Accident & Injury

W. Calvin Smith II is a practicing lawyer in the state of Georgia. Mr. Smith received his J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law.

Rebecca Filiatraut graduated in 1991 from Oakland University with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. In 1994 she received her Juris Doctor from the Detroit College of Law. While attending law school she worked at the Public Defenders Office, representing individuals charged with misdemeanors at the 36th District Court in Detroit. After her graduation, she spent several years working for a large and nationally recognized personal injury law firm. It was here that she began her career of handling federal civil rights cases which has spanned over the course of her more than twenty years in practice. Rebecca focused on §1983 civil rights actions involving police and jail misconduct, as well as other complex matters such as trucking and medical malpractice cases. Seeking to further broaden her experience, she also practiced on the defense side for a number of years, successfully defending a multitude of cases, primarily on behalf of a number of different municipalities and police departments, as well as other businesses and insurance carriers across the State of Michigan. After gaining experience on the defense side, Rebecca returned to the work she loved, representing individuals against large corporations and insurance companies in order to help these people obtain rightful compensation for their injuries. Rebecca has extensive trial experience in both state and federal courts on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants, having been involved in some very high-profile and notable jury trials during the course of her career. She is licensed to practice in the State of Michigan, as well as the United States District Courts of both the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Rebecca is an active supporter of the legal community and a member of several associations, including the State Bar of Michigan Negligence Section and the Michigan Association for Justice.

Mr. Watters is the president and founder of the firm. He was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and moved to Washington, DC to attend law school at Georgetown University. Shortly after graduating from law school in 1980, Mr. Watters opened the firm, first practicing criminal law and then transitioning to personal injury law. Mr. Watters has substantial trial experience as he has now been practicing for almost 40 years. He has served as lead counsel in over 100 jury trials. Mr. Watters was named Trial Lawyer of the Year by the DC Trial Lawyers Association and Lawyer of the Year by the Washington Bar Association. His service and contribution to the community is unmatched by many. He served as president of the Washington Bar Association, National Bar Association, and the Bar Association of the District of Columbia. He is currently the president of the Foundation of the Bar Association of the District of Columbia. During his time as president of the National Bar Association, which is the nation’s oldest and largest group of predominantly African-American lawyers and judges, he accompanied famed attorney Johnnie Cochran on an international lecture tour. Mr. Watters also previously served on a number of American Bar Association committees throughout the years, including Ethics and Professional Responsibility, Professional Discipline, and Medical Professional Liability. He is a former chairman of the Advisory Committee on the selection of magistrate judges for the DC Superior Court. In addition, he served as a trustee of Ithaca College for 10 years. Mr. Watters has always been a voice for the underdog and is a long-time advocate for the socially and economically disadvantaged. He grew up in a children’s home as a multiracial child in the 1950s and ‘60s and was able to see firsthand how race and poverty play a part in society. He opened his firm in the hopes of helping those with no money, those out of work, or those who have been injured due to the fault of another. His lifelong dedication to achieving justice has earned him countless accolades. Mr. Watters was named among the 100 most influential African American leaders by Ebony magazine. He was awarded the C. Francis Stafford Award by the National Bar Association, which is the highest honor the association can award. The National Bar Association also awarded Mr. Watters the Gertrude E. Rush Award, which honors lawyers and judges for their leadership, concern for human and civil rights, and perseverance for social activism. Mr. Watters was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Washington Bar Association. He has been awarded numerous Presidential Awards and Certificates of Appreciation from the Washington Bar Association, National Bar Association, and the Bar Association of the District of Columbia. He is also a Life Sustaining Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, in which membership is limited to 1% of lawyers licensed to practice in each jurisdiction who demonstrate outstanding dedication to their community and the legal profession. In addition to being a trailblazer in the courtroom and in the community, Mr. Watters is a loving father and husband. He is married to Patricia Watters, who serves as counsel to the firm. They are proud parents of three children. Mr. Watters was chosen as a Father of the Year semifinalist by the National Center for Fathering.

