesday that he would create a third political party. Morgan stated, 'I'm gonna do the party thing. I've spent the money on the legal.' He discussed his vision for a new political party that would welcome both Democrats and Republicans, whom he referred to as 'D's and R's.' Morgan emphasized, 'I think there needs to be some D's and R's for the first four. Then I'm going to say, who wants to join?' He also mentioned the possibility of running for governor with this new party. U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds is another candidate in the race, backed by President Trump, while former Senate Democratic leader Jason Pizzo is running as an independent. Morgan said, " I've been out there in Florida since 1988 and I've had the three amendments so I think I have that advantage that nobody else really has." Aubrey Jewett, a Political Science Professor at UCF, shared that Morgan has suggested forming a minor party called the Capitalist Party. Jewett explained to Channel 9 how the emergence of a new political party could impact the Democratic Party. Jewett said 'If we have one or more independent candidates running , chances are that's going to split the anti-Republican vote You know with the Democratic candidate and make it harder for them to win and make it easier for the Republican to win.' Evan Power, Chair of the Republican Party of Florida, released a statement saying in part: 'Let's be real, John: you can't slap a new label on the same failed ideas and expect a revival. If it quacks like a duck, it's still a duck—and you're still a Democrat. In response, Morgan expressed optimism, saying, 'If my idea is a bad idea, I've had many and my life won't change. But I think if we do it and it happens that people lives would change in Florida, because I don't believe there's any compromise in our political system anymore, anywhere on both sides.' Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
John Morgan jokes, curses, talks third-party gubernatorial run at Capital Tiger Bay Club
Orlando attorney John Morgan. (Photo by Christine Sexton/Florida Phoenix) Trial attorney John Morgan took Tallahassee by storm on Wednesday as he joked, dropped f-bombs, and gave his 'no bullshit' take on politics in America and Florida. But when it was done and over, he maintained he is 'serious' about a possible run for governor. By his own reckoning, Morgan's extensive experience with helping to finance proposed constitutional amendments for medical marijuana in 2016, increases in minimum wage in 2020, and legalization of marijuana in 2024, have given him the campaign chops he needs if he does choose to run for governor. Morgan also acknowledged he has plenty of name recognition due to his role as the founder and face of the Morgan & Morgan law firm. He figures he can afford to wait and see how other candidates fare down the 'home stretch.' He likened it to running a sprint rather than a marathon. 'I'd rather have a three-month window than an 18-month window,' he said. While Morgan was less than firm about his run for office, he said he is moving ahead with real plans to form a third party in the state. A new party is necessary, he said, because the existing parties have been hijacked by factions that he doesn't feel represent many of their members. Republicans are controlled by supporters of Donald Trump as opposed to 'country club Republicans,' Morgan said, while Democrats are in the thrall of progressives and 'socialists' such as U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. He said that both sides refuse to compromise. He argued that the polarization in the country is because many people are angry over income inequality and it helped lead Trump supporters to riot on Jan. 6. 'We're stuck in the middle, and we don't have a voice, any voice, but yet, we have a lot to say, but we're paralyzed,' Morgan said. 'So my belief is this: I believe that we need a third party.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Morgan said he will choose the party's name through a competition he will sponsor with a cash prize for the winning entry. He said he has already brought in a lawyer to help draft the paperwork to launch the party. In addition to discussing his political future, Morgan weighed in on Florida's current political events as well as its past. He took repeated shots at DeSantis and said the 2023 insurance changes meant to lower property coverage rates were a 'a money grab' for the governor to run for president. 'And who lost? Every homeowner in Florida. There's going to be a day of reckoning. There's going to be a hurricane, and it's going to be bad,' he said. Morgan facetiously spoke about DeSantis being a 'hard-working governor,' noting that he saw him at the Kentucky Derby in Churchill Downs on May 3 and a Formula 1 sprint event at the Miami Grand Prix later the next day. 'So, he's always working for us, constantly working for us and for our benefit,' Morgan said. Morgan conceded being a 'billionaire' who lives in Maui during the winter. He says he 'smokes a lot of dope out there' because it's 'relaxing.' He recalled earlier this year getting texts and videos of the governor invoking his name 'everywhere' and talking about his sway with members of the Legislature. Given the alleged influence he has over legislators, Morgan said he had a simple question for them: 'When the f— are they gonna start doing what I tell them to do?' He declared the Democratic Party of Florida dead and put the blame squarely on former Tallahassee mayor and 2020 Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Andrew Gillum, who lost his bid for governor by 34,000 votes in 2018 to DeSantis. Morgan also opined that the Legislature shouldn't meet every year but every other year instead. 'Because every time they meet they screw us over,' Morgan said. He questioned whether Florida needs its Governor's Mansion, a lieutenant governor, or agriculture commissioner. He predicted the latest effort to legalize marijuana in Florida will pass despite the constitutional ballot changes the Legislature recently passed and DeSantis signed into law. 'It's sickening, because what it means is politicians want to have total control so they can take care of their special interests — cable companies, the fire companies, the sugar people. They don't want us to have a say, because they know we, the people, are dangerous. We're dangerous when we get to vote, and they don't want that,' he said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
