Michael was born and raised in Florida. He spent much of his youth working in orange groves and watermelon fields in Central Florida. Michael knows the roots of this community and works hard to help people in all circumstances. After obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Utah State University in 2008, Michael pursued a law degree from the Florida Coastal School of Law. He graduated in 2011 and was admitted to the Florida Bar. Michael is also licensed to practice law in Georgia. While in school, Michael interned with the State Attorney's Office and went on to work as an Assistant State Attorney. He learned the criminal justice system first hand and found his passion for criminal defense. In addition to his background working on criminal cases, Michael also has experience in resolving family law and civil litigation.

Richard Ruhl (Rick) grew up in Charlotte County and was admitted to practice in Florida in 2002, and has been in private practice in southwest Florida since 2003. He attended elementary, junior high, and high school in Englewood and college in Fort Myers, graduating from International College, with a Bachelor's degree, summa cum laude. After this, he finished his Juris Doctorate at St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami in 2001. After admission to the bar, Rick accepted a job with the Public Defender's Office, and from there, accepted a job offer from the Law Office of Robert Distefano in Fort Lauderdale. After spending a year with Robert Distefano, he moved back to Charlotte County to open his own practice. In 2011, Rick joined the firm of Ruhl Law. Contact Rick at Rick@ruhllaw.com or by phone at (855) RUHL-LAW.

I am a veteran of the United States Air Force and served as an Assistant State Attorney for over three years in both Lee and Charlotte County. During these years, I handled thousands of criminal cases ranging from DUIs and other misdemeanors to complex felony economic crimes and sex crimes. This afforded me invaluable trial experience as well as allowing me the ability to learn the inner workings of the Judicial System. I have since decided to refocus my efforts on serving the community by protecting the rights of those accused of criminal offenses. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Computer Systems from City University of Seattle and an M.B.A. from the University of Colorado. After years of work as a software engineer, I chose to pursue a degree in law and graduated with Honors from Ave Maria School of Law in 2017. While in law school, I gained experience in Criminal Law through an internship with the US Attorney’s Office in Fort Myers and worked with a firm in Naples, focusing on litigation involving real-estate and investment disputes. I look forward to using my knowledge, experience, and determination to help you get past whatever legal hurdle happens to be in your way.

Patrick Hale is the managing partner of Hale Law, P.A. Patrick is a 5th generation Floridian who cares about the people of this great state. His experiences have positioned him to be an advocate for you in your time of need. Patrick attended the University of Central Florida for his undergraduate studies, receiving a degree in Political Science with a focus in Legal Studies. He graduated with the distinction, Summa Cum Laude, as one of the top students in his class. While at the University of Central Florida, he also served on the cabinet of multiple student organizations and was a UCF Student Government Association Senator representing the College of Sciences, the University’s largest college. Patrick went on to attend and graduate with a Juris Doctorate degree from the Stetson University College of Law, Florida’s oldest law school and the most-awarded #1 Trial Advocacy program in the nation. While at Stetson Law, he was elected as a Calvin Kuenzel Student Bar Association Representative by his peers. During this time, Patrick also clerked for the Florida Attorney General’s Office and the Sixth Judicial Circuit Of Florida Civil Appellate Panel, where he had the opportunity to write Orders that were published by the panel of Judges. Additionally, Patrick worked for a prominent Florida insurance defense law firm and learned the strategies insurance companies employ to pay you as little as possible when making claims. After graduating law school, Patrick proceeded to work as an Assistant State Attorney where he prosecuted both misdemeanor and felony cases, learning to feel at home in the courtroom in the process. In his prosecutorial career, he completed over thirty trials to verdict on behalf of the people of the State of Florida. In the spirit of representing the people of Florida, Patrick founded Hale Law, P.A., a firm that would represent people who have been wrongfully injured by the negligence of others, as well as uphold people’s constitutional rights. He has already fulfilled this dream through the handling of hundreds of cases, but he is still constantly working every day to ensure that every one of his clients receives the best possible outcome. Let him put his experience to work for you.

Gary R. Jodat is the founding and managing attorney of Jodat Law Group, P.A. He received his Juris Doctorate Degree from Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida. He received his undergraduate degree from Roger Williams University. He got his feet wet while fresh out of law school by taking a job with the Public Defender’s Office trying criminal, Juvenile and Dependency cases prior to transferring into civil litigation. He now handles primarily personal injury cases. He has been a member of The American Bar Association, The Manatee County Bar Association, The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce, The Manatee County Chamber of Commerce, American Inns of Court and Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

Practicing law in the state of Florida for over 20 years, attorney Kevin Gallagher has earned an outstanding reputation in the field of personal injury law. Working with victims of automobile accidents, wrongful death, nursing home negligence, medical malpractice, and other serious injuries, Kevin works tirelessly to ensure that every client receives the best possible verdict and/or settlement for their injuries. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Kevin attended Bowling Green State University where he earned a B.S., B.A. He then went to the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan where he received his Juris Doctor, Cum Laude. In addition, Mr. Gallagher was a member of the Law Review at Cooley Law School. While in law school, Kevin also interned for a Federal District Court Judge. An extremely caring individual, Kevin’s experience, knowledge, work ethic, determination, and will to win are applied to every case. In addition to caring for his clients, Kevin is also a strong community supporter and believes in giving back. He supports numerous charities, both in the community and in his home state. Kevin is a member of the Million Dollar Advocate Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocate Forum which are two of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the United States. Membership is limited to attorneys who have won million-dollar verdicts and settlements. Fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers are members. Also a member of The Verdict Club and Superior Lawyers of America, Kevin is recognized as an elite litigator for his achievements and abilities in obtaining superior verdicts and settlements.

