Ethics

Maria Tejedor graduated from the University of South Florida, Magna Cum Laude, in 1992. In 1993, she commenced law school at Stetson University, the number one ranked law school in trial advocacy. In 1994, she participated in a college-wide competition and was selected by her peers at Stetson to join the law school’s prestigious and exclusive trial team. She spent the following two years representing Stetson College of Law in national and statewide trial competitions. Throughout the years she competed, Stetson College of Law maintained its number one national ranking in trial advocacy. In 1995, Maria Tejedor was the first-place winner of the American Criminal Defense Bar National Trial Competition . Ms. Tejedor secured second place in both the Florida Bar’s State Trial Competition and the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers State Competition. She was the 1996 Regional Champion in the American Bar Association National Trial Competition and was awarded the American College of Trial Lawyers Medal for Excellence in Trial Advocacy. In 1996, upon graduation, Stetson University College of Law presented her with the Harris Ferrell Competition Award for Individual Excellence in Intercollegiate Trial Competition. In 1996, she joined the law firm of Martinez, Manglardi and Diez-Arguelles. In 2004, she became one of the youngest women to be board certified in the state of Florida. That same year she was named a full partner at the law firm and the name was changed to Martinez, Manglardi, Diez-Arguelles & Tejedor. In 2009, fueled by a passion for helping women and children, she founded the law firm of Diez-Arguelles & Tejedor and became its managing partner. That passion and focus have led to her numerous successful statewide appellate and Supreme Court decisions, which have established laws that protect the rights of the most vulnerable. Those include: The Supreme Court of Florida affirmed a $2,000,000.00 verdict for the parents of a baby boy who died due to the negligence of a hospital. Pub. Health Tr. of Miami-Dade Cty. v. Acanda, 71 So. 3d 782, 783 (Fla. 2011). The appellate court held that a negligent healthcare provider could not get a vulnerable patient to sign away their right to bring a lawsuit in the event of malpractice. Crespo v. Hernandez, 151 So. 3d 495, 496 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2014), approved, 211 So. 3d 19 (Fla. 2016). The appellate court ruled the victim of medical malpractice had a right to their day in court. The courts had to provide one upon request. Garcia v. Lincare Inc., 906 So. 2d 1268, 1269 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2005). The court held that a child who has suffered brain damage due the negligence of her hospital has a right to sue that hospital and that a law imposing a three-year limitation on such a right was not applicable. Exposito v. Pub. Health Tr. of Miami-Dade Cty., et al., 141 So. 3d 663, 664 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2014). Reversing a lower court’s dismissal of brain-injured infants’ claim against a negligent hospital and proceeding to trial later resulting a several million dollar jury verdict in favor of the injured child. Mobley v. Homestead Hospital, 291 So. 3d 987 (Fla. 3 Dist., 2019) Reversed lower court’s order dismissing an injured child’s medical negligence claim based on the statute of limitations. The appellate court determined the statute of repose had not expired and allowed the case to proceed to recovery. Reyes v. Baptist Hospital et. al., 360 So. 3rd 438 (Fla. 3 Dist., 2023) Reversing a lower court’s dismissal of a brain-damaged minor child’s claim based on the statute of limitations. The appellate court ruled in favor of the injured child and allowed the claim of the child to proceed to trial. Over her career she has successfully tried numerous medical malpractice cases throughout the nation recovering over $500 million in awards for injured families. She has been awarded record verdicts in medical negligence cases, many of which are the highest ever recovered by a woman trial lawyer in her state. In the state of Florida, she has successfully tried cases in almost every county, including Dade, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Hillsborough, Clay, Polk, Leon, Broward, and Alachua. She has also been admitted to practice and has litigated cases to success on a national level. She was awarded a judgment over $64 million in a medical negligence case, making that judgment, the largest judgment entered by a jury to a single plaintiff in a medical negligence case in Orange County history. She was also awarded over $40 million dollars by a jury in a brain damage in fact case, also reflecting a record verdict for an injured child in the state of Florida. Her jury awards in medical negligence death cases have also been record-setting. In 2019, she obtained an $18 million award for the death of mothers during a delivery and 2012 an $11,600,000.00 verdict in Volusia County, which is the highest medical malpractice wrongful death verdict in the county’s history. She was elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Florida Justice Association. During that time, she successfully testified before Congress and passed legislation to protect the rights of the women and children injured from malpractice. In 2011, after much success before the Florida Senate, she was appointed to the governing body of the Florida Justice Association. Ms. Tejedor focuses on medical malpractice cases, including injuries to children, as well as mass torts and dangerous drugs. She is a member of the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum. She has served as Treasurer of the Hispanic Bar Association. In 2009, she was appointed to the Orange County Grievance Ethics Committee and served as its chairperson in 2011. She is also a frequent speaker on medical malpractice. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Florida Justice Association, and in 2011 was appointed to their Executive Committee. Board certification recognizes Ms. Tejedor as a specialist in personal injury trial work. Board certification is an achievement acquired by less than 3% of all lawyers in the state of Florida. She is also recognized as an AV rated lawyer, which means she has been recognized by her peers as having reached the highest levels of professional excellence, skill, and integrity a lawyer can achieve.

