Melvin Bowen Wright - Orlando, FL

Past career experience:

Mr. Wright began the practice of law in 1985 in Orlando with an emphasis in wrongful death and personal injury litigation and represented both the injured and the insurance industry until 1993 when he began representing injured victims and their families exclusively. Mr. Wright previously worked with Morgan Colling & Gilbert. A few years ago, he along with several other partners, associates, paralegals and staff left to form Colling Gilbert Wright & Carter. He now practices with an emphasis in all cases of serious personal injury and death. Mr. Wright has substantial experience in all types of personal injury and wrongful death litigation including automobile accidents, on the job injuries, child care negligence, drowning and other premises liability, cases involving negligent security at retail establishments, and medical malpractice. Mr. Wright has extensive experience in nursing home and other institutional abuse and neglect cases, having led a team of nursing home neglect and abuse attorneys and having lectured nationally at seminars on institutional abuse and neglect cases from 1997 to 2004.

States of Practice:

Mr. Wright practices primarily in Florida but has also handled cases in Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, North Carolina, and New York in association with law firms having principal offices in or near those states when called upon for his expertise.

Board Certifications:

Mr. Wright has been board certified as a civil trial specialist by the Florida Bar, Board of Legal Specialization and Education since 1996. Board certification as a civil trial lawyer is the highest level of recognition by the Florida Bar of the competency and experience of an attorney in the field of civil litigation. Board certification is intended by the Florida Bar to help consumers find an attorney who has demonstrated ability and experience in specialized fields, including civil litigation. Board certification requires a career concentrating in civil trial law, passing a rigorous written examination, passing peer review, and completion of numerous hours of continuing legal education. Board certification also requires an attorney to have demonstrated substantial experience in the specialty of civil trial law and to have that ability and experience favorably evaluated by judges and other attorneys.

Mr. Wright is also board certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and the National Board of Legal Specialization and Certification, organizations accredited by the American Bar Association to certify attorneys in the specialty of civil trial law.Board certification by the NBTA also requires passing an examination, favorable peer review, and substantial experience in a career concentrating in civil trial law.

Sample Cases:

Mr. Wright has achieved multiple seven and six figure settlements for his clients over the years in cases involving automobile accidents, premises liability, construction accidents, and nursing home neglect. See Verdicts and Settlements.

Mr. Wright has also handled numerous appeals to several Florida district courts of appeals, to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in a federal case, and to the Supreme Court of Florida. One appeal handled by Mr. Wright against a funeral home operator for negligence in the supervision and direction of a funeral procession crossing a busy state highway, resulting in serious injuries to a family member of the deceased, was ruled upon by the Supreme Court of Florida in favor of Mr. Wright’s client. This Supreme Court ruling prompted the funeral home industry to join together in hiring powerful lobbyists to convince Florida legislators to enact statutes partially immunizing funeral home operators from liability for future automobile accidents occurring during funeral processions. Mr. Wright's client recovered a significant settlement after winning her appeal to the Supreme Court of Florida.

Based upon one case he handled and which involved the rape and impregnation of a nursing home resident, Mr. Wright co-authored an article in the American Journal of Nursing entitled Born Into A Diaper. The case was successfully prosecuted and settled on behalf of the resident and her minor child. Ann Wolbert Burgess, DSNc, RN and Melvin B. Wright, Esq., Born Into A Diaper, 104 American Journal of Nursing No. 4, April 2004.

• Elderly Care Put To Test
• Jury faults YMCA
• Nursing Homes in Crisis
• Top Court Restores Suit against Funeral Home

Civic

Mr. Wright is active in his community in support of senior citizens, disabled and handicapped children and adults. Mr. Wright is a board member of the Central Florida Regional Board of Directors of Easter Seals Florida, Inc. He and his family are members of Resurrection Catholic Church in Winter Garden, Florida.