Arbitration

In 2002, attorneys Andrew Hollis and Josh Wright joined together to form the Hollis Wright Law Firm. The two attorneys had one simple philosophy in starting the firm: to put clients first at the law firm and to work hard each and every day to protect the client’s interests by seeking compensation for the injuries they sustained. This goal has served them and the other attorneys at the firm incredibly well throughout the years and has helped them achieve some outstanding and fulfilling results. Hollis Wright has become one of the leading personal injury firms in the State of Alabama and has already established itself as a key law firm nationally in the area of mass torts. Our attorneys are aggressive, zealous advocates for the clients we represent. We are highly skilled in litigating and trying complex and contentious cases while always maintaining a sense of professionalism, integrity and respect for others. Our attorneys have literally tried or settled hundreds of million-dollar cases. However, our efforts are not only directed at achieving great monetary results for our clients. We understand that when you contact our firm, either you or a loved one has sustained an injury, oftentimes life altering. It is a time such as this that you need an attorney who will demonstrate compassion and take the time to truly understand your situation and the difficult challenges that you face. Our attorneys and staff members are dedicated to helping you through the litigation process and communicating with you about the developments in your case every step of the way.

I like what we have built here at Brown | Gould | Kiely, LLP. We are a family of lawyers that enjoys rolling up our sleeves and doing quality work for our clients. I like coming into the office every day because I enjoy the people here. They challenge me to be a better lawyer. Before forming Brown | Gould | Kiely, LLP, I worked at a firm in Washington, D.C. litigating commercial cases in the courts of the District of Columbia and Maryland; and prior to that I worked at one of South Florida’s premiere asbestos litigation firms. Over the course of more than twenty years, I have continued to represent individuals and businesses in state and federal courts. I have tried cases in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Florida and West Virginia, and have represented my clients’ interests in the courts of Virginia and Delaware. I have prosecuted numerous severe injury claims and wrongful death suits and have litigated hundreds of claims representing victims of asbestos exposure. I am proud to have served as co-counsel in what is believed to be the largest individual asbestos settlement in the District of Columbia, and to have obtained tens of millions of dollars in awards and settlements for our clients. I also routinely represent business clients in commercial disputes including breach of contract cases, brokerage disputes, and litigation involving real estate. Business cases occasionally require arbitration, and I have many years of experience in the arbitration of claims under both the American Arbitration Association guidelines and JAMS rules. I am honored to have received Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating, an objective rating that indicates my peers rank me at the highest level of ethical and professional excellence. I previously served on the Board of Directors of the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation and served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, National Capital Area. My wife and I have lived in Bethesda for more than 20 years, and our children attended the local public schools. When we are not spending time enjoying our immediate community, we love to travel and explore.

After having been hired by some of the world’s largest companies for nearly twenty years, the Firm’s founding partner, Emanuel Galimidi, made the decision to bring his expertise and experience to those who need it the most, the injured and their families. Prior to founding Galimidi Law, Mr. Galimidi was a shareholder at one of the most successful and fastest growing defense firms in the United States with offices in Miami, New York and Los Angeles. Beginning with the firm as an associate Mr. Galimidi rose to become head of the Product Liability Practice Group where he routinely litigated cases involving catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, sexual assault, and class action defense. Travelers Insurance Company, as Subrogee of G. Robert 0Toney & Associates, Inc. d/b/a National Liquidators and Maritech Services, Inc., v. Commercial Cool –Temp Corp. Case No. 11-61748-CIV-DIMITROULEAS/SNOW Lead Trial Counsel in Federal Maritime action brought by Plaintiff Subrogee alleging several causes of action against commercial subcontractor for the loss of a vessel entrusted to the Subrogor by the United States Marshals Service. Final Judgment found in favor of the Defendant, Commercial Cool-Temp Corp., with separate Order awarding attorneys’ fees in favor of Defendant and against Plaintiff as sanctions for Plaintiff’s discovery violations. Great Lakes Reinsurance (UK) PLC v. Sunset Harbour Marina, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:10-cv-24469-KAM Lead Trial Counsel in Federal Maritime action brought by Plaintiff Subrogee alleging several causes of action against a yacht club and its marina (co-defendants) for the loss of a vessel owned by the Subrogor, which was docked at the marina. After having obtained Plaintiff’s agreement to withdraw its breach of contract claim against the marina, the Court also granted client’s Motion for Summary Judgment or, Alternatively, Motion to Compel Arbitration, staying the action and compelling arbitration. Thereafter, a Verified Motion for Attorney’s Fees was filed against Plaintiff for having pursued its civil suit, in violation of the agreement to arbitrate, after which a favorable settlement was reached under which its attorneys’ fees and costs for defense of the matter were recuperated and the Plaintiff Subrogee waived any claims it could pursue in arbitration. Estate of Virginia Murray v. City of Lake Worth and Palm Beach County, Case No. 502011CA005409XXXXMB, and appeal to the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Case No. 13-3958: Summary Judgment was obtained in favor of the City of Lake Worth in a claim for wrongful death brought by the son and personal representative of a deceased automobile passenger. After several amendments to the claim brought against the City, Plaintiff ultimately alleged that the City of Lake Worth created a dangerous condition of which it was aware by controlling, operating, and maintaining its electrical power grid in a negligent manner. After summary judgment was entered in favor of the City, Plaintiff appealed to the Fourth District Court of Appeal, claiming not only that the trial court’s ruling was incorrect but also claiming that the trial court abused its discretion in granting summary judgment given that discovery was alleged to have been in its early stages. After reviewing the briefs on the matter, the Fourth DCA affirmed per curiam.