Mr. Cruz Carino achieved his Doctor of Jurisprudence, from Stetson University College of Law. Before that, he received his Bachelor of Arts, finishing in the top ten percent of his class, from The University of Florida. He served as a Certified State Intern in the State’s Attorney’s Office, where he tried more than ten cases, and was also privileged to serve as a Federal Judicial Intern to the Honorable District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich, of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Upon graduation, Mr. Cruz worked as a Judicial Staff Attorney for four years in the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court. From there, he served as a Senior Assistant Attorney General from 2001-2012, handling criminal appeals and collateral petitions on behalf of the State of Florida. Mr. Cruz has argued before the Second District Court of Appeal, the Fifth District Court of Appeal and the Florida Supreme Court. He is admitted to practice in all Florida State Courts, and is also admitted to practice in the Middle District of Florida. He is fluent in Spanish, and has taught as an adjunct professor at Saint Petersburg College. He currently heads the Appellate Section of The Pendas Law Firm and is the (interim) Managing Attorney for the Tampa office. He oversees all appellate matters and provides litigation support to attorneys throughout the firm. Additionally, he handles his own litigation case load. His practice focuses on general civil litigation, appeals and trial support. Mr. Cruz guides all appeals from the filing of a notice of appeal through the filing of a motion to recall mandate.

Jesse is a partner at the Podor Law Firm and practices in the Bradenton, Florida office. Jesse was born in Cleveland, OH, and lived there until 2001. In 2001, Jesse moved to Bradenton and attended Bradenton Christian School. Jesse earned his J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2016. Prior to completing his J.D., Jesse completed his B.S. in Sport Management from the University of Florida. During law school, Jesse interned at Smith, Thompson, Shaw, Minacci & Colon, P.A. in Tallahassee, Florida, and at “Game On Nation” in Bradenton, Florida.

Cooperation and full understanding produce the best results. I look forward to helping you resolve your issues or achieve your objectives.

Kevin Humphries has served in the capacity as a Partner in private practice for more than a decade and has previously served as a Felony Prosecutor at the State Attorney’s Office of the 10th Judicial Circuit. Kevin has practiced law on a wide diversity of cases at both at the County and Circuit Court levels in State Court in Hillsborough, Dade, Hardee, Pinellas, Osceola, Polk and Highlands counties. He has also handled cases in Federal Court in the United States Middle District Court for Florida in Tampa. Kevin’s work has been showcased on numerous forms of media throughout the entire country on both local and national television. He has been featured locally on Fox 13 news, Bay News 9, ABC Action news, NBC, the Lakeland ledger and the Orlando Sentinel to name a few. He is also been featured as a guest speaker nationally on the Dr. Drew show and has had his jury trials covered live on national television to include Court TV and True TV where he has been characterized as excellent by hosts and panelists alike. Kevin Humphries has a wealth of real jury trial experience that has been cultivated and honed over the past 15 years. He has tried more than 70 jury trials including capital murder cases, money laundering, complex commercial truck accident cases and motor vehicle crashes. His jury trials have occurred in multiple Circuits throughout the State. In addition to being a trial lawyer he has served as an Adjunct Professor of law as well as a guest judge for trial team competitions at his alma mater Stetson University College of Law. It was at Stetson University College of Law where Kevin was a member of the National Championship Trial Competition Team and received the Ralph Harris Ferrell competition award for individual excellence in intercollegiate competitions. It was also at Stetson where he clerked with Chief Judge Demers from the 6th Judicial Circuit who acknowledged Kevin in his DUI manual every year since its inception for his assistance in this crucial manuscripts preparation. Off campus, Mr. Humphries acted simultaneously in several leading roles as Vice President for the Student Division of the Federal Bar Association, Stetson’s Liaison of the City of Saint Petersburg, Lieutenant Governor of Resolutions for the Law Student Division of the American Bar Association, Dean’s Assistant and Co-Chair of Stetson’s Social Committee. Kevin Humphries active role in his profession mirrors his involvement in voluntary bar and legal organizations as he has been President of the Lakeland Bar Association, President of the Polk County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Chair of the Grievance Committee for the 10th Judicial Circuit and frequent Teen Court Judge. Attorney Kevin Humphries discipline, dedication and commitment to the practice of law when coupled with his natural and learned skills will make him a worthy advocate for you in your time of need.