Attorney Jim Vieh earned his undergraduate degree, cum laude, in Government from Harvard. He earned his law degree, as well as an MBA in Finance, from Cornell University. After graduation, he worked for a prominent Phoenix civil litigation firm practicing insurance defense in civil litigation and auto accident cases. He opened his own practice in 1982 & has focused on personal injury and commercial litigation, with additional emphasis on civil litigation & automobile cases. Over the years, his practice has expanded to the areas of business, real estate and commercial litigation. Mr. Vieh is an AV Rated attorney and is admitted to practice before the Arizona State Courts, the United States District Court for the District of Arizona and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a member of the Arizona Trial Lawyers Association and the Arizona State Bar and serves as a judge pro tem on the Maricopa County Superior Court. In addition to his legal work, he served two terms on the Paradise Valley Town Council, one term as vice-mayor & formerly served as the Chairman of the Board of the Valley of the Sun School and Habilitation Center, which provides housing & care for persons with disabilities.

Gene M. Connell, Jr. has been a member of the law firm since 1983. With his vast experience in many legal areas, he has received an “AV” rating with Martindale Hubbell, the most prestigious lawyer rating service in the country. He has been involved in some of the largest class-action suits ever brought in South Carolina, one of which (Bass v. State of South Carolina) went all the way to the United States Supreme Court before it was successfully settled. He has also argued numerous appeals before the South Carolina Supreme Court, the South Carolina Court of Appeals, the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission Appellate Division, the United States District Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Additionally, he has served as an expert witness in class actions on the issue of attorneys’ fees in both state and federal courts. Mr. Connell’s trial practice has included being a Mediator for other lawyers and being appointed by the Circuit Court as a Special Referee (Special Judge) to hear cases. He was also selected as the “National Trial Lawyers Top 100” in 2014 and chosen ” Best of The Beach” Lawyer.

Having worked at one of the largest law firms in the state as a defense attorney for six years, Mr. Harbin moved to Anderson in 1996 and began using his experience to help individuals with serious personal injuries. Mr. Harbin has a number of high profile cases to his credit including the Charlotte Motor Speedway bridge collapse. Mr. Harbin is a member of the highly prestigious Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an honor given to less than 1% of all U.S lawyers, and he has been named as a Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the American Trial Lawyers Association as well as the Best Lawyers in America© 2016 and 2017 lists. Tony is also AV Peer Review Rated by Martindale Hubbell, the highest possible rating for ethical standards and legal ability, and was selected to South Carolina Super Lawyers 2011-1013.

De Miranda Law Offices is a professional corporation located in Quincy, MA & Wareham, MA. Attorney De Miranda has 34 years of legal experience in personal injury & criminal law. We have two office locations, fully functioned, Monday – Friday. (Hours of operation differ from Wareham, MA office.) Whether you have been injured in an accident, or need a criminal defense lawyer, attorney De Miranda will provide the service you need. Building client relationships based on trust and confidence, one client at a time to ensure a better future, and better community.

Drew was born and raised in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, where he attended Choctawhatchee High School. He is the son of Vince Bruner, of Fort Walton, and Laurie Bruner, of Crestview. Upon graduating, he enrolled at Auburn University where he completed his degree in political science in preparation for law school at the University of Oklahoma College of Law, where he enrolled as a scholarship student in 2009. During law school, Drew worked as a licensed legal intern at the Cleveland County District Attorney’s Office where he gained valuable courtroom experience in criminal proceedings. Drew became a member of the Florida Bar in November of 2012, the Alabama Bar in April of 2014, and the Georgia State Bar in 2018. Drew is also licensed to practice in all Federal Courts in the State of Florida, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Drew is AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the benchmark in ethical standing for attorneys. Drew enjoys long marathon running, cycling, reading, and hunting in his free time. Drew is a member of the First United Methodist Church of Fort Walton Beach.

Born and raised in New York, Associate Attorney Noah Passer is an experienced litigator who focuses his practice on representing injured workers and maximizing their compensation. Noah has extensive experience in all aspects of Workers’ Compensation, handling claims from inception and trial through permanency and settlement. He is comfortable litigating any disputed issue dealing with aspects of the employment relationship, medical treatment authorization, disability, permanency, or otherwise. Extremely respected by his peers and colleagues, Noah’s commitment is to the best interests of his clients.