Education:
- University of Miami School of Law, Coral Gables, Florida, 1985
- Juris Doctorate
- Honors: Cum Laude
- Biscayne College, Miami, Florida, 1982
- B.A., Bachelor of Arts
- Honors: Summa Cum Laude
- Major: Political Science
Certifications And Specialties:
- Certified Civil Trial Specialist, Florida Bar
- Certified Civil Trial Specialist, National Board of Trial Advocacy
- Business Litigation Specialist, Florida Bar
Bar Admissions:
- Florida, 1985
- District of Columbia, 1988
- Texas, 1991
- Colorado, 1991
- New York, 1992
- U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1991
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1992
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, 1986
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida, 2007
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida, 1986
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, 2002
- U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, 2002
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, 1991
- U.S. District Court Western District of Texas, 1991
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas, 1992
- U.S. District Court District of Arizona, 1992
- U.S. District Court District of Colorado, 1992
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, 1992
- U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan, 1992
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1991
Attorney Ervin A. Gonzalez is board certified as a specialist in civil trial law (personal injury and wrongful death) and business litigation by The Florida Bar and The National Board of Trial Advocacy. He is a partner with the Coral Gables law firm Colson Hicks Eidson.
With more than 30 years of experience in civil and business litigation, Gonzalez has obtained 32 verdicts in excess of a million dollars – including a $65.1 million verdict in a wrongful death case and a $61 million award for medical malpractice – the highest award in a Federal Tort Claims Act Case. He has also settled numerous multi-million dollar cases, including a $100 million class action settlement (15,000 class members) against Menorah Gardens Cemeteries and its parent company Service Corporation International (SCI) – the largest funeral operator in the nation – for the desecration of graves. Many of his verdicts have been rated among the top verdicts nationwide and in Florida.
In 2009, Judge Carl Barbier of the Eastern District of Louisiana selected Gonzalez among 300 highly qualified applicants to sit on the Plaintiff Steering Committee in the multi-district litigation surrounding the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill. He was one of 17 lawyers from around the country – and one of two Florida lawyers – selected to serve on the PSC and oversee plaintiff’s claims stemming from the spill. Gonzalez was additionally selected by Federal Judge Eldon Fallon to serve on the Plaintiff Steering Committee for the Chinese Drywall multi-district litigation, representing hundreds of homeowners who were victims of high-sulfur Chinese Drywall linked to odor and metal corrosion in new home construction. He was one of 15 lawyers selected. Gonzalez is also the co-lead counsel and liaison counsel for the Plaintiffs, representing about 400 homeowners, in the 11th Circuit, in and for Miami-Dade County, Florida. He was the first in the country to try a Chinese Drywall jury case resulting in a $2.4 million verdict. This verdict was instrumental in achieving a $55 million Florida class action settlement with Banner Supply Company and an $80 million class action settlement with insurance companies for many of the builders and installers of the toxic material.
Throughout his career, Gonzalez has held numerous leadership roles, including serving as governor of The Florida Bar, president of the Dade County Bar Association and president of the Dade County Trial Lawyers Association. He is also a former member of the National Board of Trustees of The National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) and the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). He has written many articles on various aspects of litigation and teaches litigation and trial skills as an adjunct professor at the University of Miami School of Law, where he also graduated with honors (JD 1985). He is a frequent lecturer for the American Bar Association, Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, The Florida Bar, The Dade County Trial Lawyers, among other organizations.
An AV rated trial attorney, Gonzalez is consistently recognized as a leader in his field and has received numerous honors and awards. He has had the distinction of being ranked as one of America’s leading lawyers by prestigious publications, including Best Lawyers in America, Chambers and Partners, Florida Trend Magazine, Florida Super Lawyers and South Florida Legal Guide. He was named one of the “Top 500 Litigators in the Nation” by Law Dragon and one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics in the Nation by Hispanic Business Magazine.
Gonzalez is licensed to practice law in Florida, the District of Columbia, Texas, Colorado, and New York.
