Settlement in a sexual assault and negligence case involving institutional care
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(941) 923-7700(941) 923-7736
Estate Planning
2023 Constitution Boulevard
Sarasota, FL 34231
I have always been passionate about working with people and helping to empower others to improve their lives. This is what brought me to the legal profession. I have spent a lot of time in my life on community service. Throughout my life, I have joined several community service organizations and completed hundreds of hours doing service work for a variety of different causes. I continued my service in law school, where I was honored to receive the William F. Blews Pro Bono Service Award for my work in the courtroom of a Circuit Civil Judge and my work with local non-profits.
These experiences have shown me that being a lawyer is so much more than practicing law. It is about people and relationships. It requires compassion and an open heart, but also a fierce resolve to represent each and every client with fervor. I have been taught to be a hard-working and ethical litigation attorney. I take pride in our unbending adherence to the professionalism standards set by our occupation and the work ethic that keeps on going until the job is finished. Through this legal profession, I have the opportunity to get to know people, hear their stories, and handle their problems as if they were my own.
Estate planning is something that everyone needs in some form. A common misconception is that it only handles your affairs after you pass away. This is not true. Estate planning can help to accomplish numerous goals while you are living as well. I have learned over the years that one size does not fit all. The plan you need may be completely different from that of your neighbor. Therefore, unlike many estate planning attorneys, I focus on getting to know my clients and learning as much as I can about their lives, loved ones, and things that matter to them in order to ensure I am creating a unique and tailor-made plan. I have worked with hundreds of clients to create the perfect plan and provide the peace of mind they seek.
Having a trial attorney who is not afraid to take your case to trial is something every client deserves. Many attorneys are not willing to go to trial because it requires hard work and a unique set of skills. This has driven me to focus part of my practice on trial advocacy skills, so that I can take care of my clients through every stage of their case –confident and ready to go no matter what direction the case is headed. It has allowed me to bring justice to many people. For example, I represented the trustee of a trust who was being taken advantage in a trust litigation case that went up to the Florida Appellate Court where I argued his case and won, creating new case law in the state of Florida outlining the importance of a person’s ability to dictate their own wishes through their estate plan. This unique combination of estate plan drafting with litigation allows me to offer my clients a different perspective as well as documents that are airtight.
By practicing law, a large part of my heart and time remains dedicated to helping others in my community. As an attorney, I can assist in providing comfort for families to know their loved ones and assets are taken care of. I can give a voice to people who have been taken advantage of by their employers, insurance companies, or even friends and family members. Every person I represent to help achieve a goal or overcome this helpless and frustrating feeling is a welcome reminder of why I chose this profession.
I have been fortunate enough to have both my mother and father mentor me in the ways of becoming a hard-working and ethical litigation attorney. I take pride in our unbending adherence to the professionalism standards set by our occupation and the work ethic that keeps on going until the job is finished.
Many attorneys are not willing to go to trial because it requires hard work and a unique set of skills. This drove me to focus on my trial advocacy skills from the very beginning, so that I can take care of my clients through every stage of their case –confident and ready to go no matter what direction the case is headed.
This is what helped me understand that the legal profession was right for me. I have spent a lot of time in my life on community service. Over the years, I have joined several community service organizations and completed hundreds of hours doing service work for a variety of different causes. I continued my service in law school, where I was honored to receive the William F. Blews Pro Bono Service Award for my work in the courtroom of a Circuit Civil Judge and my work with local non-profits.
As an attorney, I can give a voice to people who have been taken advantage of by their employers, insurance companies, or even friends and family members. Every person I represent to help overcome this helpless and frustrating feeling is a welcome reminder of why I let this path choose me.
Verdicts and Settlements
Case result
$3.7 million
Sexual Assault
Settlement in a sexual assault and negligence case involving institutional care
Case result
$3.3 Million
Car Accident
Jury verdict in a 2-week Federal jury trial for a low-speed car accident, causing injuries
Case result
$2.5 Million
Settlement
Settlement for 70+ year old clients involved in a rear-end car accident, where the insurance company claimed the crash was “low speed,” and that the clients' age and pre-existing injuries were the cause of their pain (and not the crash).
Case result
$2.5 million
Car Accident
Settlement for a client in a car accident.
Case result
$1.6 Million
Settlement
Settlement in a complex will contest/estate litigation for breach of fiduciary duty involving numerous sets of estate plans and over five parties, including family members and non-related individuals, all with different claims.
Case result
$1.175 million
Settlement
Settlement for the client in a case involving breach of fiduciary duty, where the initial settlement offer was $115,000, and the opposing party counter-sued our client.
Case result
$1 Million
Car accident
Settlement for a client in a car accident that caused a traumatic brain injury.
Case result
$976,000
Sexual Assault
Arbitration award in a negligent security case involving sexual assault on a college campus.
Case result
$850,000
Car accident
Trial verdict for a client in a car accident.
Case result
$825,500
Settlement
Settlement in a case involving breach of fiduciary duty and shareholder’s rights
Case result
$756,000
Car accident
Settlement for a client in a car accident that caused a traumatic brain injury.
Case result
$748,000
Car accident
Settlement for a client in a car accident that caused a traumatic brain injury.
