The Leesfield Family Foundation

Published on: January 16, 2025

Ira Leesfield Appointed to the Florida Bar’s 11th Judicial District of Florida’s Unlicensed Practice of Law Committee

The Supreme Court of Florida approved Ira H. Leesfield’s appointment to the 11^th Judicial District Circuit Unlicensed Practice of Law Committee. The UPL committee is a program within the Florida Bar’s Disciplinary branch and was developed to protect the public from harm caused by individuals attempting to practice law without a license. As part of the Standing Committee on UPL, Mr. Leesfield and other members will give their formal advisory opinions regarding individuals who have been accused of practicing law without a license.

Of the distinguishment, which was bestowed upon him following decades of service to South Florida’s legal community, Mr. Leesfield said he was grateful for the honor.

“I look forward to working alongside my fellow committee members to ensure that the practice of law remains in the hands of qualified, ethical professionals who are committed to serving the best interest of Floridians,” he said.

Published on: December 18, 2024

Self-Driving Taxis in Miami? A Look Back at Motor Vehicle Crash Litigation at Leesfield & Partners

By Leesfield & Partners

Thanks to recent advancements in autonomous vehicle technology, self-driving cars are no longer a thing of the past, and driverless robotaxis may soon be available for transit in Miami.

Waymo, the autonomous vehicle company owned by Alphabet, Google’s parent company, announced it expects to bring these taxis to Miami, making the city the fifth in the U.S. with this service. The company currently boasts 150,000 weekly rides, all without drivers, in cities like San Francisco, Austin, Phoenix and Los Angeles.

The decision, however, has not come without controversy. A federal investigation from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched an investigation into Waymo vehicle collisions with a fixed object in May. In addition to these collisions, incidents in which the cars allegedly went the wrong way down the road and ran through traffic lights are what prompted the investigation.

Published on: December 13, 2024

Police name driver accused in Thanksgiving hit-and-run in Miami. How many incidents has Miami seen in 2024?

By Leesfield & Partners

Police have named the driver accused in a Thanksgiving hit-and-run incident near Miami International Airport that killed a pedestrian.

Gerson Jean, 38, was charged Friday with leaving the scene of a crash involving death and attempted tampering with physical evidence.

The incident happened just before 4 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day near 2100 Northwest 42^nd Avenue, close to Miami International Airport. The pedestrian involved in the crash was seen on airport surveillance footage crossing the street when a gray Kia K5 hit them. Police say the car was being driven by Jean.