Born in New York, New York, Neale was raised on Miami Beach and as of November, 2009 Neale will have practiced law in the state of Florida continuously for forty (40) years.  He is AU rate by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible rating.He specializes in complex commercial litigation and appeals both Federal and State, primarily for financial institutions.  He has represented banks, thrifts, real estate entities, private and public companies, investors and REIT's for years (once having served as General Counsel for Diversified Mortgage Investors, an REIT whose shares were traded on the New York Stock Exchange in the 1970's and 80's.)  He also handles the defense of professional malpractice matters.  He is likewise skilled in loan documentation and corporate commercial and real estate work outs.In 1987, Neale achieved what was then regarded as the fourth or fifth largest jury verdict in the history of Knox County Tennessee in a legal malpractice case where he represented a plaintiff who was a principle of a coal brokerage company.  The verdict was rendered by a twelve (12) person jury in Knoxville, Tennessee, and was for $2.8 million dollars.Neale is certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Civil Mediator, is on the panel of Arbitrators for the American Arbitration Association, and has served on several arbitration panels of the National Association of Security Dealers (now known as "FINRA") as a NASD arbitrator.Before joining this firm as a partner, Neale was a name partner in a law firm which was general counsel for BankUnited FSB, the largest Florida based bank.

In 1995 Justin received his Associates degree from Dixie College in St. George, Utah. While at Dixie, Justin competed on the National Debate and Forensics circuit. Justin placed in the top three nationally in multiple events and was the recipient of the Bowler award granted annually to the top orator at the School. Following his success at Dixie College Justin went to Southern Utah University and received his Bachelor's degree in Political Science.In 2000 Justin received his Juris Doctor from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. His extensive training in area of public speaking has assisted him as he heads the litigation section of the law firm. Justin's litigation experience has been acquired through his representation of clients in front of numerous tribunals, administrative bodies, and courts. Several such forums of note are the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland, the New Mexico Supreme Court, Multiple appellate courts, and differing state courts ranging from New Jersey, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Alaska, and California. Additionally, Justin has extensive training in estate planning matters which extends his responsibilities to our firm's estate planning division. Justin also has enjoyed substantial success in Securities litigation and Business formation. His most notable case in this arena was a judgment of over eight million dollars ($8,000,000.00) awarded by a securities arbitration panel in favor of our client. At the time this was the largest settlement ever awarded in securities arbitration. Recently, Justin was the lead attorney in the case against Provo city regarding the 911 call where EMS personnel were improperly dispatched. Our clients received a settlement of $220,000.  Justin has assisted in teaching numerous CLE courses in computerized legal research.Justin was born and raised in Utah. He is the proud father of 4 children and has been happily married for over ten years. He enjoys many sports including basketball, baseball, tennis, golf, and football. He is an avid off-roader that loves to hunt and fish. Recently he bagged an Alaskan caribou that scored 380+ on the Boone and Crocket scale and also caught a 62 pound Halibut off the coast of Oregon.

Representing employees against employers in claims for wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, assault & battery; whistleblower retaliation. Handle claims of retaliation for taking disability or medical leave, workers' compensation leave or family-medical leave, or denial of such leave. Harassment and discrimination claims are often based on sex, race, national origin, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, religion, medical condition and other protected classifications. Adverse job actions based on discrimination may include excessive and unfair criticism, removal of responsibilities, fewer hours, transfers or assignments with less opportunity or income, assignment to menial or dirty tasks, demotion, denial of promotion, or simply termination. The firm also handles claims for unpaid overtime, denial of lunch and rest breaks. We handle all aspects of litigation including trial, arbitration, mediation and settlement in all state and federal courts in California and before the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) and the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Also represent independent contractors and managers with discrimination claims against their employers. Attorney Geoffrey Lyon has over 25 years' courtroom experience. He has litigated hundreds of cases in state and federal court collectively resulting in well over $15 million in verdicts and settlements. Attorney Lyon has handled dozens of trials, including jury trials, as well as arbitrations, hundreds of court appearances and mediations, and thousands of depositions. He has argued before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth and Ninth Circuits and the California Court of Appeal. He was a candidate for State Assembly in 2004. Lyon is married with three children. Collectively, the firm's employee-clients have sued dozens of Fortune 500 companies in numerous industries including aerospace, entertainment, defense, broadcasting, real estate, construction, advertising, automotive, sales, service, banking, mortgage, and many other industries. Representative public entities sued by clients of the firm include the City and County of Los Angeles, school districts and numerous city, county and government agencies. Nothing herein is intended to be a prediction, guaranty or estimate regarding the outcome of your case or any particular matter.