Case result
$725,000
Car accident
Settlement for a client in a car accident that caused whiplash.
Case result
$600,000
Settlement
Settlement of full insurance policy limits for elderly client involved in a rear-end car accident, which the insurance claimed was “low speed.”
Case result
$550,000
Nursing home negligence
Settlement against a nursing home for their negligence of a patient involving an amputation below the knee.
Case result
$525,000
Car accident
Settlement in car accident case
Case result
$500,000
Car accident
Settlement for a client T-boned by a negligent driver, resulting in surgery.
Case result
$400,000
Motorcycle accident
Settlement for a motorcycle client who suffered multiple fractures due to the negligence of a driver.
Case result
$350,000
Settlement
Settlement in a car accident case where the insurance company initially argued that the client’s husband, the driver of her car, was at fault for the crash.
Case result
$300,000
Settlement
Settlement against a trustee and personal representative who attempted to defraud the beneficiary of a will from her rightful inheritance.
Case result
$300,000
Car accident
Settlement against an auto insurance agency for failing to properly advise our client regarding the appropriate insurance they should have. The client was then seriously injured, and we obtained a recovery from the insurance agency.
Case result
$298,185.07
Car Accident
Settlement for the client involved in a car accident case.
Case result
$285,000
Wrongful Death
Largest jury verdict award ever against School Board of Manatee County. Our client was a 12 year old boy who was almost beaten to death by another student at his school.
Case result
$260,000
Settlement
Settlement involving a trustee who tried to deny a widow her rightful share of her deceased's husband's estate.
Case result
$253,000
Personal Injury
Jury verdict award against the City of Sarasota for negligence.
Case result
$250,000
Settlement
Settlement for a client in a car accident who sustained spinal injuries, but had extensive spinal injuries before the accident, including a spinal surgery just weeks before the accident.
Case result
$250,000
Settlement
Settlement in a car accident case where the client had extensive pre-existing injuries and chronic conditions before the crash, and where the insurance company’s initial settlement offer was $25,000.
Case result
$150,000
Settlement
Settlement for clients contesting a Will.
Case result
$125,000
Premises Liability
Settlement for case involving premises liability against large healthcare facility
Case result
$125,000
Settlement
Settlement for case involving Title IX (on-campus gender discrimination)
Case result
$119,509.61
Personal Injury
Trial verdict in a personal injury case with $37,000 in total medical bills
Case result
$106,000
Settlement
Settlement in a case involving racial discrimination and disability discrimination in employment
Case result
$100,000
Labor Law Class Action
Settlement for a group of employees wrongfully denied overtime.
Case result
$100,000
Motorcycle Accident
Settlement obtained on behalf of motorcycle rider who suffered a collarbone fracture and head injury due to a careless driver.
Client testimonials
My highest recommendation and gratitude to the firm of Buckman, Buckman & Castellano, P.A. Their generous reliability and core knowledge is truly valuable. Complex legal issues are strategically and efficiently handled. Communication was always prompt, and always my needs were a priority. Competency in cost-benefit analysis resulted in my receiving appropriate compensation. During the procedure, I experienced the highest ethical standards. This firm is truly superior in all regards.
— Client
The whole firm fought like hell for me and my family in Court. I highly recommend them.
— Client
Our experience with Buckman, Buckman & Castellano, P.A. is very positive. They handled all the unexpected annoyances - the E-mails, letters and phone calls that resulted from a relatively minor accident. We are satisfied with our result.
— Client
“Drake, Amiee and Nancy were very instrumental in helping me get through a very difficult time in my life. They were very warm and responsive to all my needs at any time. I would highly recommend this team of professionals in any legal matters.
— Client
I would highly recommend Drake Buckman to represent myself and any of my loved ones. From the initial contact, Drake always had my best interest, health and welfare as a priority. His friendly, personable manner gave me comfort and confidence from the start of my legal pursuit. Drake Buckman was thorough the entire duration of my case achieving success on my behalf
— Client
I found Amiee Buckman to be very attentive, thorough, professional, and very prompt in responding to my needs. I was impressed with not only her professionalism and expertise, but also with her sincerity and honesty. I would highly recommend Amiee Buckman and the firm of Buckman, Buckman & Castellano, P.A. to anyone that needed services in the area of law.
— Client
Buckman, Buckman & Castellano, P.A. has provided outstanding legal representation for us in the area of Estate Planning and Elder Care. Helped us through a difficult situation with a loved one that resulted in a successful outcome.
— Client
I am a client of the Buckman, Buckman & Castellano, P.A. law firm which I use for all my corporate and personal matters. Amiee has a personal hands on approach with attention to details and emphasis on communication. It is with great confidence I recommend her and the entire staff at this firm.
— Client
Drake is a conscientious person and a knowledgeable attorney. He's a great counselor to have working for you. His costs are reasonable; and he will tell you the truth whether that's what you want to hear or not. He's experienced in writing Wills and setting up trusts and estates. I highly recommend him.
— Client
Mr. Buckman is a highly-skilled Professional who expedited my case efficiently and effectively. He was ethical, knowledgeable, patient and thorough from start to finish. I could not have asked for anything more!
— Client