The Johnson Legal Team PLLC established in 2014, is a reliable law firm based in Birmingham, MI, and operating in the surrounding areas. The firm is committed to providing top-tier legal services, guided by a strong sense of ethics and professionalism. Choose Rodney M. Johnson's firm for dedicated and personalized legal assistance.

Johanna Kelley, founder of J Kelley Law Group, obtained her law degree in Colombia in 2001, where she practiced Labor, Constitutional, Administrative, Human Rights, International Law and International Business Law. She advised private companies, local and international human rights organizations, governmental agencies, the Colombian Army and grassroots community organizations, with a broad portfolio that included innovative initiatives and the improvement of Colombia’s image abroad. She prepared and accompanied cases of Colombian citizens before the Organization of American States (OAS). After immigrating to the United States, she found that the policy and Immigration Law of this country were a perfect fit for her professional development project and after graduating with Master’s degrees in Law (Duke University) and International Development Policy (Sanford School of Public Policy), she founded in 2013 a non-profit organization aimed at protecting and promoting immigrant rights and social justice. In July 2015, she left the nonprofit sector to serve in government. She began working for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as a supervisor, a wonderful experience professionally and personally, which allowed her to participate in ensuring the integrity of the US immigration system, provide immigration benefits and support the country’s Homeland Security. In November 2017, Johanna Kelley said goodbye to USCIS to kick off the biggest of her work projects: building her own law firm. The founder of our firm believes in legal development and empowerment, therefore, she has been involved in public discussions at mass events and through the media. She hosted the television program ‘Batalla Política’ for the international news channel NTN24 and is a frequent analyst on radio stations and Hispanic channels such as Telemundo, Caracol Televisión, Univisión and RCN News. Mrs. Kelley leads a team committed to the cases of clients and investors, and we are grateful every day for the opportunity to serve our community with professionalism, ethics, and positive results generated through teamwork.

At The Law Office of Alexander Paykin, P.C., each client is treated with the respect, attention, and expert legal care they deserve, while undergoing often lengthy and arduous litigation. Our team of top tier attorneys is well versed in handling all kinds of legal cases, big or small, with competence, dedication and efficiency. At The Law Office of Alexander Paykin, P.C., we believe that successful legal representation begins outside of the courtroom. Hence, our attorneys remain involved in ongoing, rigorous research, which further informs their practice. Our attorneys navigate with ease the complex matrix representative of our legal system and process. The Law Office of Alexander Paykin, P.C. is always reliable, dependable and accessible, with only one goal in mind - to deliver the best possible outcome.

Ian Chaikin is the founding member of Chaikin Trial Group and a licensed attorney in New York, New Jersey, and Florida. He began his legal career at a prominent New York City personal injury firm, where he quickly distinguished himself as a formidable advocate. His rapid rise in the personal injury legal community reflects both his skill and his deep commitment to the clients he serves. As Ian often says: “You come in as a client, but you leave as a friend.” Dedicated to delivering exceptional results, Ian has secured numerous Million-Dollar and Multi-Million-Dollar recoveries for his clients. His relentless work ethic and unwavering dedication have earned him recognition as one of New York’s Super Lawyers in personal injury law. He is also a distinguished member of the Million-Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and has been featured in New York Magazine’s “Personal Injury Leaders.” Chaikin Trial Group has been praised as “one of New York’s preeminent boutique personal injury trial firms.” Ian’s success is built on a foundation of hard work, strategic thinking, and personal attention to every case. For over 20 years, he has fought tirelessly for the rights of innocent victims, ensuring they receive the justice and compensation they deserve. Ian earned his degree in Banking and Finance from Hofstra University in 2001 and his law degree from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University in 2004, with a concentration in civil litigation. While in law school, he won the school’s oral argument competition and earned a place in Hofstra’s prestigious Labor Law Journal. A proud Long Island resident, Ian is deeply involved in his family life and enjoys traveling, snowboarding, and weightlifting. He is fluent in English, Hebrew, and Spanish, allowing him to effectively serve a diverse clientele, including the Hispanic community, by ensuring clear communication and a strong attorney-client relationship.