Mr. Nelson’s experience includes over thirty (30) years of practice in Circuit and County Courts in Florida. Mr. Nelson’s experience also includes representing clients in arbitration and mediation. Mr. Nelson is a member in good standing of The Florida Bar Association, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the Manatee County Bar Association. Mr. Nelson is a past President and a past Director of the Manatee County Bar Association. Mr. Nelson is also a Florida Supreme Court certified Circuit Court Mediator. Mr. Nelson attended the University of Florida from 1979 – 1981 before transferring to the University of Notre Dame where he majored in Government and International Relations and obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1984. Mr. Nelson obtained a Juris Doctorate Degree from Stetson University College of Law in 1987. In 1987 Mr. Nelson moved to Bradenton, Florida from St. Petersburg, Florida with his wife, Margie and he joined the law firm of Harllee, Porges, Hamlin & Brownell, P.A. (n/k/a Porges, Hamlin, Knowles & Hawk, P.A. ) where he was a shareholder from 1993 – 2002. Mr. Nelson was a shareholder in the law firm of Ozark, Perron & Nelson, P.A. from 2002 to 2014, until he formed his own law firm in July of 2014. Mr. Nelson has previously served as President of South Manatee Sertoma Club, Chairman of the Board of Gulf Coast Marine Institute, Director and Chairman of the Agency Relations and Allocations Committee of the United Way of Manatee County, Governmental Affairs Chair and Director of the HomeBuilders Association of Manatee County, Chairman of the Young Children Priority One Committee and Vice President of the Bradenton Kiwanis Club. Mr. Nelson was a Manatee High School Mock Trial Team Coach for eight years from 2004 through 2012.Mr. Nelson’s experience includes over thirty (30) years of practice in Circuit and County Courts in Florida. Mr. Nelson’s experience also includes representing clients in arbitration and mediation. Mr. Nelson is a member in good standing of The Florida Bar Association, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the Manatee County Bar Association. Mr. Nelson is a past President and a past Director of the Manatee County Bar Association. Mr. Nelson is also a Florida Supreme Court certified Circuit Court Mediator. Mr. Nelson attended the University of Florida from 1979 – 1981 before transferring to the University of Notre Dame where he majored in Government and International Relations and obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1984. Mr. Nelson obtained a Juris Doctorate Degree from Stetson University College of Law in 1987. In 1987 Mr. Nelson moved to Bradenton, Florida from St. Petersburg, Florida with his wife, Margie and he joined the law firm of Harllee, Porges, Hamlin & Brownell, P.A. (n/k/a Porges, Hamlin, Knowles & Hawk, P.A. ) where he was a shareholder from 1993 – 2002. Mr. Nelson was a shareholder in the law firm of Ozark, Perron & Nelson, P.A. from 2002 to 2014, until he formed his own law firm in July of 2014. Mr. Nelson has previously served as President of South Manatee Sertoma Club, Chairman of the Board of Gulf Coast Marine Institute, Director and Chairman of the Agency Relations and Allocations Committee of the United Way of Manatee County, Governmental Affairs Chair and Director of the HomeBuilders Association of Manatee County, Chairman of the Young Children Priority One Committee and Vice President of the Bradenton Kiwanis Club. Mr. Nelson was a Manatee High School Mock Trial Team Coach for eight years from 2004 through 2012.

Norm Daniels is an Attorney at Law and Certified Public Accountant and is licensed in West Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. He has over 40 years of experience and has been selected by his peers to have an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale Hubble and to be included in "The Best Lawyers in America" and "Super Lawyers." In addition to his legal practice, he is an experienced mediator and arbitrator and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. In 1994, Norm Daniels founded Daniels Law Firm, PLLC with the purpose of creating a law firm dedicated to representing highway, heavy, utility, and building contractors and their suppliers. The business law practice includes civil litigation; insurance litigation; business and tax planning; labor and employment law; wills, trusts, and estates; and arbitration and mediation. The firm represents clients working in the States of West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. The paramount commitment of the firm is to timely meet all of our clients’ needs for legal services. Our attorneys and the lawyers we associate with can handle any type of legal problem. Problem Solving Is Our Business.

