Our Team

About

Art Garcia is passionate about mediation and alternative dispute resolution. This passion was evident from the beginning; while in law school, he received the book award for negotiation and dispute resolution.

He graduated from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 1991, but, before the law, he served his country and was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

He also became a licensed emergency medical technician (EMT), first in North Carolina and then in Florida. Art served as an EMT at University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center’s trauma and emergency units while completing his undergraduate education at Florida International University, School of Nursing, graduating in 1987 as valedictorian with high honors and earning his B.S.N.  He remained at Jackson, changing roles from EMT to RN, working in the critical care, pediatric intensive care, transplant, trauma and burn units.

After working with several well-known civil trial firms, he founded the Law Offices of Arthur Garcia, Jr., P.A., in 1995, concentrating on personal injury litigation, and was an active trial lawyer for 25 years. He belongs to numerous voluntary bar organizations and served on the board of directors and as executive secretary, treasurer and president of the Miami Dade Trial Lawyers Association. In fact, MDTLA has named its public service award after Art. He has been a frequent lecturer on the topics of legal nurse consulting, medical documentation and fraud, medical and demonstrative evidence and ethics. 

After 25 years on the battlefields of litigation, trauma and the Marine Corps, Art has chosen the path of peacemaker. No one knows better the cost of war and the value of peace than a warrior. Art has been a warrior. Now he brings his medical and legal knowledge, along with his vast life experiences, to UWWM as a full-time mediator.

Education

J.D. ~ University of Florida Levin College of Law, 1991, with honors

B.S. ~ Florida International University, 1987, nursing, with high honors

• Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator, Appellate Mediator and Qualified Arbitrator
• AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• National Association of Distinguished Counsel, Nation’s Top One Percent (2015, 2016)
• Dade County Trial Lawyers Association, Most Dedicated Public Servant Award (1997), Exceptional Service Award (1999, 2001)
• Founder and President – UF Health and Law Association
• College of Law Teaching Fellowship

Memberships

• Florida Academy of Professional Mediators
• Dade County Bar Association (since 1992)
• American Bar Association (past), Minority Involvement Committee Member (1991-1992)
• Miami Dade Trial Lawyers Association (since 1992), Chairperson – Service & Community Projects, president (2009)
• Florida Justice Association (since 1992)

Bar Admissions

• The Florida Bar
• U.S. District Court, Southern District, since 1997
• U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit, since 1992

 

Areas Of Practice

• Personal Injury
• Motor Vehicle Crashes
• Construction Accidents
• Nursing Home & ACLF Abuse
• Wrongful Death
• Bad Faith
• Uninsured Motorist Coverage
• Insurance Coverage Disputes
• Medical Malpractice
• Police Liability
• Funeral Home, Crematory and Cemetery Negligence
• Probate/Guardianship
• Minor’s Claims (probate and guardianship issues)
• Benefits Preservation Methods
• Collateral Source Issues (ERISA, Special Needs Trusts, Medicare, Medicaid, HMO, & Hospital Liens)
• Appellate Mediation