Johanna Kelley, founder of J Kelley Law Group, obtained her law degree in Colombia in 2001, where she practiced Labor, Constitutional, Administrative, Human Rights, International Law and International Business Law. She advised private companies, local and international human rights organizations, governmental agencies, the Colombian Army and grassroots community organizations, with a broad portfolio that included innovative initiatives and the improvement of Colombia’s image abroad. She prepared and accompanied cases of Colombian citizens before the Organization of American States (OAS). After immigrating to the United States, she found that the policy and Immigration Law of this country were a perfect fit for her professional development project and after graduating with Master’s degrees in Law (Duke University) and International Development Policy (Sanford School of Public Policy), she founded in 2013 a non-profit organization aimed at protecting and promoting immigrant rights and social justice. In July 2015, she left the nonprofit sector to serve in government. She began working for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as a supervisor, a wonderful experience professionally and personally, which allowed her to participate in ensuring the integrity of the US immigration system, provide immigration benefits and support the country’s Homeland Security. In November 2017, Johanna Kelley said goodbye to USCIS to kick off the biggest of her work projects: building her own law firm. The founder of our firm believes in legal development and empowerment, therefore, she has been involved in public discussions at mass events and through the media. She hosted the television program ‘Batalla Política’ for the international news channel NTN24 and is a frequent analyst on radio stations and Hispanic channels such as Telemundo, Caracol Televisión, Univisión and RCN News. Mrs. Kelley leads a team committed to the cases of clients and investors, and we are grateful every day for the opportunity to serve our community with professionalism, ethics, and positive results generated through teamwork.

Tom is a skilled and respected trial lawyer and legal expert in serious personal injury, TBI (traumatic brain injury), wrongful death, complex litigation, product liability, professional negligence, and consumer fraud cases. One of the few NJ attorneys recognized and published as an authority on wrongful death law, settlement strategies and damages. Tom has handled thousands of serious injury and death cases and tried hundreds of cases to jury verdicts or binding arbitration awards. He is listed as one of “The Best Lawyers in America” in the personal injury category, and “Best Personal Injury Lawyers in New Jersey.” These peer reviewed list of the nation’s and NJ’s best lawyers by specialty area are selected by other lawyers and published nationally and statewide. Tom Vesper is credited with helping change the legal rights of fire, police and emergency personnel and their families to recover damages in third party cases when they are seriously injured or killed on the job; also he has developed new ethical techniques for establishing money damages. Graduate of Villanova University with a BA cum laude; juris doctorate in law from Rutgers University Law School, writer and member of the Rutgers Camden Law Review. Served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve for 23 years; 27 (b) certification as Trial and Defense Counsel for Courts Martial; retired as CWO4. Born in Philadelphia, PA., raised in Pennsauken, NJ and a homeowner in Margate, NJ since 1973. Enjoys watching movies, shows, dining, traveling with his family: Mary Alice and their two daughters Maggie and Catie.

As the founder of the personal injury firm, Bradshaw Law LLC, which started in Elko, Nevada, Denise has come a long way since her law career began. While taking undergraduate classes at night, she initially worked as a receptionist, legal secretary and then became a paralegal. Continuing to work as a paralegal while in law school, Denise went on to earn her Law Degree from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 2007. Graduating in the top 10 percent of her class, Denise also received admittance to the prestigious Order of the Coif – a further tribute to her immaculate academic record. Presently, she is excited to be expanding Bradshaw Law LLC to Texas. She represents injured clients out of her offices in Elko and Texas and travels throughout the United States, assisting clients in obtaining compensation for their injuries and helping them get back on their feet. She specializes in various types of injury claims, with an emphasis on catastrophic birth injuries, automobile accidents, motorcycle accidents, harmful products and medical malpractice, providing her clients with vigorous representation and insight. Because she has had to struggle against adversity and come up through the ranks, Denise understands the challenges of facing obstacles that appear to be insurmountable. She aggressively pursues her clients’ best interest by being supremely dedicated to their needs and is a firm believer in the principles of fair play. Denise is admitted to practice before all courts in Nevada and Texas, including the United States District Court. Denise has been named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers and is also a member of both the Multi-Million Dollar and Million Dollar Advocates Forums, memberships earned by her representation of severely injured clients. She is also very dedicated to her community; in her first year of practice, Denise was given the Most Pro Bono Hours Award by the Volunteer Attorneys for Rural Nevada. She served as both a bar exam grader and as well as a member of the Standing Committee for Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility for the State Bar of Nevada.

Chuck’s practice includes family law, divorce and business litigation, representing a wide range of clients, including business owners, medical professionals, and individuals with offshore interests. He holds Fellowships in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the International Academy of Family Lawyers, distinctions recognizing attorneys with exceptional skill and integrity. Recognizing that preparation is vital, he devotes substantial time to client meetings and remains accessible at all hours, ensuring immediate support when emergencies arise. Raised in Naperville, Illinois, Chuck studied engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and worked at Ford Motor Company before earning his law degree from Northern Illinois University College of Law in 1983. He is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and is a member of the Federal Trial Bar in Chicago. Recognized by the Illinois Supreme Court for his service to the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, he also speaks frequently on ethics, professionalism, and Guardian ad Litem issues. Chuck enjoys snowmobiling, spending time on the water, and sharing life with his wife Linda—a registered dietician—and their extended family, which now includes four lawyers, a paralegal, a television news producer, and two grandchildren. Call 630-668-4211 or complete our contact form for your free consultation today or to learn more about our services and fees.