Since 1991 Tom Holman has held a Peer Reviewed Highest "AV" Rating (Very High to Preeminent) for Ethical Standards and Legal Ability –– from Martindale-Hubbell, a nationally recognized rating firm. He has been serving New Jersey and New York as a business fraud lawyer, in the courtroom and in arbitration, since the mid-1970s. He has been handling employment law matters that have required litigation, arbitration, mediation or negotiation since 1975. He has litigated or arbitrated cases involving disputes over interpretation of business and employment agreements, partnership disputes, business disputes, business fraud, class actions, employment fraud, securities and stock fraud, consumer fraud, declaratory judgments, emergency commercial litigation, federal and NY whistleblower protection litigation, noncompete litigation, preliminary and temporary restraining orders, and wrongful termination of franchisees or distributors, and violations of employee rights.

For much of the past decade, Jeff has been recognized annually by his peers as a New York “Super Lawyer” (one of the Top 25 in Westchester County), and selected as one of US News & World Report’s “Best Lawyers in America” in the area of commercial litigation. He has also been named a lifetime member of “Elite Lawyers in America,” “The Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum,” and “Top Trial Lawyers in America.” He is a Fellow in the prestigious Litigation Counsel of America, and a member of the venerable American Bar Association Foundation. Jeff’s versatility with a wide array of subject matters has led to his handling of many high profile, difficult cases. Among other matters, Jeff successfully led the defense in federal court of a boat-builder wrongfully implicated in the “Ethan Allen” tragedy on Lake George in which twenty persons perished, winning summary judgment on the client’s behalf; prosecuted a $4.5 million jury verdict in Columbia County against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI); argued before the New Jersey Supreme Court the landmark consumer fraud class action, Lee v. Basic Research, which resulted in a unanimous, 9-0 opinion overturning the lower courts’ decisions denying class certification; and argued before the Massachusetts’ Supreme Judicial Court the precedent setting case of Tyler v. Michaels which declared unlawful the collection of personal identifying information in connection with retail credit card transactions. Jeff’s reputation for excellent results and dogged preparation, make him a formidable adversary, regardless of which side of the aisle any particular dispute may place him. Jeff is no stranger to the Courtroom, and has successfully tried to verdict a diverse number of matters, including securing a defense verdict for Madison Square Garden and Amtrak in a federal jury trial in the Eastern District of New York; winning a multi-million dollar jury award in a state court breach of contract action in White Plains; prevailing in a nine month real estate fraud arbitration in New York City in which he recovered a multi-million dollar judgment; and securing on the eve of jury selection tens of millions of dollars for clients with catastrophic losses. Jeff’s experience in the sports, media and entertainment industries has also allowed for his successful handling of a variety of matters including claims of copyright infringement, trademark infringement, breach of television Executive Production Agreements, royalty disputes, and artist-management conflicts. Jeff has advised television broadcast journalists, senior media executives and executive producers on a wide range of issues concerning non-competes, first amendment rights, and compensation and severance disputes. Jeff led the successful prosecution of the wrongful death action of Baltimore Orioles’ pitcher Steve Bechler, helped extricate former light heavyweight World Champion boxer Reggie Johnson from an onerous promoter’s contract, and counseled the Estate of Tito Puente, the Latin Salsa King, in a misappropriation of name and likeness litigation. Jeff also spearheaded the successful prosecution of the United States Tennis Association’s (USTA) multimillion dollar breach of contract action against a sponsor of the US Open, as well as defended the USTA against a claim of disability discrimination which he successfully had dismissed, and successfully represented Heineken in a breach of contract action arising from a marketing services agreement. Jeff regularly counsels media and entertainment clients in contract negotiations, severance disputes, and intellectual property matters. Jeff’s skill with complex litigation has also helped the Firm to develop significant experience handling a diverse array of maritime and admiralty matters. Jeff has successfully defended boat builders, marinas, charter vessels, stevedores and other marine interests in both federal and state litigations throughout the Country. Among other successful outcomes, Jeff defended a marine terminal operator in a federal wrongful death action in Portland, Maine; represented a luxury yacht manufacturer in a premises liability action in federal court in New Jersey; defended a Manhattan sight-seeing tour operator against a personal injury claim; and handled a Society of Maritime Arbitrators (SMA) arbitration concerning the scope of a contractual indemnity between a terminal operator and a multinational transport company. The Firm’s experience includes handling claims arising under the Jones Act, the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act, and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, as well as prosecuting exoneration from and limitation of liability actions. Jeff is a cum laude graduate of Dartmouth College, a graduate of Columbia Law School and began his career as a litigator at Cravath Swaine & Moore. He lives in West Harrison, New York, with his wife Lauren, a pediatrician, and their two children, one of whom works in New York City and the other who is attending college.