Awards and Distinctions
- Best Lawyers in America, 2003 – 2014
- Benchmark Litigation, Top 100 Trial Lawyers in America, 2013, 2014, 2015
- Chambers USA
- Daily Business Review, Most Effective Lawyer, Civil Litigation, 2005 and 2006
- Daily Business Review, Most Effective Lawyer, Class Action, 2012
- Daily Business Review, Most Effective Lawyer Finalist, Business and Complex Litigation, 2013
- Daily Business Review, Most Effective Lawyer Finalist, Personal Injury, 2013
- Daily Business Review, Florida Verdicts Hall of Fame, 2014
- Florida Trend Magazine, Legal Elite Hall of Fame
- Florida Super Lawyers, 2006-2014
- Florida Super Lawyers, Top 10 Lawyers in Florida, 2009, 2010
- Hispanic Business Magazine, 100 Most Influential Hispanics in the Nation, 2006
- Lawyer Weekly USA, Top 11 Lawyers in the Nation, 2005
- Law Dragon, Top 500 Litigators in the Nation
- South Florida Legal Guide, Top Lawyer, 2003-2014
- South Florida Business Journal, Key Partner Award for Litigation, 2009-2010
Professional & Civic Organizations and Committees
- 11th Judicial Circuit – Ad Hoc Committee on Business Litigation Division
- Member, September 2006 – 2008
- 11th Judicial Circuit Centennial Celebration
- Committee Member, 2009 – Present
- ACEDS Advisory Board Member – 2011
- Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on Rules and Procedures of the US District Court, Southern District of Florida – 2008-Present
- Alliance for Ethical Government Committee
- Member, 1999 – 2001
- American Association for Justice (fka Association of Trial Lawyers of America)
- Member, 1986 – Present
- American Bar Association
- Member, 1986 – Present
- Member of Host Committee – Annual Meeting – 1995
- Vice-Chair of the Trial Techniques Committee – 2003-2005
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- Member, 2002 – Present
- Asbestos Product Liability Omnibus Order Revision Committee
- Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court
- Member, 1991 – 1997
- Benchmark’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers in America
- 2014
- Children’s Resource Fund Special Counsel
- 1989 – 1995
- Coral Gables Bar Association
- Member, 2001 – Present
- Court Appointed Special Master
- By: Judge Philip Bloom – October, 1991
- Cuban American Bar Association
- Member, 1986 – Present
- Dade County Bar Association
- President, 2000
- President-Elect, 1999
- Vice President, 1998
- Secretary, 1997
- Treasurer, 1996
- Director, 1990-1 995
- By-Laws Committee Member, 1992 – 1993
- Chairperson, 1993 – 1994
- Co-Chairman, 1992, 1994 – 1995
- Historic Courthouse Lobby Restoration Committee Member, 1997
- Judicial Selection Retention Committee Member, 1999
- Tort Reform Legal Committee: Chairperson, 1998
- Young Lawyers Division: Director, 1987 – 1990
- Member, 1986 – Present
- Federal Bar
- Association Member, 1999 – Present
- Florida Association for Women Lawyers
- Member, 2004 – Present
- Florida Bar
- Admiralty & Maritime Law Certification Committee: Liaison Member, 2003-2004
- Board of Governors: Member, 2001-Present
- Board of Governors Liaison to the FL Supreme Court Historical Society Board, 2002-2003
- Civil Procedures Standing Committee: Liaison Member, 2004-2005
- Code and Rules of Evidence Committee: Liaison 2008-Present
- Communications Committee: Member, 2002-2003
- Disciplinary Review Committee: Member, 2002-2003
- Executive Committee: Member, 2003-2005
- FBBE Lawyer Vacancy Screening Committee – 2009
- Forum Non Conveniens Subcommittee of Civil Procedure Committee: Chairman, 1996-97
- Legislation Committee: Member, 2003-2008
- Judicial Nominating Selection Commission:
- Statewide Chair: 2006
- 3rd District Member, 2001 and 2007
- Program Evaluation Committee:
- Chairman: 2007
- Member, 2003-Present
- Rule 1.442; Inapplicability to Class Actions Sub-Committee of Civil Procedure Committee:
- Chairman, 1998
- Rules of Civil Procedure Committee: Member, 1994 – 2007; Vice Chair, 2000
- Rules Committee: Member, 2008 – Present
- Strategic Planning Committee: Member, 2004-2005; 2007
- Trial Lawyers Section: Member, 1985 – Present
- Florida Bar Foundation, Miami Fellows Campaign Committee
- Member, 2003
- Florida Justice Association (aka Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers)
- Member, 1986 – Present
- Director, 1990 – 1996
- Allies Committee: Member, 1995 – 1996
- Constitutional Challenge Committee: Member, 1999 – 2000
- Continuing Legal Education Committee: Member, 1990 – 2005
- Eagle Patron 1991 – Present
- Environmental Law Section: Chairman, 1990 – 1993; 1995 – 1996
- Hurricane Task Force: Member, 1992 – 1993
- Legislative Committee: Member, 1992 – 1993
- Speakers’ Bureau: Chairman, 1995 – 1997
- Florida Supreme Court Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee: Member, 2002-2006
- Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce
- America 2000 Education Committee: Co-Chairman, 1991 – 1993
- Black/Hispanic Co-Ventures Committee Member, 1992- 1994
- Crime Prevention Committee Member, 1993 – 1994
- Education Committee Member, 1991 – 1993
- Environmental Awareness Committee Member, 1991 – 1994
- Hispanic Affairs Committee Member, 1986 – 1994
- Judicial Review Committee Member, 1993 – 1994
- Leadership Miami, Graduate 1987
- Member, 1986, 2001; Trustee, 1990 – 1994
- Multi-Cultural Affairs Committee Member, 1987 – 1992
- Immaculata-La Salle Board of Advisors, 2008 – Present
- Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc.
