"Ira Leesfield"

Published on: July 30, 2025

Four People Rescued Following Boat Crash in Fort Lauderdale, officials say.

At least four people were pulled from the water after a boat slammed into a Fort Lauderdale seawall Friday evening, according to local media.

Emergency responders were called out to the Intracoastal Waterway near the Commercial Boulevard bridge in Fort Lauderdale around 7:30 p.m. The vessel’s operator allegedly lost control and hit the seawall, ejecting all four on board.

All four occupants were adults and were taken to the hospital for treatment. One person was treated for injuries related to near-drowning, another was taken to a trauma center with serious injuries, though these were non-life-threatening, according to reporting from The Miami Herald. Two others had minor injuries.

Published on: July 30, 2025

Two Minors Died in Miami Beach Boat Crash Monday. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

Two children have died and two more are in the hospital after a barge hit a sailboat carrying several minors and a camp counselor, 19, from the Miami Youth Sailing Foundation, according to reporting from local media.

The incident happened around 11:15 a.m. between Monument Island and Hibiscus Island in Miami Beach. The collision, which caused the barge to go over the top of the sailboat and caused the sailboat to sink, sent an adult counselor and five children into the water. The children on board ranged in age from 7 to 13 years old, officials said.

Two children — a 7-year-old girl and 13-year-old girl — died at the hospital. Two other girls, 8 and 11 years old, were taken to the hospital and remained in critical condition as of Tuesday morning.

Published on: July 28, 2025

Washington Man Dies in ‘Tragic Mishap’ on Electric Scooter, police say.

By Leesfield & Partners

A man riding an electric scooter on July 19 died after falling into the road and getting hit by a tractor-trailer, according to a press release this week from the Spokane Police Department.

Sean Nolan, 21, was riding an electric scooter on a sidewalk in Spokane County, Washington, police said. He was the rear passenger on the scooter and lost his balance before falling into the road. The man driving the scooter also fell but landed on the sidewalk. Nolan was hit by an oncoming tractor-trailer.

The driver stopped and attempted to “render aid,” before police arrived, officials said. Both police officers and firefighters also attempted to give first aid, but Nolan was pronounced dead at the scene.

Published on: July 28, 2025

Women Driving Women: Uber’s New Pilot Program to be Unveiled in Certain Cities. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

Uber announced Wednesday the launch of its new “Women Preferences” feature, allowing women drivers and riders to choose to be matched with other women for their drive.

“At Uber, we believe that when we make our platform better for women, we make it better for everyone,” officials with the ride-sharing platform said in a statement. “Across the US, women riders and drivers have told us they want the option to be matched with other women on trips. We’ve heard them — and now we’re introducing new ways to give them even more control over how they ride and drive.”

Uber is slated to launch pilot programs in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Detroit within the next few weeks.

Published on: July 28, 2025

Boater Found Dead on Florida’s Peace River. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

The body of a 56-year-old boater who disappeared while watching over a stalled airboat on Florida’s Peace River was found this week, according to local media.

Benton Lindsey, was reported missing Sunday and his body was found a day later, according to officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Lindsey was on the boat with at least one other person who, when the airboat began experiencing mechanical failures, left on land to find help.

The boat drifted down the river and “a series of events led the operator to end up in the water,” FWC officials said.

Published on: July 28, 2025

Therapist at Miami Substance Abuse Facility Faces Sexual Misconduct Charges. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

A therapist at a Miami women’s mental health and substance abuse treatment facility faces several charges after multiple women reported that he assaulted them during private sessions, according to local media.

Manuel Enrique Garcia, 33, was charged with at least three counts of felony charges related to sexual battery on clients.

Two women reported to police, alleging Garcia had assaulted them during private therapy sessions, according to reporting from CBS Miami. One woman said she was threatened with “job loss and homelessness if she spoke out,” reporters said in the article. Another woman told police that she was assaulted and that Garcia threatened to change her records to harm her standing in court, which would prevent her from “reuniting with her child.” This was not the only time that Garcia had approached the woman in this manner, according to police.

Published on: July 28, 2025

Florida Mom Accused of Leaving Toddler in Car Outside Theater. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

Police have accused a mother of locking her toddler, 2, in a car outside a Florida movie theater when the girl became too “disruptive,” according to reporting from local media Monday, July 21.

The 18-year-old woman, of Lake City, has since been charged with neglect of a child without great bodily harm. The woman’s name is not being released to protect the identity of her children.

The incident happened on Saturday, July 19, when the mother took the toddler and her siblings to the movies. However, once inside, the 2-year-old girl allegedly caused “multiple disruptions.”

Published on: July 28, 2025

Four Injured in Broward Plane Crash. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

A pilot and at least three passengers were injured when a small plane crashed in a Broward neighborhood, local media says.

The incident happened around 8:30 p.m. Sunday, July 13, as the plane prepared to land at North Perry Airport. Instead, it came down in Pembroke Pines near Southwest 14^th Street and 68^th Boulevard.

All four who were inside the aircraft were able to disembark from the plane safely and were taken to a local hospital, according to reporting from the Miami Herald.

Published on: July 28, 2025

Flesh-eating bacteria in Florida. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

At least four people have died as the result of injuries related to flesh-eating bacteria in 2025, according to reporting from local media.

The data, which comes from the Florida Department of Health, was updated on Friday, July 11, and shows that at least one person died in each of the following counties:

Bay County

Published on: July 21, 2025

Who Is a Trial Lawyer? All Rise! (No Fries!)

By Leesfield & Partners

There is a healthy inter-generational discussion about the value of courtroom appearances versus digital and remote Zoom litigation. Depending upon age, law school demographics, “quality of life issues” and a long-vested belief and admiration for adversary experience before the court and jury, legitimately different perspectives are advanced. Two seemingly unrelated recent anecdotes capture the essence of the trial lawyers’ dilemma:

Ira Leesfield, the Founder and Managing Partner of Leesfield & Partners.

The bailiff of a well-respected member of the judiciary had to admonish “trial lawyers” in open court for failing to rise when the judge entered the bench. This ancient custom of respect and judicial protocol was unknown to these inexperienced lawyers about to commence trial. Reports of this omission caught the attention of jurists and experienced advocates across the state. In a completely different setting, a well-established and recognized national restaurant refused to allow “take-out” French fries with the food order placed by a customer. At the desk, the manager publicly expressed “our fries just don’t travel well, and we want customers to be satisfied and accepting of our food.” No matter what the plea, no fries “to go.” If you wanted to enjoy a great dinner of ribs, coleslaw and fries, it was going to be in the dining room. This is an interesting way to capture the disparity of conflict for an earnest, developing trial lawyer!