‘A horrible experience': Attorney for Clearwater Ferry crash survivors weighs in on case
CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) — An attorney representing two survivors in the deadly Clearwater Ferry crash is weighing in on the case. A recreational boat, driven by Jeff Knight, slammed into the back of the Clearwater Ferry near the Memorial Causeway Bridge on April 27, killing José Castro and injuring 10 others. Several victims in Clearwater Ferry crash hire Morgan & Morgan to 'uncover any negligence' No charges have been filed in connection with the ferry crash. 'From the sworn witness statements already in your possession, as well as from the video evidence, there is consistent and credible evidence that no stern light was visible at the time of the incident,' Knight's attorney J. Kevin Hayslett wrote in a letter to investigators. Meanwhile, an attorney representing two survivors spoke to News Channel 8 about the case. 'They are a family who was on this cruise just out to enjoy the community on the beautiful bay and went through a horrible experience,' said attorney Mickey Keenan. 'The thing that came out that really incited my clients was that the blame appeared to be shifted.' Last week, passengers onboard the private boat that slammed into the ferry wrote sworn letters to investigators detailing what they experienced that night. Three women described what led up to the crash and its aftermath in their written statements. The women reported having alcoholic drinks at dinner before getting on the boat, but said Knight did not have any. They insisted no one used drugs before or after dinner. One woman described the area as being 'really dark' and the crash as 'out of nowhere.' However, Keenan said there are additional factors to consider. 'There's many factors that go into the crash and we'll wait until the investigation is completed so they can make their determination on that,' Keenan said. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is asking anyone with video footage from the area of the fatal ferry crash to contact the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922. Ferry Captain Dennis Kimerer provided the following statement: 'I consider myself fortunate to be alive and deeply thankful to the heroic passengers, first responders, good Samaritans, and medical professionals whose quick actions saved lives during and after the collision. My thoughts are with all those who were injured—and especially with the family mourning the loss of a beloved father. Out of respect for them and everyone affected, I will not be engaging in a public back-and-forth regarding the causes of this tragedy. I trust the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and other authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation, and I will continue to cooperate fully with them.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Why personal injury lawyers are so common in Florida
TAMPA, Fla. (BLOOM) — From billboards along I-275 to late-night TV ads, personal injury lawyers are a constant presence in Florida. This prevalence is not coincidental; it reflects several factors unique to the Sunshine State. Florida's dense population and extensive tourism contribute to a higher rate of accidents. According to the Florida Department of Health, unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle collisions and falls, are among the leading causes of death for residents aged 1-44. The state's no-fault insurance system, requiring Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, often leads to disputes over coverage limits, prompting individuals to seek legal assistance. Florida Department of Health Historically, Florida's legal framework has been favorable to plaintiffs in personal injury cases. However, recent legislative changes have altered this landscape. In 2023, Florida enacted significant tort reform through House Bill 837, which, among other changes, reduced the statute of limitations for general negligence claims from four years to two years. Additionally, the state shifted from a pure comparative negligence system to a modified one, barring plaintiffs from recovering damages if found more than 50% at fault. The competitive nature of the personal injury legal market in Florida has led to aggressive advertising strategies. Firms like Morgan & Morgan have invested heavily in marketing, boasting recoveries of over $15 billion for clients. This saturation of advertising not only increases public awareness but also reinforces the perception of accessibility to legal recourse. Most personal injury attorneys in Florida operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients pay no upfront costs and attorneys receive a percentage of the settlement or judgment. This model lowers the barrier to entry for clients seeking legal representation and incentivizes attorneys to pursue cases with a high likelihood of success. The prominence of personal injury lawyers in Florida is the result of a high incidence of accidents, a historically plaintiff-friendly legal environment, aggressive marketing practices, and accessible fee structures. While recent legal reforms may impact future litigation dynamics, the demand for personal injury legal services in Florida remains robust. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