- The Campaign for Justice Committee Member, 1995
- Litigation Counsel of America
- Trial Lawyer Honorary Society, 2011
- Miami Justice Association (aka Dade County Trial Lawyers Association)
- President, 1995
- President-Elect, 1994
- Treasurer, 1993
- Secretary, 1992
- Director, 1988
- Member, 1986 – Present
- National Institute for Trial Advocacy
- Member of Board of Trustees, 2003 – 2007
- Operation Safe Drive
- Immediate Past President – 1996
- President, 1994 – 1995
- Vice President, 1989 – 1993
- Member, 1988 — 2000
- Spanish American League Against Discrimination
- Member, 1986 – 2000
- Spellman- Hoevler Inns of Court
- Member, 1997-Present
- St. Thomas University
- Board of Trustees, 2008 – Present
- University of Miami School of Law
- Adjunct Professor, Litigation Skills, 1992 – Present
- University of Miami School of Law Campaign Fund
- Member, 2003-2004
- University of Miami Citizen’s Board
- Member, 2003 – Present
- Vice President – 2009-2010
- Wilkie D. Ferguson Bar Association (Formerly Black Lawyers Association)
- Member, 1999 – Present
Published Works
Mr. Gonzalez is an adjunct professor at the University of Miami School of Law for the trial skills litigation program. His published works include:
- Florida Civil Discovery, 2007 Edition
LexisNexis Practice Guide - Florida Civil Trial Practice, Sixth Edition: Demonstrative Evidence
The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education
Lexis Nexis, 2007 - Florida Civil Trial Preparation Third Edition
The Florida Bar’s FasTrain, CLE Series, 2007 and 2009 - Practice Guide: Florida Personal Injury
LexisNexis
Gonzalez, Fine, Kissane, Lambert
2007 - Breast Cancer, A Practical Guide, Third edition
Orlando E. Silva, MD
Stefano Zurrida, M.D.
Co Author of Chapter 43: “Issues in Breast Cancer Liability” - Practice Guide: Florida Civil Procedure
LexisNexis: 5 Volume Book
Gonzalez, Latimer, Brown, Grimes, Davidson
Mathew Bender and Co.
2005
Volume 1 – Pretrial
Volume 2 – Pretrial
Volume 3 – Discovery
Volume 4 – Motions
Volume 5 – Trial & Post-Trial
- FasTrain:Florida Civil Trial Preparation
- The Florida Bar, 5 Volume Book
CLE Publications
May, 2002
Book I – Organization
Book II- Motion Practice
Book III – Discovery
Book IV – Evidence
Book V- Settlement and Alternative Dispute
- Expert Testimony”
Chapter 10 – Florida Evidence
Lawyers Cooperative Practice Guide American Inns of Court
Civil Procedure Series
West Group/West Publishing – 1997 - Chapter on “Demonstrative Evidence”
Florida Civil Trial Practice, 6th ed.
The Florida Bar CLE Publications
April, 2001 - Advanced Trial Handbook
Dade County Trial Lawyers Association – October, 1996 - “Trial Tips” A monthly civil litigation column published in the Dade County Bar Bulletin and the Daily Business Review. 1992-2002
- And numerous articles on legal issues for The Florida Bar Journal, Dade County Bar Bulletin, Daily Business Review, The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers and other legal publications.